An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has criticised Israel for cutting off electricity and water supplies to Gaza, describing the actions as "not acceptable," and saying they may breach international law.
In an interview with Prime Time, broadcast last night at 9.35pm on RTÉ One, Mr Varadkar said "Israel is under threat. They do have a right to defend themselves, but they don't have the right to breach international humanitarian law."
"Israel is a country that is surrounded by these brutal, savage, groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, countries like Iran, often supported by Islamic fundamentalists and anti-Semites around the world."
"I'm really concerned about what I'm seeing happening in Gaza at the moment," he said.
"To me, it amounts to collective punishment. Cutting off power, cutting off fuel supplies and water supplies, that's not the way a respectable democratic state should conduct itself."
Mr Varadkar called on Hamas to release all hostages immediately, and said Israel is "justified in attacking Hamas in Gaza and elsewhere."
However, he added, "operations that clearly affect civilians disproportionately are wrong."
"I believe by targeting civilians and by cutting off civilian infrastructure, that is a breach of international humanitarian law. And I think it's very important for us, as Ireland to make sure that that voice is brought to the table at European Union level."
He was speaking during a wide-ranging interview with Miriam O'Callaghan in the wake of Tuesday’s budget announcement.
WATCH: The Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich speaks to Fran McNulty on Prime Time
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Housing
On housing, in response to questions about the Government’s record, Mr Varadkar said funding allocated in Budget 2024 will result in some of the largest housing provision in the history of the State.
"The budget for the Department of Housing next year will be more than €5 billion, the biggest ever. And that's going to allow us to break all records when it comes to the provision of new public housing. That's social housing, it's affordable rental, it's also affordable for purchase," he said.
"Every week now, there are about 40 first-time buyers buying their first home. We haven't seen that since the Celtic Tiger period," he added.
Homelessness is one of the "biggest problems we face," Mr Varadkar said, while admitting it is an issue the Government "struggles to grapple with."
"I believe we're getting positioned the next few months where it will start falling again."
"Most people are provided with secure tenancy within 6 to 12 months of becoming homeless. But I totally understand that can be a very long time in the life of a child."
Health
On health issues, Mr Varadkar defended the decision to give the Department of Health just over €700m in additional funding, despite it seeking €2billion in the budget, saying no Minister got exactly what they asked for.
"Look at how our health services outperforming the NHS for example, our outcomes for stroke and cancer, we have longer life expectancy now in Ireland than almost anywhere in Europe."
"The demand for health services increases every year - with an ageing and growing population - but something else is happening, there's definitely a snapback in demand post-Covid. That's putting a lot of pressure on hospitals, we'll be we'll be working with Minister Donnelly and the HSE to make sure that our service is adequately funded for next year, but it's not about money. I think we've proven that."
United Ireland
In recent weeks, Mr Varadkar was criticised by some unionists in Northern Ireland for saying he believed he will see a United Ireland in his lifetime.
In response to questions on the topic, Mr Varadkar said "I am sorry if it is the case that me talking about unification incendiary or provocative to people in Northern Ireland, I am genuinely sorry if that's the case, but it shouldn't be the case."
"People who want to maintain the union between Northern Ireland and Britain, they often talk about being Unionists and being proud Unionists. I just don't accept that, I respect that - and I would ask for mutual respect in that regard," he said.
"We had a referendum here in 1997 on the Good Friday Agreement. In that referendum, we gave up our territorial claim to Northern Ireland, but we also affirmed in our constitution that we aspired to unification. And as Taoiseach, I have a responsibility, in my view, to follow that aspiration that's in our constitution."
Legacy
When asked by Miriam O’Callaghan what he thought his legacy might be after two terms as Taoiseach, Mr Varadkar said he believes Ireland had become "a more modern place, more equal place," under his leadership.
"A more prosperous place, a place that's comfortable about its position in the world at the heart of the European Union, and a country in which there is real opportunity for anyone who's willing to work hard or study hard," he said.
Miriam O'Callaghan's interview with An Taoiseach broadcast on the October 12 edition of Prime Time.
