SEANAD REPORT:IF THE Israeli government was not prepared to safeguard the wellbeing of Irish people, Israel's ambassador should be expelled from this country, Terry Leyden (FF) said.

Joining in criticism of the treatment of 14 Irish activists detained by the Israeli authorities following the interception of their Gaza aid ship, he said that if they were not freed, he would be calling on President-elect Michael D Higgins, who had chaired the Friends of Palestine group, to tackle the issue in his inaugural address at Dublin Castle tomorrow.

Cathaoirleach Paddy Burke (FG) said the suggestion was completely out of order.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs should be taking a firmer line on the detention of these courageous people who currently found themselves in a situation of danger, said Mr Leyden.

Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) said we should send out a clear message that we did not want our citizens to be interfered with in this way. The families of these “people of conscience” were particularly worried about their fate. They had been incarcerated, ill-treated, roughed up, stripped naked and photographed. An American journalist on board one of the aid vessels had ensured that the real story, as opposed to the Israeli sanitised version, had been told about what had happened to them.

David Cullinane (SF) said the Department of Foreign Affairs had described the aid effort as a legitimate humanitarian mission, so it was accepting that Irish citizens were being held against their will.

Paschal Mooney (FF) said the degrading manner in which Irish citizens were being treated hardly supported the Israeli cause. “Why, once again, are they shooting themselves in the foot?”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs should call in the Israeli ambassador and convey to him the strong sentiment of the House and the anger over, and the unacceptability of, Israeli policy towards Irish citizens.

John Gilroy (Lab) said an impression was being given that Israel was wholly wrong on this occasion. Surely a state had a right to protect its own borders.

Mr Leyden: “They are Palestinian borders.” Mr Gilroy said it did no one any good to be talking about the incoming president becoming political all of a sudden and making a statement on this issue. It was ridiculous to advocate that the Israeli ambassador be expelled. Noting that a former Fianna Fáil TD was among the boat activists, he said that if they really wanted to put pressure on the Israeli government perhaps they should send a boatful of ex-Fianna Fáil deputies.

Opposition leader Darragh O’Brien (FF) called on Mr Gilroy to withdraw that “disgraceful” remark. Refusing to do so, Mr Gilroy said the issue should be discussed without demonising one party or the other.

Colm Burke (FG) said that while protests helped to highlight the Gaza issue, a change of policy by Israel could be brought about only by the applications of pressure by the EU and the US.