Frances Black
Industrial and Commercial Panel · Independent · Ireland
“If we lost, however, under the European Communities Act 1973 we could simply repeal that aspect of the legislation and maintain the goods ban, so there is absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain. This is the approach Spain has taken.”
“By exempting these flows from the Bill, the Government is implementing a trade ban that deliberately omits the vast majority of Irish trade. It is consciously letting large companies providing tech, IT and other service-based trade off the hook. To me, that is a tragedy.”
“It was already the legal position of the Government of Ireland that we must ban trade with settlements. Of course, nothing changed in this period in EU law either. The EU treaties are unchanged.”
“It is intended to stay like that up until such point that a full ban is agreed at EU level, which as we know may never arrive. My colleague, Senator Higgins, will speak more on this aspect later. These obligations regarding services existed long before the ICJ advisory opinion in 2024.”
“I could not do any of it without all of those people I mentioned - I hope I have not forgotten somebody. My husband who is here has also been my rock, as has my family. It is the activists but it is also the Palestinian people who we are all here for. We cannot stop this work. We have to keep going. We have to never give up.”
“I will take a minute, if that is okay. I know everybody is anxious to see the match but I feel it is imperative I thank the people I have been working with for the last eight years who have stood by me.”
The complete record
Every one of 496 lines we hold for Frances Black, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 10.
“Even though the Minister of State has done phenomenal work, if that is not included in this Bill, I would be concerned that the next Minister who comes in will not have the same understanding, empathy or compassion that the Minister of State has on this issue. That is why it is really important we address it in this Bill. I would really love the Minister of State to be open to considering it.”
“I want to come back on the need for independent advocacy. I am conscious that the UNCRC has expressly called for the Bill to end the practice of children being admitted to adult units. Before I go any further, I have to acknowledge the amazing work and how the Minister of State has reduced numbers in this area. I am very aware of how well she has done that and I commend her on that. However, I highlight the fact that the UNCRC has expressly called for the Bill to end completely the practice of children being admitted to adult units and it has called for the recognition of children's rights to independent advocacy in the updates to the Mental Health Act. That is something we have to look at and take on board.”
“We have to ask what other advocates a child in care has to speak to their wishes in this case. These children should have access to an independent advocate to support them, to have their voices and feelings heard and to have that smile and that warm hand. How frequently is capacity being assessed in these cases? These are, as I said, exceptionally vulnerable children, particularly those in care who are over 16 and deemed to lack capacity. What protections are in place to ensure their capacity is supported as much as possible? That is something we have to look at it. What is there for them and how can we support them in the best possible way?”
“I agree with the other speakers on this issue. I cannot imagine what it is like for children in care or even that they are in care and are alone and isolated. Then they have to go through the mental health services and not really have anybody by their side to offer a warm smile or somebody who can say they have their back and ask what they want. It is very hard sometimes for adults to communicate, never mind children. In my experience of working with adults, the most difficult thing for them is to communicate what is going on for them, what their feelings and emotions are and what is going on in their minds. It is very hard to do that. I think adults should have advocates as well but we will come to that later on. However, for children in particular, it is really important and vital that they have somebody there.”
“I want to get some clarity from the Minister of State. The 2001 Act currently allows the review to happen before 14 days. Why change it to a 14-day minimum if the 2001 Act currently allows the review to happen? Can I get clarity on that?”
“This could leave serious questions about the initial deprivation of liberty. My concern is around the human rights-based approach that we have to focus on. We have to keep that in mind for people who have had really horrific experiences with this.”
“I still have a concern, bearing in mind that the expert review group of the Mental Health Act examined the issue in depth and concluded that a maximum time frame of 14 days for review hearings is more appropriate and more consistent with the human rights standard. I believe that shortening the time frame could help drive a shift towards earlier review, stronger protections and the development of more robust community-based alternatives, which are really needed here. Overall, there has to be a more holistic approach. In the vast majority of cases, if an involuntary detention is revoked before a mental health review board hearing, the hearing does not proceed. This is deeply concerning, as it means there is no independent review of the original decision to detain the individual.”
“Additionally, it is concerning that the existing statutory provision, which allows up to a seven-day extension beyond the 21-day limit, means that in practice, a person may have to wait 28 days before his or her involuntary admission is reviewed considering the demand and stresses our mental health care facilities are under. This outcome is something that could become the norm for those being involuntarily admitted. Incorporating the expert review group's recommendation of a 14-day maximum would bring the Bill into closer alignment with best practice and ensure that the legislation reflects Ireland's commitment to a rights-based, person-centred approach to mental health care.”
