Liam Cunningham says Government is 'putting health of economy ahead of genocide'

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham has accused the Irish Government of "putting the health of our economy ahead of a genocide".
The Dubliner also slated the coalition's proposal to remove the Triple Lock, accusing it of "lying" to people about their reason for doing so.
Mr Cunningham was speaking at the launch of People Before Profit's pamphlet called "No to War. Defend Irish Neutrality".
He was involved in launching a flotilla from Sicily, Italy, in recent days that will sail to Gaza with aid deliveries.
While many people thought he was on the flotilla, which is also supported by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Mr Cunningham said that anybody who believed this was not paying enough attention, adding he realised it was "more heart-rending" if he was on the boat.
He said that the Irish Navy should be with the flotilla to ensure it is not attacked on its way to Gaza to ensure that much-needed aid will be delivered.
Mr Cunningham said: "They are doing the job that we are supposed to be doing, the people who are supposed to respect international law.
"There should be a flotilla of Irish naval vessels standing up for our international law and treating international law with the respect it deserves, not this wonderful, disparate group of people who have got together to put their lives in danger because they're not being backed up.
"There should be a European force circling that boat to ensure that they get there, because that is their legal responsibility."
When asked if he was ashamed of the Irish Government's response to the war in Gaza, Mr Cunningham said it was putting national interests first.
He continued: "I was asked in an interview, 'You're not worried about the socio-economic health of Ireland?'
"We're comparing that to the dismemberment of children? We're putting a spreadsheet ahead of our international responsibilities?
"We're putting the health of our economy ahead of a genocide?
"Really, is that where we are? Is that where our humanity is? Let's have a look at the chequebook before we help the children?
"I have no time for that and anybody that does has lost their humanity."
The Government has proposed amending the so-called "Triple Lock" to remove the UN mandate to send Irish peacekeeping troops on missions abroad.
Mr Cunningham said people must "fight tooth and nail" to protect it and the Government should "put it to the people".
The Irish Government has argued that it needs to remove the UN part of the Triple Lock to prevent countries from having a veto on Irish troops being sent on missions. This includes, they argue, a Russian veto on a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
Mr Cunningham said that this was a "lie" and that a UN General Assembly vote could allow the deployment of troops.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy also argued against the Government's reasoning, adding that if Russia vetoes a peacekeeping mission, "it means that there was not peace, there was not a ceasefire".
"It means they're talking about sending troops on the ground to prosecute a war against Russia," he added.