Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree completely with Senator O'Sullivan. The trivialisation and denigration of politics that flows from personalised attacks on individuals is damaging and corrosive of the whole legislative process and the democratic process.People may have made mistakes in the past and do stupid things; as far as I am concerned, they do stupid things every day on social media. I really think we should lift our eyes from the trivia and deal with the important issues.

I second Senator Craughwell's proposed amendment to the Order of Business.

Will the Leader ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, to come to the House to have a discussion with us on the State's attitude to the Palestinian settlements, especially in the light of what Secretary of State Pompeo has announced as America's position, namely, that contrary to all rubrics of international law, America is taking an exceptionalist and unilateral position that the settlements are not unlawful. Of course, America can do what it likes in some respects and can state what it does or does not consider to be unlawful. However, if there is to be complete demolition of the concept of international law rules, if the idea of occupation and settlement of territory seized in war and expulsion of the people in it is to be legitimised and regarded de factowith impunity as a state of affairs, that is a serious matter, on which Ireland should take a stand. The Tánaiste should come to the House to explain to us where Ireland really stands on it and whether it has the guts to state twe object strongly to this démarche by the Americans.

I want to add one footnote, without naming the writer. In the last week a letter writer to The Irish Timeswho is probably known to most Members of this House wrote to the effect that the rendering illegal of settlement goods produced in the Occupied Territories was of a piece with requiring Israelis, if they came to Ireland, to wear the Star of David. That is deeply offensive to those of us who supported the Bill, who strongly support the right of the state of Israel to exist and who agree with the many people in Israel who oppose the occupation of the Palestinian territories. It is deeply offensive for a former Member of the Houses to equate support for the Bill with a mentality that would ask Israelis to wear the Star of David in Ireland.