Taoiseach to attend event marking 40th anniversary of Air India disaster in Cork

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is to attend a commemoration to mark 40 years since the Air India disaster in West Cork.
In June 1985, Air India Flight 182 was brought down off the coast of Cork in what was the worst aviation disaster in Irish and Canadian history.
Advertisement
Some 329 people were killed, including 29 families, the majority of whom were Canadians of Indian descent.
The plane crashed as a result of a terrorist attack, and was the worst aviation act of terrorism until the September 11 attacks.
An annual commemoration is held at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork.
At the 20th commemoration of the disaster, Paul Martin became the first Canadian prime minister to visit the memorial.
Advertisement
As Taoiseach Mr Martin offered his condolences to the families of those killed after an Air India plane crashed earlier this month, he drew comparisons between the two tragedies.
'All of us who experienced that had a sense of trauma that people go through when crashes of this kind happen,' he said.
The 2025 Air India flight struck a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board.
The sole survivor was Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who said it was 'a miracle' he survived.
Advertisement

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Independent

19 minutes ago

• The Independent

NATO leaders are set to agree a historic defense spending pledge, but the hike won't apply to all

NATO leaders are expected to agree this week that member countries should spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense, except the new and much vaunted investment pledge will not apply to all of them. Spain has reached a deal with NATO to be excluded from the 5% of GDP spending target, while President Donald Trump said the figure shouldn't apply to the United States, only its allies. In announcing Spain's decision Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the spending pledge language in NATO's final summit communique — a one-page text of perhaps half a dozen paragraphs — would no longer refer to 'all allies.' It raises questions about what demands could be insisted on from other members of the alliance like Belgium, Canada, France and Italy that also would struggle to hike security spending by billions of dollars. On Friday, Trump insisted the U.S. has carried its allies for years and now they must step up. 'I don't think we should, but I think they should,' he said. 'NATO is going to have to deal with Spain.' Trump also branded Canada 'a low payer.' NATO's new spending goals The 5% goal is made up of two parts. The allies would agree to hike pure defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, up from the current target of at least 2%, which 22 of the 32 countries have achieved. Money spent to arm Ukraine also would count. A further 1.5% would include upgrading roads, bridges, ports and airfields so armies can better deploy, establishing measures to counter cyber and hybrid attacks and preparing societies for future conflict. The second spending basket is easy for most nations, including Spain. Much can be included. But the 3.5% on core spending is a massive challenge. Last year, Spain spent 1.28% of GDP on its military budget, according to NATO estimates, making it the alliance's lowest spender. Sánchez said Spain would be able to respect its commitments to NATO by spending 2.1% of GDP on defense needs. Spain also is among Europe's smallest suppliers of arms and ammunition to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute, which tracks such support. It's estimated to have sent about 800,000 euros ($920,000) worth of military aid since Russia invaded in 2022. Beyond Spain's economic challenges, Sánchez has other problems. He relies on small parties to govern and corruption scandals have ensnared his inner circle and family members. He is under growing pressure to call an early election. Why the spending increase is needed There are solid reasons for ramping up spending. The Europeans believe Russia's war on Ukraine poses an existential threat to them. Moscow has been blamed for a major rise in sabotage, cyberattacks and GPS jamming incidents. European leaders are girding their citizens for the possibility of more. The alliance's plans for defending Europe and North America against a Russian attack require investments of at least 3%, NATO experts have said. All 32 allies have endorsed these. Each country has been assigned 'capability targets' to play its part. Spanish Foreign Minister José Albares said Monday that 'the debate must be not a raw percentage but around capabilities.' He said Spain 'can reach the capabilities that have been fixed by the organization with 2.1%.' Countries much closer to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine all have agreed to reach the target, as well as nearby Germany, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands, which is hosting the two-day summit starting Tuesday. The Netherlands estimates NATO's defense plans would force it to dedicate at least 3.5% to core defense spending. That means finding an additional 16 billion to 19 billion euros ($18 billion to $22 billion). Setting a deadline It's not enough to agree to spend more money. Many allies haven't yet hit an earlier 2% target that they agreed in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. So an incentive is required. The date of 2032 has been floated as a deadline. That is far shorter than previous NATO targets, but military planners estimate Russian forces could be capable of launching an attack on an ally within five to 10 years. The U.S. insists it cannot be an open-ended pledge and a decade is too long. Still, Italy says it wants 10 years to hit the 5% target. The possibility of stretching that period to 2035 also has been on the table for debate among NATO envoys. An official review of progress could also be conducted in 2029, NATO diplomats have said. ___

