Sally Rooney tells court ban on Palestine Action will prevent her from speaking at UK events
If the ban does come into effect, it would make membership of, or support for, Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
I am and will continue to be a committed supporter of Palestine Action
Sally Rooney
Rooney has provided support for a legal claim by Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, against the Home Office, over the decision to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Ms Ammori asked a High Court judge on Friday to temporarily block the move from becoming law over the weekend, ahead of a bid to be given the green light to challenge the Government's decision later this month.
But in a ruling, Mr Justice Chamberlain refused to block the ban, stating that any harm caused is 'insufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the order in force'.
Barristers for Ms Ammori are seeking to appeal against the ruling on Friday evening.
In her witness statement, cited in Mr Justice Chamberlain's judgment, Rooney said the 'cultural effects' of Palestine Action becoming proscribed 'could not be easily mended'.
She said: 'Though I am based in Ireland, my work is published in the UK. My novels regularly appear in bestseller lists, and I often travel to Britain to speak in public about my work.
'I am and will continue to be a committed supporter of Palestine Action.
'If… that support is criminalised, I will effectively be prevented from speaking at any future public events in the UK, since I could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles in public.
ADVERTISEMENT
For any public figure to be labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' by the state would have serious consequences. It would likely end or severely restrict the careers of many emerging artists
Sally Rooney
'If I continue to voice support for Palestine Action from my home in Ireland, what are the likely consequences? Will I be denounced publicly by the Prime Minister?
'Will bookshops go on stocking the work of an author the Home Secretary has branded a 'terrorist' simply for supporting a protest group?
'The BBC has adapted two of my books for television; both series are presently promoted on the iPlayer service. Normal People, which I co-wrote and produced, was the BBC's most-streamed series in 2020, with over 62 million views.
'My beliefs have not changed since the making of that series, and I have done nothing but continue to express them.
'If the expression of those beliefs becomes a terror offence under UK law, would the BBC continue to screen and promote my work?
'Is it likely that I could ever again collaborate with British public institutions like the BBC as I have done in the past?
'The cultural effects of proscription could not be easily mended, even if the Home Secretary later changed her mind.
'For any public figure to be labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' by the state would have serious consequences.
'It would likely end or severely restrict the careers of many emerging artists.
''Terrorism' is not a trivial word.'
In written submissions for Friday's hearing, Raza Husain KC, for Ms Ammori, said that Rooney 'will continue to voice her support from Ireland' for the group.
He said: 'Given her public support for Palestine Action… she is concerned that being labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' would have serious impacts on her ability to collaborate and publicise her work.'
He continued: 'Ms Rooney notes that 'countless artists, writers and members of the public support direct action against complicity in what Israel is doing in Palestine', including Juliet Stevenson, Paul Weller, Tilda Swinton, Brian Eno, and other signatories to an open letter dated 30 June 2025.'
If Palestine Action loses its bid to temporarily block the move, it is due to become a terrorist organisation on Saturday, after the order was signed by the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper.
Ms Cooper announced plans to proscribe the direct action group last month, after two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an action claimed by Palestine Action.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘Irish working mothers are at a significant financial disadvantage' – unions back calls for full year's maternity leave
It is now official Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) policy, after a motion calling for 52 weeks of maternity pay north and south of the border was adopted by delegates at its biennial conference this week. The motion said current maternity pay arrangements fall short of international best practice. Tabled by the British Fire Brigades Union, it claimed there is a 'postcode lottery' effect where workers in some regions and sectors get markedly inferior benefits. Workers and self-employed individuals in the Republic of Ireland are entitled to a social welfare maternity benefit payment of €289 per week for 26 weeks. Some employers top up the entitlement. Employer group Isme supported measures to provide women with paid maternity leave, but said it should be supported by the social fund. Bulgaria offers approximately 58.6 weeks (410 days) of paid maternity leave 'Obviously a year's salary for someone not attending work would not be sustainable for the vast majority of employers, therefore this type of measure must be underwritten by the social fund,' said chief executive Neil McDonnell. He said Bulgaria offers approximately 58.6 weeks (410 days) of paid maternity leave. Mr McDonnell said 90pc of the mother's full salary is paid from its National Health Insurance Fund. 