Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
24. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what efforts he is making to assist Irish citizens or families with connections to this country who are seeking to escape Gaza and especially those who have contacted him seeking assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3349/24]
View answerI handed the Tánaiste a letter this week from Zak Hania's wife. He is an Irish citizen trapped in Gaza and is not being allowed out by Israel. She is appealing to the Tánaiste to assist him. Two other Irish citizens contacted me who are also trapped. They are in effect being held hostage by Israel. I want to know what the Government is doing to try to get them out and what it has said to the Israelis or European counterparts about the fact Israel is preventing Irish citizens from leaving the horror of Gaza. I also sent the Tánaiste an extensive list of people who are citizens of Ireland with family in Gaza who are appealing for assistance from the Government to allow them to exit the horror of Gaza. What is the Government doing on that?
The Deputy also attacked me when I went to Israel to seek to get Irish citizens out of Gaza. His fellow travellers did likewise, as well as trolling and misinformation online. We got 56 people out.
I do not think the Tánaiste should have gone to Israel. That is my view.
Yet the Deputy comes in here and says he is handing me letters to get people out.
No, I think the European Union-----
You are just a hypocrite.
The European Union-----
Come off it.
-----should crack the whip on Israel over the treatment of our citizens.
Regarding the specific people, I will do everything I can to get people out of Gaza and that means engaging with the Israeli authorities. Our ambassador in Israel has engaged repeatedly with Israeli authorities and that resulted in very substantial numbers of Irish citizens and their dependants getting out of Gaza. If you had your way, nobody would get out of Gaza.
Do you think it is acceptable that Israel is holding our citizens hostage?
You are just behaving hypocritically. I went out there to get people out and you attacked me. Then you come in the following day and say "Please get them out". Come off it. What credibility have you?
What credibility has the European Union for allowing citizens to be treated in that way?
You are a disgrace. You are unbelievable.
