Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in condemning the murderous actions of Israel over the weekend. Senator David Norris is right about using drones to kill the Palestinians. I had the privilege of visiting Jenin, Hebron and Ramallah a year ago. I think it was the greatest education the Seanad has offered me, given what I saw and who I met. The Palestinians are a great people, a brilliant people, but a people living normally in captivity - that is the only way I can describe it - with walls the size of those of the Seanad in between their farms, their trees, their houses and their businesses. There is no electricity, or very little, during the day and no running water. I remember thinking it was like an open prison, and we have called it an open prison. I agree with Senator Ivana Bacik who says Europe has a huge part to play. The EU has an enormous part to play but it seems to be living in a kind of inactivity on the matter. I agree with other colleagues across the House and I would like the Tánaiste to come before the House. I never agree with Sinn Féin because of its past, which has ended in peace, but I have experience of having lived through its military past, none of which I agreed with. However, I agree with Sinn Féin that the Tánaiste should come before the House. Perhaps he might tell us what exactly the Israeli ambassador said to him and what he intends to do now.