Activists seeking review as AirBnB complaint dropped
A group of pro-Palestinian activists are seeking a judicial review against a decision by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) not to proceed with a complaint filed against AirBnB in August 2023.
The High Court challenge is part of a wider strategic action launched today, where five separate international legal challenges were launched against AirBnB over its alleged rental lettings in occupied Palestinian territory.
The action is led by Sadaka, the Ireland Palestine Alliance, and the Global Legal Action Network, who say AirBnB has over 300 rental properties in the occupied West Bank.
In Ireland, they are seeking a judicial review of the GNECB's decision not to launch an investigation into AirBnB Ireland in August 2023.
It alleged that AirBnB Ireland is in breach of Irish money laundering laws by profiting from lettings in illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.
The groups said the GNECB declined to open an investigation, stating that the complaint did not disclose an offence within the jurisdiction of Ireland.
AirBnb denies money-laundering accusations, stating that it operates in compliance "with applicable Irish and US laws".
A spokesperson for the company added that since 2019, it has "donated all profits generated from host activity in the West Bank to an international nonprofit".
Speaking about the case, Independent Senator Frances Black said similar cases could be taken against other companies, unless the Government includes a ban on services with occupied territories in the Occupied Territories Bill.
She said: "My concern is that services will not be included in the Government's Bill so today is hugely significant because it really talks about why this is important.
"The cases are hugely important not only because they seek to put to an end a wrong in the immediate sense, but they also highlight exactly what we mean when we say that services must be included in the Occupied Territories Bill when Government finally bring their version to the Dáil."
She added: "This case is hugely important, but AirBnB is just one company and there are many others.
"We need Government to step up and take responsibility, pass full, proper and complete legislation that bans all trade with the illegal settlements in both goods and services for every company so cases like this are not necessary."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
UN questions Irish family courts over 'concept of parental alienation'
Ireland has been asked to respond to the UN on why "the concept of parental alienation" is being considered by the family law courts. Parental alienation is typically used to describe a situation where one parent wrongfully influences a child or children to turn against the other parent, usually in situations of relationship breakdown. The issue was raised on Friday afternoon by Dafna Hacker Dror of the UN's committee on the elimination of discrimination against women and girls. Ms Hacker Dror told the Irish delegation attending a hearing in Geneva: 'It seems that formal bodies are using the concept of parental alienation as if not contested, while it is highly contested on many levels including due to the risk that use of this concept holds for women and children who suffer from domestic violence.' Ms Hacker Dror asked why the concept was being used and added: 'What is done to prevent its potential harm to victims of domestic violence?" Minister for migration Colm Brophy led the Irish government's delegation and agreed to respond to that and some other questions in writing. It comes after minister for justice Jim O'Callaghan said last month that recommendations arising from a consultation process on parental alienation are currently being progressed. He said the process had resulted in a public consensus that 'the means to address parental alienation lie in improvements to the Irish family courts and family justice system'. He acknowledged that parental alienation is a highly contested and divisive concept. The consultation process on the issue was launched in 2022 by then-Justice Minister Helen McEntee. The aim of the consultation process was to seek the views of stakeholders and individuals around the issue of parental alienation. A report on parental alienation in other jurisdictions was also reviewed by the department as part of a process examining whether policy or legislative changes are required in Ireland. Meanwhile, concern was also raised during the hearing in Geneva that although Travellers make up just 0.7% of the Irish population, 15% of the male prison population and 22% of the female prison population in Ireland are Travellers. Department of Justice representative Lisa Doherty acknowledged that the 'disproportionate representation' of Travellers in the prison system is a 'cause for concern and is a reflection of the challenges facing Travellers in our society.'
