I condemn the attack at the synagogue in Manchester. I express our solidarity with all of those affected.

On behalf of the Social Democrats, I express our horror at the actions of the Israeli military. Last night, they illegally boarded the Sumud flotilla in international waters, and effectively kidnapped humanitarian activists, including at least 14 Irish citizens. They took this action not because the flotilla posed a threat or because anyone on board was dangerous, but to stop humanitarian aid reaching a starving population in Gaza. This is a population that is enduring a genocide being perpetrated by Israel. This is a population that has been relentlessly and mercilessly abused, tortured and murdered for nearly the past two years.

Not only did Israeli forces illegally board the vessels in the flotilla, but they aggressively targeted them and put them in harm’s way. According to reports, one vessel was deliberately rammed. The vessel's communications were jammed, and passengers were ordered to throw their phones into the sea. This was all to ensure that peaceful humanitarian volunteers could not be contacted. This happened before they were rounded up, manhandled, detained and treated like criminals. This Government was asked to do something to support the flotilla. A simple request was made to send personnel to observe it, to bear witness to what was being done and to deter Israel from further action. However, there was no action by the Government despite the fact that so many Irish citizens were being endangered and threatened by Israel for taking a stand against a brutal occupation, against an apartheid state and against 24 months of genocide.

The Israeli Government has acted with brutal impunity in Gaza for nearly two years. Every day we hear reports of dozens of people in Gaza being killed or starved to death, but virtually no sanctions have been imposed on Israel. Israel is so emboldened by this lack of sanction that it feels it can get away with anything, even kidnapping citizens of this country and dozens more from a humanitarian mission on the high seas. What is the Government going to do about it? I am not hearing from what the Tánaiste has said that sufficient is being done. There are strong words of condemnation and I support the Tánaiste on that, but nothing indicates that those strong words are being followed up with concrete actions. I know the Tánaiste is personally disgusted by what Israel is doing, and so are others in the Cabinet and Government backbench TDs, but I cannot understand why these feelings of disgust and horror are not spurring the Government on to more concrete actions. I cannot understand why the Government's action in response to the citizens on the humanitarian flotilla, who have been threatened and now kidnapped, has not been sufficiently strong. I cannot understand why this Government is slow walking the occupied territories Bill. I cannot understand why the Israeli settlements divestment Bill has not been enacted. I cannot under why munitions destined for Israel are being allowed to go through Irish airspace.

Hear, hear.

I cannot understand why tens of millions of euro worth of dual-use products are still being exported to Israel. I cannot understand why Ireland's sovereign wealth fund is still investing in companies that are trading in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. I cannot understand why the Central Bank had been facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds to fund the genocide. I cannot understand why Ireland and the EU are still trading normally with this murderous regime. I cannot understand any of this, and the Irish people cannot understand any of this. When Irish citizens were coming under attack on the flotilla last week, why did the Government not send personnel to observe what was happening and try to help to safeguard those citizens? Why did the Government not act at that point?

I join the Deputy in expressing my sincere sympathy and absolute condemnation in relation to what has happened at the synagogue in Manchester. The information is still developing as we are in this House, but I understand that two people have now died. Today is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur. That adds to the horror of an attack and brutal murder outside of a synagogue. I send the solidarity of everyone in this House and across the country to all of those impacted and to the Jewish community.

In relation to the issue of the observer situation, we looked at this. However, a number of things came to pass. First, there was a Spanish boat in the region. The Spanish were clear that our Irish citizens would be treated the same as theirs if there was a need to have access to that boat. We very much appreciated that solidarity from Spain. Second, and I do not say this to be anyway disrespectful to our Spanish counterparts, but they had a boat observing in the region and all their citizens have been detained in no different way from our citizens. It was always the ship's intention to withdraw. My understanding from reports this morning is that the Spanish and Italian Governments called for their citizens to desist and come back on the flotilla. I do not believe it would have made any material difference. However, I wish to say, not in the defence of myself or the Government but out of respect for the people in question, that a team of people have been working on this matter extraordinarily intensively on behalf of Ireland and our diplomatic corps. I refer to our team in Tel Aviv and in the region more generally, and to our consular services. I am satisfied they have been doing a very good job.

On sanctions, I agree with the Deputy on trading, but it is an EU competency. I am ready to vote. I am ready to vote in favour on the Deputy's behalf and on behalf of the people of Ireland for the measures put forward by the European Commission that I believe would have a significant effect. I personally led a diplomatic effort to seek an early meeting so we could have that vote. Four other European countries have joined us in that. After the events of the past number of hours, I will be intensifying those efforts further.

Given that Irish citizens were engaged in this humanitarian mission with massive support from the Irish people, and in light of the fact that a flotilla had already been attacked in international waters, does the Tánaiste not agree that sending some personnel would have shown the support of the Government, would have put additional pressure on Israel and would have been warranted?

I truthfully do not. The facts bear that out. Türkiye, Italy and Spain sent boats. It was not as though their citizens were treated in any way better or preferentially in relation this. European boats were present and available to our Irish citizens in the same way they were available to other citizens of the European Union. We have been working in lockstep with European counterparts in relation to that. That is my genuine view on it.

It would have sent a message.

It would have been important and I think the Tánaiste knows that.

They would not have arrived in time. Other countries had boats in the region. I welcome the new interest in investing in our defence and security capacities but other countries had boats in the region that were willing to treat our citizens as their citizens. That is European solidarity.