Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

I commend the Minister, Deputy Martin, on his actions to date. He has acted very responsibly and has caught the mood of the people. I thank Senator Dearey for sharing time. I commend Senator Doherty on his words, which were very poignant. There is a very close relationship and an affinity between Palestine and Ireland because of the nature of the conflicts that have taken place in Ireland and Gaza.

I received a call late one night from the Mayor of Beit Lehia, the third largest city in Gaza. He is an independent mayor and he informed me his house was surrounded by tanks that night. This is the type of country in which these people live. I received a text message recently indicating there were several gunboats approaching the flotilla and this concerned me greatly. Subsequently, lives were lost. It is time to stop the rhetoric. I agree with Senator Doherty it is time to consider diplomatic expulsions.