Thomas Byrne
Meath East · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“We are very proud of the work they do in what are often very dangerous circumstances. Let us be 100% clear: our troops will only ever do peacekeeping, peace enforcement or conflict prevention in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and, of course, as with every action of this Government, in accordance with the Constitution.”
“To be clear on what our troops will be doing, they will be doing peacekeeping, peace enforcement and conflict prevention. That is what the law says; not what the Deputy imagines it to be. We are bound by our Constitution and international law. The legislation changes nothing in that regard.”
“We are bound by international law. We are bound by international law since our Constitution came into force and we continue to be bound by international law and always will be, no matter what happens to this legislation. International law governs what we do as a Government.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 140, 157 and 185 together. I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister. A commitment to reform what is known as the triple lock was set out in the programme for Government.”
“-----in accordance with UN principles and, of course, in accordance with our own Constitution, which commits us to peace and friendly relations among nations. The triple lock is a statutory mechanism.”
“Switzerland, the classical neutral country that is not even a member of the European Union and will never join the European Union, it is so neutral and independent, accepts UN, EU and OSCE mandates. I understand the situation is similar in Austria, which is another neutral country. By the way, it is also similar in Germany.”
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“I wish to go back to the exact wording of the European Council because it is very important. Paragraph 30, which relates to all of the defence conclusions, states: "The above is without prejudice to the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States, and takes into account the security and defence interests of all Member States, in accordance with the Treaties". That is a specific mention to Irish, Austrian, Cypriot and Maltese neutrality. Member states do feel a threat. If you go to Lithuania, Poland or Finland, you will see cross-party support on all sides of the houses for their own sovereign decisions to pay and invest in their defence to ensure they are secure from the threat of Russia.”
“We are known for that around the world. I am very proud of it. It is a consistent policy of my party to be as generous as possible because we know it is necessary in many of these countries. I am very proud of the work that our Department does, working with both Irish and local people on the ground in foreign countries. The very issues Deputy Ó Laoghaire raised will be on the agenda of the G20 in South Africa, where Ireland is a guest this year, and at the EU-African Union summit. The position of Ireland, as the Deputy knows, is very progressive on this. We want to see these countries allowed to blossom from under the weight of all the various burdens they have, including debt.”
“the EU will continue to foster human-centric technological solutions that protect individuals and their data, and safeguard digital accountability, transparency and societal resilience. The European Council stresses the importance of protecting minors ...". This is what the European Union and the leaders agreed to do. That is what will happen through the simplification process. We do not want unnecessary red tape on companies. That is what the prime ministers, the Taoiseach and all of them agreed on. What the Deputy is saying is not a reflection of what the prime ministers agreed at the European Council.”
“I just do not accept that we are asking anyone to gut the AI Act or GDPR. The whole simplification agenda is designed to cut red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy that are costing companies a lot of money and, quite frankly, jobs in all of our constituencies. At the same time, however, it will protect basic rights that we and the European Union have fought hard for and developed, such as the areas of workers’ rights, data privacy, equality and environmental protections. These areas are absolutely central to what the European Union is about. The simplification agenda is not in contradiction to that. What European leaders agreed to at the European Council is that "...”
“It is absolutely frightening. I would like to think that if it happened to us, we would have the same help from other member states. That is what solidarity is about. It was necessary to do that at the time. We want this to end because it is costing a lot of money. There is no question about that. Let us end it and save lives.”
“The detail of the matters Deputy Healy-Rae brought up are under the Department of justice. There was a discussion on Ukraine at the European Council where President Zelenskyy spoke. European leaders spoke pretty directly to him as well. The war against Ukraine is costing us all a lot of money. We need it to end for our financial and economic security, as well as our own security in general. We want that war to end. The EU must continue to put as much leverage - I again use that word "leverage" - on Russia. There were serious efforts at and around the European Council to put huge pressure on Russia to end this and that work continues. The war is costing Ukrainians their lives and homes. The destruction there is absolutely unbelievable. There are quite a number of Members who have visited Ukraine. I have visited myself.”
“Obviously, when it comes to the EU-Israel association agreement, you need a qualified majority of member states. A Commission proposal is needed first, which we finally achieved. A qualified majority of member states is needed thereafter. We will continue to work on that but the position of Ireland could not be clearer.”