“The expert review group of the Mental Health Act examined the issue in depth and concluded that a maximum timeframe of 14 days for review hearings is more appropriate and more consistent with human rights standards, and its recommendations included several important considerations. First, international human rights norms, including those underpinning the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, make it clear that delays in reviewing detention are inconsistent with rights-based practice, and shortening the maximum timeframe would offer better protections to those seeking care and ensure that their rights are not inhibited by unnecessary delays. Ideally, this could happen alongside the development of more robust community-based alternatives.”
“I want to pay tribute to the Minister of State. I know how much work she has put into this, and I know also that this is an area about which she is extremely passionate. I am very aware of all of the work she has put into new services over the last few years that she has been Minister of State. I just want to say that at the top. I am here to speak about amendment No. 84, which seeks to reduce the maximum time for a mental health review board hearing to take place after a person has been involuntarily committed from 21 days to 14 days. My amendment is trying to address my deep concerns about how human rights standards are maintained during the course of a person's involuntary admission.”
“I look forward to working constructively with colleagues across the Seanad. I hope this Bill will be supported by the Department, as well as by local government representatives. I thank the AILG and Local Authorities Members Association for attending the briefing. I also want to very quickly ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to come to the House to provide an update on the supports being provided to artists who are being evicted from the Ormond Art Studios and The Complex in Dublin. This is an issue that we should debate in the House.”
“Rather, it is to ensure that elected members are provided with the professional supports, protections and working conditions required to carry out the increasingly complex statutory and representative duties expected of them. These duties now span housing policy, planning oversight, community development, climate action, local enterprise, transport and much more but without adequate training, administrative support and clarity around entitlements, we risk undermining the very people responsible for shaping and scrutinising decisions that affect every household in this State. The Bill is designed to be constructive. It compliments rather than duplicates the work of the Local Democracy Taskforce and seeks to give legislative effect to many of the concerns raised across all 31 local authorities.”
“They are the advocates for local need, the monitors of service delivery and the democratic guardians of local plans, budgets and policies. Successive reports from the Council of Europe, the Seanad Public Consultation Committee, academic research conducted by Association of Irish Local Government, AILG, and Maynooth University and the Local Democracy Taskforce have highlighted the growing pressures and expectations placed on councillors, alongside widening gaps in support structures, training and resources. The intention of this Bill is not to upend existing systems or reopen debates about the balance between local and national responsibilities.”
“I want to speak about my Private Member's Bill that will be before the House tomorrow evening, the Local Government (Support for Elected Members) Bill 2024. Colleagues should know that this Bill seeks to address long-standing and well documented challenges facing local democracy in Ireland. I hosted a briefing on this recently but not many people turned up, which was disappointing. This legislation is rooted in a simple but fundamental principle. As we all know, our local authorities cannot function effectively unless the people elected to lead them are properly supported, equipped and empowered to fulfil their roles. Local government is the tier of democracy closest to our communities and councillors are always the first point of contact for citizens.”
“It promises a better and fairer future for all our people, a remarkable opportunity now to be grasped. Preparing well is wise, and the last five years focused on raising the profile of the debate. The next phase will be equally challenging. If we are serious about our timeframe, this must include a politically negotiated timetable for a border poll. This will assist in bringing much-needed clarity and certainty as we prepare for constitutional change. I support this significant motion today. I thank all Sinn Féin colleagues for tabling it. I also take the opportunity to commend the vital work of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I think we need an Oireachtas committee specifically on this, which I know is something the Minister of State thinks is a great idea as well.”
“These include an all-island civic initiative, the creation of dedicated governmental structures, a new Oireachtas committee, which the Minister of State mentioned, and the steps needed to deliver a programme for a new Ireland. The Ireland's Future document followed widespread dialogue and engagement, including with all political parties, and it is heartening and encouraging to see so many give constitutional change such a place in their work. It is a joy to be working in that area. The presidential election showed us again the genuine appetite to talk about and prepare for a united Ireland. I agree with what the Minister of State said, in that it was terrible to see what happened to Heather Humphreys. Let me conclude. A new Ireland is affordable, manageable and deliverable.”
