Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not trying to open a debate at all; I am just trying to provide the context and, perhaps, a window and passage forward. The Senator and I, and indeed her wonderful former adviser, would have trawled through legal opinions, perhaps more than Senator McDowell goes through in a year. It was absolutely mesmerising. Looking at what was considered last night in the Dáil and the reaction to it, and looking at the status quo and current legal opinion, it is a case of asking how we change the system to open a path. I do not think anyone who was in the Chamber last night – the 84 TDs who have been told many times, including this morning, that they are complicit in genocide or that their behaviour is shameful – has had the intention ascribed to him or her, nor does he or she ever want to have it in debate. If we wanted to be partisan about it on the Government side, we could say many things, but I have no interest in that here this morning. I hope the Senators appreciate that the Tánaiste and Minister for foreign affairs, the Taoiseach and the entire Government have no interest in it.

I genuinely and wholeheartedly want to work, and look forward to working, with all Members of this House to see the passage of the legislation on occupied territories as swiftly as possible when it goes to the foreign affairs committee. We will do everything we can. Equally, I will endeavour to be as constructive as possible regarding whatever other legislative tools need to be used. In no way in taking these actions will we ever lose sight of what I believe was unifying commentary this morning to the effect that, as we talk, children are being killed.