Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to make reference to the interim report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes which Senator Boyhan mentioned. There has been a lot of mixed reaction and disappointment to the pushing out of this report. I have submitted a Commencement matter for tomorrow through which I hope we can explore this issue further.

I add my voice and that of this House to global condemnation of reports that the US President, Donald Trump, will today declare that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. This is an extremely dangerous and worrying move. Israel's claim that Jerusalem is the complete and united capital of Israel is in violation of international law. The status of Jerusalem is one of the most sensitive issues in the region as east Jerusalem is the future capital of the state of Palestine, although it is still illegally occupied by Israel. A unilateral move by the US will have grave consequences for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process which is already on life support. I remind Members that in October 2014, this House formally recognised Palestine as a state. We cannot allow the US President, Mr. Trump, to undermine that.