“We want to keep these measures on the table. Some other member states do also. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy wants to keep them on the table too. They require more than our support, however. The EU–Israel association agreement is an agreement between the EU and Israel and I do not believe there is any possibility for groups of member states to start veering out of it. It would have to be done at EU level. This is exactly what the Taoiseach would have said in the room at the European Council, and it is exactly what we have been saying. I am sure the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will say it tomorrow. It has been said all along. In fact, I said myself at the General Affairs Council in preparation for the European Council that we must keep these measures on the table. This is Ireland's position.”
“I have been saying for some months that the EU has leverage and should use it. We call for the measures President von der Leyen put forward in September and certainly support them. We do not believe they should be taken off the table while illegal occupations and annexations continue. There is an embryonic peace process that we want to support to bring genuine peace to the people of Palestine and Israel.”
“I have discussed this in the past couple of weeks with the Minister for justice, Deputy O’Callaghan. Work is ongoing in the Department of Justice on travel bans for certain individuals. That is happening at national level. We are also pushing at EU level. It is more relevant to the Schengen zone but we can proceed nationally. That is a matter that the Minister for justice is working on.”
“We have been strongly pushing for those types of sanctions. As the Deputy knows, we have been seen as one of the strongest at EU level. We have sought for some time the suspension of the trade agreement, which President von der Leyen proposed, and sanctions on violent settlers. These proposals and all the others put forward require Council decisions. Some, such as that to suspend the trade agreement, require a qualified majority, while others require unanimity. Other member states have considered or taken measures themselves in this space. We are at the forefront of the discussions and debates.”
“I will just speak generally. There are various issues concerning that conflict that I am not working on directly, so I do not have the detail. However, the Minister will raise all concerns at the Foreign Affairs Council. I am sure our ambassadors are also doing so at UN level. The Tánaiste was at the previous Foreign Affairs Council, where the matter was on the agenda. It is on the agenda again tomorrow. These issues are generally dealt with at the Council, and sometimes, of course, at the European Council itself. The EU is fully seized of this, and the Irish Government has been very consistent on it, including through speaking out and financial support.”
“I can say in the most general way that the Irish Government is fully aware of the situation in Sudan and has been vocal about it for some time. Members opposite have raised this from time to time as well. Significant funding has been given by the Government for humanitarian purposes in Sudan this year, and probably last year. The matter is on the agenda tomorrow at the Foreign Affairs Council. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, will be present. It was on the agenda at the previous Foreign Affairs Council, which I do not attend. The Minister can give an update following the discussion. The Taoiseach is going to the EU–African Union Summit, which I believe is next Monday, and will undoubtedly bring forward a very strong Irish position that is consistent with what he has said as Taoiseach and as foreign Minister previously.”
“We welcome that the 20-point plan expressly states that aid should be provided, without interference, through the UN and its agencies and other international institutions not associated with either party to the conflict. International collaboration and the multilateral system have never been more important as we work to implement the next phase of the peace deal and look toward new horizons for peace in Israel and Palestine. Only through upholding principles of collective engagement, dialogue, respect for international law, and through the steadfast support of the United Nations and its bodies - and the European Union using the leverage it has as well - can we advance efforts toward a just, lasting and viable two-state solution that ensures dignity and security for both Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
“With winter fast approaching, the vulnerability of already disenfranchised Palestinians living in these unstable and dangerous conditions grows ever more acute. We have all seen the images Members have spoken about, including of people struggling to keep dry in rain-flooded tents in Gaza in recent days. In light of these devastating circumstances, Ireland welcomes the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which affirms that Israel must uphold its responsibilities as the "occupying power" by ensuring aid can flow freely, and by respecting and protecting the rights of the UN and other humanitarian agencies and their workers.”
“Turning the tide on famine is likely to take a long time. More than 54,000 children are acutely malnourished and face increased risk of death if untreated. Infrastructure is in ruins, with over 80% of the Gaza Strip destroyed. Access to water, healthcare and shelter remains completely inadequate. Diseases are rife. Without urgent improvements and action, more people will die from preventable causes. Despite improvements, the supply of humanitarian aid remains insufficient. The immediate focus must be on flooding humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza. It is unacceptable that the majority of crossings into the Gaza Strip remain closed and that arbitrary restrictions continue to hinder the flow of humanitarian aid.”
