Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is on the Order of Business that we should have no debate on Ukraine and pass a resolution in line with that in Dáil Éireann. I have no argument with the terms of the notice of motion that is there. However, I want to say this. They are very mild in their terms. I am thinking of the number of people who have already been killed and such things, and this is very diplomatic language. It is Iveagh House speak, if I may say so. Whereas I suggested that we could have a motion passed without debate, I believe we could say more, and we should say more.

In regard to what Senator Gavan said about Saudi Arabia and Yemen, I fully agree with him. I have spoken and written as strongly as I can on the subject of Khashoggi, the Yemeni war, the use of cluster munitions on Yemenis and the like, by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and the differential approach that there apparently is to what one condemns and what one does not condemn.

I would say that Sinn Féin should be careful. Its record speaks for itself. The party only needs to read the Irish Examiner today to see just how ambivalent and how reticent it was about raising its voice when it mattered, before all this took place. I want to put that on the record, in a cordial way, but nonetheless let us have some reality here. What is happening is wrong, it is evil, a crime against humanity and a war crime. This motion does not talk about sanctions or anything like that. It should go much further. I am just putting my views on the record. It has obtained cross-party support and I do not want to be divisive but I think we have to have a different attitude.