Latest news with #MaryIrvine
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Academics at 11 universities call for trade freeze with Israel over 'well-televised' genocide
More than 160 academics from 11 universities across the country have urged the Government to suspend trade with Israel in response to the unfolding genocide in Gaza. In an open letter, the group, which includes professors, lecturers and researchers, describes Israel's military response to the 'terrible Hamas attack' in October 2023 as "by now a well-televised genocide'. 'We recommend an immediate halt to trade with Israel until a permanent ceasefire is established together with open access to humanitarian aid,' it said. This is not just a 'symbolic' action, the letter added, as data shows that Ireland is a significant destination for exports from Israel. 'An immediate cessation of this trade will have impact and is one way Ireland can take further action towards ending the suffering in Gaza.' Acknowledging that the move would have short-term economic consequences, the group also argued it is 'morally repugnant' to enrich ourselves as a country 'by turning a blind eye to well-documented suffering in Gaza'. The letter called on the Government to put in place 'an immediate pause to trade with Israel pending a permanent ceasefire and aid delivery in accordance with international humanitarian principle'. The signatories also called on the Government to advocate for co-ordinated EU-wide action. Trinity College Dublin Last week, the board of Trinity College Dublin voted to cut ties with Israeli universities and fully divest from all companies based in Israel, becoming the first Irish university to do so. It will also no longer facilitate Erasmus agreements with Israeli universities, or collaborate on research. The move follows recommendations from a task force established as part of an agreement to end a student encampment on campus set up in solidarity with Gaza last summer. The task force, chaired by former High Court president Mary Irvine, recommended that the university divest fully from all companies headquartered in Israel. It also advised that Trinity should not enter into future supply contracts or new commercial relationships with Israeli firms, and should refrain from establishing new mobility agreements or institutional research collaborations with Israeli universities. TCD students' union welcomed the move, but said it was disappointing that Trinity had not withdrawn from ongoing projects involving Israeli partners that provide military technology and training. Last summer, students and members of the university's Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, set up an encampment on the Trinity campus. It followed a wave of pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses across the United States during which riot gear, tactical vehicles and flash-bang devices were used to clear occupied buildings and encampments. The Trump administration continues to target US universities' federal funding due to the handling of these protests. In March, it pulled $400m from Columbia University, saying it failed to fight anti-semitism on campus. Read More Aid is being utterly weaponised, and the result is chaos
Irish Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Post
Trinity College Dublin formally cuts all ties with Israel
TRINITY College Dublin has announced it will cut ties with all Israeli universities and companies. The decision, made by the university's board this week, follows growing public outrage in Ireland over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A taskforce, formed last year, recommended full divestment from Israel. 'This taskforce was created following the board-approved resolution statement after the encampment on campus last year,' Trinity said in a public statement. Chaired by former High Court President Mary Irvine, the taskforce met over a dozen times, reviewed a variety of evidence and received nearly a hundred written submissions from students and staff. 'I want to thank Mary Irvine and the other members of the taskforce who contributed significant time and expertise over the past year to consider these important issues so thoroughly,' the college said. This total divestment will see Trinity end its remaining academic exchange agreements with Israeli universities and stop it from starting any new partnerships with Israeli institutions or businesses. Current Erasmus exchange deals with Bar Ilan University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem will remain in place until they're due to end in 2026. In its collaborative research, the report noted the 'college is engaged in a number of EU-funded research consortia which include Israeli partners. There is no evidence to associate any of these with breaches of international humanitarian law or human rights violations. The taskforce accepts that College cannot readily extract itself from these agreements.' In regard to the length of the divestment, 'these will be enacted for the duration of the ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law,' the statement said, noting that the decision will remain under review. The Board is expected to revisit the report later this year. Zoe Lawlor of the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign hailed Trinity's decision in a statement, calling it a 'landmark step in academic rejection of apartheid Israel's regime'. Dublin's recent formal recognition of Palestine, alongside Spain and Norway, cemented Ireland's position as one of Europe's most vocal critics of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Ireland's support for South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice has drawn sharp backlash from Israeli officials. Late last year, Israel closed its embassy in Dublin, accusing the Irish government of stoking antisemitism, claims firmly rejected by both the Taoiseach and President. As one of Ireland's most prominent academic institutions, Trinity's actions could set a precedent for other universities at home and abroad. With solidarity movements and divestment campaigns happening across Britain and Europe, this could influence others who are pressing similar demands on their universities. Trinity's taskforce will present a final report later this year. Campus protest on college green (Image: @TrinityBDS @tcdsu via See More: Gaza, Israel, Mary Irvine, Trinity College Dublin
