Latest news with #Féin
Sunday World
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Cloud hangs over Barack Obama's visit to Ireland next month amid opposition to Freedom of Dublin award
A move by the city's Lord Mayor Ray McAdam has sparked tensions as Dublin's most prestigious award overlaps with criticism of US foreign policy Barack and Michelle Obama first visited Ireland in 2011. Photo bySinn Féin's Daithí Doolan says most of his party colleagues are opposed to the granting of the award Lord Mayor Ray McAdam wrote to the Obamas, inviting them to accept the award. Photo: Gerry Mooney Former president Barack Obama is due to speak at the 3Arena in Dublin in September. Photo: AP In late September, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will make the transatlantic journey to Dublin for a much-publicised 3Arena show. While event promoters promise a 'once-in-a-lifetime' chat, it's the story happening elsewhere in the city that's overshadowing proceedings. A move by the city's Lord Mayor Ray McAdam has sparked tensions as Dublin's most prestigious award overlaps with criticism of US foreign policy. In a praiseful letter last month, Mr McAdam invited the former US president and his wife to accept the Freedom of the Dublin award at the Mansion House. The Lord Mayor references the Obamas and their connection with the capital, citing the 'fond memories' Dubliners hold of their visit back in 2011. He said residents of the capital had 'long admired your leadership, your commitment to public service and your shared belief in the power of community, equality and democracy'. Barack and Michelle Obama first visited Ireland in 2011. Photo byBut as news of the invitation percolated around City Hall, old opposition to US foreign policy reared its head again. In 2017, when the matter of awarding the Obamas came to a vote by the council chamber, it passed by the not-so-comfortable margin of 30 to 23 votes, with four abstentions. And it appears another wave of anger is brewing ahead of his next visit. Obama is just as complicit in the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as his successors – Biden and Trump 'In the eight years since Barack Obama was first granted this symbolic honour, the world has become a far more dangerous place and all of these changes can be traced back to foreign policy decisions made by the Obama administration,' Dublin People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy said. Former president Barack Obama is due to speak at the 3Arena in Dublin in September. Photo: AP News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th 'Obama is just as complicit in the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as his successors – Biden and Trump. For this reason alone, he should receive no welcome in Ireland,' he added. On top of his Middle East policy, Mr Reddy said Mr Obama expanded the use of drones substantially, ordering 'hundreds of strikes' across Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia and killing many civilians. His party colleague, Cllr Hazel De Nortúin, sounded a similar tone, while opposition is also building in larger parties like Sinn Féin. The party's leader on the council, Daithí Doolan conceded that Ireland has a 'unique and important' relationship with the US, but remained critical of its foreign policy and particularly its support of Israel. Sinn Féin's Daithí Doolan says most of his party colleagues are opposed to the granting of the award When the vote was put to the council eight years ago, Mr Doolan said most Sinn Féin councillors voted against the move. 'I don't think that will change,' he said. 'The US must begin to play a positive role in brokering a permanent ceasefire in Palestine and lay the foundation for a peace process that leads to a viable, independent Palestine,' he added. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr McAdam said the Obamas had not yet responded to the invitation, but he defended his decision to invite them to the Mansion House, saying it was a 'civic gesture, not a policy endorsement'. It's not a blanket endorsement of his term of office 'I know President Obama is set to be here later this year. What I'm doing is simply inviting them now. What I'm trying to do is fulfil what was already democratically decided by city councillors. I don't think it would be in any way useful or helpful for the city council to reverse that decision,' he said. He acknowledged the 'legitimate concerns' of some councillors, but saw the invitation as a 'symbolic gesture' that recognises shared values like 'hope, service equality and reconciliation'. 'It's not a blanket endorsement of his term of office, nor any aspect of US foreign policy,' he said. Lord Mayor Ray McAdam wrote to the Obamas, inviting them to accept the award. Photo: Gerry Mooney 'Every term of office, be it a US president, or an Irish taoiseach, or whatever, those terms of office involve complex issues and therefore have complex legacies.' He said Mr Obama was a 'moderating voice' for the world during his eight-year term, pointing out that he won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. One of the ancient duties of a recipient of the Freedom of Dublin award is the responsibility to join a city militia to defend Dublin at short notice if required. While awardees are unlikely to be called upon any time soon, the battle over granting the Obamas with the city's most prestigious award is clearly set to heat up as September approaches. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Gavin Robinson says Sinn Féin want to 'squander money' on Irish signs
The Democratic Unionist Party leader, Gavin Robinson, has said the approval of Irish language signage at Grand Central Station was "bad process" but "that's not to suggest that this is a crisis" for the Stormont Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins approved £150,000 for Irish language signs saying it was a "hugely positive development".However, Robinson said the minister "decided to squander" the money "in the absence of political discussion".Robinson also told the BBC's Nolan Show there were plans to amend the ticketing system to incorporate an Irish language option. He said that would "require them to remove the foreign language options that are already inbuilt for tourists coming to Northern Ireland who don't have English as their first language", adding that was "a nonsense".
