Latest news with #OccupiedTerritoriesBill
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Ireland among nine countries demanding EU discontinue trade with illegal Israeli settlements
Ireland has joined eight other countries in writing to the EU Commission demanding urgent action to "effectively discontinue" trade with illegal Israeli settlements. It comes as Tánaiste Simon Harris is due to bring a draft scheme of the Occupied Territories Bill to Cabinet next week with the aim of having it scrutinised by politicians before the Dáil summer recess. Confirming that the Government has joined several EU countries on Thursday to deliver "a clear message" to the European Commission, Mr Harris said: "We now urgently need proposals at EU level to effectively discontinue trade with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territory." It is expected that a review of the EU-Israel trade agreement, which had been undertaken following a request by the Dutch government, could be published as early as tomorrow ahead of a crunch meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday. However, there is now a concern among some members states, including Ireland, that taking action or imposing any trade sanctions could be delayed. Mr Harris along with his counterparts in Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden have now signed a joint letter asking the European Commission to examine how trade in goods and services linked to illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory can be brought into line with international law. This follows the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, which clearly states that third countries must refrain from any trade or investment that helps sustain an illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Belgium foreign affairs minister, Maxime Prevot, said: "Upholding international law is a shared responsibility. In a rules-based international order, legal clarity must guide political choices. A united European approach can help ensure that our policies reflect our values."
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘Match your words with actions' – Paul Murphy urges Simon Harris to do more for Palestinians after being detained in Egypt
On arrival in Dublin Airport with a group of around ten others, he called on the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to match his words of criticism of Israel with actions. Last week, Mr Murphy and members of an activist group had their passports taken and were held after attempting to walk to Rafah as part of a protest march highlighting the blockage of aid into Gaza. He was then detained for a second time in Cairo on Monday when he went to a police station to retrieve his mobile phone, which was being held by authorities. 'The main thing I'm asking Simon Harris to do, and we're asking Simon Harris to do, is not to do more for us - it's to match his strong words of criticism of Israel with actions,' he said. "To fully implement the Occupied Territories Bill, to stop the overflights of weapons going through our airspace, and to stop our Central Bank authorising the sale of Israeli bonds in the European Union,' he said. Surrounded by group members with Irish and Palestinian flags, Deputy Murphy said they had 'tremendous support from the Egyptian people'. 'It's clear that the Egyptian people are very, very supportive of Palestine. Obviously, we're disappointed with the stance that the Egyptian State took,' he said. "I'm fine. All the Irish people are fine. There are still some non-Irish people who are detained out there, so we're hopeful that they're released as soon as possible and we have to be kind of mindful of the fact that they're potentially still in detention and there's other Irish people who want to come home, in terms of the comments we make about Egypt.' Reacting to criticism from Independent Ireland party leader TD Michael Collins, who branded his trip to Egypt a 'march for publicity', Deputy Murphy people can make their own judgements. 'First of all, this is not my stunt at all. This is 4,000 people that were participating. I was actually a late participant in joining it. This is probably the biggest global coordinated march for Palestine that we have seen. And even though we didn't reach Rafah, we think we did succeed in highlighting what's happening,' he explained. 'Just yesterday 38 people were killed while queuing for aid, and this has become a pattern now, over 300 people in the last three weeks. 'I left on Thursday. I was in the Dáil on Thursday morning. I'm back today, back for the Dáil, today. I think most people in this country want politicians to do everything they can to stop this genocide. This is a contribution that I felt that I could make in supporting this people-powered movement that we have.' Deputy Murphy said the next focus now is on a meeting in Brussels next week. "We definitely recognise that this phase of the global March to Gaza is finished. We accept that we will not be reaching Rafah, and those who remain there will not be reaching Rafah. 'There's a meeting in Brussels next week when Foreign Affairs Ministers are meeting with the Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs. We think that's horrendous in the context of the genocide that's been going on for 20 months. 'I think it's horrendous that Ursula von der Leyen is still talking about Israel's right to defend itself and blaming others for instability in the Middle East, considering Israel's ongoing genocide and then starting a war effectively with Iran. So that's our next focal point." Meanwhile, Mr Collins questioned what was the objective of the trip and said he would have advised Mr Murphy against travelling if he was a member of Independent Ireland. Mr Collins said it is 'Dáil time' and TDs are supposed to be working. He also questioned why Mr Murphy put himself in danger. 'As party leader, if one of my TDs came to me and said they wanted to go travelling. First of all, I'd say, it's Dáil time and it's work time, you're supposed to tend to your duties,' said Mr Collins at Leinster House. 'If it's a holiday during August or something, that's their own business. But certainly, why put yourself in danger? Why put other people in danger, because you are in a position of responsibility and you have to advise people of the dangers you're putting people in. I felt there was a danger and there was a danger for others. 