“Davy Adams and Mr. Wallace Thompson, who, as the Minister of State might know, has not been too well recently. We send him good wishes. I will be hosting a briefing in the new year with all those people, who are coming to the audiovisual room. I would encourage everybody to come to that briefing. There is an onus on us to ensure that this place is welcoming to all. We need to demonstrate every day, in word and deed, that a new Ireland will be inclusive of all identities. I believe that the Ulster-British tradition will be central to making a success of a united Ireland. The progress we are all making is truly remarkable, so what are the next steps? In 2024, Ireland’s Future launched a landmark publication, "Ireland 2030: Proposals for the Period Between 2024 and 2030", where detailed proposals were advanced.”
“I commend the efforts of political parties, including Sinn Féin’s commission on the future of Ireland, the SDLP's new Ireland commission and those parties that have made significant interventions, including the Labour Party, individual members of Fine Gael like the Minister of State and the Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, from Fianna Fáil, and the ongoing work of our own Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. As the Minister of State said, it is essential that parties work constructively together in the common goal of achieving unity. In particular, I pay tribute to all those from a traditional unionist background who are displaying genuine civic courage, including Rev. Karen Sutherman, a good friend of ours who is now co-chair of Ireland’s Future, Ms Claire Mitchell, Mr. Ben Collins, Mr. Glenn Bradley, Mr.”
“We know that, and we cannot forget how we got here. Therefore, I take this opportunity today to commend all of those over the many years who have played a leading role. That includes the civil society group I am involved with, namely, Ireland's Future, academics such as Professors Colin Harvey, John Doyle and Seamus McGuinness, who have all appeared before the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement many times, initiatives such as the Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South, ARINS, project, the all-Ireland women's assembly, which is doing phenomenal work, and, of course, the shared island unit and Mr. Eoghan Duffy, who is doing great work in this area.”
“We are not surprised that so many in the North now want to exercise that, and we must accept that the evidence strongly suggests we are on a pathway to that border poll. The well-evidenced trends are there for us all to see. As the British Brexit shambles shows us, it is essential to plan and prepare properly in advance of any such vote. We have to get this right. My view is that we are entering a phase in our history when a referendum in the North can be won. We must think about that for a moment, and the practical implications. The British Government will not be able to delay this forever. We have to accept that. We cannot ignore the clear evidence. As I said, change is coming, and we have to be prepared for it. Now, it is the mainstream debate. It is happening in every household around the country.”
“Our collective commitment to a united Ireland also remains at the centre of our own Constitution. The choice is hard-wired into the governing arrangements for the North. The EU has recognised that a vote for unity will mean automatic return for the North. I know that is something the Minister of State is specifically interested in. We are moving from aspiration to reality. What may have once seemed a distant dream is now on the horizon. We cannot forget the promises made about a united Ireland and the way we will share our island in the future. We cannot forget that a united Ireland will be a shared island. People have a choice that will involve the right to self-determination and the principle of consent.”
“It is great to see the Minister of State here. I commend Senator Conor Murphy and his Sinn Féin colleagues on introducing the motion. It is a fantastic idea. I welcome the opportunity to contribute. It is great that the Minister of State is supporting the motion. We are living through a momentous time of opportunity for our country - with reunification closer than ever. We have the hope of a united and shared future, the end of harmful separation and corrosive division and the achievement of national reconciliation. A new and united Ireland is within our reach. As we consider this prospect, we should recall time and again that the conversation about constitutional change is framed by the Good Friday Agreement, as a matter of law and of politics.”
“I ask the Government Members here today to put pressure on their leaders to act with urgency to pass the occupied territories Bill in full, including services, and set a decisive course for Ireland that reinforces our commitment to the rule of law, human rights and responsible foreign policy. I also call on the new Minister for foreign affairs to come to this Chamber today to give us an update on what the delays are.”
“Spain recently passed its own version of the occupied territories Bill, including provisions on services, in about four weeks. The US is a major trading partner of Spain. If Spain can do this quickly, why can it not be done here? We have been waiting seven years. The Taoiseach has suggested that concerns about US anti-boycott, divestment and sanctions laws, but earlier statements indicated the Bill is about the occupied territory and not a general boycott. We need a clear timeline for the Bill, the final Attorney General advisory decision on services and a consistent and brave policy stance that can be implemented and tested. The Government is constantly saying it has done so much and that we are one of the main countries in the world that supports Palestine, but it has done absolutely nothing.”
“In June 2025, the Government asked for more legal advice about including services. In July, the finance committee was told that the advice would sought as a matter of urgency. It is now November. Where is the advice? When will the Bill come before this House? The foreign affairs committee recommended, which included all parties, and unanimously stated that services should be in the Bill. The Taoiseach has mentioned concerns about implementing a ban on services. In 2014, after sanctions against Russia, Ireland banned not just goods but also services and investment. Businesses followed. The ask today is simple: apply the same standard. If it is possible to track and ban services in one situation and one area, why not do it in this one?”
