Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank all Senators, including the Acting Chairman, for their contributions to the debate. It follows the constructive debate yesterday in the other House where all parties agreed to the text of a motion. It is important that the Irish Houses of Parliament send a unified message to the international community that we condemn the Israeli attack on the flotilla, demand the immediate release of all detainees and call for an independent and impartial international inquiry. Our best approach is to do this on a united basis. This sends the signal to the global community that we wish to send. A united statement from the Houses of Parliament is a powerful message in itself. That is why I asked Opposition spokespersons in the other House to join me in drafting the motion that emerged from the debate yesterday. This House may also subscribe to that motion.

Senator Daly has a continuing interest in this issue and has raised with me many issues pertaining to Gaza, both as a Senator and arising from his involvement with the Free Gaza movement. Other Senators have also taken an interest in the issue in which there has been a general interest and with which there has been engagement across the House and elsewhere.

Senator Leyden referred to the politics of the latest atrocity. No country has stood more clearly than Ireland on a range of issues from the war in Gaza onwards. Because of this we have been the focus of much attention. I do not say this to seek any commendation. Whether we like it, it is simply a fact.

Senators mentioned the Goldstone report. We did not stand by on it. We endorsed it at the United Nations General Assembly where we had only four other EU countries behind us. We were disappointed by this. Thankfully, in a second vote some months later a greater number of EU countries supported our stance. At the time of the Gaza conflict, there were some very tough and challenging meetings at EU level. However, I have noticed a shift in opinion and orientation among some EU member states. Senators have been honest in observing that 27 member states must come from different perspectives and backgrounds. The conclusions arrived at last December under the Swedish Presidency were strong in their commitment to a two state solution and in terms of the blockade on Gaza. They were much stronger than previous ones. Ireland had a significant input in their shape with the Swedish Presidency and other like-minded states. I have, therefore, noticed an evolution in thought and approach among European member states in the last 15 to 18 months. It is slow and may not be perceptible to many looking in from the outside, but I have witnessed it. It stems from the power of debate and argument which can be long and arduous, but is, in essence, the fundamental power we have. People call for action. That is the most effective action we can take.

Side by side with individual issues and episodes that have occurred, there is the broader question of trying to be effective and influential in brokering a peace deal. There is much respect for Ireland across the Middle East and we want to approach this issue with a degree of balance. Senator Quinn accused me of lacking balance. He is entitled to do so. This is a debate and it is important that we have one. I believe I am balanced in my approach to this matter. I speak out when I see blatant injustices taking place or illogical policies that are counterproductive to the security of Israel and a strategic resolution of the conflict. The blockade of Gaza is wrong because it amounts to a collective punishment of the people. That is the fundamental point. All of this happened because of the illegal blockade of Gaza.

After my visit to Gaza, I was followed by Bang Ki-Moon and Cathy Ashton. We raised the issue at European Union level and spoke to President Obama who asked us for our observations and Secretary of State Clinton. The events of the past week happened because non-governmental organisations representing citizens with strong views on the situation in the Middle East wanted to demonstrate their opposition to the blockade. The Israeli Government has issues with that but citizens in the free world are entitled to articulate their position, to oppose and to object once it is within peaceful means. As a democrat, I must uphold the right of people to do that. Israel needs to be more tolerant. I am not naive and I acknowledge that within any non-governmental movement, elements can emerge from time to time. We witnessed that in El Arish in 2008. Many people came back to me and said they did not realise there were elements within that. In this context, people are entitled to profile and highlight a blatant injustice such as a blockade and to seek to bring humanitarian aid through.

Senator Quinn felt that was unrealistic and unreasonable and he referred to a comment I made, about which I was a little taken aback because I asked whether anyone was suggesting, given what has happened, that it would be unreasonable to allow the ships through. No one in the wide earthly world, including those in the Free Gaza Movement flotilla, would object to inspection, even in the zone. As it turns out, I spoke to Shane Dillon, a participant, and his observation was that everything was screened before it was taken on board his ship. In any event, if the Israeli authorities wanted to screen ships, they could.

The bottom line is that is not the issue. The issue is UNRWA cannot access cement to build schools because it is regarded as something that could contribute to the manufacture of a war material and, therefore, is not allowed in. The list of prohibited goods changes at different times, which is farcical. The international community wants a comprehensive range of material to be allowed in for the reconstruction of Gaza. Billions of dollars were committed by the international community at the major donor conference in Sharm el-Sheikh in the aftermath of the Gaza war. Countries such as France are waiting to build hospitals but little progress has been made. It has not been comprehensive enough and it is only scratching the surface.

The situation would be transformed if the blockade were lifted and if reconstruction took place in Gaza. Much needed employment would be generated for many young people because Gaza has a young population. There is significant malnourishment of children, which I witnessed. It is harrowing to watch fathers and mothers queuing desperately for basic food supplies. UNRWA does not supply a comprehensive food basket. It provides basic supplies such as flour, which gives people the bare necessities in the context of the food nutrients a population requires. Despite all the talk from Israeli spokespeople, it does not stack up.