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Housing commencements fall to 10-year low for the month of May
Home building has hit another dismal low-point, with new data confirming that last month's housing commencement figures were worst seen in May for 10 years. Last month, housing commencements - the number of new residential projects that have officially begun construction - were less than half the number of May last year. With the exception of May 2020, when covid-19 shut the construction sector, the May 2025 figure is the worst since 2015, with just 1,024 homes getting underway. Department of Housing statistics show that, in the first five months of the year, just under 5,000 homes have been officially commenced in Ireland, set against an initial government target to deliver 41,000 homes. Minister for housing James Browne has said this target is now 'not realistic' and that 'we're coming off a much lower base from last year than was expected'. The latest figures come as thousands of people are set to participate in a Raise the Roof protest at the National Monument in Cork City on Saturday, with trade unions and opposition parties urging the public to turn out to highlight the impact of the housing crisis on society. A commencement is a formal notice a developer must lodge to notify that that construction or a significant alteration to a building is beginning. There is no penalty if the work is never undertaken. Although it had been seen as an indication of how many homes would be built in the short-to-medium term, doubts have been cast on the reliability of these statistics, given a flood of notices were lodged at times last year prior to the expiry of Government incentives. Nevertheless, the fall in commencements to levels not seen since before the pandemic is viewed as a negative indicator of housing supply. The Central Bank has forecast that just 32,500 new homes will be built this year. Separately, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said on Friday that the volume of building in the residential sector fell 10.6% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same time last year. Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said the drop in housing commencements 'isn't surprising news'. Minister for housing James Browne has said he is committed to enacting a 'step change' in the housing department and will clear 'the dead wood out of the way so that homes can get delivered'. Photo: Leah Farrell/© 'It's why the Central Bank have revised their estimates and appears the Government will miss their targets not just this year but in 2026 and 2027 as well," he said. 'There's still an ongoing delay in the approval of vital social and affordable housing projects, and I suspect this accounts for a significant proportion of the shortfall in commencements. There is far too much bureaucracy and red tape.' Minister Browne has said he is committed to enacting a 'step change' in the housing department and will clear 'the dead wood out of the way so that homes can get delivered'. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing said the dip in commencement notices in the early months of 2025 "is not unexpected given the extraordinary number lodged in the last two years in response to Government measures to accelerate supply, principally through the Development Levy Waiver and Water Connection Rebate – notices were lodged for almost 102,000 new homes in 2023 and 2024 combined". The lower number of notices lodged over the first five months of 2025 likely reflects a shift in focus in the construction sector to progressing the homes already in the pipeline, they added. "Feedback from the sector suggests significantly increased activity on sites around the country – the Department of Housing is working with local authorities to gauge the level of activity currently underway in respect of the notices received in 2023 and 2024. Our initial analysis suggests almost 90% of the associated sites have been activated so far, auguring well for the completion of many of these units in 2025 and 2026."
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Hung jury in trial of Dublin firefighter accused of raping US woman in Boston on St Paddy's weekend as new date set
A US judge has declared a mistrial in a case involving Dublin firefighter Terence Crosbie, who is accused of rape. Mr Crosbie is accused of raping a 29-year-old attorney in a Boston hotel room over St Patrick's Day weekend in 2024. Advertisement He was sharing the room with his colleague Liam O'Brien, both of whom had travelled over as part of a group of firefighters to participate in the Boston parade. Mr Crosbie was arrested on March 16, 2024 and was on trial this week for the alleged offence. He has been held at the Nashua Street jail in Boston since his arrest. However, the jury of eight men and four women were unable to reach a verdict after four days and 22 hours of deliberation. Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS As they returned to the court room today the judge declared the jury as "hung". Judge Sarah Ellis said: 'I declare that this jury is deadlocked and I declare a mistrial.' Both the woman and Mr Crosbie testified over the five-day trail. The 29-year-old attorney alleges she met Liam O'Brien in a bar on March 14 and returned to the hotel room where they had consensual sex. Advertisement Most read in Irish News However, she claims after they fell asleep in separate beds she woke up as a man she did not know was raping her. Liam O'Brien remained asleep and was snoring at this stage. Gardai and RSA measures aimed at driving crash deaths on Irish roads The trial heard CCTV shows Mr Crosbie enter the hotel room and the woman leave 20 minutes later. The woman also alleges the man told her: "I know you want this. [Mr O'Brien] can't even do this for you – what a loser." Advertisement Mr Crosbie denies the charge and said that he had no sexual contact with the woman and that he "didn't touch" her. DNA evidence collected from the woman did show two samples the court heard. However, analysts were unable to determine whether the second sample belonged to Mr Crosbie. He testified in court: "There was nobody in my bed. My bed was empty." Advertisement He also said "loser" was not a common Irish term and he would not have said it. A new trial date has been set for October 14 and bail was increased from $10,000 to $50,000 after the judge deemed the accused to be a flight risk. 1 The firefighter denies the charge
