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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Alan Shatter criticised for comparing Occupied Territories Bill to 'Father Ted'
Former justice minister Alan Shatter has been criticised for comparing a ban on trade with Israeli settlements to the TV show 'Father Ted'. Ex-Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter appeared at the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee in his role as a member of the Ireland Israel Alliance, opposing a draft law banning trade with Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands that have been deemed illegal. Mr Shatter repeatedly described it as a "Father Ted" measure and compared it to Jews being targeted during the Second World War. Mr Shatter said the bill was "based on falsehoods" and "abandons all lessons learned in our own peace process". He said a lack of definition around the word 'originated' in the bill "creates a myriad of difficulties". "The bill is the first initiative of any European government to enact legislation to intentionally boycott and discriminate against Jews since the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945," he said. Committee member Brian Brennan said that he had met seriously injured and orphaned Gazans as well as "hardened" charities in Cairo at the weekend. "I went and I sat on a bed with a young man who was in the prime of his life and has two months to live because of what's happening in Gaza," the Fine Gael TD for Wexford-Wicklow said. I played football with teenage kids who are orphans because of what's happening in Gaza. I held the hand of a two-year-old child who had bullet wounds because of what's happening in Gaza. "How dare you come in here and make such statements as 'a Father Ted bill'." Responding, Mr Shatter said the bill is "a thing of complete irrelevance" to peace and did not deal "with the lives of people". "What you're doing is trying to ban the importation of a small amount of olives and avocados from the West Bank of East Jerusalem, the total value of which, over five years, came to €685,000." Asked by Fine Gael TD Barry Ward if there is acceptance that settlements were contrary to international law, Natasha Hausdorff, barrister with the Ireland Israel Alliance said that "one cannot occupy what is one's own property". Committee chair John Lahart said the idea that the bill is antisemitic was "hugely hurtful, hugely offensive, slanderous" and he "rejected it in its entirety". You won't find antisemitism here, and you would do this country — which you love, and we all love — a great favour by promulgating that view as widely and as strongly as you possibly can. Mr Shatter responded that this is "the perception the bill internationally creates". Maurice Cohen, chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, called the bill "misguided" and "not a plan for peace". He said that "while this bill may not set out to target Jews or Jewish life, it is a message unmistakably felt by us". He said the "bill may feel good", but "does it do good?" Labour's Duncan Smith said that there was a "fundamental point of divergence" on whether settlements were illegal. Earlier, Tánaiste Simon Harris responded to Mr Shatter's Father Ted reference by saying there was nothing humorous about the killing of children in Gaza. Mr Harris told Newstalk radio that the Irish Government can differentiate between a people and their government, and that the actions of the Israeli government are "despicable". Read More Israeli strikes kill 30 in Gaza, health officials say
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
‘How dare you': Alan Shatter criticised in committee on Israeli settlements bill
Former justice minister Alan Shatter has been criticised for comparing a ban on trade with Israeli settlements to the TV show Father Ted. Ex-Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter opposes the Government's draft law banning trade with Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands that have been deemed illegal by the UN's top court. Advertisement He repeatedly described it as a 'Father Ted' measure and compared it to Jews being targeted during the Second World War. The bill banning the trade of goods with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land is progressing through the Oireachtas. The Government said there is a narrow legal basis, based on an advisory opinion from the UN's top court, to ban the trade of goods with illegal Israeli settlements. The Government has said this is being done to comply with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which said last year that countries should 'take steps to prevent trade or investment relations' that maintain illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. Advertisement The bill is before the Foreign Affairs Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny, and is hearing evidence from expert witnesses. Israeli, Palestinian and Jewish representatives, including Mr Shatter, appeared before TDs and senators on Tuesday. Representing the Ireland Israel Alliance, Mr Shatter said the bill was 'based on falsehoods' and 'abandons all lessons learned in our own peace process'. He said a lack of definition for 'originated' in the bill 'creates a myriad of difficulties'. Advertisement He suggested the bill could create 'potential chaos and bureaucracy' at airports and ports for tourists and residents arriving in Ireland, and suggested it could affect the free movement of goods with Northern Ireland. 