As the Minister has outlined, the Government's highest priority in the current conflict is the safety of Irish citizens in the region. This is a priority and concern shared by all here in this House. I am grateful to those Deputies and Senators who have been in contact with my office to raise individual cases. The profile of the Irish community in the region is diverse. It is a mixture of those who are ordinarily resident there, those who were in transit to other destinations and those who were on holidays, visiting loved ones or travelling on business. It is a large population of Irish abroad. Dubai is the third largest transport hub in the world and it is a very popular destination in the region. The consular situation is unique and complex. Our staff in embassies and at the consular crisis centre are working around the clock to respond to those in the region and to concerned family members here at home. It is positive that, as the Minister has laid out, we yesterday saw one commercial Emirates flight from Dubai to Dublin. There will be an additional flight tonight. We hope and expect that further direct commercial options will become available in the coming days. In the past number of days, we have seen a number of Irish people succeed in taking indirect flights to Ireland from Abu Dhabi or Dubai through destinations such as London and Paris. The latest report from the UAE Government is that it is able to get 48 flights per hour out of Dubai airport through the air corridor it has established. There are approximately 24,000 citizens across the region registered on the citizens registration platform. The vast majority of these, about 16,000, registered since Saturday. Many of those are permanently resident in the UAE, Qatar and elsewhere and have no desire to journey home at this time. We ask those people to heed the advice of the local authorities, wherever they are situated. Our embassies in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh will amplify those messages so I ask people to follow their social media channels and regularly check updates from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at ireland.ie or on its social media channels. We are conscious that, of the more than 24,000 citizens in situ in the region, a certain cohort are deemed vulnerable. They are caught in transit or have complex needs and requirements. A first charter flight for that cohort of vulnerable citizens will depart tomorrow. Until such time as it is no longer needed, the Government's approach will be to plan for further assisted departures while remaining in close contact with airlines on commercial flight options. Those departures are largely from Muscat in Oman. Up to 300 people can be accommodated. We saw the first flight from Italy land last night and a flight from Germany the day before. The British authorities have also started flights. We are working in concert with European partners. I understand that many Members will have received correspondence from citizens frustrated that they do not have the answers they want. We are extremely grateful to those in that position for their patience and understanding. We all know that disrupted travel, delays and cancelled flights are stressful. At a time of conflict, it is hard to fathom the level of stress, fear and concern, particularly among those travelling with young children or those who are a long way from home and who may be isolated. This is a highly complex and unanticipated situation. Our teams in the Department of foreign affairs are working around the clock. Since Saturday, the consular crisis team has responded to over 2,300 queries. The capacity of that team has been steadily increasing in recent days and will be kept under close review. Department of foreign affairs officials are also working closely with the airlines. As I have said, another commercial flight from Dubai has been confirmed for tomorrow. There has been a considerable amount of engagement with the local authorities. As the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, I visited Abu Dhabi and Dubai a number of months ago to carry out a diaspora consultation. There are now over 14,000 Irish people living in Dubai alone. There are another 2,000 or so in Abu Dhabi and over 2,000 in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia. It is a large, vibrant and engaged community. The authorities in the UAE have been particularly to the fore in covering accommodation costs for those stuck in transit and in providing clear information and reassurance to the local community. We have a wonderful Irish network, particularly in the UAE, who are providing very important reassurance to each other. We are seeing the collective come together through WhatsApp groups, online channels and phone calls home. I can only imagine everyone in the Chamber is getting the calls from family members here who are worried about their children and loved ones and who are looking for any sign of reassurance. The spirit within the diaspora is really strong and deserves acknowledgement in the Chamber. On that note, we are also aware that there is a small number of Irish citizens in Iran. The majority of these people have strong family ties and have been resident in Iran for many years. A number of Irish people have already left Iran over the past number of years for various reasons. While Irish diplomatic staff were temporarily relocated to Dublin a number of months ago, the embassy is functioning from the offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and consular assistance is being provided to Irish citizens in Iran who have requested it. From talking to a number of Irish citizens who have family members in Iran, I am very aware that, due to