Latest news with #DonnchadhÓLaoghaire
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Committee urges Government to include services in Israeli settlements trade ban
A committee has 'unanimously' recommended that services should be included in the Government's proposed ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements, a TD has said. The Oireachtas Foreign Affairs committee is making the recommendation after hearing evidence from expert witnesses in relation to the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025. Advertisement The report containing the recommendation is expected to be published next Wednesday. The Irish Government has said it will legislate to ban the trade of goods with illegal Israeli settlements following an advisory opinion from the UN's top court. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said last year that countries should 'take steps to prevent trade or investment relations' that maintain illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. Although the opinion does not differentiate between types of trade, government figures have indicated a ban on services is more legally complex. Advertisement Sinn Féin TD and member of the committee Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said the 'vitally important' recommendation to include services received 'no push back' from any committee member. He said that could encompass services across financial, tech and accommodation sectors. 'Clearly, morally, the same issue arises whether it is goods or services, you're still trading with illegal settlements that are undermining the potential for peace in the Middle East.' He lamented the humanitarian disaster and widespread starvation in Gaza in what he called 'human rights abuses upon human rights abuses' in the Palestinian enclave. Advertisement The foreign affairs committee's recommendation has been welcomed by Christian Aid Ireland as 'hugely significant'. The charity's head of policy Conor O'Neill said: 'Despite all the spin, misinformation and threats, TDs and senators from both Government and opposition spent weeks looking at the Occupied Territories Bill in detail, weighing up the evidence, hearing from experts and considering the impact. 'They have said unequivocally: it is time to ban all trade with the illegal Israeli settlements, both goods and services, in line with international law. 'This is a crucial vote of confidence and a clear message to Government that we must do this right. Advertisement 'Ultimately it doesn't matter whether you're importing a box of olives produced on stolen Palestinian farmland, or booking a holiday rental in a stolen Palestinian home on a service platform like Airbnb. 'A euro of support is a euro of support, and the ICJ was clear that all of it has to end. The Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee have upheld this very strongly today, and Government must listen. 'We need to pass a full, effective Occupied Territories Bill as a matter of urgency.'
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Sinn Féin wants 111 changes to Bill reforming ‘triple lock' Irish troop deployment
The Government is set to square off with Opposition parties over proposed amendments to its plan to reform the 'triple lock' mechanism for deploying Irish troops overseas. Public sessions were held by the Oireachtas defence committee as part of pre-legislative scrutiny of the Government's plan to remove the need for United Nations Security Council approval of Irish peacekeeping missions with more than 12 troops. The Government contends countries like Russia have the power, under the UN Security Council motion requirement, to veto Ireland's participation in missions. The defence committee must publish a report on the proposal before it is sent back to the Dáil and Seanad for further consideration. A draft report has been circulated and amendments have been proposed by Opposition parties. READ MORE Sinn Féin has submitted 111 amendments to the Bill. The committee is due to meet in private this week to discuss its recommendations and conclusions, which have not yet been agreed. While the committee is chaired by Sinn Féin's Rose Conway-Walsh , Government TDs and Senators have a majority of the membership. Sinn Féin's defence spokesman, Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire , is seeking to insert a recommendation that the Government must drop the sectionthat would remove the UN mandate requirement. Currently the UN mandate, Government approval and a Dáil vote make up a triumvirate of pre-deployment sanctions that have come to be known as the triple lock. [ The triple lock - a guardrail of neutrality, or an abandonment of sovereignty? Opens in new window ] The Bill, as proposed by Government, envisages just Government and Dáil approval would be needed in future. The vast majority of the evidence heard by the committee during the pre-legislative scrutiny stage relates to this aspect, which is by far the most contentious part of the Bill. The draft report outlines that the committee heard Ireland 'appears to be in a unique position globally' in explicitly requiring a UN mandate for the overseas deployment of military personnel as part of an international force. It outlines that some witnesses and contributors - and a majority of public submissions received - 'were clear in their view that neutrality is a key consideration which is central to the proposed legislation'. Sinn Féin is further arguing that the proposed legislation should be modified to recommend the convening of a citizens assembly to consider potential wording for a constitutional provision outlining and protecting Ireland's neutrality. The party wants a referendum to be held thereafter to 'definitively enshrine neutrality in the Constitution'. The Labour Party has also sought changes, including in connection with its concern that each overseas mission could end up being litigated to ensure it is consistent with UN Charter principles. It wants to an amendment calling on the Minister for Defence to publish details about how the new arrangements will work. It also wants safeguards against the dispatch of the Defence Forces in circumstances where it could give rise to liability for the crime of aggression before the International Criminal Court. The party also wants a change to the Bill to the effect that the triple lock would only be lifted if a proposed mission was denied UN Security Council approval due to a veto from a permanent member. It is asking for specific circumstances to be set out in the legislation where troops might be deployed under the new system and seeks for troops to remain under Irish command.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Sinn Féin to fight Government ‘line by line' on reforms to Triple Lock
Today at 11:23 Sinn Féin will fight Government 'line by line' on its so called Triple Lock Bill, TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has said. The General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 looks to reform Ireland's Triple Lock, which requires a UN resolution as well as a vote of the Dáil and Government approval to deploy Irish Troops. Register for free to read this story Register and create a profile to get access to our free stories. You'll also unlock more free stories each week. Already registered? Log In
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Harris: Maritime alliance 'won't undermine Ireland's neutrality'
The Irish government has said membership of a European maritime alliance will not undermine the county's Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has given the Irish Defence Forces approval to formally join the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE).The government said CISE enables more effective operations at sea amid new and evolving maritime part of the network, the Irish Naval Service can exchange and share information with military and civilian maritime authorities in 10 other European countries. The Irish government said CISE plays a crucial role in increasing awareness of maritime activities and improving responses to growing threats at sea, including physical and cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, drug trafficking and other illegal is joining the group at a time when the country is also establishing its first national maritime security said: "I am confident that there are considerable benefits from participation in this important initiative, which is a key enabler for our Maritime Security Strategy, helping to safeguard our maritime domain, boost our resilience and helping us to contribute with partners at an EU level." Neutrality is 'best defence' Ireland's main opposition party, Sinn Féin, has raised concerns about the party's defence spokesperson, the TD (Teachta Dála) Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, said, the minister "must ensure that this sharing of information does not impact in any way on Ireland's neutrality."Mr Ó'Laoghaire has also said that the matter has not had "the constitutionally and legally bare minimum level of scrutiny or even oversight from the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament)".He added: "I will be requesting that the Oireachtas Committee on Defence call on the Tánaiste to attend a meeting in order to outline the details of this arrangement and similar arrangements, and to address concerns that such arrangements are further eroding Irish neutrality."Irish neutrality allows Ireland to play a positive and constructive role in global affairs, it is our best defence." 'Not about joining a military alliance' Harris has insisted that the decision does not undermine Irish said it's a voluntary information sharing arrangement and is not about joining "any sort of military alliance".The CISE network is overseen by the European Commission with the aim of sharing information around a range of issues such as maritime safety and security, border control, the marine environment, fisheries control, trade, economic interests, and law enforcement and decision of the Irish Defence Forces to join the group comes at a time of increasing awareness in the country about potential threats to critical infrastructure including transatlantic communication cables and pipelines along the seabed off the Irish coast. Ireland's small naval patrol fleet There are concerns about the potential risk of sabotage by hostile states or international challenges have been exacerbated by what many observers now regard as persistent problems around the operation of Ireland's small naval patrol fleet as well as difficulties around the recruitment of personnel into the new Irish government says improvements to maritime surveillance is now "a national defence policy priority".
