Government called on to recognise genocide is taking place in Gaza at hands of Israel

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon: 'It is no good for Micheál Martin to continue to make excuses, to equivocate on language, to offer phrases like genocide when it came to the horrific Russian invasion of Ukraine and not offer the same terms when it comes to what we are seeing in Gaza. Picture: Damien Storan

The State must demonstrate leadership and recognise a genocide is taking place in Gaza, a Social Democrats TD has said.

The Dáil will hear on Thursday that Ireland should state a genocide is taking place and it will do everything in its power to stop it.

"It is no good for Micheál Martin to continue to make excuses, to equivocate on language, to offer phrases like genocide when it came to the horrific Russian invasion of Ukraine and not offer the same terms when it comes to what we are seeing in Gaza," said Gary Gannon.

The Social Democrats will bring a motion to the Dáil on the recognition of genocide taking place in Gaza at the hands of the state of Israel on what is likely to be the final sitting day of the current Government.

If the motion were to be passed, Mr Gannon said it would give Ireland legitimacy to take it to the EU and say the Israel-EU trade agreements that have humanitarian clauses built in are unconscionable.

There can be no more excuses while we watch "the obliteration of hospitals, the wanton targeting of journalists and the annihilation of women and children and men", Mr Gannon said.

The Social Democrats are bringing the motion after they offered their private members time this week to try to progress the Occupied Territories Bill to the next stage, hichwas not taken up by the government.

"This is something that is hugely important to the Irish people," said Mr Gannon, "People are asking themselves what we are doing and the idea that the Government can say they can't bring it even to the next step. I think is cynical."

Mr Gannon labelled the memo brought to Cabinet by the Transport Minister Eamon Ryan regarding updating legislation concerning the carriage of munitions of war through Irish sovereign airspace as a cynical ploy ahead of an election.

Mr Ryan said the legislation, last amended in the 1980s, needed to be updated to ensure it was fit for purpose and to strengthen the State's ability to detect and sanction anyone found to be breaking this law.