Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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9. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to his European counterparts about placing sanctions on Israel for its bombardment of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10255/24]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Given the cataclysmic circumstances in Gaza at the moment, has the Tánaiste spoken to his European counterparts with regard to sanctions on Israel and what will the European Union and this country do about the terrible events that are going on in Gaza at the moment?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the question. Ireland has in recent weeks engaged in several concrete initiatives regarding the conflict, all of which have been underpinned by our clear and principled position.

In view of the unacceptable levels of violence being perpetrated by certain Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, in particular since 7 October 2023, I have underlined my strong support for EU sanctions targeting violent or extreme Israeli settlers. This is a matter I have raised with my European counterparts at successive meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. During the Council’s meeting in February, 26 member states indicated that they are ready to move ahead with sanctions on this issue. Ireland has called for rapid presentation of proposals in line with commitments given by the High Representative.

While Ireland continues to press to agree sanctions at EU level, officials are also examining options to work in concert with a group of EU member states to implement measures at a national level. Additionally, the Taoiseach and the Spanish Prime Minister have written to Commission President von der Leyen, expressing deep concern at the deteriorating situation in Gaza and calling for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the European Union-Israel Association Agreement.

As the Deputy is aware, calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire have been and will continue to be a central priority for the Government. Civilians in Gaza urgently need the fighting to stop and a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian aid. It is clear that this is the desire of the overwhelming majority of the international community, along with the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, urgent and effective humanitarian access, and the protection of civilians.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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What we are witnessing at the moment and have witnessed in the past six months in Gaza is and has been almost unbearable to look at. I do not know if the Tánaiste saw the report on the BBC the other day where 15 children died basically of malnutrition. It was unbelievable just to see that. Imagine being there and being the mother or father of that child. This is being done in real time by a state that we call a friend and that has an ambassador not too far from here. Over 75 years, what has this country ever done to hold Israel to account? It has done nothing; it has been just absolute lip service. The Tánaiste comes in here every week saying the exact same things. When will Israel be punished and brought to account for the crimes it is committing at this time? Where? Show me where.

The Tánaiste's party in the previous Dáil supported the occupied territories Bill and now his party is hiding. That is a very limited Bill. Can the Tánaiste imagine if that were enacted?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Deputy will have a chance to come back in again.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do follow the BBC reports and I pay tribute to the BBC because I believe it has brought some sharp insights and has revealed and exposed a great deal, notwithstanding the limits and constraints on how it can operate within Gaza. The situation is shocking and we and I have condemned it.

I disagree with Deputy Kenny's characterisation of Irish foreign policy. I invite Deputy Kenny to go to Israel.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I have been, Tánaiste.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Hear me out.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I was there.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy to hear me out for a second. I had not finished the sentence. I invite him to go to Israel, meet with the Israeli Government and find out first-hand what it thinks of the Irish Government's position or the Irish people's position. The Israeli Government does not think we have done nothing. I will leave it at that. We have shown leadership on all the concrete issues that have had an impact over many years. Ireland was the first European Union state to call for the Palestinian right to a homeland. The late Brian Lenihan Snr. did that way back. If you go to Palestine or any of the Arab partner countries in that region, you will find that they appreciate Ireland's principled position on this issue. We want an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The horrors people in Gaza are experiencing are shocking. They should come to an end immediately.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I acknowledge what the Tánaiste says. I acknowledge that Ireland has done more than the rest of the European Union in calling out what Israel has been doing, and not only in the past six months. If you go to the Middle East, you will find that people from Palestine are very generous in their comments on what the Irish people have done and the empathy we have shown, but we have not done enough. A good example is the occupied territories Bill, which the Tánaiste's party supported in the previous Dáil. Now it does not support it. Can the Tánaiste imagine what would be the position if that Bill was enacted? Can he imagine if, as a small country in the European Union, we were to say that from here on, any goods coming from the occupied West Bank or Gaza will be illegal? Can he imagine what signal that would send? It would send a huge signal not only to Zionist Israel but across the world that Ireland, as a country, will do more than has been done in the past five or six decades.

We need to do more. We cannot let this barbarity go on. Israel needs to be called to account for the barbarity it is inflicting on the Palestinian people.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy knows the answer to his question about the occupied territories Bill. The European Union has a legal competence when it comes to trade. I do not agree with the Deputy that it would have the impact he says it would.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Try it out.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Europe has been proactive in certain respects in-----

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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People said that of South Africa in the 1980s.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did not interrupt the Deputy. He has asked questions.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The same-----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Deputy, let the Tánaiste answer.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy does not allow me to answer the question he has put. I do not interrupt him. Europe has taken steps in respect of trying to identify goods that come from the settlements and the possibility that we would be in a position to boycott them. The most effective decision we have taken as a country within the European Union - it will be difficult, by the way, to get unanimity on this - is through questioning on the trade association agreement. There are human rights clauses in the agreement in terms of obligations on Israel. Ireland and Spain have written to the President of the Commission. This will be discussed preliminarily at the FAC but then, ultimately, it will have to be reviewed by the Commission. Those are practical steps that can have an effect. It will take some time because of the idea of getting unanimity, but at least it will enable a review to take place of an agreement that is in place between the European Union and Israel on the basis of what it is doing in Gaza.