'Employers would not welcome an increase in PRSI, obviously, but if asked to pay for long-term maternity leave, it would be the only way to do so,' he said. 'A creche with four childminders or a hairdresser with five stylists could not afford to pay someone for a year who was not working. This is very obvious, and everyone including Ictu knows this.' Ictu spokesperson Laura Bambrick said the move would entail a hike in PRSI for workers, the self-employed and employers. She said Ireland compares very favourably to EU countries in terms of the duration of paid maternity leave benefits, at 26 weeks. 'But when comparing the payment rates for maternity benefit, Irish working mothers are at a significant financial disadvantage,' she said. Ms Bambrick said maternity benefit at €289 a week for 26 weeks (€7,514) is equivalent to just over nine weeks' full pay for the average employee nationwide. It is worth just under eight weeks for an employee in Dublin, where average gross pay is higher (€49,500) than the national average (€42,100), according to Revenue data. "For a full-time worker on the minimum wage (€526), maternity benefit replaces little over half their weekly wage,' she said. Unions will be holding their feet to the fire to deliver on these important work-life balance measures Ms Bambrick welcomed Programme for Government commitments on pay-related family leave. 'Unions will be holding their feet to the fire to deliver on these important work-life balance measures for working families,' she said. A Department of Children, Disabliity and Equality spokesperson said family leave entitlements have increased significantly over the past years. She said a 'Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families' commits that by 2028, parents in Ireland will be supported to look after their babies at home for the whole of their first year through a combination of paid family leave schemes. She said the combined durations of maternity, paternity and parent's leave and benefit now equate to 46 weeks' paid leave for a two-parent family.
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Trump's tariff threat reignites union push in Ireland's billion-euro pharma sector
As negotiations between the European Commission and the US conclude after almost 90 days of talks, an agreement has been deemed 'absolutely essential' to ensure a level of certainty for Irish exporters reliant on the US market. Among them is Ireland's mammoth pharmaceutical sector, a cornerstone of the national economy, which, since US President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' announcement, has remained stuck in the cross-hairs of his global tariff onslaught. Ireland is one of the largest pharmaceutical exporters in the world due to the several large US firms operating here, with their earnings contributing significantly to the Exchequer's corporation tax receipts. While initially excluded from punitive measures, the booming industry now faces renewed scrutiny from Mr Trump, which, in his view, has flourished at America's expense. After calling out Ireland specifically for benefiting from US companies, Mr Trump last month said tariffs on pharmaceuticals would come 'very soon,' which would help bring multinationals back to America. Historically, Ireland's pharmaceutical sector has been defined by stable demand and high-paying salaries, particularly within the industry's epicentre in Cork, which hosts pharma giants Merck, AbbVie, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Thermo Fischer Scientific, Eli Lilly and GE Healthcare, among others. The concentration of these firms has made Ireland's southern region the wealthiest area in the European Union (EU), recording the largest GDP per capita in 2022, according to Eurostat. Despite this economic strength, collective bargaining in the sector has remained relatively limited. However, with rising uncertainty and looming tariff fears, momentum for unionisation is growing. 'We saw a sharp spike in union membership following Trump's 'Liberation Day' announcement,' says Siptu Manufacturing Divisional Organiser Neil McGowan. The trade union currently counts some 13,500 members from the pharmaceutical industry, the majority of whom are based in Cork. 'There's a lot of uncertainty in the air at the moment. I think Liberation Day made a lot of workers sit up and think, 'Are we really ready for what could happen?' Mr McGowan told the Irish Examiner. However, unionisation efforts have presented mixed results, he said, with some companies refusing to recognise or interact with Siptu when addressing worker disputes. 'It can be incredibly frustrating at times. We have members who want us there, who want to bargain collectively, and their company refuses to acknowledge us,' Mr McGowan said. But the fight doesn't stop there. Last month, trade union members at the Kinsale branch of US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly welcomed a Labour Court recommendation urging their employer to allow for collective representation by Siptu during workplace disputes. Union members at the Kinsale branch of US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly welcomed a Labour Court recommendation urging their employer to allow for collective representation by Siptu during workplace disputes. '[Eli] Lilly staff are on a journey for recognition, but senior management doesn't want to acknowledge us,' says Siptu sector organiser, Andrea Cleere. 