Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)

On behalf of the Green Party, I want to be associated with the expressions of sympathy for Garda Kevin Flatley. I extend my sympathies to his family, colleagues and friends. Earlier today, some of us attended a packed briefing in the audiovisual room, held by Irish Healthcare Workers for Palestine. We sat through one of the most harrowing presentations I have ever seen in these Houses. The figures are quite staggering. A total of 300,000 children are malnourished, of whom 3,000 are acutely malnourished. There are many child amputees. There is huge psychological trauma on children. UNICEF has called this a war on children. Deep psychological scars are left, not to mention the physical injuries these children are suffering. We pay tribute, obviously, to the medical workers who are working on the ground in absolutely deplorable conditions. This again, and it can never be raised enough, highlights the need to enact the occupied territories Bill and for the Irish Government and State to continue to raise its voice. That is one thing that was said to us clearly by the medical workers and other workers on the ground in hospitals in Gaza, who are working in such horrendous conditions. Dr. Mike Ryan said we are all complicit if we do not do so. I cannot highlight this enough.

On a more positive note, the national network of No Name Clubs will gather in Tullamore, County Offaly, for its annual awards ceremony this weekend. My son, Colm, is a volunteer leader with the organisation. It is a wonderful organisation that probably does not get enough credit for the work it does with young people in providing safe, alcohol-free venues and outlets for activities for young people. We do not have enough of these activities in this country. We have heard from many youth organisations that they are underfunded. It is also about having safe spaces for young people to go to alcohol-free gigs, for instance, and to be able to enjoy alcohol-free spaces in our towns, villages and cities. We see the sale of alcohol Bill that is being pushed through and the alcohol industry trying to extend licensing hours. What we actually need is the opposite. We need spaces for young people to congregate where they feel safe and are free from the impact of alcohol. I wish the national network of No Name Clubs all the best with its celebration this weekend. Perhaps we could invite it in here at some stage to celebrate the work it does.