Lynn Ruane (Independent)

I join my colleagues in relation to what happened to the Global Sumud. It is really concerning that there is not more uproar about the targeting of civilian boats in European waters off the coast of Crete. We are meant to be part of a European Union that is supposed to be underpinned by the principles not only of peace but also international law. It is not acceptable that we would allow and accept in international waters, especially in European waters, that drones can target and damage boats and drop chemicals on 500 civilians who have put their lives at risk to continue to draw attention to the atrocities in Gaza. As a country, we need be strong in the moment it is happening. There needs to be a statement from the Department of foreign affairs now, today, in relation to what is happening to the Global Sumud Flotilla not only because there are 22 Irish citizens on it but because it is wrong. On every level, we are bowing down to the violation of international law by Israel day after day.

I want to draw attention to the appalling comments by Deputy Troy that when it comes to housing, we should house those who have a job first. I could not believe in 2025 that we would have a parliamentarian who does not understand the idea of supporting the most vulnerable in our society, those with the least. Saying we should make sure they are housed last is so unintelligent, not even to understand an analysis of class and why people end up homeless or unemployed in the first place.

We come back to a new term with a new level of energy but to come in to Commencement matters on the first day of term and have no appropriate Minister to take a single one is not something we should not stand for as Senators. On the first day of term, I am asking myself why I would bother tabling any Commencement matter going forward if we did not even have one Minister with the appropriate brief come in today. That is not with any disrespect to the Minister of State who came in to take the Commencement matters but it completely undermines our role and dismisses us as a Chamber. An important function we have is that we can have a Minister in front of us who has a brief and can engage with us authentically on an issue in the moment. We should not start off a new term like this. I would like this House to take a stand on that and communicate that clearly to the respective Departments.