Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to add to some of the earlier discussion about the concern around the resumption of extraordinary bombing in Gaza, which is being layered on top of starvation, the denial of water and, in particular, a form of systemic violence which has been highlighted in a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council.I refer to the systemic use of sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence. The report has highlighted the genocidal nature of some of the actions. The attacks on sexual and reproductive healthcare services have impacted on 540,000 women and girls and resulted in the extraordinary loss of life of many pregnant women. There was a deliberate attack, reported in mid-November 2023, on a women's rights centre that worked with survivors of gender-based violence in Gaza city. This attack had a clear gender dimension, with sexualised and gendered insults directed against Palestinian women graffitied on the centre. Of course, there have been the attacks on IVF clinics, on the most basic thing of life. As well as that, we have all seen pictures from last night's bombing of the children, some very young, killed and injured there.

A discussion in this House is very long overdue, not just with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the many issues but explicitly about what Ireland is doing to actually speak and take action in respect of human rights and international law. The Taoiseach has indicated that he is going to be raising these issues at the Council meeting this week. On his return from the European Council, I would like him to come in and explicitly talk to the Seanad. Getting through meetings alone is not actually a triumph. A triumph is managing to actually say something of significance or giving leadership by actions. I would like the Taoiseach to talk to us about what he is actually saying and doing in a meaningful way to act on the human rights breaches in Gaza, next week if possible.