Joe Conway (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to address an issue that has cropped up only in the past number of weeks on foot of a very kind and gracious invitation I got from the American Embassy to attend its Independence Day celebrations on the eve of Independence Day, which is coming up next month. Ordinarily, it would have been an invitation that I would have been delighted to accept, particularly as a new Senator. In view of the circumstances, however, I felt obliged to write the following letter to the chargé d’affaires:Dear Mr. Clausen

I want to thank you for your invitation to your Independence Day celebrations in July. As a newly elected Senator I should have been happy indeed to accept it. So, I hope I do not come across as churlish or ungracious, but I feel I must decline it.

It probably will not come as any great surprise to you that this course is taken on foot of events in Gaza and other turmoil in the Middle East. As I said in the Seanad last week, truckloads of words have serried out in Assemblies and media about the conflict there... and will continue to be uttered. But sometimes we get the chance to embolden a little our words with action, and this is one such time.

Nothing is enabling the horrific behaviour of Israel like the steadfast support of the USA. And - even though I am a friend, and fond of the American people - I just cannot on this occasion pinch my nose and look the other way.

Le gach dea ghuí beagnach i gcónaí.

I am just saying that, a Chathaoirligh, not in an attempt to be in any way prescriptive to other Members, but this is one such occasion and method by which we can practically say we abhor the support the United States is giving the government in Israel.