Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I think the focus at the moment is to achieve peace, to achieve first an immediate and lasting ceasefire and then second to provide humanitarian access into Gaza. Our focus at the moment is not on recovering lost sums of money, damaged property or interrupted projects, as distressing as that may be. The first priority has to be to achieve peace. I agree with the Senator. Although Israel, of course, like any country, has a right to defend itself, they have gone too far. They are at the point now, I think, where Israel is losing support around the world from its allies. We are in a situation where the wanton killing of women and children - the majority the people being killed are of course civilians, the vast majority. They are not all Hamas fighters. The vast majority of the civilians being killed are women and children. This is unconscionable and unbearable and it has to stop. As I have detailed in the answer, Ireland has been very much involved in providing funding for projects in Gaza. I know both the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Coveney before him were personally very committed towards that work. I think that Irish people have a deep connection and sympathy with Palestinian people. Our first priority has to be to achieve peace and I know the Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, is working for that today with other European leaders.