This reflects the wider peace process. The blockade has been a significant barrier to advancing talks between the Palestinians and Israel to get to where we all want, which is a two-state solution and people living in harmony. It is also wholly counterproductive. Senator Quinn asked about what cannot get into Gaza. The bottom line is the blockade has sustained Hamas. There are many tunnels which are controlled by the organisation. Its members collect customs duties and taxes on goods that pass through the tunnels. I met legitimate business people who have been wiped out. They had traded with Israel and through Israeli merchants for a long time. They have gone out of business and are watching a new generation of business people emerge who are under the control of and supported by Hamas. This makes no sense and is counterproductive to any strategic objective of Israel or the international community. Seeing is believing.

We were satisfied with the conclusions of the European Council meeting in December regarding the blockade. A range of issues were raised by Members. For example, I mentioned that Ireland is respected but we must balance how we approach various issues. Membership of the OECD is not, and cannot be, interpreted as an endorsement of Israeli policies. It is an economic organisation which issues reports on economic development. In no way can it be construed as supporting Israeli policy. I have not taken the boycott-disinvestment route because it would not help to achieve the objective we want, which is a resolution of the Middle East conflict. We have made that call in the context of how we approach this.

Ireland was asked to chair the Middle East resolution at the recent Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference because it was felt by those in charge that we had some credibility and would have the capacity to bring countries as disparate as the US and Iran together and devise a formula and language that would meet the requirements of a successful conference. As one of the founding members of the NPT, we were concerned that progress would be made at the conference, which was held in New York over the past month. One of our civil servants, Alison Kelly, chaired the Middle East resolution and did an excellent job. She was a tremendous tribute to our diplomatic service and to the high calibre of staff within the Department. Perhaps people need to understand the broader context within which we must operate from time to time. We must have credibility with all sides if we want to make a contribution to the resolution.

I accept that creates challenges and problems but we have been fair. For example, we facilitated the ICTU conference in Dublin Castle by organising the hall and so on to ensure the widest exchange of views and contributions. We knew many of the themes of the conference related to boycott-disinvestment but we supported ICTU's right to host it and to invite speakers and so on. I was invited to speak and I outlined my perspective on boycotts and disinvestment in regard to Israel.

I sent a letter to every Oireachtas Member about the EU-Israel Association Agreement. There are association agreements with many countries but the same principle of boycott and so on applies. There were moves to upgrade that EU-Israel agreement but we said there could not be an upgrade because of the stalled political process in the Middle East and future upgrades would have to relate to political progress and resolution of the conflict. I have yet to detect the political will to resolve this. The proximity talks were undermined in an incredible fashion, which was difficult to comprehend, when US Vice President Biden visited Israel. When he went to launch the talks he was undermined by an announcement of the construction of a settlement in east Jerusalem. The talks, which should have begun much earlier, still have not commenced. Ultimately, they will lead to direct discussions. There should be Palestinian reconciliation but that has stalled for various reasons. It is a major inhibitor of progress because one needs a unified, coherent Palestinian voice at the talks that ultimately will take place.

Senators Dearey, Ó Brolcháin and others referred to the Rachel Corrie. I have made it clear publicly on the basis of my discussions with the crew members that they are pacifists and committed humanitarians and they indicated they will make it clear to the Israeli authorities that they have no wish for confrontation or conflict.

They will demonstrate that physically on board in terms of their demeanours, dispositions and so on, and in terms of the information they are going to impart to the Israeli authorities. That is why I have asked the Israeli authorities to avoid any interception in international waters. Given all that has happened they should allow the flotilla unimpeded into Gaza. They have said they will not, and want to maintain the blockade, but there is an urgent need for people to calm the tension here. Nine people have been killed. My utmost priority is to ensure no one else is injured or killed.

Many Senators have said this is a watershed in terms of the blockade and as regards the international community and its approach. I hope it is, in terms of the blockade, although what has occurred is an awful tragedy since nine people are dead, that we know about. Families are mourning tonight who should not be, as a result of the humanitarian situation.

Finally, as regards the passports, I made the situation clear two weeks ago in the other House. I had a week in China, but we have received a report from the Passport Office and from the Garda Commissioner. I indicated two weeks ago in the Dáil that I would be proposing action to Government that would be appropriate to the issue of the forging of Irish Passports, as regards the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. When news came in on Monday, I believed that would be the wrong time to announce that action, in the midst of all that had unfolded that day and on Tuesday. Any announcement would, frankly, have been lost and I also wanted to await more details and information about last Monday's events. I am proposing action to Government in relation to that and we will announce this in due course. I have always made it clear how unacceptable it is and was to forge Irish Passports and place Irish civilians at risk while undermining the integrity of the Irish Passport system. An appropriate response will emanate in relation to that.

I hope I have dealt with most of the issues Senators have raised. I have dealt with Goldstone. I thank and appreciate the genuine interest of Members of the House. My final comment in relation to Senator Quinn's assertions is that I do not believe there is any comparison between the Cuban missile crisis and what happened last week. They are many miles apart in terms of the reality of the situation. We said on Monday and I repeat tonight that the full story is not out yet. Very few people have spoken to those who were on the actual ship where people were killed. The situation has yet to unfold in that regard. We have had one controlled version, and there was a blanketing of all information on Monday and Tuesday, a jamming of all communication. My understanding is that the vast majority of cameras and videos on board the ship were confiscated, so it is prudent to hear what those on board have to say in terms of their perspective of what happened. I am in no doubt that a decision to engage militarily with the flotilla was most ill-conceived and wrong. It was that decision that led to the death of nine people, and the injury of many more. In my view, that was a fundamentally wrong decision and it should never have happened.