“Notwithstanding the positive and welcome recent developments with regard to a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, Ireland has made clear at every opportunity our view that the EU must keep on the table the package of measures proposed by the Commission in response to Israeli human rights and other breaches. In her State of the Union address, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was clear on the rationale for tabling the package of proposals, which remains valid. The primary focus at EU level now is ensuring the success of the ceasefire and peace deal and making a contribution to international efforts in this regard. We do need to give peace a chance to succeed. We also must address the humanitarian situation on the ground in Gaza, which remains no less urgent.”
“In this context, we have welcomed the announcements, as mentioned by Deputies, from the Dutch, Spanish, Slovenian and Belgian Governments, and I have discussed this with many of their ministers. By and large, the discussions relate to goods they have banned from illegal Israeli settlements. The Government has said repeatedly that we are committed to passing the Bill. Work is advancing across a number of strands at official level, as well as continued engagement at EU level - this would be much stronger if done at EU level - with like-minded partners. Regarding the wider issue of EU trade with Israel in the context of the EU-Israel association agreement, which has been mentioned, the European Commission put forward proposals in September that included the suspension of the trade elements of that agreement.”
“We have said we have no policy issue regarding the inclusion of services, but the Bill must be legally robust and withstand challenge. Similarly, the question of implementation must be carefully considered. The trade in services is considerably more complex than goods and there remains considerable legal uncertainty as to whether the inclusion of services is permissible under EU law. We know for certain that the inclusion of goods is permissible under EU law. We need legal clarity on the point on services. We must take into account practical issues with regard to implementation should services be included in the scope of the Bill. It remains the Government’s preference that collective action would be taken at EU level and Ireland continues to support and advocate for this.”
“That was agreed by all parties at the committee. The Department is finalising the regulatory impact assessment, which will be available on the Department’s website when completed. The next steps in the process, including the timeline for the progress of the Bill, are being considered by the Government. The main purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. The programme for Government commits to prohibiting imports of goods. The general scheme, which the committee examined, does not prohibit trade in services with natural or legal persons located in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
“We have consistently called on Israel to halt these activities in our engagements at the EU and at the broader international level. The Minister, Deputy Entee, will raise these concerns at a meeting tomorrow of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. It is within this context that we are meeting here today to discuss the Bill. In June 2025, the Government approved the general scheme. The Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade held a number of hearings on the general scheme and received submissions representing a range of views and perspectives. The committee published its report on the Bill. Work to analyse the report and its recommendations is well under way. There are quite a lot of recommendations to the Government as to what we need to do to analyse, in particular, the potential implications of the Bill.”
“The Israeli Government must stop settlement construction in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2334. Ireland remains deeply concerned by the increasing instances of extremist settler violence and illegal settlement construction, which continue within an environment of impunity, restricting life for Palestinians across the West Bank. It is wrong. The olive harvest this year has been marred by the highest level of settler violence recorded over the past five years. Over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since 7 October 2023. This figure represents 43% of all Palestinians killed in the West Bank in the past 20 years. Ireland, alongside our EU partners, is strongly opposed to Israel’s settlement policy and activities, including in and around East Jerusalem.”
“We must maintain our focus on the situation in the West Bank. I remain extremely concerned by recent and ongoing developments across the West Bank, where Israeli military operations have displaced at least 40,000 people since January and caused widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and homes. The scale, speed and severity of displacement and demolitions is unprecedented. The number of settlement plans and tenders advanced by Israel in 2023 and 2024 represents a 250% increase over the previous seven-year period. At least 849 obstacles that permanently or intermittently restrict the movement of 3.3 million Palestinians are currently installed across the West Bank. The decision to approve plans for settlement construction in the E1 area is unacceptable and a violation of international law, and on that there is broad consensus.”
“We recognise the Palestinian state, as do many other countries, but not everybody does. We need international consensus on that. It is a fragile moment and there is a need to keep positive momentum. The ceasefire is fragile and must be preserved. Much more needs to be done to scale up delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Opposition is not wrong. The people of Gaza have endured unimaginable suffering. We all see that every day. We need all crossings into Gaza fully opened for essential humanitarian aid. Efforts must advance to return essential services, provide for early recovery needs, including the basics of food, water, sanitation, shelter and heating, as well as medical needs and schooling for children. We welcome the prospect of progress, even though it is incomplete and coming from a terrible base.”
“The Security Council has the international authority to make these decisions and I am glad it has done that. There are references in the text to working towards a Palestinian state, which is welcome.”
