Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I echo other Members' thanks to all of the staff, Martin and all his people. I also thank you a Chathaoirligh. Tom Hickey is a gentleman to the tips of his fingers and has always been very helpful to us all. I also thank all my colleagues here.

The situation in Gaza is appalling. How much longer will we have to look at the blood-spattered bodies of women and children and innocent people? Some weeks ago, I asked why in such a powerful world nobody seems to be able to stop this. I cannot put it nearly as well as Senators McDowell and Higgins put it. It is terribly upsetting and terribly wrong. I was one of the biggest critics of the attack on Israel, but what has happened since is really deplorable. I commend the Irish Government which is trying to set the wheels in motion to get a ceasefire. It is appalling to watch this blood and death and absolute destruction. It is incredibly depressing that in this great powerful world with great powerful people in it nobody can bring any type of common sense to Gaza. While the Ukraine war is bad, what is happening in Gaza is deplorable.

It is over three years since a man from Elfin in County Roscommon named Robert Pether was thrown into jail in Iraq where he has been treated horribly. He is a top engineer who is being used as fodder in a row between massive contractors and the Iraqi Government over the building of the central bank in Baghdad. I commend the Deputy Leader who has done more than many people have done. I again appeal to the Government to do something for this man, his wife and children, who for the third year are living in Elfin in County Roscommon with their father locked up in an Iraqi jail where he is not being treated well. This is injustice at its worst and we need to do more on that case.