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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Lebanon and airspace flights

Summary

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald opposes the arrangements and demands statements from the Taoiseach and Tánaiste about Gaza, Lebanon, and reported weapons flights through Irish airspace. She says the Dáil was misled on permissions for the flights and needs the matter corrected.

It is not agreed. I reiterate the concerns raised by Deputy Paul Murphy earlier today in respect of the carpet bombing of Lebanon, the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the brutality and violence instigated by Israel in the West Bank. We need a statement from the Taoiseach and also from the Tánaiste. We need an opportunity for questions and answers in respect of weapons of war passing through Irish airspace. I understand that at least nine such flights have passed. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has reiterated the position that permissions were neither sought nor granted. That does not take from the fact that it appears this has in fact happened.

There is an issue of sanction and punishment for those who have breached Irish domestic law, then there is the wider necessity to move beyond simple condemnation from the Government and into concrete action that makes it absolutely clear that not alone will the State condemn acts of war and genocide but we will do everything within our power to prevent those actions occurring, including criminal sanctions and the occupied territories Bill. The list is longer than that but for these purposes-----

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I thank the Deputy. We are out of time.

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-----we need both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste who, whether wittingly or otherwise, gave wrong information to the Dáil on this matter. This Dáil was misled. We will take it that it was unwittingly so but nonetheless it happened and that has to be corrected also.

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