“It has brought relief to the hostages and their families. Hamas needs to complete the release of the remains of those hostages who were killed, so that their families can properly mourn them. I commend the efforts of the US, as well as Qatar, Türkiye and Egypt, in securing this much-needed agreement. I commend efforts to progress the implementation of what has been agreed. The international community must play its part if these efforts are to succeed. We will have peace and two states in the region. The adoption of a resolution on Gaza by the UN Security Council is an important step towards implementation of the peace plan. The text provides clarity on how the next stages of the plan will be taken forward, including the creation of an international stabilisation force.”
“I would like to begin by restating the Government’s commitment to achieving a just and lasting settlement of the conflict involving Palestinians and Israel. Appropriate, timely and effective action on this crisis has been a priority for the Government. Our foreign policy on this issue has been clear and consistent for decades, grounded in the commitment to uphold international law. We are in a better position now than we have been in recent months, notwithstanding everything that has happened. The agreement on a ceasefire represents progress. It has brought desperately needed respite to Palestinians in Gaza and relief to the people of Israel, not all of whom support the actions of their Government. The long-overdue release of hostages held by Hamas is also very welcome and a significant development.”
“Monumental work is under way to ensure that our EU Council Presidency delivers for the EU and all Irish and EU citizens. We cannot be distracted from that work. Let us not forget that when we talk of the European Union, we are talking about ourselves because we are the European Union, no matter how much some Opposition Members would prefer otherwise. At this critical juncture, let us deal with the issues, including issues in health, and rise above the politics of confidence motions.”
“For any Government to continue in office, any motion of confidence must be dealt with very quickly. Ireland and Europe stand at a very critical juncture. War is taking place on our Continent. As Minister of State in the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade, I am proud to work with the Tánaiste in making Ireland more secure and in securing our European future in delivering record budgets for our defence and security and in preparing for our Presidency of the Council of the European Union. We are working to address really important issues, our capability gaps and to make us more resilient as a country. I work with the Tánaiste to shape EU policies and ambitions in Ireland's interests. In July next year, Ireland takes the lead as we assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.”
“Ba mhaith liom mo thacaíocht a thabhairt don Tánaiste, don Aire gnóthaí eachtracha agus Aire Cosanta, an Teachta Simon Harris, inniu. Ba mhaith liom vótáil ar son agus tacú le rún an Rialtais. There is a bit of a misnomer going around that the Government has manufactured this debate today. In fact, this has been standard practice for quite some time that the Government would table motions of confidence in itself. There are at least five examples when Labour was in government when motions such as this were put forward and the Labour Party supported them, including by then Minister, Brendan Howlin and others in the party. This is standard practice when a motion of no confidence is put forward in a Minister or Government. It should be the practice because-----”
“That pressure has led to some progress around the European Union table but nowhere near enough. That work continues and I certainly hope everybody who is on the various boats and vessels can get home safely. The Irish Government will do absolutely everything in its power to make sure they do.”
“They do not follow the type of rules we have in our Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights; they are not the same. That is why the Taoiseach suggested the other day that it was dangerous. We want to make sure we get people out and get them home, and yes, as Senator Ruane called for passionately, to put an end to this genocide, put as much pressure on as possible and to use the leverage the EU has, and which it has demonstrated it has. I strongly urge Senators to engage with members of the upper house in other European countries that are not on the same page as us and to try to persuade them to persuade their governments. Those governments are feeling pressure, particularly from young people right across their countries and the European Union, and opinion is changing in some of those countries.”
“I assure everybody that we will continue to express it. I completely agree that what is happening is illegal. While I realise it felt like the diplomatic efforts to protect our citizens, which is our fundamental duty as a State, were pooh-poohed, diplomatic efforts on the ground in Israel are very important. So too are our connections with the Spanish and other governments and EU offices to ensure we can protect, to the greatest extent possible, the safety of our citizens. I assure the House that the Government is doing absolutely everything to achieve that. That work will continue and I wish safety for everybody. Essentially, we want to get Senator Andrews and all those colleagues home. That is the first thing. The rules are not the same there.”