'I think it was more done on the basis of publicity than maybe delivery. And delivery is for the people that is inside here, where democracy is held, where people are held to order, where we can speak our minds and he's well able to speak his mind [in the Dáil]. "It's his decision but it's a decision I'd question myself if it was within my party.' Cork TD Richard O'Donoghue said he hopes Mr Murphy is well and safe. 'You can protest, you can do all the same things of what he wanted to achieve, here. But to go over there and to put your life and other lives at risk, says to me you didn't think about the people you were leaving here behind you,' said Mr O'Donoghue. Meanwhile, Labour TD Duncan Smith said he would not criticise anybody who is trying to highlight the genocide in Gaza. 'I'm not going to be criticising any politician or citizen of this country or others who are doing what they believe they can to highlight what's going on in Gaza.' Mr Murphy has confirmed no Irish citizens are now under detention in Egypt. 'No other Irish citizens are still detained, thankfully. Again, there are many Irish citizens who are not leaving today, will still be there for a period of time and I'm kind of conscious about their safety and not putting them in in any jeopardy,' Mr Murphy told RTÉ's Morning Ireland. Mr Murphy said his second detention was a 'slow bureaucratic process' and things were taking a long time to resolve. 'But then, I asked to leave and was told that I couldn't leave and the whole time they had my passport. It became clear that I was being detained, as unfortunately hundreds of others have been detained in Egypt, many people deported.' He said his experience in Egypt 'pales into insignificance compared to what's happening in Gaza'. 'Just yesterday, 38 Palestinians were killed while queuing for aid. There's now over 300 Palestinians have been killed in those circumstances in the last three weeks,' he said. 'And the purpose of our global march to Gaza, which involved over 4,000 people coming here to Egypt from over 60 countries, was really to highlight the forced starvation that is happening and to call for a lifting of the blockade and allowing aid to flow.' Mr Murphy said he was held for around nine hours when he was detained for a second time and due to the slow nature of the process, it was unclear at first whether he was detained or not. It then became clear to him that he had been detained again because when he asked to leave the police station, he was told he was not allowed to. 'From our perspective, I mean we came here, the 4,000 people to try to march to Rafah in order to highlight what is happening in Gaza. 'Obviously, we're disappointed that we didn't get to Rafah, but we have had probably the largest international people-powered coalition for Palestine in a very, very long time. 'I think we did raise awareness about what is happening. And so, in the context of the severe Egyptian repression that is taking place, I'm conscious that look, there's still people in detention. There's still many, many people who won't be flying home.' While there will not be another attempt to enter Rafah, Mr Murphy said activists will now turn their attention to events like a planned meeting between European foreign ministers and the Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar in Brussels next week. 'For us, the main pressure we need to have is on Israel, to stop what it's doing in Gaza and on our own Government to stop their complicity. 'Obviously, many western governments and many of the people over there are coming from countries where the governments are actively arming and funding Israel.'
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Paul Murphy returns to Dublin following detention in Egypt
Paul Murphy has encouraged the Irish people to keep campaigning for an end to the "genocide" in Gaza after arriving back from Egypt. The People Before Profit TD was greeted by his wife and young child in Dublin Airport after being released from detention in Cairo. He had his passport and phone taken by officials after attempting to march to the Rafah border with thousands of other protesters from across the world. Speaking in Dublin on Tuesday, Mr Murphy demanded that Tánaiste Simon Harris, who made contact with him on Sunday morning as efforts continued to assist Irish campaigners who were detained, to "match his strong words of criticism of Israel with action" including the full implementation of the Occupied Territories Bill and a ban on the facilitation of Israeli war bonds. Mr Murphy said he would be willing to go back again but conceded that a march to the Rafah border will not be possible at this stage and instead campaigners will now focus their attention on an EU meeting in Brussels next week, which will also be attended by the Israeli foreign minister. "We've had tremendous support from the Egyptian people. It's clear that the Egyptian people are very, very supportive of Palestine. Obviously, we're disappointed with the stance that the Egyptian state took. "I'm fine, all the Irish people are fine, there are still some people, non-Irish people, who are detained out there, so we're hopeful that they're released as soon as possible. We have to be kind of mindful with the fact that they're potentially still in detention, and there's other Irish people who want to come home, in terms of the comments we make about Egypt," Mr Murphy said. "But in any case, our focus isn't on ourselves and any inconveniences that we suffered pale into insignificance." He added that it was not about him and that 4,000 people had travelled to Egypt in an attempt to reach the border and highlight the death and starvation being inflicted on the people of Gaza. "This is probably the biggest global coordinated march for Palestine that we have seen. And even though we didn't reach Rafah, we did succeed in highlighting what's happening. Just yesterday, 38 people were killed while queuing for aid, that's a pattern now." Defending his decision to travel, Mr Murphy said: "I left on Thursday, I was in the Dáil on Thursday morning. I'm back today, back for the Dáil today. I think my constituents and most people in this country want politicians to do everything they can to stop this genocide."
