Our hearts are broken at the sight of Palestinian men, women and children being targeted and killed while queuing for food and drink. In the West Bank, families are forced to endure unprecedented levels of violence from the Israeli state and illegal settlers. The GAA in Palestine has been working with local clubs across Ireland to provide Palestinian children with much-needed respite from the trauma of war. This week, we received the heartbreaking news that the Department of justice had refused the visas to facilitate their trip to Ireland. This was devastating for the children, who were so looking forward to a trip to Ireland and a break from the atrocities in their own country. I know first hand the work that has gone into this by the community services in Fingal County Council and local GAA clubs, including Fingallians and O’Dwyers. They are deeply disheartened and outraged by the Department of justice’s outright refusal to allow these children to travel. I am pleading with the Taoiseach on behalf of the Palestinian children to use his office to ensure the visas are granted for them. Let them come to Ireland and play.

An appeal was lodged yesterday at about 2.40 p.m. even though people have suggested that an appeal could have been lodged a week ago, but for some reason, that did not happen. I am genuinely perplexed about how all of this has been handled - not by the Department, but just generally. Normally in situations like this, the lead association would approach the Government or a Department with a plan and say it was intending to do this, and then one would get things lined up and people would understand what was required in respect of applications for visas. That is a fairly basic thing. There are basic rules there that apply to everybody in every situation. That has not quite happened on this occasion for some reason, and it has come late in the day in some respects - certainly from my perspective, if I am honest. There is something about this that has me surprised.

In any event, we are open. The appeal has gone in and is being considered by the Department, and the Department will respond as soon as possible.

In Senator Frances Black's occupied territories Bill in 2018, she set out four categories of trade: the import of goods; the import of services; the export of goods; and the export of services. Inexplicably, the Government's Bill has left out three of those categories. This is despite the unequivocal advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice that Israel's continued occupation of the occupied territories is unlawful and must be ended as soon as possible. The violation of international law places an obligation on us to do all we can, so I am asking the Taoiseach to give me an explanation as to why the Government is proceeding with just one aspect of Senator Black's 2018 Bill over seven years later in the face of genocide and slaughter. More people have been shot at the so-called humanitarian aid centres - I make no comparison; it is just that the figures are stark - than were killed when Hamas wrongly crossed the border, which I have condemned. More people have been murdered at aid centres.

It is horrific what is happening at the aid centres, where people have been mowed down, slaughtered and murdered. It is beyond any moral compass. I have condemned unreservedly the Israeli conduct in Gaza and the war in Gaza, particularly the last phase, which without question represents collective punishment of the people of Gaza and an attempt to drive them out of Gaza or make life so unbearable that people feel they have no alternative but to leave. That is something the international community has to respond to.

The legislation is currently going through the House. The Minister has asked for further legal advices in respect of services. In terms of the latter two points regarding the export of goods to the occupied territories, that is not an issue for us. In the past four to five years, goods worth about €600,000 have come in from the occupied territories, which is a tiny amount. Nonetheless, the symbolism of the Bill is important. When we get the legal advice back, we will have greater clarity regarding the inclusion of services.