Israel is carrying out a genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Its number one supporter and military backer is the US. As a party to the genocide convention with the duty to prevent the crime of genocide, the US should be imposing an arms embargo on Israel. Instead, it has aided and abetted genocide by increasing military assistance to Israel by $14.5 billion since the genocide began.

By allowing Shannon Airport to be used by the US military while it is aiding and abetting genocide, Ireland is complicit. More than 50,000 US troops have passed through Shannon this year alone. The Taoiseach cannot continue to take the word of the US that no weapons or troops bound for the Middle East are passing through Shannon, especially when the number of munitions exemptions granted by the Department of Transport went up by 42% last month. Will the Taoiseach commit to closing Shannon or at least to begin inspections?

I outlined our position on this only in the last hour. We have very strict rules in relation to the use of Shannon. There are no flights going from the US through Shannon to Israel. There are troops being carried to US bases and anybody carrying munitions needs permission and a licence.

We are not doing inspections.