'It has been denying our members the right to be supported by the union in individual workplaces, which is contrary Workplace Relations Commission's Code of Practice." But as Ms Cleere points out, Labour Court findings are reliant on the company choosing to acknowledge them. 'This is the problem with Ireland's weak voluntarist model of industrial relations. 'It allows companies to flout the Labour Court whenever it sides with workers seeking their basic human right to bargain collectively.' In May, workers at the Cork branch of pharmaceutical giant AbbVie served a notice of industrial action after the company refused to engage with employees' chosen trade union. Ms Cleere says AbbVie opted not to acknowledge the union despite workers securing two Labour Court recommendations urging the employer to recognise Siptu for collective bargaining purposes. "Numerous attempts to resolve issues of pay and union recognition through negotiations were refused by management,' Ms Cleere told the Irish Examiner. 'Companies simply don't need to do anything, meaning circumstances are always stacked against the worker.' 'Employee rights can be so easily forgotten. We pump money into big firms through the IDA or Enterprise Ireland without any requirement that they take care of their workers.' An AbbVie pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Sligo. In May, workers at the Cork branch of pharmaceutical giant AbbVie served a notice of industrial action after the company refused to engage with employees' chosen trade union. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, Eli Lilly said: "Lilly does not comment on specific employee relations matters. "Our direct employee engagement model promotes open communication and teamwork, creating an inclusive work environment where all voices are heard. We prioritise transparency and mutual respect, empowering our employees to contribute to our mission." AbbVie did not respond when contacted for comment. While layoffs in the pharmaceutical sector remain unlikely, Mr McGowan says worker concerns extend far beyond just job cuts. 'Pay is always a significant issue, but more than anything, people just want to have their say. Oftentimes, large multinationals operating in Ireland have decisions made by their foreign headquarters, which can be very frustrating for those here on the ground. 'Irish pharma remains particularly exposed to Trump's tariff threats, as do these workers. They deserve to have a voice.' But as the organiser notes, sometimes not having a union recognised is the least of their concerns. 'Union-busting is extremely prevalent in the pharmaceutical industry and happens on nearly every site. 'We have outside meetings where members fear being followed by senior management. We've heard cases of staff being guilt-tripped and being made to feel like they're damaging the company's reputation. 'Life at work can be made very difficult for union members. From bogus disciplinary measures to exclusion, people often pay the price for being part of a union. We've even seen cases of people being paid off by their company for taking part in union activity.' At around 35%, trade union coverage in Ireland is notably weak in a European context, falling far below the EU average of around 60%. Despite implementing an EU Directive last year requiring an action plan to raise coverage to over 80%, Ms Cleere says the Government has done the 'bare minimum' to increase the strength of trade unions. The EU Directive of Adequate Minimum Wages calls on the governments of EU Member States to draw up an action plan to increase collective bargaining coverage in their economies to over 80%. Countries below the mandated 80% figure will be asked to provide a framework to further enable conditions for collective bargaining as well as establish an action plan to promote collective bargaining and increase coverage rates. Although the directive does not set a specific deadline for the adoption of the action plan, the European Commission has urged member states with a collective bargaining coverage below 80% to establish them by the end of 2025 'at the latest'. Approached by the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise said the Government was committed to publishing the action plan by the end of 2025. 'A public consultation on the possible content of the action plan was held by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment recently.' 'The outcome of the consultation process will help guide the Department in finalising the proposals, both legislative and administrative, which may be considered for inclusion in the action plan,' the spokesperson concluded. But as Ms Cleere argues, bold measures are needed to bring Ireland's coverage rate to the EU requirement. 'If the Government is serious about increasing coverage, companies need to be penalised if they refuse to recognise unions.' 'We've seen time and time again that unionised companies are more productive than their non-unionised counterparts. 'It is in the pharma industry's best interest to do this, it's just a shame it can't see that on its own.'