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Donald Trump: US president declares March 'Irish-American Heritage Month'
US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation declaring March "Irish-American Heritage Month". In the proclamation, he said the month will "commemorate the special bond of friendship between the United States and Ireland" and "honor the extraordinary contributions of Irish-American citizens past and present".Signing the proclamation on Thursday, Trump said the Irish were "great people", adding: "They voted for me in heavy numbers so I like them even more."It comes ahead of Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin's visit to the White House to celebrate St Patrick's Day. The proclamation describes Irish-Americans as "some of the toughest, most driven, and most devoted people on the face of the Earth". "Their faith in God, love of family, and indelible commitment to our national promise continue to inspire citizens all across our country." 'A lasting mark' In the 19th and 20th centuries, millions of Irish immigrants moved from Ireland to the cities of Boston, Chicago, and New York "in hopes of a new frontier of opportunity and a better future for their families", the proclamation says. It emphasises that Irish-Americans have played "a crucial role" in the "great American story" by "courageously overcoming adversity and hardship to embolden our culture, enliven our spirit, and fortify our way of life". Irish-Americans have "fought for our freedom on the battlefield, served in our halls of government, and pioneered legendary businesses - leaving a lasting mark on their communities and our national identity", the proclamation continues."The United States and Ireland also enjoy a long friendship strengthened by economic ties, a shared commitment to democracy, and the timeless values of faith, family, and freedom."As my administration works to correct trade imbalances with the European Union, our historic relationship with Ireland presents an opportunity to advance fairer trade policies and stronger investment opportunities that benefit both nations." 'I will give our perspective' - Martin Traditionally politicians from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland take part in engagements in the US around St Patrick's usually culminates in the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) presenting a bowl of shamrock to the US president in the Oval meeting with Trump is scheduled to take place on 12 March, five days before St Patrick's has said he will tell Trump that trade tariffs could cause damage to a "small open economy" like Ireland, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ.Irish PM 'delighted' by Trump's White House inviteSinn Féin to boycott White House St Patrick's Day celebrationsAnalysis: Sinn Féin St Patrick's Day move over Trump policy a gambleWhy is the US president given a bowl of shamrock?Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Martin said that he "will give our perspective" on the issue at the White taoiseach said there was "a two-way" nature to the economic relationship between Ireland and the United States and that he will listen to President Trump's Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has confirmed she will also travel to Washington DC for the St Patrick's Day Sinn Féin has said it will not attend the annual festivities over Trump's stance on the Israel-Gaza Party leader Naomi Long told her party's annual conference they were "taking a stand" by not attending, and Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna said her party would also decline an invitation.
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Tánaiste Simon Harris says Irish unity is 'not his priority'
Tánaiste (deputy Irish prime minister) Simon Harris has said Irish unity is not his priority and he doesn't expect a border poll to happen during the term of the current Irish was speaking after his first official visit to Stormont in his new met the first and deputy first ministers before having talks with other party party Fine Gael has recently set Irish unity as an objective and not just an aspiration But Harris insisted on Tuesday that Irish unity is not a priority for said there has never been an "Irish head or deputy head who hasn't aspired to a united Ireland but that is not where my priority is today".He added: "It is not where my priority is in my role as tánaiste"."My priority is in making sure the Irish government as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement plays a constructive role in ensuring all the institutions work to their full potential", he Féin had called on the new Dublin government to begin planning for a border poll which the party predicted will be held before if he expected to see a poll in the next five years the tánaiste said "it is not my expectation".
