Gaza flotilla and energy costs
Deputy Doherty condemns the detention of Irish activists on the Gaza flotilla and urges stronger Government action on the occupied territories Bill. He then begins a separate attack on the Government for holding back a €178 million energy-support fund.
Before I turn to energy costs, I welcome the release this morning of Irish citizens who were illegally detained on the Gaza aid flotilla. Their illegal detention and treatment by Israeli forces was disgraceful, as were the actions and rhetoric of Israeli Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. They were utterly unacceptable and completely sickening.
If the Minister's comments this morning, that the time for words has passed and now it is time for action, are to mean anything, what we need is more than progress on the occupied territories Bill. I hope she will join our call for the decks to be cleared next week and that we pass the legislation and sanction Israel.