Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We can do this. We can do it in a week or two weeks and get it done. We can send a signal to the world. There are no legal impediments. Indeed, the Belgian Government has already passed its version of the occupied territories Bill. It is the least we can do. Otherwise, we will be guilty, alongside all of the other politicians across the world, of not taking concrete actions because words are simply not enough.

One other issue that has been alluded to by Senator Higgins is we must confront what is happening in Shannon Airport. There have been 11 direct military flights from Shannon to Israel. There were 85 flights to the Middle East between October and July alone, supplying support to Israel for its genocide. We have to call this out. I have been consistent throughout my eight years in the Seanad in calling for an end to US military use of Shannon. I have not been alone. Senator Martin Conway has supported the call as well as Senator Alice-Mary Higgins and others on this side. ONce cannot condemn genocide and then turn a blind eye to actions involving our Government to support that genocide. Let us work collectively as one and support the occupied territories Bill. I specifically call on the Leader, in her response, to make that call today and stand up for justice in the world.