Frances Black (Independent)

It is absolutely outrageous that what happened yesterday to Irish citizens has been used as a political football and that cheap shots have been made at another party here today. What Israel is doing is beyond belief. It is committing genocide, killing children and breaking international law. The world is watching. None of the governing bodies is doing anything. Plenty are talking about it but there is no real action. What just happened here was absolutely outrageous and I hope that the constituents of the Member who said those things will call him out for his behaviour this morning.

I second the amendment that Senator Ruane proposed. I pay huge respect to the human rights activists on the Global Sumud Flotilla. They are so courageous and brave and are doing what the governments should be doing. I was thinking this morning about the people in Gaza, the starvation and the children who have lost parents and are now looking after one another. Yesterday, I saw a seven-year-old comforting a five-year-old whose parents had been lost. If this was happening in any other country, we would be up in arms and protecting those innocent victims and civilians.

It must be lovely for the people of Gaza to see the flotilla coming in and the courage of the activists. I hope we get the debate. I encourage all Members of the Seanad to vote to support the amendment to the Order of Business. I am pleading with them to support the amendment. We need to show the courage of this House and that we can do this. We need to show the families of those on the flotilla that we care and have compassion.I am asking every single one of the Members here today to please support the amendment to have this debate.