Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like the Leas-Chathaoirleach, I very much welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery H.E. Mr. Ion de la Riva and his deputy, who have both represented Spain wonderfully since they arrived here. I recall having a conversation with the ambassador last year when I pointed out to him that after Britain, the second largest number of flights every week from Dublin Airport were to Spain. Even the ambassador was surprised to learn there were 300 flights a week from Ireland to Spain. Ours is a population of only 5 million people, yet we have 300 flights a week to Spain and 56 flights a week to Malaga alone in the summertime from Dublin Airport. Obviously, there are also flights from Shannon, Cork and other airports such as Knock, but it shows how popular Spain is as a destination and the great friendship we have. Indeed, my brother is on holidays in Spain at the moment and is coming back tomorrow. I think every family in the country has been to Spain at some point. When I was growing up, we used to have Spanish visitors in a house across the road and we got to know them well. Many Spanish people come to Ireland to learn English, which is another great bond we have.

On my own behalf and, I am sure, on that of everyone in the House, I pass on my sympathy and condolences to the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, on the very recent death of his mother. Peter and I served on the south Dublin mid-Leinster health forum for many years as councillors and I have known him for a very long time. He is an excellent TD and Minister. It is very sad for him, having lost his dad relatively recently, to have now lost his mum. As a House, we might pass on our sympathy and condolences to him.

During this week when there has been the anniversary of the horrific attack in Israel of 7 October, we should remember that more than 100 hostages remain unaccounted for. I call for a cessation of the violence generally but, equally, for those hostages to be released. These are both young and old people, who were taken from their homes and the music festival to Gaza. Some of them were held hostage for 300 days and then killed, while others were killed very soon. The attacks were very much the catalyst that has caused so much devastation in the region ever since. I would like us to have a debate on the Middle East, sooner rather than later, and also to have a discussion as to why, at this point in the cycle, we decided to upgrade our presence in Iran to full embassy status. It almost seems like a reward for Iran at a time when it is funding Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen and other organisations that are inflicting so much devastation on that region. None of us likes to see the images we are seeing happen every day in that region. I ask that we have a debate on the issue as soon as possible.