Senator Bacik welcomes Debate on Israeli Bombardment of Aid Ships

Order of Business

Senator Ivana Bacik: I add my voice to those who have welcomed the fact that there will be a debate on the Israeli bombardment of the aid ship. It is timely that we will have a debate tomorrow night because we have all… {interruptions}

Senator Ivana Bacik: I welcome the fact that we will have that debate tomorrow night. It is important that we debate what happened on the aid ship. It is another appalling outrage on the part of the Israeli forces. Many of us who were highly critical of their actions in the bombardment of Gaza and the invasion of Lebanon are shocked to see that this is happening yet again. As Senator Ó Murchú said, Israel is acting with great arrogance and, apparently, with impunity. It is welcome, however, to hear the Minister for Foreign Affairs employing strong rhetoric in his criticism of the Israeli actions but more than rhetoric is needed. We, not only in Ireland but also in the West, need to be seen to be taking action against Israel to ensure the Israeli forces can no longer act with this sort of arrogance and impunity and in breach of international laws, as they have often done. We need to question Israel's place in the OECD. If Israel is to take this sort of action in breach of international law, invading ships owned by other countries, with other countries' nationals on board, in international waters and killing people on board those ships, we must look again at Israel's status as a member of organisations such as the OECD and as a favoured trading nation with the EU. We must be seen to take action and we also need…

An Cathaoirleach: The Leader has agreed to holding a debate tomorrow on this issue .

Members should confine themselves to questions to the Leader.

Senator Ivana Bacik: That debate must also look at the US relationship with Israel…

An Cathaoirleach: The Senator's time is up.

Senator Ivana Bacik: …which is an important component of Israel's arrogance.