'The bill is the first initiative of any European government to enact legislation to intentionally boycott and discriminate against Jews since the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945,' he said. Committee member Brian Brennan said that he had met seriously injured and orphaned Gazans as well as 'hardened' charities in Cairo at the weekend. 'I went and I sat on a bed with a young man that was in the prime of his life and has two months to live because of what's happening in Gaza,' the Fine Gael TD for Wexford-Wicklow said. Advertisement 'I played football with teenage kids that are orphans because of what's happening in Gaza. 'I held the hand of a two-year-old child that had bullet wounds because of what's happening in Gaza. 'How dare you come in here and make such statements as 'a Father Ted bill'?' Responding, Mr Shatter said the bill was 'a thing of complete irrelevance' to peace and did not deal 'with the lives of people'. Advertisement 'What you're doing is trying to ban the importation of a small amount of olives and avocados from the West Bank of East Jerusalem, the total value of which, over five years, came to €685,000.' Mr Shatter also said the 'antisemitic symbolism' of the bill was 'reinforced' by no other ban in place for other occupied territories, though there are EU economic restrictions in place for Russian-occupied Crimea. Chairman of the committee John Lahart said that the Government's and committee members' position on Palestine was motivated by 'the descent by the Israeli government and the Israeli Defence Forces into the darkest of places'. He rejected that it was coming from an 'antisemitic perspective' and called that suggestion 'hugely hurtful, hugely offensive and slanderous'. He told Mr Shatter: 'You won't find antisemitism here, and you would do this country, which you love, and we all love – a great favour by promulgating that view as widely and as strongly as you possibly can.' Mr Shatter responded and said this was 'the perception the bill internationally creates'. Mr Lahart said: 'So what I'm saying to you, former member Mr Shatter, is this. You're influential. 'You haven't found that view here; you found a committee motivated by purely humanitarian motives. 'I can't influence you one way or the other, but as chair of the committee, I would implore you, if nothing else, to take that on board when you leave today.' Earlier, Tánaiste Simon Harris responded to Mr Shatter's Father Ted reference by saying there was nothing humorous about the killing of children in Gaza. Mr Harris told Newstalk radio that the Government can differentiate between a people and their government, and that the actions of the Israeli government are 'despicable'. 'I deplore antisemitism, so does everybody in this country, but you know what, I take views of one of the highest courts in the world much more seriously.' He referred to the ICJ opinion and said the EU is recognising that member states can enact domestic legislation in relation to it. 'People in Ireland want to do everything we can to try and see a ceasefire, see humanitarian aid flow and see a two-state solution,' Mr Harris said. 'There's nothing funny or humorous about genocide, and there's nothing humorous or funny about children queuing in Gaza today for food and water who are at risk of being shot dead by the IDF. 'There's a genocide happening in (Gaza), references to Father Ted and the likes, they might be humorous soundbites, but there's nothing funny about the slaughter of children.'
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Committee to hear from Shatter, Palestine Alliance on Occupied Territories Bill
Consideration of the Occupied Territories Bill will resume at the Oireachtas Committee of Foreign Affairs this afternoon. The commitee will hear from former justice minister Alan Shatter, of the Ireland Israel Alliance, who opposes the measure, and from speakers from pro-Palestinian organisations based in Ireland. For some weeks the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade has been scrutinising the bill, known as the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Bill, which prohibits the importation of goods from those settlements. In his opening statement. Mr Shatter will claim the bill is a sectarian measure, based on falsehoods, riddled with anomalies and obscurity and detached from historical and present day reality. He is expected to say the bill discriminates against Jewish people. Chair of the Ireland Palestine Alliance Eamonn Meehan will say the bill is an appropriate legal and necessary measure given the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands as judged by the UN's International Court of Justice. The court, he will add, has ruled Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal and it must be brought to an end, with Israel evacuating existing settlements. Following committee scrutiny. the proposed Government legislation is due to return to the floor of the Dáil for further debate, but with the Dáil rising for the summer on Thursday, that will not happen until the autumn.
