Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I am sorry that Senator Ryan, a person I greatly respect, took offence at what I said yesterday. That was not my intention. My concern was that killing and kidnapping by any side in a conflict should always be condemned, regardless of the respective moral standing of the opposing sides. Senator Ryan's concern was that the Palestinians who carried out those actions should not be considered terrorists. Listening to him I got the impression, perhaps wrongly, that he was condoning those actions or seeking to excuse them whereas I personally take the view that such actions should always be condemned. That was the simple point I was trying to make and I am sorry that, in doing so, I may have expressed myself badly or given offence when none was intended. I wanted to make sure that was understood.