Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With regard to Senators Gavan, Norris and Joe O'Reilly's comments on the situation in Palestine and the representation by EAPPI to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade last week they mentioned, I received a similarly detailed briefing on the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs six months ago and I raised the key issue of sites and buildings owned by the European Commission directly or funded by it that have been demolished by the Israeli state. I agree that there should be compensation for those losses.

I reject the suggestion that Ireland is doing nothing in this region. As I mentioned in a previous debate on the Middle East, Ireland is obsessed with the region. The Government has invested more than €8 million in the past year, be it through peacekeeping operations or directly in overseas development aid to the Palestinian people. I have sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian people and I do not say that lightly. The conditions in Palestine are horrendous, be they inflicted by the aggressive, inappropriate and illegal actions of the Israeli state or the domestic terrorism of Hamas. We all need to work together on this. I welcome the fact that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Taoiseach, as well as President Higgins, met the Palestinian President, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, last week. I hope we continue to be obsessed with the Middle East. Hopefully, some day there might be an element of relief for this most deprived part of the world.

Senator Ó Ríordáin also mentioned the issue of tax evasion and the comments on individuals. The Senator has left the Chamber and I need not go into the full detail. I agree that everyone has the responsibility-----