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: As ‘No Kings' protest in US showed, the trick is to outclass the other side
This was no angry mob. It was peaceful, flag-waving and quietly patriotic. The slogans were about liberty, not vengeance; the symbols were constitutional, not cultural. In short, it looked like the America many of us grew up believing in. And it worked. Donald Trump, who never likes to lose face, has already begun retreating on immigration, tariffs and foreign policy. His showy military parade flopped. What this tells us – and what Irish eyes might take from it – is that dignity and discipline in protest still carry weight. The trick is not to outshout your opponents, but to outclass them. In Ireland we know a thing or two about resisting authority, but we also know that it's public opinion, not public fury, that ultimately shifts the ground. This is not just a moment of American resistance – it may be the quiet revival of the democratic centre. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Occupied Territories Bill must happen now if we really want to help Gaza The outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran must not distract from Ireland's efforts to help the people of Gaza. While we look on aghast, world leaders are constrained by commercial interests or strategic alliances. Over centuries, Ireland has demonstrated an ability to overcome such constraints. During a visit to Ireland in 2022, Hagai El-Ad, the former head of B'Tselem, Israel's great human rights organisation, said this country has a major influence on international humanitarian affairs, disproportionate to its size. Since then, Ireland has failed his region. The Occupied Territories Bill 2018 (OTB) refines public empathy into practical impact. Its peaceful innovation should have long been shared with the world. However, in 2020 it was blocked by the Government. Unjustified delay has followed, despite the bill having gained large majority support in the Seanad, Dáil and among the electorate. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more On May 27, the Tánaiste's comments in the Dáil on reintroducing the bill hinted at its fundamental dilution. At Gaza's 11th hour, Ireland cannot support such futility or further unnecessary delay. Rumoured external pressures on public representatives might best be shared with the electorate. Threats of legal challenges to this patently peaceful bill can be confidently faced later, if they arise. Similarly, parliamentary voting on the bill should surely be votes of conscience, away from the party whip system? Ireland's obligation to serve the innocents of Palestine is also at the 11th hour. Philip Powell, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin Garda who came out as gay is a real inspiration to all who celebrate Pride How refreshing it is to hear a gay man say 'Our sexuality, whatever it is, is a proud part of us all, but it doesn't, nor should it, define us' and 'Just be yourself and be proud of your sexuality. Don't shy away from it' ('Top garda who was married with children before coming out as gay says 'Be yourself and be proud of your sexuality'', June 16). Compare this with the recent diatribe in the Sunday Independent from author John Boyne, who has become disdainful as he gets older. Fair play to GRA president Mark O'Meara, whose words of wisdom are an inspiration to all who celebrate Pride month. Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry Despite the myth, Gaelic football was popular in Dublin's inner-city schools In his review of RTÉ's Hell For Leather: The Story of Gaelic Football (June 9), Pat Stacey trots out the old story that no one in the Dublin 2 and 8 areas was interested in the sport when he was growing up in the Liberties in the 1970s. I beg to differ. Within distance of where Mr Stacey lived were Francis Street and Synge Street Christian Brothers schools. Football and hurling were played in both schools. There had always been some interest in the Dublin senior football team, even through some unforgettable years. When Kevin Heffernan and the Dubs reached the promised land in 1974, the spark was rekindled, and it still burns brightly to this day. Perhaps Mr Stacey was too busy watching TV shows or movies to have noticed this. Ray Healy, Dublin 11 Alone does tremendous work in helping elderly people have a dignified life I would like to commend and applaud the sterling service of Alone, the national organisation that provides services to older people who need support at home. The organisation also focuses on those who have difficulties by supporting them and linking them in with local services, thereby providing them with the support they need to live at home for as long as possible. A recent report by the charity revealed how important community support is for older people and showed a clear reduction in healthcare use and improved quality of life. The research found that community support enables older people to live with dignity at home. This itself highlights how the services of Alone are transforming the experience of ageing in Ireland. This support can encompass a wide range of services, including help with daily tasks, access to health care and opportunities for social engagement. Thank you to Alone for all the support it provides to the elderly of this country. