For two years, the people of this country have been watching a genocide unfold in Gaza in a complete state of disbelief, wondering how this can be allowed to happen and how so-called world leaders can stand idly by as that genocide is livestreamed before our eyes. I am not dismissing the fact that Ireland recognised the State of Palestine; it was welcome. It is also welcome that more countries are doing the same now, but, ultimately, there is barely anything left to recognise. Gaza has been reduced to mass graves and rubble. It is two years and too little, too late, not to mention the fact that some of those countries now recognising Palestine are still arming Israel. What exactly has it achieved? Israel has not hesitated in its continuing pursuit of wiping out a population. Why is there such a reluctance to take further action? That is so hard for people to comprehend. It is hard to even believe.

We see footage of multiple babies packed into one incubator. We see parents cradling the bodies of their dead children. We see journalist after journalist annihilated. We then see the Government still dithering over the occupied territories Bill. Israel is starving Gaza and then killing people as they line up for food and water. It is bombing hospitals and refugee camps. It even bombed the team that was trying to negotiate a peace deal. This has been going on for two years. What more could it possibly take for this Government to act with conviction, consequence and the might of the strength of feeling in this country? Where is the decisive action we saw when Russia invaded Ukraine? Where are the sanctions? Where is the proportionate, rational response to a genocide? The western world has watched it all and done nothing. Actually, less than nothing.

A proposal to suspend parts of the EU-Israel trade agreement is finally on the cards. Making the announcement last week, the Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, said she wanted to be very clear and stated, "the aim is not to punish Israel. The aim is to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.” Let me say that again: the aim is not to punish Israel. After Israel razed Gaza to the ground, murdered more than 20,000 children and bombed every hospital, this despicable and cowardly language is outrageous and shameful. As an EU citizen, I am ashamed of that response. Is the Minister ashamed too?

What is happening in Gaza is horrific slaughter. It is not just me, the Deputy and every other Member of this House saying that. We saw recently that a United Nations independent commission has ruled that what Israel is doing in Gaza is committing genocide. Many people in Ireland feel a sense of helplessness in the context of what can be done in response to it. My view is that this Government has done more than any other government in the world in response to the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza. If we look around the world, what stands out is the fact that so many countries, including many Arab countries, have done so little for the cause of the Palestinians in Gaza. In contrast, Ireland has led the way, not just in Europe but also internationally. Like the Deputy, I was very pleased to hear at the weekend that so many other countries, including Portugal, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, the UK, Canada and Australia have decided to recognise the Palestinian state. Very many of these countries are small European countries. They have followed the example that Ireland set when, we along with Spain and Norway, decided that we would recognise a Palestinian state. There was huge pressure on the Irish Government not to do that, but we did it because it was the right thing to do. We can see that the example set by Ireland is being followed by other EU countries.

On the proposals regarding trade between Israel and the EU, when Ireland advocated that we should introduce an occupied territories Bill at European Union level, there was very little support. We now know that other countries are considering and introducing such a measure. That Bill has been very effective from Ireland's point of view in terms of putting the Israel-EU trade agreement on the agenda. Like everyone else in this House, the Deputy is aware of the historical alliances that exist between Israel and certain countries in the European Union. We can do very little about that, but the pressure Ireland has put on is having an impact. We can see that the EU-Israel trade agreement is coming under consideration. I am hopeful - and I know the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste are hopeful - that when it comes to suspension of that agreement, measures will be taken. Of course, they should have been taken many years ago. However, Ireland is a small country. We are an influential country but all we can do is use our reputation and influence to try to get others to follow our example. We can see that, to date, this has been done. When we look at the cases that were taken at the International Criminal Court, again, Ireland intervened in respect of them.

The Deputy can criticise the Government. When we look at this matter objectively internationally, however, we can see that the Irish Government is one of the most vociferous supporters of the Palestinian people and is standing up to the genocide that is happening in Gaza.

As the Minister said, we all welcome the fact that countries are now recognising the State of Palestine. We welcomed it when Ireland did so too. The point I am trying to make and the point the Minister is ignoring is that this is literally the bare minimum and that there is hardly anything left to recognise. The bar is literally on the floor when we are talking about Ireland being held up as an example. Unless the international community acts, there will be literally nothing left to recognise.

The Israeli Government has not hidden its genocidal intent. The Taoiseach acknowledged that yesterday. He said that some Israeli ministers had genocidal intent from day one, and now it is day 720. When will the response to Israel match the scale of its crimes? When is real action going to be taken? In this country, we could do more. Enacting the occupied territories Bill has been a solemn commitment of this Government - an election commitment that has not yet been lived up to. Can the Minister give me a date? When will the Government enact the occupied territories Bill?

It is in priority legislation and will be enacted and certainly introduced into the Oireachtas this term. I wish to make one important point that is sometimes not emphasised enough. The entity responsible for the genocide in Gaza is the Israeli Government. We all need to point that out and state it repeatedly. Rather than criticising the Irish Government for narrow domestic political purposes, the Deputy should acknowledge the very real efforts that have been made by the Irish Government to support Palestine. She inquired as to what else is being done. We have made responses in respect of the cases that are before the International Criminal Court. We have provided €90 million. We have tried to influence our international partners. As I said, Ireland cannot just dictate to the rest of Europe or, indeed, the rest of the world what foreign policy decisions should be made.

I did not say that. I asked-----

We can influence it but we cannot dictate it. She can see what has happened over those horrific 700 days, that people and other countries are gradually coming around to recognising the Irish Government's position is the correct position.