Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, Senator Mary Ann O'Brien made a strong case for re-examining the plans for the new national children's hospital. The day before, her husband, Mr. Jonathan Irwin, enclosed a letter to all of us from a mother who made a strong case also. I hate the thought that we will delay this matter for any longer, but we saw what happened when it was going to be located on the Mater site. Now similar complaints, concerns and objections are being made about the St. James's Hospital site. Senator Mary Ann O'Brien made such a strong case that it deserves attention. The onus is on us at least to respond to one of our own Members who, with the Jack and Jill Foundation, has huge experience of exactly the sort of difficulty the new national children's hospital aims to resolve.

I wish to respond to Senator Ó Murchú. I have a slight worry about the attitude that says Israel is always wrong. One must expect a response at some point if rockets and bombs are being dropped on civilian areas in Israel on a permanent basis. Those in Gaza who are responsible for that must recognise that a response will be made, although it may be over the top. How are they going to solve it otherwise? We must get a balanced viewpoint on this, rather than condemning somebody all the time for responding to the aggravation they have had to face. I am not getting involved in the actual details of it because we are a long way from it. It would be like somebody in Israel telling us how to sort out Northern Ireland. We must have a balanced attitude to that whole conflict between Gaza and Israel.