Politics watch: Bill to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements

Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the weeks to come.
Government to draft Bill to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements
The
Government is to draft legislation
to ban the trade of goods with Palestinian lands illegally occupied by Israeli settlements.
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Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris received Cabinet approval to draft the law on Tuesday.
The Government has opted for fresh legislation instead of progressing the Occupied Territories Bill, first tabled in 2018.
The Government has said there is 'a narrow pathway', based on an advisory opinion from the UN's top court, to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
Bill aimed at banning fox hunting
A bill that would
ban 'cruel' fox hunting
in Ireland has been introduced to the Dáil.
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The bill was immediately opposed by two rural independent TDs, who said foxes pose concerns for farmers.
Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, who introduced the bill, said it was 'unprecedented' for a bill to be opposed at the first stage.
Government apology over hit-and-run crash
The
Justice Minister
has announced a review of bail laws after apologising to the family of a Monaghan cyclist who was killed in a hit-and-run crash almost 14 years ago.
On August 2nd, 2011, 23-year-old law graduate Shane O'Farrell was cycling home when he was struck by a car in the Carrickmacross area of Co Monaghan.
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The driver of the car, Zigimantas Gradzuiska, failed to remain at the scene.
The Lithuanian national had a number of previous convictions including for theft and drugs offences.
The Dáil heard that the day he struck Mr O'Farrell, Gradzuiska should have been in jail for breaches of bail conditions that were applied to him at the time.
In one instance, the late Judge John O'Hagan had told him that he would be 'going to prison' if he got in trouble again after January 11th, 2011.
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Public express outrage over McGregor/Trump meeting
Members of the public expressed their anger at Conor McGregor's St Patrick's Day meeting with US president Donald Trump in messages to Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
The vast majority of messages were critical of McGregor, with many accusing the UFC fighter of "hijacking our identity".
Mr Martin met the US president on March 12th, and the Government was blindsided by McGregor's St Patrick's Day trip to the White House, in which he made a number of unfounded claims about immigration into Ireland.
Claims McGregor made about crime levels in Dublin were also found to be from a discredited 'study' published by an online gambling company.
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In messages to the Taoiseach, seen by
BreakingNews.ie
after a Freedom of Information request, people expressed anger at McGregor's White House appearance.
At 10.15pm on March 17th, one email to Mr Martin read: "You did a great job on your recent visit to the White House, congratulations on your diplomacy, but I'm furious with that clown (and I'm being generous) McGregor hijacking our identity."
Abroad
A 50 per cent tariff on EU imports to the US has been delayed from June 1st until July 9th following a call with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Donald Trump said.
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey late on Sunday, the US president said the delay was to allow time for 'serious negotiations' with the bloc.
In the UK, Nigel Farage's Reform UK continues to rise in opinion polls, with prime minister Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch struggling for a response.

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Now Keir Starmer follows Kemi Badenoch in demanding Irish rappers Kneecap are dropped from Glastonbury after Hezbollah flag charge

The Prime Minister has called for Kneecap to be dropped from Glastonbury next week after one of the band members was charged with a terror offence. Following similar calls from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Sir Keir Starmer said today it was 'not appropriate' for the Irish rappers to perform at the festival. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. The 27-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning following the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London. In an interview with The Sun, Sir Keir was asked if he thought the trio should perform at Glastonbury, to which he replied: 'No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this. 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Kneecap took aim at Ms Badenoch in their latest single, The Recap, which was released just before their headline set at London's Wide Awake festival in May. The song mocked the politician's attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Party's election loss. On Wednesday, O hAnnaidh was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court. He was supported by bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh who were wearing 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts. Og O hAnnaidh wore sunglasses, a black t-shirt, trousers and black jacket and held a Keffiyeh - a type of shawl often worn by supporters of the pro-Palestine movement. The group then walked up the stairs of the court and looked over the balcony, smiling and giving a thumbs up to their supporters gathered outside. Members of the crowd had surged around the entrance, with some also entering the lobby. 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'Oppression fears the freedom of expression but the reality is Kneecap would stand up to the freedom of expression and they will defend their rights. Not only the rights of them but the rights of artists and people all around the world. 'And it's not new for Irish people to be prosecuted under special powers and terrorism acts. But friends, fans, family do not be afraid we are on the right side of history 'The more they come after Kneecap the louder we will get. If the British Government had any sense of history they will know they have already lost.' The charge follows a counter terrorism police investigation into the historical gig footage, which also allegedly shows the group calling for the deaths of MPs. In April, Kneecap apologised last month to the families of murdered politicians but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. In an initial post in response to the charge, Kneecap said: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. 'We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. 'A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective? 'To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. 'Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. 'The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.' Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English, and merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. A BBC spokesperson said: 'As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. 'Whilst the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines. Decisions about our output will be made in the lead up to the festival.'

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