A private members motion tabled by the Social Democrats, which demanded that the Government support South Africa's assertion at the International Court of Justice that genocide has been taking place in Gaza, was defeated in the Dáil late last night.
A Government amendment to the Social Democrats motion was ultimately passed by the lower house by a margin of 71 votes to 58.
The Government's lengthy amendment states it will consider an intervention "... as a matter of urgency after the Court has made its order on preliminary measures and the filing by South Africa of its memorial in the case."
The motion contends that this approach is "the only appropriate process to do so and following the necessary legal and policy analysis."
However, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns had demanded that the Government take immediate action and align Ireland with South Africa, contending it was nothing short of "... a disgrace that we are sitting on the fence."
The Social Democrats position was backed by Sinn Féin which also tabled amendments demanding the Government take action.
The party's foreign affairs spokesman Matt Carthy claimed: "If anyone determines at the end of the day that that is not genocide, well then I do not really know what genocide will ever mean again."
People Before Profit also tabled amendments to align Ireland with the South African position but they were also defeated.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin had argued that "interventions by states are not about joining one side or the other. They aim to assert a legal interpretation of the issue at hand."
The ICJ has announced that its judges will rule on Friday whether or not they will grant emergency measures against Israel.
The Dail debate took place as a large demonstration outside of Leinster House which called on the Government to back South Africa at the ICJ.
Earlier, the Taoiseach said the Government will wait until South Africa files its main case against Israel before deciding whether to submit an intervention.
South Africa has taken a case against Israel's action in Gaza, which has killed 25,000 people since October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said that the question of Ireland supporting the case at the ICJ has been "firmly kicked to touch".
"We are told you will strongly consider an intervention in the South African case but only after the preliminary ruling has been made and after South Africa files its substantive case," Ms Cairns said.
"That could take months... We do not need to wait for preliminary judgments and subsequent assessments to indicate our support. I'm sure the Government knows that."
Ms Cairns also accused the Government of refusing to use the word genocide in reference to Israel's actions in Gaza.
"This is despite the enormous death toll, the tens of thousands who have been maimed, the collapse of the healthcare system, the breakout of famine and the fact that the UN is now warning Gaza has been rendered uninhabitable," the West Cork TD said.
"Clearly, genocide isn't a word the government wants to use in relation to Israel, at least not until the preliminary ruling from the ICJ gets it some cover."
Earlier, protesters gathered outside Leinster House in support of the motion.
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said Israel is engaging in a "land grab".
"This is about wiping out the Palestinian people or removing them from the homeland," Ms Murphy said.
"That's what this is about. It's about a genocide. It's about ethnic cleansing."
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said the Government is taking the South Africa case "very seriously".
"Any decision we take about an intervention will be based on detailed and rigorous legal analysis," he added.
"The Government's position has been clear and consistent across all forums in its bilateral engagement. We need a humanitarian ceasefire. This is a message we conveyed to the United Nations yesterday and remains central to the Tánaiste's approach to the Foreign Affairs Council earlier this week."
Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy said more than 25,000 people, including 10,000 children, have been killed in the last 100 days.
He said that the Israeli military has attacked every hospital in Gaza and demolished education buildings.
"If that isn't genocide, well, then I really do not know what genocide will ever mean again because what would we apply that term to," Mr Carthy added.
"If we can't apply it to what is being done by Israel on the Palestinian people of Gaza, well then, essentially, the term of genocide becomes a unicorn. Something that doesn't happen.
"But it does happen because it is happening in Gaza right now."
