Sinn Féin attacks coalition more than Israeli government, Taoiseach claims
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association
Sinn Féin “attacks” the coalition “sometimes even more than the Israeli government”, the Taoiseach has claimed in the Dáil.
Micheál Martin was defending his Government’s approach to restricting trade with the occupied Palestinian territories, which is limited to a prohibition on some imported goods – despite calls from the opposition to include a ban on services.
Martin also dismissed calls around stopping US military use of Shannon Airport as “all rubbish” and “sloganeering”.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald accused the Government of taking a “wrecking ball” to the original Occupied Territories Bill introduced by senator Frances Black, which also included services.
She told the Dáil during Leaders’ Questions on Tuesday that 70 per cent of trade between Ireland and the occupied territories is in services.
“The Bill was designed to end this shameful economic support provided to Israel’s illegal settlements and yet you hollow out the legislation, rendering it ineffective.”
She said: “Ireland must be leading on this question. You must make clear that the theft of Palestinian land will not be rewarded with economic support, that Ireland will stand up for human rights and international law, that Ireland stands with Palestine.”
The Taoiseach rejected the Sinn Féin leader’s comments and accused her of distorting the Government’s position.
“We’ve taken a series of measures that have been at the leading edge in terms of any European Union member state’s response to the genocide in Gaza, to the continued violent behaviour of the settlers in the West Bank and indeed in terms of the continuing war in Lebanon, which is completely unjustified.”
Martin said Ireland had recognised the state of Palestine and intervened in the South African case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is investigating genocide.
He told McDonald:”There is no justification for the assertions you have made and I know your objective is to sort of attack the government more, sometimes even more than the Israeli government.”
He added: “In terms of the occupied territories, I think we need a bit of honesty across the House, absolute honesty here.
“Let’s not overstate the impact of this. By the way, because my experience has been that as soon as we do that – with the recognition, or whatever – you move on very quickly and dismiss it. That has been the standard practice.”
Martin said it would be “impossible to implement” a ban on services.
McDonald said the argument that including services is impossible to implement “simply doesn’t stack up” and contended that an ICJ ruling had made no distinction between goods and services.
She also said Spain had included services in its legislation but Martin told her that it was limited to the “advertisement” of services.
The Taoiseach also said including services could have an impact on jobs in Ireland and “attacks on multinationals” based here.
It's at European level, if we're to have any impact on Israel
Martin said EU-wide action would have more of an impact on the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
He said: “Spain and Ireland have gone down this route in terms of the banning of goods – we hope Belgium and Netherlands will follow suit.
“Slovenia, it looks like, will not be in a position, because the government has changed in Slovenia, and the government that’s now elected has a completely different issue.
“It’s at European level, if we’re to have any impact on Israel.
“And even at European level, I’m trying to be honest with people here. How does one have impact on the Israeli government, on Netanyahu, and these people?”
On calls to stop US military use of Shannon Airport, he accused the opposition of “shallow rhetoric devoid of any substance”.
He said: “That’s all rubbish about Shannon and all that nonsense. It has no impact on Netanyahu, it’s just sloganeering.”
