Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)

As we speak, I am conscious there are more than 30 Irish peacekeepers in an outpost in southern Lebanon who have placed themselves in harm’s way in the name of peace. We were all fairly stunned and watched in horror at the images that came through in recent days of a Merkava Mark IV tank lying right outside their base. That particular tank could not operate without the American-made engine which sits within it. Today, the Taoiseach is going off to meet Joe Biden. It would have been appropriate for the Taoiseach to give an update to the House on the statements he intends to make to President Biden as he sits in front of him. It is an opportunity to remind him of the United States' obligations as a permanent member of the UN Security Council in upholding UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and to draw a line very clearly that any infringement on our peacekeepers will not be tolerated. We have a responsibility in this regard. The Taoiseach cannot go to Washington and be meek. He needs to be assertive and he needs to bring back a commitment-----

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