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Trinity College Dublin cuts ties with Israeli organisations
The governing body of Trinity College Dublin has voted to cease links with Israeli organisations with immediate effect. It means that TCD will not sign up to future exchange or research agreements with Israeli institutions, no longer use Israeli suppliers and divest from Israeli companies. Current research partnerships and contracts will be honoured but not renewed. The move follows recommendations from a taskforce which was established as part of an agreement to end the student Gaza solidarity encampment on the university campus in May 2024. It called for TCD to divest fully from all Israeli companies, no longer use Israeli suppliers and refuse to enter any new education of research collaborations with Israeli organisations. It also recommended that TCD join with other universities to push for an end to EU research collaboration with Israel. The taskforce was made up of 26 members including students, staff unions and senior leadership, and was chaired by former High Court president Mary Irvine. It met 14 times this year. The governing body voted to accept all of the group's recommendations after receiving its report. Academia for Palestine TCD welcomed the "historic decision" and described it "as an important step towards rejecting the normalisation of Israel's decades-long occupation, apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide against the people of Palestine". TCD is engaged in a number of EU-funded research consortia which include Israeli partners. The taskforce recommended that the university should not submit for approval or agree to participate in any new institutional research agreements involving Israel. It also called on TCD not to enter into any further mobility agreements with Israeli universities or new commercial relationships with Israeli entities. The university has two Erasmus+ exchange agreements with Israeli universities – one which will end this year, the other next year. Participation in these programmes has been on an inbound basis since September 2023. TCD has no current supply contracts with Israeli companies and will not enter into future supply deals with Israeli firms. The university has also already divested from Israeli companies on the UN blacklist but will fully divest from all companies headquartered in Israel. In a note to staff, Chairperson of the Board Paul Farrell said that "based on the strength of the evidence shared, and in line with the principles and procedures developed by the taskforce, the Board has accepted the recommendations set out in the report regarding institutional links with the State of Israel, Israeli universities and companies headquartered in Israel". These will be enacted for the duration of the ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law" and "will be kept under review by the Board," he said.
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Trinity College cuts ties with Israeli organisations
The governing body of Trinity College Dublin has voted to cease future links with Israeli organisations with immediate effect. It means that TCD will not sign up to future exchange or research agreements with Israeli institutions, will no longer use Israeli suppliers and divest from Israeli companies. Current research partnerships and contracts will be honoured but not renewed. It follows recommendations from a taskforce which was established as part of an agreement to end the student Gaza solidarity encampment on the university campus in May 2024. It called for the university to divest fully from all Israeli companies, no longer use Israeli suppliers and refuse to enter any new education of research collaborations with Israeli organisations. It also recommended it join with other universities to push for an end to EU research collaboration with Israel. The taskforce was made up of 26 members including students, staff unions and senior leadership, and was chaired by Mary Irvine, former President of the High Court. It met 14 times this year and the final report was given to the board. The governing body voted to accept all the recommendations by the taskforce. Academia for Palestine TCD welcomed the "historic decision" and described it "as an important step towards rejecting the normalisation of Israel's decades-long occupation, apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide against the people of Palestine". TCD is engaged in a number of EU-funded research consortia which include Israeli partners. The taskforce recommended that the university should not submit for approval or agree to participate in any new institutional research agreements involving Israeli participation. The taskforce also recommended that the university enter into no further mobility agreements with Israeli universities or no new commercial relationships with Israeli entities. The university has two current Erasmus+ exchange agreements with Israeli universities – one which will end this year, the other next year. Participation in these programmes has been on an inbound basis since September 2023. TCD has no current supply contracts with Israeli companies however, it will not enter into future supply contracts with Israeli firms. The university has also already divested from Israeli companies on the UN blacklist but will fully divest from all companies headquartered in Israel. In a note to staff, the Chairperson of the Board, Paul Farrell said that "based on the strength of the evidence shared, and in line with the principles and procedures developed by the taskforce, the Board has accepted the recommendations set out in the report regarding institutional links with the State of Israel, Israeli universities and companies headquartered in Israel". These will be enacted for the duration of the ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law" and "will be kept under review by the Board," he said.
