Dara O'Brien

I think firstly, if you look at what Ireland and what the Irish government has done and successive Irish governments in relation to supporting Palestine, we've actually in many respects been on our own and have led in Europe.

We led in Europe in relation to the recognition of the state of Palestine, the funding of UNRWA when UNRWA was under incredible pressure as well, and calling out the brutality of the Israeli regime's actions in Gaza and in the West Bank.

And so we have done a lot.

We committed the Occupied Territories Bill.

And as the Taoiseach rightly said yesterday, in relation to including services would just not be implementable.

I think this is more of a symbolic approach, which is very important.

We're one of only three countries in Europe that are actually doing this.

Trade is an EU competence, David, as you know as well.

So we are going above and beyond on this.

But our solidarity with the Palestinian people is unquestioned.

And really what was...

As the doll should be uniting behind this, we shouldn't be dividing on Palestine and we shouldn't.

And some in the opposition, I put it to you as well, are using this for political purposes.

This is a humanitarian crisis where the Irish people speak generally with one voice on this.

And so my view is, is that this is a very important step.

Well, I think the Taoiseach was very honest about this yesterday.

We got a briefing at Cabinet yesterday as well as that including services will be unimplementable.

OK.

And that's just that that's just the honest reality of it.

Well, I'm the Director of Elections and we had an excellent candidate in Councillor John Stevens and I thank him for the work that's been done there.