TD who visited Palestinians in Cairo says they 'so much appreciated' Irish solidarity

BreakingNews.ie

2 days ago

A TD who travelled to Egypt to meet Palestinians impacted by Israel's onslaught on Gaza has said they "so much appreciated" Ireland's solidarity and efforts to pass the Occupied Territories Bill.
Speaking to
BreakingNews.ie
at his constituency office in Gorey, Co Wexford, Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan said: "I felt that the human aspect was not under consideration enough, personally, I felt there was one box not ticked and that was going out and meeting the people on the ground.
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"I understand the argument that the financial aspect [of the Occupied Territories Bill] wasn't huge, but what did it mean to the people on the ground?
"I lined up meetings with NGOs in a private capacity and I got on a plane and went out there. I got the chance to meet some of the people directly affected by what is happening out there. I was amazed at how knowledgeable about what is happening in Ireland, and how Ireland is continuing to take the lead. That was so much appreciated out there, it was an eye-opener.
"I left with two main caveats; one was the knowledge of what is going on over there, number two is what the young people have gone through and how that is going to affect them down the road.
"At the moment things are in a terrible state, the NGOs over there have never experienced anything like it in their lives. We're now looking at mass starvation over there and that has to stop."
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The Wicklow-Wexford TD is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.
At a recent hearing of the committee, Mr Brennan's exchange with former justice minister Alan Shatter went viral.
When Mr Shatter claimed the Occupied Territories Bill was "fantasy politics", Mr Brennan spoke about the reaction he had received on his trip to Cairo.
When this was put to him, Mr Brennan reiterated that the Bill was far more important symbolically than the money that will be involved.
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"The amount of money involved in the Bill is miniscule, as former minister Shatter pointed out, but what it means to the people out there is so important. Hopefully this will lead to bigger things like a permanent ceasefire, and if our small gesture is any way part of that, to me that is a success.
"On the ground this means so much to them. They are watching this, and it is getting worldwide publicity. Within 24 hours of the last committee there were comments from the American ambassador in Israel, America itself, it is being heard worldwide our stance and that we are taking the lead on this.
"It is being heard on the ground but we must maintain this, and credit has to go to our leaders for putting their heads above the parapet to call this as it is.
"Simon Harris stood up in the Dáil and was one of the first leaders to call this genocide and he deserves credit for that, it was not easy.
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"If I had found in Cairo this was absolutely irrelevant, I would have taken that on board and would have said that at committee, but it was the complete opposite.
"This small thing, in the wider scale, is a big part of the momentum."
He said: "To be fair to Simon Harris and Micheál Martin we were one of the first to stand up and take the lead on this, but we must continue to do that. This Bill may be a small token, but out there is means so much to people.
"This is beyond politics now, the committee has shown and proven that we're in agreement on this, there is political will to pass this Bill right across the foreign affairs committee."
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Mr Brennan said the Bill, now known as the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill, is still awaiting a final legal opinion from the Attorney General.
He also welcomed the inclusion of a ban in trade in services that has been included in the recommendation from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
I spoke to a man dying in bed, his biggest concern was for his brother who is still in Gaza.
Mr Brennan said he was amazed at how much the people he met in Cairo were aware of Ireland's solidarity and the Occupied Territories Bill, along with the early recognition of a Palestinian State, along with South Africa.
"To go out there and to see the fear in people's eyes. I spoke to a man dying in bed, his biggest concern was for his brother who is still in Gaza.
"He had months to live because of injuries that were beyond recovery. We have to acknowledge the genocide, the atrocities going on out there, the starvation. Most of the world is in agreement this is going on and not being exaggerated.
"The mothers and fathers, medics and journalists, everyone out there is suffering... we need a ceasefire.
"There are pockets of food being allowed in at the moment, it's not enough. Open the borders, let the food and aid in.
"My takeaways from that trip were number one, they knew so much about the Bill and what's happening in Ireland, number two I left with a great fear for the future. The teenagers and young people I spoke to out there were annoyed and upset that the world was standing by watching what was going on, with the exception of Ireland and South Africa.
"Looking as their brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents are being wiped out, where will they be in five years' time? They'll be angry young men and women unless they are given the help they need.
"We need a long-term solution. That includes Hamas releasing the hostages too."
Mr Brennan, who topped the poll in Wexford-Wicklow in the general election, is a first-time TD.
He said his experience before politics helped him appreciate the importance of international issues, adding that he feels his constituents all support him in highlighting the plight of people in Gaza.
He
established
six children's homes
in
Sri Lanka,
following the earthquake in 2004, which continue to
operate
to this day.
I feel the public's knowledge about what is going on in Gaza is completely underestimated.
"I think life experience means a lot. Through my work in Sri Lanka after the tsunami, through my work in business, I have found there is always something you can relate to. That sometimes equals, and if not is more, than being born and reared in politics.
"My goal is to try to leave Wexford and Wicklow in a better place than I've found, and also not to be afraid to speak out on issues that matter... I hope I have done that in the first term.
"I feel the public's knowledge about what is going on in Gaza is completely underestimated."
Mr Brennan added: "On the streets the feedback is unanimous. We can't continue to let this happen in front of our eyes, but let's continue to stand up to the plate as we are now doing even as a small country... to take the lead.
"If you walk down the streets of Arklow or Gorey what I'm getting is 'stay strong, this shouldn't be happening', I'm getting a huge reaction and other TDs are getting the same in their constitutencies. We have to be seen to be doing something, this means a lot so if it proves to be legally possible, let's put our full weight around it.
"If my words can make a small contribution to this momentum, I'm proud of that. I feel how we react to this will define everything we've done."