“It applies to illegal occupations anywhere in the world and not just to Israel and Palestine. That was what was said by a member of Fianna Fáil, which introduced the Bill in 2019. In the general election debate last year, both major parties said they would pass the occupied territories Bill. In fact, the Taoiseach made a very strong commitment to passing the Bill and said he would strengthen it. Here we are, one full year later, with no legislation and not even a Second Reading. It is listed as priority but the Bill has not appeared. We need to know when the Bill will be brought to the Dáil. The Government has said it is waiting for the Attorney General's advice on whether services can be included. In 2024, the Attorney General said that restricting trade with settlements could be done without problems for services.”
“A motion was brought to the Dáil this morning by People Before Profit calling for the passing of the occupied territories Bill, with provisions on goods and services, before Christmas. The motion was supported by all parties. I am so disappointed that the new foreign affairs Minister did not even turn up. This is one of the most important issues on the foreign affairs agenda and the Minister did not even turn up. I go back to 2019, when Fianna Fáil introduced the occupied territories Bill in the Dáil. At the time, Deputy Niall Collins stated: If passed, Ireland and her Parliament will be sending a strong message, that it condemns the occupation of territories which are deemed illegal under international law. This Bill, at its most basic, is about upholding international law.”
“I have been informed by county councillors from the area that a book of condolence was opened this morning at the civil offices in Ardee where members of the public can pay their respects. We should probably have one here in Leinster House as well today. This tragedy, with the loss of five young adults, will have a deep impact on families and local communities in Carrickmacross, Drumconrath and Scotland. I know I am not alone in saying that our deepest sympathies are with those families and communities and they will all be in our thoughts and prayers in the coming months while they come to terms with this horrific, heartbreaking loss.”
“We had Alan McCluskey, 23, from Drumconrath, County Meath; Dylan Commins, 23, from Ardee, County Louth; and Chloe Hipson from Lanarkshire, Scotland, who was living in Carrickmacross. It is such a tragedy to the families, and to all of their communities and all who are mourning, to lose those five young lives. It is the worst type of traffic collision that could possibly happen. I also want to mention the rescue services that responded to the accident. Among them, obviously, were An Garda Síochána and the emergency services, including Dundalk Fire Brigade, the HSE paramedics and hospital staff. I am aware that it must have been extremely difficult to attend the scene and I commend all of our first responders and other services for dealing with this in the best way that they could under extremely difficult circumstances.”
“On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group, I send our condolences to the families of the five young people, all in their 20s, who lost their lives in the serious road traffic collision that took place outside Ardee, County Louth, on Saturday evening. They were all friends and had their lives ahead of them. For that to be taken away is absolutely devastating. I know this has completely shocked all of Ireland, particularly the communities across the north east. I send strength and support to their loved ones and extended communities. I would like to read out their names and ages because it is really important to have them recorded here today. We had poor Chloe McGee, who was 23, and Shay Duffy, who was 21, both from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan.”
“His legacy will continue to inspire us to build, with clarity and kindness, a world where every immigrant can contribute, belong and thrive.”
“Let us strengthen ties between Ireland and our global diaspora through sister-city initiatives, cultural exchanges and economic partnerships that lift both sides. Let us provide mentorship, hospitality and opportunity for new arrivals who bring energy, talent and hope to our cities. Let us uphold the values of dignity, generosity and resilience that Billy embodied every single day. Billy Lawless understood a simple truth: when we invest in people, we invest in communities that endure. He showed us that leadership is about steady, compassionate action, and about turning a vision into a doorway through which others can walk. Billy Lawless will always be in our hearts. I really want people to know that. He made a huge impression on so many people here in the Oireachtas.”
“He worked to strengthen the bond between Ireland and the United States and to build structures, institutions, organisations and, most of all, friendships that continue to support newcomers who dream of contributing to their new homeland as fully as he did. We remember Billy as a gentleman to his core. As the Tánaiste, Deputy Simon Harris has said, while we mourn his passing we also celebrate the enduring spirit he embodied – a spirit that shows that a community thrives when its members lift one another up, when business is about more than profits and when public service is a labour of love. As Senator Boyhan said, let us commit to carrying forward Billy’s work in concrete ways. Let us support pathways for immigrant families to participate fully in civic life, including voting rights and fair access to opportunity.”
