Over the past eight days, the state of Israel has rained terror and murder on the people of Gaza. In those eight days, more than 200 people have been killed, including 60 children, murdered for doing nothing, murdered because they were Palestinian. The world is watching while the state of Israel conducts collective punishment against the Palestinian people on occupied lands. When is the right time to expel the Israeli ambassador to Ireland? If it is not now, when will it be? This has been going on for generations. The Israeli Government, with impunity, has murdered and caused terror to the Palestinian people. We in Ireland should know. We have been occupied and brutalised by another oppressor. When is the time to expel the Israeli ambassador and show solidarity with the world and the Palestinian people?

Can I first of all say that we have consistently as a Government called for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine and the Middle East? We have condemned the rocket firing by Hamas, which needs to be condemned as well and should not have happened. It killed children and other people as well, but the response from the Israeli Government has been wholly disproportionate and indiscriminate and has resulted in the killing of innocent civilians - children and many, many more. In my view, that response is not justifiable. It is unacceptable in terms of its brutality and ruthlessness. Hence, in my view, the violence should cease. Gaza is highly densely populated. When one bombs at that level and scale, it is inevitable that innocent families and people will be killed. Of that there is no doubt. An immediate ceasefire is essential. Hamas should cease firing rockets into Israel and Israel should desist from what I would describe as its wholly disproportionate response.

Will the Government expel the ambassador?