-----and what we are seeing does not seem to be in line with that. We have provided additional funding to the international court. We will provide €1.3 million annually and €3 million in additional funding for this year to make sure those who are potentially responsible for any crimes are held accountable. The most important thing now, however, is that the ceasefire we have called for happens, that the pause, which we were all very happy to see, continues, and that the release of hostages continues. We are all over…

I thank all Senators for their contributions to this important debate and discussion on what happened last Thursday evening. I join again with colleagues in condemning this barbaric attack on a group of young and innocent schoolchildren and their carer. My wishes and thoughts are with the young girl and her carer, who are still critically ill in hospital. My wishes and thoughts are also with their families, the children who were there and the children who were in hospital and have been sent home, the school, the wi…

To say that migration, or migrants and crime are connected-----

-----is not appropriate. It is not okay-----

-----and it is very sad to hear that in our Chamber.

I think that is what I have just done. I think that is what I said a number of times in my short contribution-----

-----that we as a country were one of the first countries to call for a ceasefire. We have consistently called for a ceasefire. We have consistently repeated that what Israel is doing is going too far.

As public representatives, we all have a duty to know and understand that the words and actions we use have consequences. We saw last week that we are starting to see the spread of hatred and of a small group of people, which is unfortunately starting to grow. They are intent on sowing division and hatred in our society with the sole objective of creating instability and challenging our democracy. As members of this democracy we have an obligation not to feed into that or to be part of it. I ask Senators to look at…

We have consistently said that they have a right to defend themselves. It is not for us in this Chamber to decide that.

We have provided funding to the experts who will decide this. The most important thing here is that hostages are released, the hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians receive the aid they need and this fighting stops. That is what we all want in this Chamber. The only way that will happen is if we continue to call for a ceasefire and use our voice. As small as we might be, our voice around the table has always been strong on these issues. Our continuing to use our voice in the way we have is the only way in whi…

I have engaged with the school. I have spoken to the principal numerous times. I have spoken to parents. I have spoken to members of An Garda Síochána, which is liaising with the school. I have spoken to my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Foley, who is engaging directly with the school as well. We are providing whatever support is necessary, being asked of us and that they need. What is important for these children and for their staff is that they are, in so far as is possible given what has happened, able to retur…

I join with Deputy Bacik in acknowledging the unbelievable work of Finola Cassidy and many others who she represents. I too have met her, as have many of my colleagues. I know that significant engagement is happening, not just with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, but also right across the Government. I do not have an update as to where that is at now for the Deputy but I will certainly raise this with the Minister for Health. I know that the Minister is absolutely committed to supporting Finola in whatever way he ca…

I spoke to a detective in Pearse Street on Saturday who was actively engaged with the social media companies throughout Thursday. She was actively engaged with TikTok, Meta, Instagram and Facebook, and was actively engaged with Twitter or X. She said very clearly that social media companies, in particular TikTok and Meta, were responding and engaging with the Garda and were taking down these vile posts as they come up.

X was not. It did not engage or fulfil its own community standards-----

-----and that is why we are moving to a situation-----

-----where these companies do not get to-----

-----self-monitor and that is why Coimisiún na Meán has been established to make sure that these companies are held responsible. While some were responsible, others were not. I reassure the Deputy that the Garda were seized of this and were engaging directly with the social media companies. When it comes back to the overall operational matter, it has been made clear to me that, yes, as part of the mobilisation plan, this did include WhatsApp. How does one get in touch with somebody if they are out and about on thei…

It is clear as a Government that we have continued to support the Palestinian people in the position we have taken on a two state solution. We have consistently called for a ceasefire and for humanitarian aid to be provided. That is the position we have taken and we have clearly shown, not just by our actions or by flags, but by the actions we have taken and the direction that the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have taken, to ensure that we do everything in our power to protect those who are currently under fire, quite lit…

I know the Deputy is absolutely completely committed to policing in his own community and to the wider county. As the Deputy will know, changes are taking place and a new operational model is being rolled out right across the country. The sole objective of that operating model is to ensure that we have better and more focused policing, with more members on the ground and that we have a stronger community policing presence. That is what every one of us in this Chamber and what our communities want, which is to have …

I agree with the Deputy that it is absolutely imperative that we as public representatives have the ability to be able to represent the constituents who come to us. I am happy to come back to the Deputy and to ask the Minister for Health to respond to this particular query.