The question originally tabled was to report on my discussions with the US or Israeli counterparts about the ongoing crisis in the Middle East as a result of Israel's assault on Gaza, in the West Bank and now in Lebanon and if I will make a statement on the matter. The crisis in the Middle East remains a key priority for me and the Government across our engagements, including in our discussions with the US and Israel. The scale and extent of the violence is shocking and appalling and I have condemned it repeatedly,…

The Deputy knows we are preparing a legal opinion to join the South African case at the International Court of Justice. He knows that, we have said that and we have done much work on that. We were proactive in terms of the ICJ case leading to the advisory opinion, at the UN General Assembly in the first instance; at the court itself, where the AG made a submission; and in asking for the implementation of that opinion in a subsequent UN vote. I have said very clearly the war in Gaza is a collective punishment of the…

I am disturbed by Deputy Boyd Barrett's assertions when he refers to a few "nasty things". Murdering and slaughtering 1,200 people, some at a music concert, is not a little nasty thing. It is an outrage and should be condemned as morally reprehensible. I find it extraordinary what the Deputy has just said in this House. He has essentially said that is just a few nasty things that are justified because of the conflict between Hamas and Israel. So if you attend a music concert-----

That is the conclusion I am drawing from it.

I am not. You asked me to stop the equivalence. There is no equivalence from my perspective. International humanitarian law should be observed. I disagree fundamentally and have condemned the Israeli Government's attack on Gaza. We are doing everything we can through the international courts. The Deputy mentioned genocide. There is a convention on genocide. We are either serious about challenging and asserting that in the courts or we are not. I accept the threshold in the courts is very high because of the way the…

That includes Hamas and Hezbollah. Equally, it includes the State of Israel in terms of, for example, these massive bunker bombs which take out hundreds of people in the name of taking out one commander. I accept fully the points Deputy Ó Murchú made on our peacekeepers - their safety and security is our priority - and on continuing to pursue justice and get answers from the Lebanese justice system in respect of the killing of Private Seán Rooney, who gallantly protected his fellow soldiers in driving through that …

I thank the Deputy for raising the question. I understand the Taoiseach has spoken to Prime Minister Barnier to congratulate him on his appointment. I know Prime Minister Barnier well from his time as the EU’s chief negotiator on Brexit. He is a good friend of Ireland and I wish him every success in his new and challenging role. Prime Minister Barnier knows Ireland well and would, of course, be very welcome to visit. I also look forward to working with my newly appointed counterpart, the Minister for Europe and For…

I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy. One of the few silver linings in the dark cloud of Brexit was Rosslare. There is no question that the Franco-Irish relationship has gained a fresh momentum as a consequence of Brexit in terms of the connections but also culturally, educationally and economically. I was in Paris in August. I was launching a Gaelic games activity in the context of the Olympics. There is a spread of Gaelic games in France, in Normandy and Brittany and so on, and it is the French citizens who are…

On that latter point, I met with Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds. He is very much on top of his brief early on. Ireland stands ready to facilitate the warmest of relations between the United Kingdom and the EU because that is also of benefit to Ireland and to Europe. We will continue to be supportive of sensible and intelligent reviews of existing trade agreements between the European Union and the United Kingdom. As I said earlier, the idea of the honorary consuls is not a bad one. I will review that and go back to …

Is the Deputy saying that military aircraft with tonnes of arms are landing?

I just wanted to clarify that.

I had not heard the earlier part of the question. That is why I sought clarification. I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly or land in the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is only provided where the strict conditions set out by my Department are fully met, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no …

Where is this from?

The Deputy made various points there. First of all, I condemn the war on Gaza.

I know, but the Deputy has conflated everything.

I did not interrupt you, Deputy - through the Chair, if I may.

Let us be very clear: everyone in this House, regardless of their political leanings, has called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the war in Gaza. We have condemned the bombardment and the collective punishment of the people in Gaza. I also condemn what is happening in Lebanon, where one million people have been displaced. I condemn what is happening in the West Bank, where the Israeli Government, supporting settlers, has engaged in a new land grab with a view to undermining the viability of a future Palest…

I do not agree with that. It is a fundamental distortion to suggest we are complicit in genocide and an outrageous assertion. It is also a bit propagandistic. I knocked on a door recently and the person who answered said to me that all the weapons are being supplied from Shannon. They had no evidence for this statement but this is what is being told. That misinformation is being created deliberately. There is also a degree of confusion being created deliberately between planes flying through sovereign airspace and …

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I attended the extraordinary videoconference meeting of EU foreign ministers on 30 September. I welcomed High Representative Borrell's decision to convene this meeting given the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and the emerging escalation in Lebanon in particular. During the meeting, I underlined Ireland's deep concern regarding the humanitarian catastrophe facing the people of Lebanon and those of Gaza and the West Bank. I again reiterated th…

The overwhelming criticism in this House over the last year has been criticism of Israel. Let us be clear about that. That should not exclude criticism and condemnation of actions by Hezbollah or Hamas or of the malign role of Iran in the evolution of the conflict and the wars across the Middle East. The broadest perspective should always be brought to the House and should inform the debate. I have condemned the bombardment of Lebanon. I have condemned the nature of modern destructive warfare repeatedly here and el…