the communications blockade, it is extremely difficult to make contact with family members. It is sketchy at best. The situation we are watching unfold across Iran and the wider gulf region and into the Middle East is unprecedented. The Government's position has been clear. Ireland has consistently condemned the Iranian regime for its violation of its citizens' human rights, for its malign role in the region and for its support for Russia's war in Ukraine. Many of us will have seen the exact same types of drones that have been besieging Ukraine for the last number of years now being activated. We note the request from the United States Government for assistance from the Ukrainian Government with regard to defence mechanisms. The Irish Government has been equally clear Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. Our view was the legitimate concerns of the international community could best be addressed through dialogue. We regret more time was not allowed for diplomacy; we now face conflict in its place. The brutal response of Iranian authorities to protests in January leading to the death of at least 7,000 Iranian people was horrendous and rightly condemned in the House by Members of all parties and none, although some did not. There has been a near-total communications blackout since then, making it impossible to verify what is really happening on the ground. Iran must restore telephone and Internet connectivity immediately. Ireland has consistently called on Iranian authorities to halt all violence, suspend executions and release those detained. Ireland supported new sanctions on Iran in response to the appalling repression, including the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation by the EU in February. The future of Iran remains uncertain following the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. That Iran has sustained its capacity to conduct and expand military operations indicates the regime was not dependent on one figure. Our sincere hope is that after this horrendous conflict has passed, the people of Iran can hope for and attain a better future. We will work with EU partners to support that in whatever way we can. We should not underestimate the determination of the current regime to cling to power, regardless of the cost to the Iranian people and the wider region. Ultimately, the future of Iran must be determined by the people of Iran and in a way that creates stability in the region. Iranians should be free to express their views without the fear of further violence. The attacks by Iran on Gulf states, Jordan and Türkiye are deeply concerning. These countries have not attacked Iran. Iran's attack on them is a violation of their sovereignty. Its attacks on civilian infrastructure are violations of international law. Our sympathy and solidarity is with our Gulf partners. All attacks must be halted. The escalating conflict unfolding across the region is unprecedented. The situation is fast moving and unpredictable, with reports of growing numbers of civilian deaths and casualties. Ireland’s position is clear and unwavering. The UN Charter and international law must be upheld by all countries. The current military operations by the United States and Israel have no mandate or authorisation from the United Nations, nor has any attempt been made to seek such an authorisation. Ireland’s position on the use of force outside such a context is well established and known. Diplomacy and dialogue is the only viable option. It is not too late for those involved to come to the table. It is not too late for those with influence to use it constructively. All parties to the conflict must be aware of and abide by their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, regardless of how abhorrent the Iranian regime has been. Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and residential buildings, wherever they are, are violations of international law. Our priority is to bring this conflict to an end quickly. We need to see urgent de-escalation. We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, and for an end to hostilities. The level of death and destruction in the region in recent days is extremely worrying. Our primary concern is, of course, for the Irish citizens of the region but the economic impact that will be felt by every household as the conflict goes on is not lost on us. We have seen that before and inevitably will see it again. The Government will not be found wanting in terms of support for Irish citizens but the easiest way for that to be addressed is for this conflict to end. I will offer a word on the wider region. While we are all following the headlines from the Gulf states and the safety of our friends and family members there remains paramount, we must not lose sight of the situation in the wider region. In this regard, we are closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon. As the Minister mentioned, we have a strong connection with Lebanon honed through years of our Defence Forces' presence through UNIFIL. Our Minister has maintained daily contact with our Chief of Staff and with the troops on the ground. Those troops are contacted regularly by the family liaison officers and their families are kept well abreast, with good Wi-Fi connectivity making that possible. Hezbollah attacked Israel on 8 October 2023 in supposed solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. The destructive war that followed was finally halted - not completely, but largely - by the ceasefire of November 2024. Since then, Lebanon has been making a real political effort to turn a new page, establishing a new Government, revitalising its security forces and tackling the huge challenges of political