Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Next Wednesday marks the 34th anniversary of a seminal moment in the history of our State, that being, when Ms Mary Manning refused to handle South African goods in Dunnes Stores on Henry Street in this city. The strike that followed on from that action lasted three years. I am sure the Tánaiste is familiar with the history of that. In 1987, we became the first State in the western world to introduce economic sanctions against South Africa. We led the way.

I believe that the views the Tánaiste has articulated in this debate are sincerely held, but Senator Black's Bill will be our Dunnes Stores moment as regards Palestine. We will get a chance to break a consensus that has failed the Palestinian people and to take decisive leadership on this issue. Under international law, the development of illegal settlements is a war crime. We are engaging in commerce with people who are committing war crimes. We are waiting for our European partners to do what is right, but they are not doing it. Not only that, but they cannot even criticise the decision of President Donald Trump to put an embassy in Jerusalem.

In the absence of leadership at European level, this is our Dunnes Stores moment. This is when our State once again takes decisive leadership in the absence of international leadership and stands by an oppressed people. I commend Senator Black. The Bill will be her Mary Manning moment and the House's Dunnes Stores moment to do what is right yet again.