Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Recently, we had a well-informed debate on the Middle East and we had unanimity on some matters. In my contribution I made the point that I always felt the Government had acted in a positive, courageous and, at times, independent manner to try to find solutions to the ongoing difficulties which exist in the Middle East. New reports emanating from independent sources suggest increasing levels of poverty in the Palestinian occupied territories. If one wants to put it this way, the suspension of EU aid may be succeeding as the EU wants it to succeed. However, if that is the case it is extremely serious——