Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Nelson Mandela, who is not here any more, rightly praised Dunnes workers for their solidarity and action, and their boycott. That goes to show that practical political solidarity and tangible action such as boycotts can have an effect against unjust apartheid, and in this case illegal occupation of Palestinian land.

Now is the time for action, and I will conclude on this final point. It is time for us to end this State's unjust trade with illegal colonial settlements. One of the previous speakers, Senator O'Reilly, for whom I have nothing but the utmost respect and regard, expressed what I am sure was a legitimate concern to the effect that support for this Bill would put us in a particular camp. If it puts us in the camp of the right and the just and in the camp opposing apartheid, that is the camp in which we need to find ourselves. I ask Members to reflect on the big, bold initiatives. Look at some of the initiatives that were taken in our own peace process. President Bill Clinton and others were advised not to grant Deputy Gerry Adams a visa, saying that the President would be seen to be partisan, or to be in a particular camp. That is the kind of initiative that transformed and enabled our peace process. That is the kind of initiative, the kind of big, bold incentive that sometimes must be pursued. We have an opportunity to do that tonight, and I encourage all Seanadóirí to support this Bill.