Brendan Ryan (Labour)

It is up to the Leader to clarify that is the rule in this House. I do not suggest she did so deliberately but if I mislead the House inadvertently, it is my duty, out of respect to the House, to explain the mistake and apologise. We can then move on and recognise that people make mistakes. We need to know which of the two scenarios is correct. This is a serious matter and if the Leader does not explain it, I will make a formal complaint to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges about the House being misled, which is my prerogative and my intention.

If we return to normal business, we should consider the state of the people of Palestine. They are shuffled into compromise after compromise but then told that it is not enough. The Palestinian people have suffered too much and have been punished for making a democratic choice and for not accepting a settlement imposed on them. They were punished again this week after coming to a compromise in which Hamas de facto recognised Israel. Hamas is prepared to call a ceasefire and grant de facto recognition to Israel, yet the Palestinian people are told this is not enough. In the history of humanity there has not been a more cruel decision by the world community than the one imposed on the Palestinian people. I invite the Leader to arrange a debate on it after she clarifies the issue of the House being misled last night.