Since the Dáil last met, South Africa has shone a light on the humanitarian catastrophe that has been unleashed in Gaza by bringing a case against Israel under the Genocide Convention to the International Court of Justice, ICJ. In bringing that case, South Africa and the South African Government have done humanity a great service. The case against Israel as presented by the South African legal team was compelling. The ICJ has heard in stark, indisputable terms that Israel is in gross violation of international law.

Ireland should join that case, just as we rightfully joined the ICJ case against Russia. Ireland should ensure that we are on the right side of history. Will the Minister ensure that the Government changes course and begins the process of joining the South African case or, at a minimum, will she commit to a Dáil debate that will allow Members here to clearly outline our disgust at the ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestine and to demand international action to make it stop?

I support the call for a debate on Ireland joining South Africa in the case against Israel. That is a crucial ask. I will return to that on Questions on Promised Legislation but we need that debate and, if possible, to agree cross-party a motion on Ireland joining South Africa in that case.

Can I ask about a Private Member's Bill that we in Labour are putting forward tomorrow evening in the House? The Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021 would provide for paid leave from employment where an employee has suffered an early pregnancy loss or miscarriage or, indeed, where an employee needs time off work for fertility treatment. The Bill passed in the Seanad with Government support last year. We are bringing it in on Second Stage and we are disappointed to hear reports that the Government has tabled an amendment to delay the reading of Second Stage by 12 months. We ask the Chief Whip to withdraw that amendment and allow the Bill to pass Second Stage.

We need the Minister to come in urgently to outline the Government's plans when it comes to housing asylum seekers and Ukrainians across this country. What we have seen over recent days is a ripping up of Government policy. We have seen U-turn after U-turn, which will make it nearly impossible for the Government to house refugees when they come into this country seeking refuge. I also remind the Minister that 600 very vulnerable men are on our streets in sub-zero temperatures who have no protections from the State. She is legally and morally obliged to provide them with protection. I ask the Minister to explain exactly what her policy is because it is in complete disarray. Even her own party colleagues do not know what the policy is. We need to understand it. We need to know exactly what the Government is doing. Where is the strategy and the long-term planning? It is way beyond time for this Government to put in a medium- to long-term plan to deal with this issue.

On 22 November, we tabled a motion calling on the Government to instigate action under the genocide convention over Israel's genocide in Gaza. The Government voted that down. At that point, 14,000 people had been murdered by Israel. To date, approximately 24,000 people have been murdered by Israel. Another 6,000 to 7,000 are buried under the rubble and 2 million people have been displaced. Still, the Government brings shame on this country by refusing to support South Africa's action regarding genocide at the ICJ. The Government gives excuse after excuse as to why it cannot do it. Indeed, I believe the Taoiseach misled the Dáil when asked about this in November, when he said we could not intervene in the ICJ case unless we were directly involved in the dispute. South Africa has shown that not to be true. Germany has now intervened, shockingly, on Israel's side. Will the Government do what Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh did and show some honour from this country by joining the South African case against the massacre and genocide that Israel is committing against the people of Gaza?

The Minister knows I have admiration for her, but it is disappointing and an insult to this House that neither the Taoiseach nor the Tánaiste is here today after five weeks. One is in Davos, and I do not know where Deputy Martin is. I refute out of hand the allegations that Deputy Bríd Smith made about the Rural Independents and me misleading the Dáil and our voting record on votes of confidence, the eviction Bill and so on but that is nothing new. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is present. He has made a mess in Roscrea. The good people of Roscrea are welcoming and have welcomed so many. They organised lorries to go out with aid when the war started in Ukraine and did the same with many other charitable causes. The mishandling of the situation there is the responsibility of the Government and the Garda seriously mishandling it too. I have written to both the chief superintendent and superintendent. I did not get any response. There is a total mishandling and besmirching of good people. Their only functioning hotel up to last Thursday was just taken away by a greedy developer. It is a shame.

We need a full debate on immigration policy.

We had one in our Private Members' time and we got lampooned and God knows what. We need a policy. It is not functioning. It is ham-fisted. Now, as the Government goes along, it throws money at a problem two days later to save some backbenchers. It is dysfunctional in the extreme.

I fully support the call for a debate on Gaza and for Ireland to support South Africa in taking the Israelis to the ICJ because that is vitally important. It is important that the Government reflects the views of the Irish people. The Irish people are way ahead of the Government on this and it is time the Government got behind the people and supported this case.

The way the system works in this House is that all parties have the opportunity in Private Members' time to bring forward their own propositions. Many things are considered at the Business Committee, as we know, and the Chief Whip has given a commitment to have a balanced debate on immigration in the new year, so that will be organised.

What about Gaza? There is a genocide going on. Will the Government give us a debate-----

Deputy, you have asked the question.

-----where we can discuss the genocide, the worst crime-----

No, let us not have a-----

-----the worst possible crime?

Deputy, resume your seat.

I will answer.

Will the Government give us that debate?

I will ask the Minister. Minister, will you respond on that matter?

All these things are debated. They were debated before Christmas, as I understand it. Ireland intervened before the court in the case taken by Ukraine against Russia. We participated in two advisory opinion cases related to Israeli action in Palestine last year. We were never afraid to intervene at the appropriate time.