Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is lovely to see our colleague, Senator Norris, back in the House this morning.

I want to commend my Civil Engagement colleague, Senator Flynn, on the introduction of her first item of legislation in tomorrow’s Private Members’ time. I am very disappointed I will not be able to be here tomorrow due to another commitment but I will be here with her in spirit. The Bill addresses outdated references to child pornography in Irish legislation and seeks to replace the term with child sexual exploitation material. These words really do matter, especially when we are talking about something as heinous as the abuse and exploitation of children. I am proud of Senator Flynn and the work she and Ms Jessica Bray in her office have undertaken in preparing this Bill, which will bring the language we use when referring to child sexual exploitation and abuse up to international best standard.

I also want to raise the topic of Amnesty International's damning report on the situation in Palestine - Israel, Palestine and the Occupied Territories - which was published yesterday morning. The report prepared by Amnesty has resolutely determined that Israel's institutionalised and systematic discrimination against Palestine and the Palestinian people amounts to apartheid under international law, which is a serious human rights violation and a crime against humanity. This report lays bare in great detail yet again what Palestinians have said for decades, namely, that they are living under a system of apartheid. Last year Israel’s biggest human rights organisation, B'Tselem, said the same. As Ireland has stood up for human rights and played such an important role in opposing apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s, I think we have an obligation to act on this report. We need to move beyond words of condemnation and begin to take a concrete action. Our inaction on this issue has become even more unjustifiable. I believe enacting my Occupied Territories Bill is a swift and decisive action we could take in Ireland, an action that could perhaps promote the international community to finally hold the Israeli state to account for the human rights violations it is perpetuating against the Palestinian people. I ask that some time be set aside to debate this issue in the Chamber and that the Minister would come into the House to update us on what the Government will do about this in order that we can determine how best we can use our political influence to bring peace and prosperity to all people in the Palestinian territories.