Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Like others, I express my utter condemnation of the appalling killings and maiming by the Israeli defence forces of so many civilians in Gaza, particularly a number of children. It is appalling to see carnage of this level. It is a new low. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade had a session on Palestine with Omar Barghouti last week. Even at that point, it was not apparent just how much worse the situation would get. It was particularly chilling to see the US Administration suggesting this was somehow a positive move. Its siting of the embassy in Jerusalem led to the protests.

It is beyond time for empty words. We need to move on and look at the concrete action Ireland can take on this. We should call on the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney, to take action on behalf of Ireland, recognising that, as a small state, we work best collectively. Today the Labour Party leader, Deputy Brendan Howlin, called on the Tánaiste to request an urgent convening of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss what action can be taken against Israel at EU level on this issue, and to convene an independent investigation into the killings. If the UN will not conduct such an investigation, which is likely given the Security Council veto, the EU should then step in and conduct an independent inquiry into the conduct of the Israeli defence forces.