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
The Menu: Put it on a plate for the people of Palestine
I heard on the radio this week that Palestinian children in Gaza were in danger of dying of thirst as the Israelis are blockading fuel needed for trucks used to distribute water throughout this occupied territory — I didn't realise I still had the capacity to be shocked by Israel's inhumanity. It is a pleasure to earn a crust celebrating my passion for finest Irish food and hospitality, an especial privilege to share that passion in these pages. I also appreciate the food and drink section of the Irish Examiner can be a 'safe space', a sanctuary for readers in an increasingly batshit world where the grotesqueries of the daily news cycle become more outlandishly unfathomable by the day. Compounding that is an overwhelming sense of powerlessness most of us feel in the face of obscene wealth and populist power being wielded with hideous disregard for humanity and the planet. Currently, the Israeli State-directed genocide in Gaza is the most egregious example of such inhumanity in action. So, I have found it increasingly difficult to wax lyrical about delicious dishes and magnificent meals while a 'first world' state weaponises hunger as part of its ethnic cleansing of its own population. Is it any wonder there is such a thing as 'comfort food'? Any means of making a difference, however small, is invaluable beyond belief. One Plate for Palestine (July 22-27), is a wonderful fundraising initiative from Barbara Nealon (Kinsale's St Francis Provisions) and Beverley Mathews (L'Atitude 51, in Cork City) to support charities working in Gaza to combat starvation, and to raise awareness of, and maintain focus on, the genocidal actions of the Israelis. One Plate for Palestine is inviting Irish food and hospitality businesses — restaurants, cafés, bars, food trucks, market stalls, etc — from all over Ireland to add a special Palestinian-themed dish to their menus, with all proceeds from the sale of that dish going directly to Gaza. Food businesses can either create a Palestinian-themed dish (or drink) of their own or follow an existing recipe, using any or all of the following ingredients: Palestinian za'atar, sumac, labneh, hummus, Palestinian olive oil, and Palestinian olives. If you wanted, you could even serve up those gorgeous Palestinian goodies with good sourdough bread and a little salt, a super supper I've enjoyed many times in the past. Better again, restaurants can serve up One Plate for Palestine's suggested dish, Prátaí do Phalaistín/Potatoes for Palestine, a simple yet delicious combination which brings together the two food cultures in a symbolic nod to the historical ties that bind Palestine and Ireland, in particular a shared history of hunger and starvation as a result of colonial oppression. The dish comprises new season potatoes served up with any or all of the aforementioned traditional Palestinian foodstuffs and, if you've only ever eaten new spuds with too much butter — no crime there! — I think you'll be blown away by how well they work with the Palestinian additions. The goal is to raise at least €25,000 for charities working on the ground in Gaza, such as Gaza Go Bragh and World Central Kitchen, reputable charities that have been doing incredible work to bring fresh water and meals to the people in extremely challenging conditions. So, come on, Irish food world, let's see you stepping up, not only to feature a One Plate for Palestine on your menus, but also to spread the word amongst friends, colleagues and comrades in the industry and beyond, to reach as wide an audience as possible. This initiative is not just aimed at the hospitality sector because the other side of the equation involves Irish diners who are invited to also join in by supporting local restaurants participating in One Plate for Palestine. Or you could even run your own One Plate for Palestine fundraising supper evening at home for family and friends? After all, what finer seasoning could such a dish, any shared dish, have than to be sprinkled with love, hope and humanity. Instagram: @oneplateforpalestine FOODIE FARE Happy 10th birthday to Lott's & Co and, what's more, this birthday belle is the one dishing out the gifts with all manner of titbits, treats, giveaways and promotions for customers, across their three Dublin stores including a Beggar's Bush Birthday Bash (July 10) with prizes including hampers, dining vouchers, and the chance to win free catering delivered to your door. Instagram: @lottsandco Fans of Julia's Lobster Truck, in the Burren, will be delighted to hear that she is very close to securing a new pitch for one of Ireland's finest food trucks but the enforced absence saw Julia Hemingway take a serendipitous turn to teaching at home, where she now offers wonderful Seafood Cookery Experiences for 2-8 people in her own Burren kitchen, near Carron, Co Clare, including hands-on cooking (poaching and preparing lobster or crab, mussels and clams), followed by a delicious seafood feast at the kitchen table. Instagram: @JuliasLobsterTruck TODAY'S SPECIAL Ogam sauces South Korean food is most certainly catching the global imagination with Korean chicken set to be come as ubiquitous on Irish menus as Thai curry or lasagne. But when a cuisine and a dish in particular dish suddenly trends to that extent, quality can vary wildly which is why I am so delighted to have Korean Jay Choi as a near neighbour in Cork, not least because of I get to sample her new sauces/marinades. With the tagline, 'Born in South Korea, Made in Ireland', Jay's Korean BBQ Spicy Gochujang and Korean BBQ Original are not only stunning, but are real workhorses in the kitchen. Sweet and savoury in equal measures, with funky, fruity flavours, they have myriad applications in the kitchen once combined with a little imagination. A quick drizzle over rice vermicelli salad, with thinly sliced carrot, cucumber and peppers, was quite transformational; a dollop in homemade garlic aioli is my new BBQ burger sauce of choice; and, yeah, it makes for sublime Korean chicken wings, when cooked over charcoal.
