By Irishexaminer.com,Tadgh McNally, Political Reporter

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The former minister said the Government had “stepped up to the plate”, including through the recognition of a Palestinian state and the moves towards an Occupied Territories Bill.

However, pressed if delays to the OTB were due to hopes a peace agreement could be reached, Ms Humphreys said: “In fairness, is it going to make any difference in terms of what is happening in Gaza at the minute.”

When asked if this meant it should not be passed, Ms Humphreys said she was not saying that and described it as a “very important bill”.

“The point I’m making is, it’s also more important that we continue to speak out and say what is happening in Gaza is wrong and it should not be happening. We need a ceasefire.”

Meanwhile, Independent candidate Catherine Connolly criticised previous remarks made by Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin, who had said Israeli military objectives had been met.

“When was the military target achieved,” Ms Connolly asked.

In response, Mr Gavin said the Israeli government were committing war crimes and described the attacks as “genocide”.

“You talk to me about the bloodlust, it’s horrific. The fighting needs to stop, Hamas need to hand over the hostages, we need to get aid in there immediately,” Mr Gavin said.

He said he was “proud” to see Palestinian flags being flown around the country in solidarity with Palestinian people.

Ms Connolly questioned at what stage Israel completed its military objectives.

“At what point did Israel achieve its military objectives. When 20,000 were dead, when 30,000 were dead. You made the comment, at what point, in your opinion was the military objective reached,” Ms Connolly said.

In response, Mr Gavin said his “point was that it happened in the first place”, while also criticism the decision to end the UNIFIL mission.

During the segment on immigration, Mr Gavin was asked whether or not he believed the level of immigration into the country was too high. He agreed it was, but acknowledged it was falling.

Mr Gavin said there needed to be a robust and fair immigration system, adding that individuals should leave if they are not entitled to be in the country.

“I don’t believe prisons are the answer, more and more prisons,” Ms Connolly said.

However, Ms Connolly did acknowledge that prison was required for people who were “not safe to be let out”, while saying there needed to be a “different way”.

Mr Gavin, meanwhile, said there needed to be a “hard stance” against criminality, but that young people needed to be given “outlets where they can play” or where they can “socialize in a safe environment”.

On housing, Ms Humphreys said a lot of effort and money had gone into solving the housing crisis, but the “bottom line” was results were needed.

“It’s a disaster for the people who can’t get houses and putting their lives on hold and they’re putting off making decisions because they can’t get a house,” Ms Humphreys said.

Questioned on her time in Government, Ms Humphreys said she accepted they did not “achieve all that we should have achieved in housing”.

Mr Gavin said he was “at a loss” as to how his two children would be able to get a house in a few years.

Pressed on his decision to stand for Fianna Fáil amid the party’s handling of the housing crisis, Mr Gavin said the president “can’t build houses”.

“The president can keep highlighting the issues of society and the issue of housing will be the defining issue of our leaders in Government, that we elected, not the president.”

Early in the debate, Ms Connolly was questioned about her remarks comparing modern Germany to its 1930s counterpart, due to its ongoing rearmament.

The Independent candidate said her comments were made in the context of countries seeking to “boost” their economies through the use of the military industrial complex.

Questioned about the threats caused by Russia, Ms Connolly said countries should meet the threat through diplomatic means. “We should be trying for peace. We’re a neutral country.”

Pressed further if she was effectively comparing the SPD – a minority party in the German coalition and a sister party of Ireland’s Labour Party – to the Nazis, Ms Connolly said she did not do that.