
ISIF diviested all Israeli bonds in past weeks, Dáil told
He said the board of ISIF was independent of Government when it came to investment decisions.
He was replying to the Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty, who said it was shocking and disgraceful that ISIF had held Israeli bonds "when genocide was taking place last year".
The Donegal TD said Israel did not hide what its bonds were on sale for - supporting its war in Gaza - and both ISIF and the Government knew that, he added.
He asserted that Mr Donohoe could not wash his hands of responsibility given he was the Minister for Finance and ISIF reported to his department.
Mr Doherty accused the Government of being complicit in Israeli genocide, a charge Minister Donohoe flatly rejected.
ISIF is managed and controlled by the National Treasury Management Agency and describes itself as "a sovereign development fund with a unique mandate to invest on a commercial basis to support economic activity and employment in Ireland".
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Daily Mirror
6 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Thousands take part in pro-Palestinian rally in Dublin
Thousands of people have taken part in a pro-Palestinian rally calling on the Irish Government to implement sanctions on Israel. Saturday's rally saw demonstrators march from the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square to Leinster House. It was the 16th such demonstration since October 2023 and came after the Dail rose for the summer recess. The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) accused the Irish Government of an 'absolute refusal to hold Israel accountable for a genocide in which the Apartheid state has slaughtered more than 58,000 Palestinians'. The march demanded an end to the Central Bank of Ireland's role in approving Israel Bonds for sale in the EU, for the Government to include services in the Occupied Territories Bill and to pass that legislation. It also called for an end to the use of Irish airspace for the transport of weapons to the region. The group also criticised the Government after 33 Palestinian children were recently denied entry to Ireland over visa issues. GAA Palestine said it had to take the 'heartbreaking' decision to cancel a planned Irish tour for the children. Speaking ahead of the protest, IPSC chairperson Zoe Lawlor said: 'The Irish government is barely lifting a finger to end Ireland's deep complicity in this genocide.' Ms Lawlor added: 'On top of this we have the appalling spectacle of the state refusing visas to child medical evacuees and Palestinian kids to visit Ireland to play our national sports.' Stretching along Molesworth Street in front of Leinster House was a 120ft long and 5.5ft wide quilt, made up of 2,300 panels. Each panel – the vast majority of which were knitted by hand – is designed to represent the deaths of 10 children in Gaza, adding up to a total of 23,000 children. Anna Doyle and Niamh Bonner, from Craftivism For Gaza, said they are still accepting squares as the death toll continues to rise. Ms Doyle told the PA news agency: 'Each square represents 10 children. Their voices have been lost to the world forever. It also represents the voice of the crafter because most of them are made by people who wouldn't be able to come to a protest.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.


Irish Independent
7 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Thousands attend pro-Palestinian rally in Dublin
Meanwhile, an opposition politician said he would be issuing a legal challenge to the Central Bank of Ireland over its role in the sale of Israel Bonds. Saturday's rally saw demonstrators march from the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square to Leinster House. It was the 16th such demonstration since October 2023 and came after the Dáil rose for the summer recess. The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) accused the Government of an 'absolute refusal to hold Israel accountable for a genocide in which the Apartheid state has slaughtered more than 58,000 Palestinians'. The march demanded an end to the Central Bank of Ireland's role in approving Israel Bonds for sale in the EU, for the Government to include services in the Occupied Territories Bill and to pass that legislation. Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon, who spoke at the rally, said he would be lodging legal papers against the Central Bank on Tuesday. The bank is the designated authority in relation to the sale of Israel Bonds in the EU, and has determined the securities meet the standards of the bloc's prospectus regulations. Israel Bonds have been advertised as supporting the country's economy and, more recently, websites promoting the securities emphasise their role in supporting Israel's military operations in Gaza. Protesters and opposition parties have called for legislation that would give Ireland the power to refuse the sale of Israeli 'war bonds' over human rights concerns. They say the bonds are intended to fund the war in Gaza, while Ireland has an obligation under the Genocide Convention to use all means likely to have a deterrent effect on those suspected of preparing genocide. Mr Gannon has issued a letter to the bank about investor protection concerns relating to the bonds, as well as the use of the bonds to finance the war in Gaza. He said the Central Bank has the power to stop the sale of the bonds. He said: 'Politicians have spoken too long all the while a genocide is being inflicted upon the population of Gaza. The demands today are clear – act. He added: 'On Tuesday, I'll be lodging papers against the Central Bank. Genocide can never be considered a technical matter – our only duty is to prevent it and punish those responsible.' Marah Nijim, a 23-year-old who came to Ireland from Gaza three months ago, told the crowd she was forced to leave her home, her family and her 'soul' and 'heart'. She said Palestinians in Gaza are deprived of human rights, adding that she is 'living with nightmares' of people burning alive and calling for help. 'Protesting is not enough any more, we need real actions from Government. People in Gaza are being starved to death.' Demonstrators also called for an end to the use of Irish airspace for the transport of weapons to the region. The rally also criticised the Government after 33 Palestinian children were recently denied entry to Ireland over visa issues. GAA Palestine said it had to take the 'heartbreaking' decision to cancel a planned Irish tour for the children. IPSC chairperson Zoe Lawlor said: 'The Irish government is barely lifting a finger to end Ireland's deep complicity in this genocide.' Ms Lawlor added: 'On top of this we have the appalling spectacle of the state refusing visas to child medical evacuees and Palestinian kids to visit Ireland to play our national sports.' Stretching along Molesworth Street in front of Leinster House was a 120ft long and 5.5ft wide quilt, made up of 2,300 panels. Each panel – the vast majority of which were knitted by hand – is designed to represent the deaths of 10 children in Gaza, adding up to a total of 23,000 children. Anna Doyle and Niamh Bonner, from Craftivism For Gaza, said they are still accepting squares as the death toll continues to rise. Ms Doyle told the PA news agency: 'Each square represents 10 children. Their voices have been lost to the world forever. 'It also represents the voice of the crafter because most of them are made by people who wouldn't be able to come to a protest.'


RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Thousands take part in march for Palestine in Dublin
Around 10,000 people are taking part in a march in support of Palestine on the streets of Dublin. The National March for Palestine, organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, began at Parnell Square this afternoon and is making its way to Leinster House for a rally outside the Dáil. Groups representing trade unions, political parties as well as churches are taking part and carrying banners showing their group's support for the cause. A group from GAA Palestine is also taking part in the march after the club made a call for those who are in Dublin for the All-Ireland hurling final tomorrow to show their support. The marchers have been chanting "Ban all Trade with Israel" and "Genocide Bonds No More" which refers to their call for the Central Bank to stop facilitating the sale of Israeli government bonds. A stage has been set up outside Buswells Hotel on Molesworth Street, across the road from Leinster House. The organisers said he purpose of the march is to "protest the Irish Government's absolute refusal to hold Israel accountable for a genocide in which the apartheid state has slaughtered more than 58,000 Palestinians". They said the march will call for an end to the "Central Bank of Ireland's role in funding the genocide" as well as calling on the Government to pass the full Occupied Territories Bill including goods and services. Protesters are also seeking an end to the use of Irish airspace for transporting weapons, and for the Irish Government to enact sanctions to hold Israel accountable. Dunnes Stores striker Mary Manning is set to speak at the rally, 41 years to the day after she refused to handle the sale of grapefruit from South Africa, in protest against the country's apartheid regime. Two survivors of Israel's attacks on Gaza, Marah Nijim and Mohamed Migdad, are also set to speak as is Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon, Director of the Irish Traveller Movement Bernard Joyce and Conor O'Neill of the Pass the Occupied Territories Bill Campaign.