Former president of Ireland Michael D Higgins has said that Ireland should seek to recover moral significance during its upcoming Presidency of the European Union, and should hold its fellow members to account in upholding human rights.
Mr Higgins was speaking at the launch of a policy paper by Sadaka, the Ireland Palestine Alliance, which outlined key priorities for Ireland's EU presidency in relation to Palestine.
"As we go into the Irish presidency, the best thing we can do, and let us do so with generosity, let us is recognise recovering a moral significance and standing our ground in international policy," he said
Mr Higgins said he unreservedly used the word genocide now in relation to Gaza.
"I do so, because of what has been attempted at the elimination of a people, their culture, their memory, their civilization," he said.
"I like to call a land grab for what it is, and that is what is proposed by the so-called committee for peace, in relation to Gaza," he called.
Watch: Ireland should seek to recover moral significance during EU Presidency - Higgins
Mr Higgins called on Ireland to hold its fellow EU members to account.
"We must make sure that it is not just going to be a news item again and again as the cameras shift from one part of what is called the Middle East. We must say the wrongs must be ended and even if it is going to be a slow process, Ireland must just not contend to be a minority in relation to making its case.
"It must say to all the other members of the European Union, where do you stand in relation to the United Nations charter and to all of the conventions which were there about respect for humanity?", he added.
"The moral instincts of the people should be a dominating force when it comes to Ireland's foreign policy," Mr Higgins said.
He said he believed this was the view of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von Der Leyen, and also cited a recent Irish Times article which said Ireland needed to grow up and get serious about its interests.
Mr Higgins said he believed the issues around the economic cost which could be incurred "have been exaggerated."
He said the Palestinian people were entitled to their rights and asked, "Is it a right that stays intact if it is made conditional?"