“We thought we had sanctions agreed against a number of Ministers and violent settlers. One or two member states stopped those sanctions last week, but the discussion and engagement continues. This is happening every single day in the Council building in Brussels, where we are trying to reach agreement with other member states. I assure the Senators that our voice is as strong as any in persuading other member states to adopt our view and implement the various measures, some of which President von der Leyen set out in her state of the Union address and in the proposals that the Commission came up with some weeks ago. We are working really hard to try to persuade other member states in this regard. Ireland's voice is really strong and will continue to be so. It reflects the public view in this country.”
“To be fair to her, she has been quite outspoken on this issue, and it was her office that made the determination on the human rights violation. Therefore, she has been engaging on this; however, again, she is subject to the constraints that the EU has. Those are constraints that we have supported over the years. With foreign policy, we do not want qualified majority voting; we want to have unanimity. We have all fought for this in various referendums. Unfortunately, there is a constraint that I wish were not in place in this instance. However, at EU level we have seen progress and developments. We have settlement goods legislation, following from Senator Black's proposals some years ago. Other member states are now looking for this. They are also looking for action on it at EU level.”
“The problem is not the Irish Government, because it has been leading the way. I am not saying this to boast but it is a fact. Ireland has been working with the Spanish – the Senator quoted the Spanish Minister – to try to get the EU position to change. Ms Kaja Kallas, as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and effectively the spokesperson on foreign policy for the member states, is the person who speaks on behalf of the EU on these matters. The Tánaiste was in touch with her this morning, presumably making some of the same points the Senator made, including to the effect that the EU should be speaking out on this. Her constraint is that she has to make sure she represents all the member states.”
“We are keeping in contact with our Spanish colleagues. We have a very close connection with them but the idea that an Irish ship would go to the location is simply not tenable, neither practically nor under the law. It never was possible and would not happen. In fairness, our Spanish colleagues have been keeping in very close contact with us. For quite some time, Ireland has been seeking the suspension of the association agreement with Israel, which is what the Senator is asking for in light of the fact that agreement establishes the main relationship between Israel and the EU. That is now on the agenda but it does need a qualified majority of member states to agree to it. I strongly urge the Senator to engage with her colleagues in member states that do not agree with us to try to get them to change their minds.”
“We cannot do that because we have a legal provision called the triple lock. We do not have the capability either. What is said about breaking the siege and all that will not happen. In fact, the Italian and Spanish ships stopped short of where the flotilla is, as I understand it.”
“I said publicly in July, when I was at the Foreign Affairs Council, that the European Union has leverage and must use it, but we can use it only if the Council of Ministers, the Foreign Affairs Council, takes a decision. Unfortunately, for many decisions we need unanimity, and for others we need a qualified majority to agree. My assessment at the moment is that there is not a qualified majority but a blocking minority of member states. What can Senators do about that? I would certainly encourage them to talk to their colleagues in Germany and Italy, engage with them and ask why they are not on the same page as Ireland, what assurances they need and what needs to happen for them to change their opinion. That opinion is changing in some of these countries. We saw Italy and Spain provide ships and a level of protection.”
“I urge people who have not yet got as far as the Global Sumud flotilla to reflect on what he said because it reflects the reality of the situation. Israel is not a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, for example, although it has certain associations. It has an association agreement with the EU and is subject to a human rights clause. There was a determination by Kaja Kallas and her team that there was a breach of that clause. What is the difficulty with that? This is where Senators have a role to play. The difficulty is that not all member states agree with the determination or want to take action as a result of it. I have been engaging with a number of member states over the summer on this.”
“We absolutely condemn this and we have called for the immediate release of everybody who has been taken by Israel. We have never said anything else. We could not be clearer about that, just like Minister Albares, who was quoted earlier. We have worked very closely with Spain and other countries for the past couple of years on these issues. I completely echo the sentiments of Senators across the House. I welcome the family members in the Gallery. I will be happy to engage with them after this debate. The depth of feeling, in Ireland and, I have to say, across Europe, is very clear. Irish men and women have sought to deliver aid and act upon their consciences, and they find themselves in uncertain and potentially dangerous circumstances. The Taoiseach said this.”
“I take this opportunity to assure families and friends who are following events with understandable anxiety and, indeed, the colleagues of Senator Chris Andrews in this House, and the colleagues of Deputy Barry Heneghan in the other House, that the Government remains deeply and continuously engaged on this issue, at all levels. At a political level, diplomatic level, Civil Service level and international level, we are working tirelessly to safeguard the welfare of our citizens. All citizens are entitled to be treated properly and they are entitled to consular assistance. We want to continue the engagement to make sure that that happens and is the case.”
