Latest news with #IrishNeutralityLeague
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Actor says Irish Navy should bring aid to Gaza
The "greatest argument for neutrality is the genocide going on right now in Gaza", actor Liam Cunningham has said. Mr Cunningham attended the launch of a small vessel carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza in Italy last Sunday. Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg is part of the 12-person team onboard the Madleen. Mr Cunningham said it was never intended that he would be on the boat, given its small size, and said it was; "loaded with the stuff that the Tel Aviv regime will not allow into Gaza. So, it's got crutches, it's got antibiotics, baby formula, it's even got a 3D-printed prosthetic baby's arm." He said he believed a flotilla of Irish Naval vessels should be bringing aid to Gaza, given Ireland's obligations under International Law. "The Geneva Convention says that at the sight of a genocide, it is beholden to signatories to the Geneva Conventions to intervene." Under Article I of the Geneva Convention, which Ireland has ratified, there is an obligation to prevent and punish genocide where it occurs. Mr Cunningham was speaking at the launch of a pamphlet - 'Defending Irish Neutrality' - by People Before Profit. People Before Profit is calling on the public to attend a demonstration by the Irish Neutrality League on Saturday 14 June to save the Triple Lock. Dublin South West TD Paul Murphy said he believed the majority of Irish people did not want the dilution of neutrality, which he said would be caused by the removal of the Triple Lock. "I don't trust Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to send troops abroad wherever they want. I think the majority of people in this country don't [trust them]. I precisely want to tie their hands. I want to have a political straitjacket. I wanted to know in future that they will not be able to send troops abroad unless they are genuine peacekeeping missions. And that's what the Triple Lock guarantees, and that's what the Government is trying to get rid of." The Government wants to revise the Triple Lock so that the UN no longer has a role in mandating Irish troops to serve in overseas missions.
BreakingNews.ie
10-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
‘Hands off Irish neutrality': Opposition pushes back against triple-lock changes
Opposition politicians have pledged to 'fight like hell' to push back against Government efforts to change the State's system for deploying troops abroad. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and other Opposition TDs and Senators decried it as an act that would erode 'cherished' Irish neutrality. Advertisement The Government has said it will change the triple-lock system for deploying troops abroad, which currently requires Government, Dáil and UN approval to send more than 12 Irish peacekeepers overseas. Under draft legislation being advanced by the Government, it is proposed to remove the need for formal UN approval and replace it with a stipulation that the Defence Forces deployment would be in accordance with the UN Charter. The Government has argued this will prevent the permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, China, the UK, the US and France – from vetoing Irish peacekeeping missions. At a packed meeting room in the Gresham hotel in Dublin city on Saturday, people were urged to protest in the streets over the issue. Advertisement Actor Liam Cunningham and award-winning folk singer Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin performed at the event, organised by the Irish Neutrality League. Senators Alice Mary Higgins and Frances Black, Galway West TD Catherine Connolly, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy and Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney spoke at the event. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media at an Irish neutrality rally at the Gresham hotel. Photo: PA Ms McDonald said the opposition would work together to push back against efforts to change neutrality. She told the rally: 'So if Micheál Martin or Simon Harris really believe that they have this right, if they really are convinced by their own argument, if they want to get rid of our position as the neutral, I say to them: 'Go to the people, put the question, and she'll get your answer'.' Advertisement She encouraged people 'to campaign relentlessly' and to 'put feet on the streets'. She also said: 'They believe that they can push ahead with their plans unchallenged. We have news for them, because we will fight like hell to stop them, and our message to Micheal Martin and to Simon Harris and to Ursula von der Leyen is very clear – hands off Ireland's neutrality.' Ms Connolly said Ireland's peace is threatened 'by the war-mongering military industrial complex' embraced by countries in Europe. 'We're here to give one message to the Government, and the message is neutrality matters to us,' she said. Advertisement 'We will not give it away, and we will not give away the triple-lock, no matter what lies you tell us, no matter what narrative you spin, we know what's going on.' Ms Black said it was important to protect 'both neutrality and the triple-lock from the unacceptable erosion planned by this current Government'. She said the triple-lock guaranteed that Ireland's Defence Forces would 'never be deployed in an illegal war' and it was 'staggering' to take action that endangered that commitment. 'For many of us, neutrality is political, but also deeply personal,' she said. Advertisement 'What damage could this regressive move do to Ireland's reputation internationally, especially when our strong voice on Palestine is needed now more than ever?' Ms Higgins said that Ireland was elected to the UN Security Council due to its 'huge credibility' on 'peace and neutrality and disarmament'. Ireland Neutrality 'completely unaffected' by triple lock... Read More She said Ireland should be at the 'centre' of efforts to reform the UN rather than removing their involvement in deploying Irish troops. 'The triple-lock does not prevent defence of our own borders, the triple-lock does not prevent humanitarian action by Ireland and, of course, the triple-lock can be activated by the General Assembly as well as the Security Council.' A pro-peace protest in Dublin city is planned on June 14th.
Irish Times
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
‘Hands off Ireland's neutrality': Government warned changes to triple-lock system will be fought
Opposition politicians have pledged to 'fight like hell' against Government efforts to change the system for deploying Irish troops abroad. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and others on Saturday criticised plans to alter the system as a move that would erode the State's 'cherished' neutrality. The existing triple-lock system requires the approval of the Government, Dáil and United Nations (UN) when Ireland seeks to send more than 12 peacekeepers overseas. Under draft legislation being advanced by the Coalition, it is proposed to remove the need for formal UN approval and replace it with a stipulation that the Defence Forces deployment would be in accordance with the UN Charter. READ MORE The Government has argued this will prevent permanent UN Security Council members – Russia, China, the UK, the US and France – from vetoing Irish peacekeeping efforts. During a meeting in Dublin's Gresham hotel, those present were urged to protest in the streets over the issue. Actor Liam Cunningham and folk singer Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin performed at the event, organised by the Irish Neutrality League. Senators Alice Mary Higgins and Frances Black, Galway West TD Catherine Connolly, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy and Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney spoke at the event. Ms McDonald said the Opposition would work together to push back against efforts to change the approach to neutrality. 'So if Micheál Martin or Simon Harris really believe that they have this right, if they really are convinced by their own argument, if they want to get rid of our position as the neutral, I say to them: 'Go to the people, put the question, and she'll get your answer',' she said. 'They believe that they can push ahead with their plans unchallenged. We have news for them, because we will fight like hell to stop them, and our message to Micheál Martin and to Simon Harris and to Ursula von der Leyen is very clear – hands off Ireland's neutrality.' Ms Connolly said Ireland's neutrality is threatened 'by the warmongering military industrial complex' embraced by countries in Europe. 'We're here to give one message to the Government, and the message is neutrality matters to us,' she said. 'We will not give it away, and we will not give away the triple-lock, no matter what lies you tell us, no matter what narrative you spin, we know what's going on.' Ms Higgins said Ireland was elected to the UN Security Council due to its 'huge credibility' on 'peace and neutrality and disarmament'. She said Ireland should be at the 'centre' of efforts to reform the UN rather than removing its involvement when it comes to troop deployment. 'The triple-lock does not prevent defence of our own borders, the triple-lock does not prevent humanitarian action by Ireland and, of course, the triple-lock can be activated by the General Assembly as well as the Security Council,' she said. A pro-peace protest is planned on June 14th in Dublin. – PA
