I join in the comments of Senators across the House on the topic of the situation in Gaza. There are no words we can use in the House today that can express the wrong - the sheer genocide, the sheer murder - of what is taking place at the moment. We talk about issues in our constituencies in this country, such as disability and infrastructure issues, but it behoves us all, as legislators and Members of the Oireachtas, to call out exactly what is going on. We can all do more - we genuinely can. I spoke to a group of US students today and they talked about what it is about Irish people and our culture that makes us speak out and means we are seen as leaders on the world stage. We are seen as just that. We are doing a lot and we can do a lot more across all of the political divide. I acknowledge Senator Stephenson for reading the names of those who are no longer with us into the record of the House today. I also commend Senator Black on her work in this area.

I had thought about raising the issue of VAT 9. In west Cork and throughout the country at the moment, we have had many weeks of fine weather. People are out enjoying it, and they are visiting hospitality businesses throughout the country. Even though they are busy, these businesses are, however, really struggling with the increased costs of doing business. Much has been said about the VAT 9 campaign. There have been positive soundings in the programme for Government and reference has been made to a reduction to a 9% VAT rate in the upcoming budget. We need a debate in the House with the Minister for Finance on the matter. We will be coming to the recess period, after which we will have the budgetary negotiations. Businesses throughout the country, in particular small, family-run businesses, need our support, need a discussion on this issue and need commitments from the Government going forward. I would welcome it if a debate could be organised on the matter.

Like other Senators, I wish to raise Israel's barbaric actions in Gaza. We have seen war crimes being committed daily for the past 19 months, with men, women and children being killed or horrifically injured. Hospitals are being bombed, medical personnel are being targeted and journalists are being killed. Tom Fletcher of the UN has said that 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if vital aid supplies are not let into Gaza. There has been an 11-week blockade by Israel of essential supplies of food and medicine. This must be called out and stopped. I welcome the fact that the UK, France and Canada called it out today, but where have they and other countries been for the past 19 months in not calling it out and not imposing sanctions on Israel? Some of those same countries are complicit in the genocide because they are supplying weapons to Israel on an ongoing basis and they are just ignoring the consequences of what is happening. Our Government is saying the right things, but it needs to be more forceful and must put pressure on other countries to call this out as well. We must enact the occupied territories Bill without delay. We must also stop the sale of war bonds in this country through the Central Bank.

It has often been said that had the Holocaust that occurred in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s been known about, it would never have happened and people in other countries would have called it out. I am not so sure, because we see what is happening in Gaza on our screens and on our phones every day, yet there is almost silence from many of the main countries across the world. In fact, Netanyahu has been emboldened in his actions by Trump. He has been encouraged by him and by other leaders. I do not know what his mindset is; it is hard to fathom. What is happening needs to stop. We must put all our voices together and call out this behaviour. We must impose sanctions and do what we can to stop this madness and get the help the people in Gaza need. Senator Stephenson has given me a list of the people killed. I have 30 children's names in front of me, none of whom reached their first birthday.