The Tánaiste was at Rafah two weeks ago and saw with his own eyes how Israel is blocking humanitarian aid from going into Gaza. He correctly described it as criminal and as collective punishment of the people of Gaza.

There are ships gathered in Türkiye, which are part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that is trying to bring more than 5,000 tonnes of aid to the people of Gaza. After pressure from the Israeli state, they have been unable to leave because the flag of Guinea-Bissau, which they were sailing under, has now been withdrawn. I have seen for myself that Israel will do anything it can to stop the blockade being broken and to stop it being highlighted. I was part of a flotilla in 2011. Our boat was sabotaged. Our permission to leave from Greece was withdrawn. Ultimately, the boat we did leave on was surrounded by warships and we were imprisoned in Israel for a week. There is something very concrete the Irish State can do now to help the people of Gaza and that is to allow the ships to fly under an Irish flag. The Minister of Transport has the power to do it. Will the Government do so?

I thank Deputy Murphy for raising the issue. As the Deputy said, the Tánaiste travelled to the region only last week and had a number of meetings, including with humanitarian workers at Rafah. The Government has been very strong, as have all parties in this House, with regard to the importance of aid being able to flow. I know that the humanitarian aid ships - the freedom flotilla - destined for Gaza were halted when the flag was removed from two vessels over the weekend. The flotilla remains docked at Türkiye with more than 5,000 tonnes of aid aboard. My understanding is that a number of Irish citizens have joined the flotilla. I have not had an opportunity to discuss this with the Tánaiste but on foot of the Deputy raising the matter, I will.