“I will never forget him for that. He was also very good to me when I was in Washington running a charity event. He turned up at it, supported it and sponsored it. He was incredible. In public life, Billy was the first Irish-American Senator for the diaspora, representing voices that often go unheard. He served with a sense of duty and curiosity, contributing to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence and representing the diaspora with diligence and pride. If we measure a life by the impact it leaves on others, we will note that Billy’s life was a long, bright imprint. He championed the undocumented Irish with courage and clarity.”
“He believed in practical human-scale policy and clear, compassionate messaging. He explained the issues and inspired action. Billy’s family, namely Anne, his wife of more than four decades, and his four children, Amy, Billy Jnr., Clodagh and John Paul, must be so proud of him. He left a legacy that ensures every day in households and the businesses that continue to run. To his friends, Tracy, and his colleagues in the Independent Group, I say we must remember how close all of you were to Ian Marshall. Billy gave the gift of friendship in abundance, and also warm hospitality, a ready story and a steadfast willingness to roll up his sleeves to get things done. Billy was very good to my daughter when she was over in Chicago. She had a gig in Chicago and he rallied the troops to make sure there would be bums on seats for it.”
“He built gathering places where people could celebrate, reflect and rally around shared values. Through it all, he had business acumen and an eye for outstanding hospitality. His relentless work ethic helped many families to find steadiness and dignity in a challenging world. However, Billy’s work actually went far beyond all that. He knew that a city’s strength lies in its most vulnerable members and he dedicated himself to immigration reform and the rights of Irish emigrants. He co-founded Voting Rights to advocate for Irish emigrant voting rights in US elections. I was involved with this when Billy was here and was very proud to be. Billy helped to forge strong links between Chicago and Galway, serving as co-chair of the Galway–Chicago Sister Cities committee since 1998.”
“He grew from a young man who loved oarsmanship into a leader who really understood the power of community. That is what Billy really stood for. He carried with him the values of hard work, loyalty and a fierce belief in the possibilities that unfold when people come together to support one another. In Galway, as others have said, he was awarded a freeman’s honour, in recognition not only of his success in business but also of his service to emigrants and the ties that bind Ireland to its diaspora. Billy made a deliberate choice to plant roots in Chicago, a city that would become a second home and the stage for a remarkable, decades-long public life. He did not go to America merely to chase opportunity for himself; he went to build opportunity for others. He built restaurants that became community hubs. Think of how wonderful that was.”
“I, too, welcome all our visitors, including Billy’s wife, Anne, his family, Ian and Tracy, and, of course, Councillor Anna Grainger. I am really glad to be honouring Billy Lawless today. He was an out-and-out gentleman. I have never come across anybody so good, kind and decent as Billy Lawless. He was a man whose life was a bridge between Galway and Chicago, between the old world and the new, between aspiration and action. Billy Lawless was more than just a restaurateur, public servant, beloved friend and family member; he was really and truly a beacon for the immigrant family, a champion of the undocumented and a steadfast advocate of the dignity and opportunity every immigrant deserves. Billy’s life, as others have said, began in Galway.”
“I have invited a number of experts in this area to share their knowledge with Oireachtas Members and allow us to have that extremely important discussion. I hope Members will come along tomorrow. I would also like to have a debate on the issue in this House if possible.”
“Once a citizen leaves Ireland for only 18 months, they are dropped from the voting roll. It is important to look at both of these policies and ask whether, in the times we are living in, especially with the type of digital flexibility we have now, it still makes sense to hold these restrictions over our citizens or whether it is time now for change. As we are ten days away from voting for the future President of Ireland, at the very least we need to be opening up these conversations to discuss and explore what options we have and what in direction we as a country can take our voting rights. I will be co-hosting a briefing on voting rights tomorrow in the audiovisual room at 4 p.m. in conjunction with VotingRights.ie.”
“We have the most restrictive voting rights policies in the world here in Ireland. Allowing emigrant citizens to retain their right to vote is established in most nations, including many of our fellow EU countries. There are 800,000 citizens living in the North of Ireland and more than 1 million emigrants living around the world. That is an awful lot of Irish people being excluded and deprived of their right to be heard in their own home country. Even our own Constitution states, "It is the entitlement and birthright of every person born on the island of Ireland, which includes its islands and seas, to be part of the Irish Nation." Some of the restrictions in our voting policies include the requirement to be on the island to vote on election day and the amount of time emigrants can be away from Ireland.”
