Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to conclude on a practical point. It may seem like a very small effort, but one of the things that has been very good about our response to the refugee crisis in recent years has been community sponsorship, which has enabled communities to operate together to bring Afghan refugees, for example, the families of judges and women judges, to safety with their families in our country. I understand that this is also operated - in fact, I know this is operated - in the case of Syrian refugees as well.

As it happens, I know of one community that is in a position to bring to safety a family trapped in the south of Gaza, a family who would not be a security threat to our State - it is very legitimate to always consider that dimension of issues too - and that wants to help. I would like to ask the Minister of State, and maybe I ought to know if there is already, whether there is a possibility of operating something along the community sponsorship model to bring people in Gaza to safety where it is possible for them to get out if they are appropriate people to assist, namely, innocent civilians, and where there is a realistic community possibility in Ireland to bring such families to safety. Is that already possible? Is this something the Government will consider now in light of the unique circumstances that prevail in Gaza? Right now, people are in immediate danger of their lives. Whether we call it collateral damage, unjust collective punishment or the unwitting endangerment of innocent civilians does not matter to the people who might be most vulnerable. Is it possible to look at whether that could operate in light of the current circumstances were it possible for them to get out and were it possible to be processed in an acceptable way? No matter what happens in the coming weeks, life in Gaza is not something that can be compared with normal living, as we all know. I would be very grateful if that is a response the Minister of State can give either now or if I can engage with him. This is a question I should have been asking anyway, but it is coming on the back of a particular inquiry I received and with which I want to help.