As we speak, I am conscious there are more than 30 Irish peacekeepers in an outpost in southern Lebanon who have placed themselves in harm’s way in the name of peace. We were all fairly stunned and watched in horror at the images that came through in recent days of a Merkava Mark IV tank lying right outside their base. That particular tank could not operate without the American-made engine which sits within it. Today, the Taoiseach is going off to meet Joe Biden. It would have been appropriate for the Taoiseach to give an update to the House on the statements he intends to make to President Biden as he sits in front of him. It is an opportunity to remind him of the United States' obligations as a permanent member of the UN Security Council in upholding UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and to draw a line very clearly that any infringement on our peacekeepers will not be tolerated. We have a responsibility in this regard. The Taoiseach cannot go to Washington and be meek. He needs to be assertive and he needs to bring back a commitment-----

Deputy Gannon could have raised this issue during Leaders' Questions. He had a slot with the Taoiseach and he did not ask him to answer those questions.

What is Deputy Farrell talking about?

Deputy Gannon knows the Taoiseach is not going to be here to answer those questions.

Does Deputy Farrell not think this is an important issue? The Taoiseach walked out of the room.

No, he did not.

Deputy Gannon could have asked him about this issue during Leaders' Questions.

I ask the Deputy to wait, please. Can we have order, please?

We have a new Taoiseach.

This is pointless grandstanding.

Let Deputy O'Callaghan finish, please.

It is Deputy Gannon.

I find it very disheartening that the Fine Gael TD does not believe it is important or that peacekeepers deserve appropriate time-----

It has nothing to do with the issue; it has to do with the Deputy's timing. The Deputy had loads of time to deal with it.

Come on. We are not turning this into a free-for-all.

The Deputy is just grandstanding now.

I thank the Deputy.

It is important and I would like to see a statement on the matter.