Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle for moving so swiftly to invite the Government to consider extending an invitation to President-elect Biden to visit Ireland. They are clearly in tune with the Members of the two Houses and the people of Ireland.

It is with sadness that I convey my sympathy to the people of Palestine, who have lost one of their most prominent politicians, Saeb Erekat. He was their chief negotiator for decades. He was a champion of dialogue and of Palestinian rights. He repeatedly voiced his support for a two-state solution. He was secretary general of the executive committee of the PLO. In my capacity as foreign affairs spokesperson and on behalf of the Green Party grouping, I convey my deepest sympathy to the Palestinian president, the Palestinian people and his family. I have contacted Dr. Jilan Abdalmajid, who is the head of the mission of the state of Palestine in Dublin and is based in very close proximity to Dáil Éireann, to convey to her our deepest sympathies on this very sad occasion for the people of Palestine.