“Albares Bueno, the Spanish foreign minister, on how we take a co-ordinated EU approach and, fundamentally, and this applies throughout, to also uphold international law. This will follow a joint statement that Ireland signed in recent weeks which recalls that any violation of international law and human rights of the participants in the flotilla, including attacks against the vessels in international waters or illegal detention, will lead to accountability. It would be remiss of me not to highlight that our solidarity must also extend to the people of Gaza and the horrific man-made famine and genocide that has been taking place there. Given the appalling scenes that we continue to witness, it is unsurprising that many feel moved to take action in response to the situation.”
“They are working to establish the precise whereabouts of every single Irish citizen to ensure their safety and dignity, and to secure their swift release. This is an evolving situation. All Senators will know it is an evolving situation because they are following the situation on social media. We continue to closely monitor the situation and, indeed, we keep the many Irish citizens involved, including our friends and colleagues, Senator Chris Andrews and Deputy Barry Heneghan, in our thoughts. The Tánaiste is also taking steps to co-ordinate with EU and international partners. This morning, the Tánaiste was in direct contact with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas and spoke to Mr.”
“The detainees are entitled to consular assistance and we are certainly demanding that. Our embassy is well resourced to support our citizens. Our consular team in Dublin is also supporting the efforts on the ground in Israel. In terms of next steps, our understanding is that all detainees will now be transferred to Ashdod Port for processing, and from there to a detention facility south of Tel Aviv, where they will have access to medical teams. We expect this to take most of the day today. It is our expectation that those who have been detained will be given the option to leave immediately and, if not, they will have a hearing within 72 hours. Given that today is Yom Kippur, we expect that processing time may be impacted. We remain in constant contact with our consular team on the ground.”
“Officials from across the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including those in the embassy in Tel Aviv, are actively engaged with the situation. They are providing consular assistance to those affected. Department officials are also in direct and ongoing dialogue with a designated point of contact for the flotilla. The Department has established a point of contact for the families of those affected with the relevant contact details shared with the flotilla co-ordinators. That is a very important aspect because it must be an extremely worrying time for those families. The embassy in Tel Aviv remains in direct contact with the authorities in Israel and the embassy staff are seeking consular access to the detainees as soon as possible, mindful that today is a religious holiday in Israel.”
“Our Dáil colleague, Deputy Barry Heneghan, is also participating in an associated flotilla which is continuing its progress through the Mediterranean sea. In this situation, the clear priority for all of us is to ensure the safety and well-being of our colleagues and citizens. I understand the Tánaiste convened a meeting this morning with senior officials in our Department, including Ireland’s ambassador to Israel, to respond to the latest developments. He will also remain in contact with his EU counterparts. That shows that, notwithstanding any major difficulties we have in relationships with other countries, it is important to keep diplomatic channels open, particularly for situations like this.”
“Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Seanad os rud é gur chur na Baill an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo ar an gclár ar maidin, the Global Sumud Flotilla, an Loingeas Domhanda Sumud. Is cabhlach de 50 long é an flotilla cúnamh daonnúil a thabhairt go Gaza. The global flotilla wants to deliver humanitarian aid - we all do - and establish an open and sustained humanitarian corridor to Gaza. We all have been looking closely at reports on the interception of the flotilla by the Israeli navy. We have confirmation that at least 14 Irish citizens are among those intercepted and detained. There may be two other citizens detained as well. We are still verifying the presence of those two citizens and expect to have confirmation in the coming hours. I am very aware that that cohort includes our colleague, Senator Chris Andrews.”
“We will continue to take measures at domestic level as we wait for an adequate international response. We do not lose hope. We owe that to our friends in both Israel and Palestine, and we will strive for a political horizon to stem this vicious cycle of violence.”
“The Government has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas and a massive increase of humanitarian aid into Gaza and will not rest until these objectives are achieved. As we approach the two-year anniversary of 7 October, we must do more than call for peace. We must seize this opportunity to end the destructive cycle of violence and deliver on our commitments for a lasting peace. We owe it to the many thousands of victims of this dreadful conflict to implement, once and for all, the two-state solution, which is in the interest of both Israelis and Palestinians. Ireland will continue to work at EU and international levels to do what we have been asked to do, in accordance with what have been the basic principles of our foreign policy since 1980, to drive the two-state agenda forward.”