Senator Kevin Humphreys is not present to defend himself.

I offer my sympathy to the families of those who tragically died in last night's fire. I do not say the accommodation was at fault, but it raises queries about the condition of rented accommodation throughout the country. Shortcuts are being taken because it is a landlord's market. I recently spoke to a young person who had visited an apartment she wanted to rent only to find that the windows had been taped to keep out the draught and that it was in an appalling condition. It is great for some to take shortcuts, but it puts the lives of others at risk. At a time when there is a shortage of accommodation, landlords, some of whom think their only role is to collect rent, have a role to ensure their accommodation is safe and that all regulations are complied with and to ensure nobody residing in it will be at risk at any time. It is time all local authorities and State agencies enforced the rules and regulations to make sure there is no deviation from them. It is important that this issue be highlighted and that we move on it.

Apartheid is recognised by the International Criminal Court as a crime against humanity. It is defined as an "inhuman act committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them". I raise the issue of Israel because this is Israeli Apartheid Week. Events are being held throughout Ireland this week. There will be a demonstration outside Leinster House tomorrow between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and I urge Members of all parties to come and support it. The apartheid laws in Israel are shocking, but Members do not have to take my word for it as others representing all parties have visited Israel and witnessed it at first hand, including Senators Burke and Leyden. If a Palestinian is married to an Israeli citizen, he or she is not allowed to live in the state. There are laws on freedom of movement. He or she does not have the right to vote or to join a political party. We are clear that it is an apartheid state. I am surprised that Ireland has bought €14.7 million worth of arms and military components from Israel in the past decade, which is absolutely shocking. I have called a number of times for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House for a debate on Israel. It is appropriate that he would do so as soon as possible. This trade in arms happened during the same period in which 9,000 Palestinians, including 2,060 children, were murdered. For military items exported from Israel, Palestinians would have been used as human test subjects to enable such weapons to be marketed as "battle proven". Military components exported to Israel will be used to kill and main more Palestinians and entrench the decades long military occupation. The Government still refuses to recognise the state of Palestine. Fianna Fáil colleagues have tabled a motion which we have signed. It is time for the Government to address the fact that, unfortunately, in practice, we are supporting an apartheid state, which is absolutely wrong. We need to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. I would love to hear Fine Gael voices facing up to their responsibilities.

The final speaking slot will be filled by a woman, Senator Michelle Mulherin.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for affirming that.

I support Senator Victor Boyhan's call on the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to come to the House to elucidate on what is happening in respect of the post office network. We have the Kerr report, the business development group and the post office network renewal group, yet the only news we have heard is that there is a proposal to shut down 80 post offices, which would have a particularly negative impact on rural Ireland. I am concerned that there is a parallel universe and that An Post is using this opportunity to implement a policy it has in place to close post offices. It needs to be called on immediately to cease its policy of unilaterally withdrawing postal and other services from rural communities where services are provided through an agency agreement and the contractor dies or becomes otherwise incapacitated. The postmistress in Kilmovee post office in County Mayo died last week. May she rest in peace. I offer my condolences to her family. An Post immediately shut down the post office because it had been operated on an agency basis and the postmistress had been the signatory to the contract. Agency operators do not cost An Post anything. For the past 12 years the Kilmovee community has provided a venue in the community centre and spent €60,000 in providing the service. It paid for the person working there and provided the venue. It saw fit to invest its resources in providing the service in order that pensioners, some of whom live within walking distance, could walk up the road, but they will now be required to go to another post office. Transport is an issue. An Post is having difficulty in contemplating readvertising the agency in order that the community can make a case for the retention of the post office. An Post is a State company. I understand it has to examine its books, but it also performs a social function. We need a proper debate on this function and how the company might be subsidised. In this case, the community is subsidising the service. Local people deserve an opportunity to retain their post office. I call on the Minister to come to the House to outline what is happening with the post office network, in Kilmovee in particular, and whether some progress has been made. We all appreciate the value of the post office network to which more than lip service should be paid.