and legal reform and economic reconstruction. Much had been achieved. Now, for the second time in two and a half years, Hezbollah has gratuitously attacked Israel, knowingly embroiling Lebanon in a conflict that was not theirs. I condemn Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel. It has provoked the type of response from Israel we have, sadly, come to expect. This is the nature of Iran’s support to Hezbollah and other militant groups over many years, with money and weapons. They are intended to cause mayhem and destruction around the region whenever Iran is threatened and to distract attention, no matter what effect this has on the local people. We have seen this in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and Yemen. While, of course, Israel has a right to defend itself, Ireland regrets that it has chosen a wholly military response and not given Lebanon a chance to remove the threat by its own sovereign and more long-lasting means. Israel’s actions in south Lebanon had already been an obstacle to progress: retaining positions in Lebanese territory which it had pledged to vacate, overflying and bombing targets in Lebanon at will and even aerial spraying Lebanese farmland near the border with chemicals to prevent its use for agriculture. In addition to direct attacks on Hezbollah targets, Israel has issued what it says is an order to the people of south Lebanon to evacuate north of the Litani River once again. We have no hesitation in saying that it is wrong when Hezbollah try to drive people in northern Israel from their homes; it is equally wrong, therefore, for Israel to do this to people in south Lebanon. Ireland calls on both Israel and Hezbollah to cease their attacks, comply with the terms of Security Council Resolution 1701 and allow Lebanon to rebuild in a way that will bring peace to people on both sides of the border. When we think of the repercussions of this war on the wider region, we think of the most vulnerable. In Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains dire. The fragile ceasefire in place for almost five months has not delivered the surge of humanitarian aid expected and demanded. On Saturday, Israeli authorities announced the closure of all crossing points into the Gaza Strip. This exacerbates the humanitarian situation, further restricting supplies of essential goods and services. Israel subsequently announced that the Karem Abu Salem-Kerem Shalom crossing would reopen for the "gradual" re-entry of humanitarian aid. Rafah border crossing remains closed, however. "Gradual" is not enough. All border crossings to Gaza should be opened. Existing food stocks inside the Gaza Strip are insufficient. Palestinians in Gaza have suffered an inordinate amount in recent years. There is no logical reason to further curtail the entry of essential humanitarian supplies. Ireland calls on Israel to cease imposing arbitrary restrictions and regulations on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. It is essential that the UN, particularly UNRWA, and other humanitarian organisations are facilitated in full to carry out their life-saving work in Gaza. Ireland has consistently remained focused on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. This is a top priority for the Government. It is something we have consistently championed at EU level, to ensure that the people of Gaza are not forgotten. The situation in the West Bank, too, is of deep concern. Israeli military operations have caused widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and homes in recent years. The scale, speed and severity of displacement and demolitions is unprecedented. Recent decisions by the Israeli Government in relation to the West Bank contravene international law and are part of an established pattern to create a new status quo in the occupied Palestinian territory. Since the outbreak of this conflict at the weekend, Israel has imposed a comprehensive closure across the West Bank, imposing even further restrictions on movement between towns and villages, tightening checkpoints and limiting intercity travel. These actions are on top of economic measures taken by Israel across the West Bank, which are suffocating the economy. Israel has been withholding clearance of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues collected on the behalf of the Palestinian Authority under a 1994 agreement known as the Paris Protocol. This is part of a systemic undermining by Israel of the Palestinian Authority, its reform agenda and the viability of the two-state solution. Ireland is not blind to these realities and will continue to support the Palestinian Authority and drive the implementation of the two-state solution, in line with international partners. The Government of Ireland remains committed to addressing the consular needs of all citizens inadvertently caught up in this conflict. We will endeavour to ensure the safety of our citizens in the region as a top priority. Our citizens are diverse in the region. Their family members here at home are anxious, worried and frightened. They just want certainty for their loved ones. We will, understandably, have firm, constructive and robust political debate on wider issues but I ask all Deputies present to put the 24,000 or so Irish citizens to the forefront of their mind - not just them but their mothers, fathers, grandparents and children who are living in all our constituencies. They just want their loved ones safe; they just want their loved ones home. We are committed to our position as a country with a long track record of support for international law, the UN and peace across all countries of the Middle East.

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