Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the decision by the Government of Israel to ease the blockade of the Gaza Strip, where 1.5 million people are in an open prison. In fact, it is very similar to a concentration camp. What is happening in that region is tragic. However, this is a tribute to the nine Turkish volunteers who sacrificed their lives on behalf of the 1.5 million people in Gaza and travelled on the flotilla with others, including people from Ireland. The decision is a step in the right direction. I appeal to Hamas not to resume sending missiles into southern Israel. They are provocative actions against a country which will respond, and not with an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. That is the reaction of the Israeli Government to Hamas in the region. It is a step in the right direction and I commend Deputy Micheál Martin's work in this regard.

It would be useful to have a debate on opinion polls and how they are compiled. I raise this with regard to section 59 of the Electoral Act 2000. As far as I recall, it was amended in this House. I believe last Friday's opinion poll was manipulated in favour of the Labour Party against Fianna Fáil and, indeed, undermined Deputy Enda Kenny's leadership of the Fine Gael Party. The Irish Times-----