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary EU needs to ask the big questions of itself over financial help for Ukraine With the US cancelling military aid to Ukraine, the question now is: Can the EU step up to the plate and fill the void? In recent months, Europe delivered the fifth tranche of its macro financial assistance loan to Ukraine, which is worth a total of €18bn. But this is a drop in the ocean compared with Russia's $160bn (€138bn) spend on defence this year alone. The irony is that the EU is dependent on Russian energy sources and provides Putin with €20bn a year to support Moscow's war machine. Europe makes a lot of noise and promises much, but long-term delivery is another matter.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Back-to-school payments to be extended to children in foster care
Back-to-school payments are set to be extended to benefit the 2,300 children currently in foster care. Minister for social protection Dara Calleary will seek Cabinet approval today, Tuesday, to extend the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to those who are in receipt of Foster Care Allowance. The once-off payment for 2025 is €160 for children aged between four and 11 on or before September 30, while those aged 12-22 years will receive €285. Social protection minister Dara Calleary is seeking Cabinet approval to extend the clothing and footwear allowance to those in receipt of Foster Care Allowance. File picture: Brian Lawless/PA Occupied Territories Bill The Occupied Territories Bill had been expected to be brought to Cabinet today, Tuesday, but has been delayed by a week. Local Property Tax Bill Finance minister Paschal Donohoe will seek approval for amendments to the Local Property Tax (LPT) Bill including one that will change how the tax is calculated on homes adapted for use by people with disabilities. Cabinet will hear that it will provide a reduction of €105,000 in the chargeable value of a property that has been adapted. This is an increase of €50,000 on the previous act and would come into effect on November 1. As a result, people with disabilities and living in an adapted home will assess the value of their property at one valuation band lower when calculating their LPT charge. National Training Fund Higher education minister James Lawless will seek to unlock the National Training Fund package of almost €1.5bn when he brings the heads of the bill to Cabinet. The package would provide €650m in core funding for higher education; €150m to provide training facilities for veterinary, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and dentistry students; €150m capital funding for the further education and training sector; and more. The amendment will allow Mr Lawless to bring the legislation before the Dáil and commence spending from the fund in 2025, if approved. North-South Ministerial Council Ahead of a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh this Friday, Mr Martin and Mr Harris will brief Cabinet on the agenda which will include trade and AI. The meeting, which will be attended by most ministers, will also discuss infrastructure investments and tackling gender-based violence. Well-Being Framework Analysis Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin will bring a memo on Ireland's Well-Being Framework Analysis for 2025, which is due to help outline Government's priorities for the upcoming budget. The report itself highlights a number of groups who are faring worse than others in society, including renters paying market rates, unemployed people, younger workers, people in poor health as well as lower-income households. However, the report does show progress in other areas, including on income, work and job quality and community participation. Presidency of EU Ahead of Ireland's presidency of the European Union next year, Mr Harris will outline the significant preparations already underway. Over the course of the presidency, 23 informal ministerial meetings will be held in Ireland with a quarter of them to take place outside of Dublin. The European Political Community summit will mark the largest meeting Ireland has ever hosted involving leaders of 47 states as well as heads of EU institutions and international organisations. Mr Harris will tell Cabinet that delivering a successful presidency is essential to Ireland's position, influence and reputation in the EU. Work to decide Ireland's policy priorities for the presidency will intensify in the autumn but there are plans for a programme of community, youth and schools engagement around the presidency, which will have a particular focus on children and young people. National Digital Research Centre Minister for enterprise Peter Burke will bring a memo to Cabinet indicating that the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) is to extend its current contract with current provider DogPatch Labs until 2026. The decision to extend was taken to provide certainty to companies supported by the NDRC ensure there is no break in coverage while Mr Burke works with his department and Enterprise Ireland on the successor programme which will take over in 2027.
