Nessa Cosgrove (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome. It is very hard for me to come after that. All of us here know what needs to be done. I also disagree with the idea that the Opposition really does believe we are doing enough. We do not believe we are doing enough. The world has changed and is never going to go back to the way it was. We have been really brave over recent years. We know what it is like to live under a state-enabled famine and a colonial genocide. We can do more. We have nothing to lose now. We are seen as a pariah and renegade state in respect of Israel as it is. In my opinion, we should go all in. We have the tools to do it. The occupied territories Bill, which includes services, is ready to be passed. We have nothing to lose. Why are we hiding behind Europe? Europe will not be able to hold its head high and say it did enough but we could. The Sinn Féin Bill debated in the Dáil yesterday should have been supported. There is no reason for us to hide behind Europe. We can be brave, we can stand up and we can do more. As we have heard, warplanes and ammunition are passing through Shannon. That can be stopped. Everyone is exhausted. As a country, we feel this so much because we have been victims of genocide ourselves. The Irish people want us to do more.

I am delighted that Senator McDowell pointed out in his address that Israel is delighted with Hamas. It has supported it and wants to encourage it even more because it wants Gaza to be wiped out. It does not even recognise the Palestinian people. Israel wants Palestine gone as a state but we do not. We know what we need to do. The idea that we are doing enough is not okay. The Opposition is often accused of speaking empty platitudes but the Government has been sitting back for the last number of months. There is no doubt that we were brave at the start but why can we not be brave now when we really have nothing to lose? We see the influence that Israel has around the world. These states are all bought. America in particular is bought and Europe is also bought by Israel. We can see how much influence it has. We do not have to be, however. The mechanisms are there. The Opposition and Government can work together to enact the Bills that have been proposed. Why water down the work Senator Black has been doing, supported by the Opposition? Why not support the Sinn Féin Bill? Why not place an embargo on the transport of arms? I honestly believe we have nothing to lose. We are going over and back and around in circles. It is almost as if we want to outdo each other as to how sad we are but we all feel the same way. Let us not just talk any more; let us do something.