Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)

I also offer my condolences to our Seanad colleague on the very sad passing of her father. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

I welcome the peace that has come to the people of Gaza. I hope it will be a long-lasting peace. We in this country know how difficult it can be to sustain a peace and the work that is required by those on all sides, both internal and external, to ensure it lasts. We have all been horrified by the scenes we witnessed over the past number of years in Gaza as a result of the bombing and the devastation, the starvation and the famine to which it gave rise. What we have seen has been utterly disgusting. I really hope we are now closer than we have been in the past to a long-lasting two-state solution.