Gabhaim buíochas le gach éinne a bhí ag caint. Aontaím le go leor rudaí atá á rá ag an Teachta O’Flynn faoi accountability but I disagree with him fundamentally on this. The Israelis have not let sport exist. When Alaa Al-Dali was trying to leave Gaza for the Olympics, he was deliberately shot in the knee. His own words described it as "a grenade which exploded". He is now an amputee. I met him when I was on the flotilla travelling to Gaza. Speaking of Nelson Mandela, his grandson was also on that flotilla. I speak to him regularly. He is a current elected official in South Africa. It is a repeat of what we said on yesterday's motion in the sense that sport is and can be a time for peace. However, when a country is inflicting genocide, multiple reports have said it is inflicting genocide and UN independent reports are stating that it is inflicting genocide and using starvation as a weapon of war, breaking every international law, illegally abducting EU citizens in EU territorial waters, then it has broken everything. Bringing them here and allowing them to play on our pitch while standing for Amhrán na bhFiann is not nearly the same as the comparison that was just made by the Deputy. Under the Geneva Convention, we have every obligation to do everything that we can to oppose anyone that is inflicting genocide. There is a rumour that Germany's away jersey is green because we were one of the first countries to play them after the Second World War. I used to say that thinking it was true, but it is not. We were one of the first countries to play them. We always have been a lobbyist for peace. Ireland is recognised worldwide for our peacekeeping missions, diplomacy, neutrality and everything that we have done. However, when we eventually played Germany, it was after the regime had fallen and the Germans had changed. This is the fundamental point. We are not against Israelis; we are against the current Israeli regime. I have said this 100 times. After my speech last night, I had people sending me emails and tweets saying that I am antisemitic. I am not antisemitic. This is against genocide. We had Israelis on the flotillas. Regarding the most recent flotilla, we had the video of the Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir I welcome that the Government has brought in sanctions. I welcome the investment that the Government has made in aid for Gaza and how it has been using its voice in the EU. I hope that when we take up the EU Presidency and we are setting the agenda, we use it to the best of our ability to be a broker for peace. Regarding our strength, níor bhain sé go stairiúil leis an líon saighdiúirí nó the big defence budget. Ireland’s power is our respect worldwide as a broker for peace. That is why there needs to be a message sent out from this motion. I thank the Social Democrats and the Opposition. I thank the Minister of State for saying at last week's committee meeting last week that he is not going to go to the game. We need to look at in that sense. We did before in 1982. Another Fianna Fáil Government did it back in 1999. We can do it again. Let us consider how quickly we and FIFA brought in sanctions for Russia. There is a clear hypocrisy and issue here that needs to be assessed. I welcome the occupied territories Bill being brought in. I would love it to have services included. I would like something done rather than nothing. I look forward to it being introduced. That message will go around the world. Ireland will always oppose genocide, as Deputy Tóibín said based on our history and what all of our ancestors have seen. Le linn an Ghorta Mhóir nuair a bhí na seandaoine ag ithe féir ó thaobh na mbóithre timpeall na tíre toisc nach raibh aon bhia in aon áit, with grass stains on their mouths, would they not have liked somebody to have stood up to someone inflicting genocide on our forefathers? That is why I support it and really support what the motion is doing. It is a fundamental difference. I hope and I am optimistic that there will be a global shift. It has been a very long time coming. This needs to change for all the children starving, who have lost parents and lost legs and for all the women and men who have been peacefully protesting in Gaza and been shot in the knee or head and blown up. The figures constantly get higher. Aid workers are being told that they cannot bring in aid, such as a prosthetic due to it possibly being used as a weapon. The flotillas that are bringing baby food and medicine, which is allowed under international law, are being illegally abducted. Nothing is happening. Irish citizens having bullets shot at them by the IDF while bringing in aid is not acceptable. Any regime that is inflicting and allowing this feels they can act in impunity, can get away with it and continues to do more. I will not say that the Government has not done anything. I welcome what the Government has done in the past by recognising it at the ICJ and the millions of euro that we have given in aid. We are lagging behind other countries but it is not too late for us to catch up, to run and lead with them, especially with the EU Presidency coming. I welcome this motion and will not support the Government's amendment to it.

Sentiment score: 0.10