Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like other speakers, I send my thoughts and prayers to all our troops in Lebanon and the Middle East and all the UNIFIL troops.I thank the soldiers for their service. I thank their families, who spend every day worrying about and praying for their loved ones. I support the calls to have a civic reception for our peacekeepers if they return home.

I ask for a debate on the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. I very much welcome that the Attorney General will be providing new legal advice on the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. The Bill was passed by this House, and there is overwhelming support for it. In light of the new circumstances, the Bill should be passed by the Oireachtas as a matter of urgency. We all agree that what is happening in the region is absolutely deplorable. Israel is constantly flouting international law and is not being held accountable for it. We, as a State, need to hold it accountable as much as we can.

I acknowledge the gathering of small business representatives outside Leinster House today and their call for support to keep their businesses up and running. They have called for the restoration of the 9% VAT rate. I support that measure for the hospitality sector, in particular, and also for the hair and beauty salon sector, which is struggling under the increased cost of doing business, including the increased cost of hiring and keeping people in work. These are vital industries in small, local communities. They support many of our sports clubs and charities. We must find a way to reduce the cost of doing business and ensure these crucial businesses are viable into the future.