Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I add my voice to other speakers regarding the ongoing loss of life in the Gaza Strip as a result of the exchange of rockets across the border between Gaza and Israel. While nobody should condone the violence and loss of innocent lives in Israel and the Gaza Strip, I hope the ongoing discussions, with Egypt acting as an honest broker, will reach a satisfactory conclusion so that the conflict can end. According to news reports a Hamas spokesman indicated that 80% of an agreement had been reached. It is always the remaining 20% that proves problematic but the eyes of the world are watching for what Israel is going to do next. I hope common sense will prevail because, whatever sympathy Israel may have engendered as a result of the thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately at it over the past several days, some of which have reached the outskirts of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, there is at least some semblance of discipline in the context of what the Israelis say they are trying to do.

One cannot condone yesterday's incident in which a police station was supposed to be targeted but which instead resulted in horrendous loss of life with an entire family being wiped out. It is important that the House should give its attention to these matters, particularly as the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will be taking over the EU Presidency in January. There is no question that the complexities of the Middle East problem mean that we will be revisiting this topic. I understand the Tánaiste will address the Seanad prior to Christmas and I hope he will be able to set out the Government's position on the events as they unfold. This House has a proud record of addressing Middle East issues, irrespective of which side of the argument one takes, and I hope that tradition will continue. I express my deepest sympathy on the loss of life on both sides of this terrible conflict.