BBC News

an hour ago

• BBC News

Irish evacuees from Israel expected home in 'coming days'

A group of 15 Irish citizens and their dependants have been evacuated from Israel, the Irish government has said.Tánaiste (deputy Irish prime minister) Simon Harris said the Irish citizens left Israel on Sunday and are expected to arrive in Ireland in the coming were evacuated in an operation organised by Austria, one of Ireland's EU partners, Harris evacuation comes as Israel and Iran continue to trade missile strikes and the US launched an attack on Iranian nuclear sites. "Throughout this crisis, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our Embassy in Tel Aviv have remained in regular contact with Irish citizens in the region," Harris added: "I would like to thank the government of Austria for the close cooperation which resulted in today's successful evacuation."I would also like to thank our consular response teams in Tel Aviv, Dublin and across the Middle East who continue to support Irish citizens in the region".Earlier, the tánaiste said that a "small number" of citizens also want to leave Iran, and work is under way to get them out Dublin government, Harris said, is urging Irish citizens in both Israel and Iran to "remain vigilant, to monitor developments and media, and to follow advice from the authorities, including when this is to shelter in place"."All citizens in the region should register with the nearest Irish Embassy, if they have not already done so," he said. 'Grave concern' Harris added: "Our embassies will remain in close contact with all citizens in Israel and Iran over the days and weeks ahead. Our wider political work on the developing situation also continues."The deputy prime minister said he had spoken on Sunday to Iran's deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi."I expressed grave concern at the developments overnight, strongly urged restraint and shared the view that it was not in the interests of the Iranian people or the Middle East as a region for hostilities to escalate," Harris said Ireland had a long-standing commitment to nuclear disarmament, adding that concerns about Iran's nuclear programme should be addressed through dialogue.

Rhyl Journal

an hour ago

• Rhyl Journal

Irish citizens evacuated from Iran

It comes after the successful evacuation of 15 Irish citizens and their dependents from Israel on Sunday. Ireland's deputy premier Simon Harris said the US attack was an 'extraordinarily dangerous escalation' in an already 'volatile' situation in the Middle East. He is to attend a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Brussels on Monday, where the growing crisis in the Middle East will be discussed among other topics. I am pleased to confirm that three Irish 🇮🇪 citizens and their dependents have safely departed Iran overnight and are now en route home. I continue to urge all Irish citizens in Iran to register at so we can maintain contact with you. — Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 23, 2025 In a statement, Mr Harris said those who had left Iran will now 'travel home'. 'I want to extend our gratitude to our European friends and partners for their excellent support.' He added: 'Throughout this crisis, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our Embassies have remained in regular contact with Irish citizens in the region.' Tensions in the Middle East boiled over 10 days ago when Israel launched strikes on Tehran, targeting the country's nuclear programme. Israel and Iran have been exchanging strikes with one another since, rekindling fears of a full-scale conflict. On Saturday the US weighed in, sending planes and submarines to attack Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz, which are linked to Iran's nuclear programme. Tehran threatened to retaliate, while US President Donald Trump warned of further action if necessary. Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Middle East — Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 22, 2025 Speaking ahead of the EU meeting on Monday, Mr Harris said there needed to be 'a diplomatic solution' to Iran's nuclear programme. The Tanaiste said that urgent de-escalation and diplomacy are 'crucial', and the EU 'has a role to play in charting a way forward'. He said he would also be calling for 'swift and concrete actions' in response to the EU's review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. 'We must also maintain a strong focus on the situation in Gaza, which remains catastrophic,' he added. 'I call on Israel to lift its blockade on aid into Gaza. The situation in the West Bank also continues to be unacceptable. 'The EU can and must provide leadership on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, on the release of hostages, on preserving the two-State solution, and on efforts to support peace and stability in the Middle East.' We will have a Security College on Wednesday, focused on the escalating situation in the Middle East and its effects on Europe. — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 22, 2025 EU ministers are expected to discuss the latest developments, the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and the review of Israel's compliance with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Among the other topics to be discussed are the Russian invasion of Ukraine, EU engagement with China, and Georgia. Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha will also attend the summit and provide an update. The discussion on China is expected to prepare for the upcoming EU-China Strategic Dialogue and EU-China Summit. Mr Harris added: 'I will be underlining the need to demonstrate our unity and collective backing for Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression. 'Recent weeks have seen a significant escalation in brutal Russian air attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. These are not the action of a country interested in peace.' Those who have been evacuated were among 29 Irish citizens in Iran who had registered with the Irish embassy and around 200 in Israel.