Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by our leader in the House, Senator Darragh O'Brien.

In response to Senator Bacik's reference to the forthcoming Seanad by-election, I wish to put on record that it is the intention of the Fianna Fail Party to present the electorate with a candidate about whom I am very pleased. I also wish to place on record the fact that while we all have enormous admiration for Maíria Cahill, whom I have had the pleasure of meeting on a number of occasions in the House, as a brave and courageous woman, we, as a political party, believe that it is serving the democratic process at its most effective to present the electorate with alternative choices. Obviously, there will be further details forthcoming in that regard.

I also wish to place on record my condemnation - I am sure those on all sides of the House would agree with me on this - in respect of last week's attack on two Israeli parents who were driving in their car with their children. Effectively, these people were assassinated or executed in front of their two children. There has been very little international reaction to this incident. I suppose I should not be too surprised because there is an overwhelmingly pro-Palestinan sentiment in this country that is fuelled by certain elements within the media. All I have ever attempted to do here is not to take sides but rather to present an alternative view to that which is sometimes aired in this House.