Mattie McGrath Demands Immediate Ceasefire and UN Peacekeepers

I speak to you today with a heavy heart. As we witnessed the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the death of slaughter of innocent civilians, they are caught up in a crossfire of a brutal and unrelenting conflict. This suffering demands not just our sympathy but our swift action. Ireland has a proud tradition of neutrality, of standing actively for peace, for international law and for the protection of human dignity. That tradition must guide us now. We must call unequivocally for an immediate and sustained ceasefire. The violence must end. We must support the deployment and protection of neutral UN peacekeeping forces to protect civilians and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those who are most needed. Our neutrality is not passive. It is principled and has been always. It gives us the moral authority to be a vice for peace on the international stage and we must use it and use it strongly. Humanitarian aid must flow unimpeded. Medical supplies, food and clean water are not luxuries, they are rights. Ireland must press for safe humanitarian corridors. A ceasefire is the first step but peace will only come through justice, accountability and respect for international law on all sides. Let us be clear, Ireland stands for peace and neutrality and the protection of life. Indeed, there are other parts of the world where there is a massive slaughter of Christians going on, on a daily if not hourly basis. The world's leaders and the world's media seem to turn a blind eye to it. That is reprehensible and totally unacceptable. I will be travelling in August to meet the ICLN and we debate that each year. There will be members there. Parliament hearings from many of those countries are affected by this savagery and brutality and it is pretty extensive. And we must be advised for that also. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.