Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for attending today and the Tánaiste before him. Unfortunately, two minutes simply do not allow for enough words to describe the horror, the anger and, to borrow the words of the Tánaiste, the repulsion I feel watching 600 days of atrocities in Gaza. What little time I have must contain words like condemn, genocide and slaughter of innocent people. I would like to stand here as a human being - a mother - crossing party boundaries to unite in doing whatever we can to stop these crimes against unborn babies, children, mothers, fathers and medics. When this insanity started on 7 October 2023, I was still a journalist reporting on what was taking place. Now I stand here as a politician who can use more than words to make that change. I feel these two professions in particular need to be allowed into the heart of the settlements as a matter of urgency to relay the real truth of what is taking place. That is on both sides of the conflict. Sadly, I imagine it is far worse than we are hearing and that is already more than 60,000 deaths.

Our Government has consistently been at the forefront of international support for Gaza and the Palestinian people, often taking pioneering steps that distinguish it within the European Union and globally, as acknowledged only recently by the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland. As far back as 1980 we were the first EU country to call for Palestinian statehood and, last year, one of the first officially to recognise the State of Palestine and pledge €20 million to aid relief. However, we have to do more. We have to metaphorically starve, through trade bans, those who are carrying out these murders, just as they are actually starving people by withholding life-saving services. The occupied territories Bill must be enacted. Following the drafting of a revised Bill, I will stand proud as part of a nation to become the first EU member state to implement such a ban. The ceasefire and hostage release deal agreed in January brought hope to Israelis and Palestinians. I now call on all parties to return to talks aimed at immediately agreeing to a ceasefire and hostage release deal. The remaining hostages must be released. We, as a Government, have consistently called for that.

We cannot do this alone. This has to be part of a united global push to stop what is taking place right under our noses. My colleagues on the other side of the House last week endeavoured to read out some of the names of those murdered in Gaza. It would take all day or even all week. I am sure I speak for everyone here when I say no more names must be added to that shameful list which has happened during our lifetime.