“I second the amendment. I also welcome Senator Chris Andrews back to the Chamber as well. I, too, welcome the ceasefire today. I absolutely endorse everything Senator Patricia Stephenson said. On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group, we send our condolences to Senator Teresa Costello and her family on the passing of her father recently. Today, I want to speak on voting rights for those abroad. Before I do, I pay tribute to the late former Senator for the diaspora, Billy Lawless from Galway. Billy was the chair of the executive committee of VotingRights.ie and one of several cofounders. As we all know, he emigrated to Chicago in 1998 and created a very successful restaurant business. There, he became a leader in immigration reform. I have to pay tribute to him but I call for a debate on this issue.”
“I hope to meet with the Tánaiste next week to talk about getting the occupied territories Bill passed in full, with both goods and services.”
“Israel built 22 more illegal settlements in the West Bank and more than 111 new settlement outposts, confiscating 50,000 dunams. The Israeli army set up 1,000 military checkpoints in the West Bank and approximately 200 military gates surrounding villages to control who can enter and exit, forcing Palestinian communities to live in gated ghettos and semi-prisons. I could go on. The world is watching and still there is no action. Israel is breaking international law in an unbelievably horrific way and nobody is doing anything. I cannot get my head around it. I do not know what is going on. Millions of people are out marching in the streets, including in this country. Thousands were at the March last Saturday, I was there myself, and there is still no action. We need action and we need it sooner rather than later.”
“During the war on Gaza, the Israeli army threw more than 160,000 tonnes of explosives, which exceeded eight times the explosive power of each of the nuclear bombs thrown on Japan during the Second World War. That equals 76 kg of explosives for each man, woman and child in Gaza. All universities in Gaza were totally destroyed. I come to the West Bank now. More than 1,000 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, including 33 killed by Israeli terrorist settlers. Some 18,000 Palestinians were arrested in the West Bank in the past two years. Approximately 50,000 civilians in the West Bank were ethnically cleansed from three refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarm. Sixty Palestinian communities in the West Bank were evicted from their land by terrorist settlers and the Israeli army.”
“A total of 2,700 families were erased from the civil record, all killed by the Israeli army. A total of 5,943 families were killed, leaving only one person alive from each family, in most cases a child. More than 4,000 Palestinians had an amputation of one or more of their limbs. A total of 1,670 medical doctors and other medical professionals were killed and hundreds were injured. A total of 254 journalists were killed, along with 140 civil defence workers killed while trying to save the injured. More than 166,000 Palestinians were injured in Gaza. A total of 460 civilians died of starvation, including more than 146 children. A total of 90,000 children are suffering from severe malnutrition.”
“I wish to read out a press statement that was sent to me by Dr. Mustafa Barghouti MP and leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, today, on the second anniversary of the genocidal war in Gaza. Today marks two years since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, during which Israel committed three war crimes in parallel: a genocide, the collective punishment of the civilian population including starvation, and ethnic cleansing. According to health and medical sources, the Israeli army committed the following crimes during the horrific war and this has to be put on the record. A total of 67,139 Palestinians were killed. Their names and IDs are recorded. Five out of six of them were civilians. An estimated 9,500 Palestinians are still missing under the rubble. More than 20,000 civilians killed were children.”
“I was referring to what Senator O'Loughlin said this morning. I said to her that we need action. It is vital that the occupied territories Bill be passed as soon as possible and that it include services. I will meet the Tánaiste next week to discuss this with him. The Bill's passage would send an unbelievably strong signal to the Palestinian people and the human rights activists, including those in Ireland. These are amazing people who are doing unbelievable work in this area. We have to get going and act quickly on this. I am surprised the EU has not made a statement regarding the illegal interception of the flotilla. I have not heard anything yet. We in Ireland need to put pressure on the EU to make a statement and say what has happened is absolutely unacceptable.”
“I heard what Senator O'Loughlin said this morning but we need to get the occupied territories Bill passed as soon as possible, and we need it to include services.”
“Further, the illegality of the occupation of Palestine, and therefore Gaza, by Israel under international law should be condemned, along with the ongoing perpetuation of genocide by Israel, as concluded by the UN this month, and the continuous disregard for human rights law. Effectively, Israel is acting in total disregard for international law and must be made to face the consequences of this. We have to take the lead in pressing the EU to immediately suspend the EU–Israel co-operation agreement and rapidly move forward on areas where it has domestic powers, such as my occupied territories Bill, the control of the export of dual-use items to Israel, the inspection of civil aircraft carrying weapons of war, and a total divestment from all Israeli companies and institutions.”