Deputy Mary Lou McDonald- speech from 20 May 2025
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Transcript
Teachta, children are on the brink of starvation in Gaza, a consequence of Israel's blocking humanitarian aid, blocking food, blocking water, blocking medicines. More than 500 people have been slaughtered in Gaza in recent days alone. What people might not know is that the Irish government has made Ireland complicit in funding this genocide. The Irish Central Bank has oversees the sale of Israeli war bonds. These are directly used to fund the genocide in Palestine. Tomorrow, Pierce Doherty and I will introduce legislation which will end the sale of Israeli war bonds through the Irish Central Bank. Taoiseach, work with us. Israel acts with impunity because it can and because the world refuses to act. Ireland cannot be complicit any longer in genocide. Ireland cannot facilitate the funding of this genocide. First of all, I will say definitely that what is happening in Gaza is absolutely appalling. I noted a quote earlier from a doctor, I think his name was in Gaza, when he said that if Cambodia was the killing fields, then Gaza is the slaughterhouse. And what's happening to innocent civilians in Gaza is beyond any moral compass, and particularly the children who are being slaughtered, and the children who are starving. And it needs to come to an end. The weaponisation of aid is a war crime, and I've said that. I think it's very regrettable, Deputy, that you would say that the Irish government is funding genocide. I can't really comprehend why you say things like that. It is, I would argue, you do it for politics, but it smacks of that only. It lacks sincerity. And in relation to the central bank, it operates under European regulations. It doesn't have the authority to do what you are saying it should do. Thank you, Tisha. But I think it's fundamentally wrong of you, actually. Deputy Ivana Batchi. To take the tack, no, to take the tack, it's your take. Thank you, Deputy, Tisha. Thank you, time is up. Deputy Ivana Batchi. I find it morally repulsive as well. Thank you, Tisha. Deputy Ivana Batchi. Thank you.