Cian O'Callaghan

Overall sentiment: 0.19
Back to Debate

I thank Deputy Gibney for her work on this motion and congratulate Deputy Ennis on his maiden speech. I want to remember Trevor Dietz, the Fontaines DC manager. He was someone I knew for 30 years who was a strong advocate for and steadfast supporter of the Palestinian people throughout his life. My thoughts are very much with his family and friends today. The Minister of State, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have all recognised that a genocide is taking place in Gaza. Indeed, everybody in this House recognises that a genocide is taking place. How can we actually recognise that and give meaning to it while at the same time take the approach that it should be just business as usual with Israel? That is what is happening. The current situation is that there are no meaningful sanctions against Israel. It actually has a preferential trade agreement with Europe in which Ireland participates. It is fine for the Government to say that we must address this at a European Union level because that will be more effective but it has been saying that for years. It is an absolute cop-out. There has been no agreement at EU level to do anything meaningful and there is unlikely to ever be agreement, and the Minister of State knows that. What we need the Government to do is show leadership. That is what we are asking for. Leadership was shown in the 1980s by the Dunnes Stores strikers in Henry Street and by Ireland. That had a real impact on bringing down apartheid in South Africa. We need leadership from the Government now, similar to that.

Sentiment score: 0.19