Latest news with #MichéalMartin
Irish Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Taoiseach says Ireland will not be punished by US over Occupied Territories Bill
Taoiseach Michéal Martin has rejected claims that Ireland will be punished by the US over the Occupied Territories bill and said the country will not 'suffer unduly'. After US President Donald Trump threatened 30% tariffs on imports from the EU earlier this week, US politicians have suggested that the bill will not bode well for Ireland. US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the bill - which will prohibit trade between the State and Israel's illegal settlements- would not be received well in the US and it 'would not go unnoticed'. Speaking in Cork on Friday, the Taoiseach refuted claims that the bill will harm Ireland economically. He said: 'There are efforts abroad to undermine the integrity of Ireland's position, to misrepresent Ireland's position. We are conscious of that. We will always work to protect our economic interests and the national interest 'We don't want in any way to undermine Ireland. The purpose of the exercise is not that Ireland would suffer unduly in respect of this.' The Taoiseach added that the bill 'has not been mooted' and there is a broader negotiation ongoing between the EU and US on tariffs. He added: "Those negotiations are tough and as you know we have until August 1 to resolve it. That is the context on which tariffs will be discussed and now an individual member state basis." This comes as former minister for justice Alan Shatter heavily criticised the bill as it was given consideration at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday. As a member of the Ireland Israel Alliance, the former Fine Gael TD repeatedly referred to the bill as a 'Father Ted' measure. He also compared it to how the Jews were targeted during the Second World War. Responding to this, the Taoiseach said: 'What I would reject very strongly is any suggestion that there is any hint of antisemitism in terms of the Irish position. I think that was wrongly presented by former Minister (Alan) Shatter in his presentation to the Oireachtas committee. "I was dismayed at the language he used. It was false language and it was a very false presentation.' The Taoiseach said the focus needs to be on the thousands of people who have died in Gaza and the ongoing loss. He continued: 'The Irish people are appalled by what is happening in Gaza and indeed across the West Bank. People I meet cannot understand the continued slaughter of children. "Only in the last 48 hours a church was attacked, a Catholic Church was attacked and innocent people were killed. The war needs to stop. Hostages need to be released and the political process and a massive surge in humanitarian aid needs to be facilitated.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Journal
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Homelessness figures hit record of 15,747 people in emergency accommodation
LAST UPDATE | 10 mins ago A RECORD NUMBER of people in the State are officially recognised as homeless as the latest figures reveal 15,747 people were living in emergency accommodation in May. This is an increase of 167 people on the 15,580 people recorded as homeless in April. The figure includes 4,844 children – some 69 more than last month. The statistics do not include people rough sleeping, refugees, asylum seekers, individuals in domestic violence shelters, or those experiencing 'hidden homelessness', such as sleeping in cars, on couches, or other unsuitable living conditions. The figures are taken from the week of 19-25 May Of the adults accessing emergency accommodation, 7,734 were in Co Dublin. Some 655 adults were in Cork, 505 were in Limerick, and 236 were in Galway. Meanwhile, there were 3,589 children living in emergency accommodation in Dublin. There were also 2,273 accessing emergency accommodation. Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said the 'government's current approach to homelessness is failing'. Advertisement 'There needs to be far more urgency in the Government's response to help end this terrible human crisis,' he added. Dublin Simon Community has called on Taoiseach Michéal Martin to 'bring stability to an unstable market for those in precarious rental agreements and those with nowhere to call home'. 'A housing crisis may be on the political agenda, but its most devastating consequence — homelessness — remains overlooked,' added Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community. Elsewhere, Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin accused the government of 'failing children'. He remarked that since 2014, 'there has been a 450% increase in child homelessness'. 'The dramatic increase in child homelessness over the last decade is the direct result of the failure of government to deliver a sufficient volume of social and affordable homes,' said Ó Broin. 'It is the result of government failing to prevent families with children from becoming homeless and a result of the government's failure to get families with children out of emergency accommodation in a timely manner.' Meanwhile, the Social Democrats described it as a 'shameful milestone'. Its housing spokesperson Rory Hearne remarked that the State 'could be facing a national redress scheme for children who have been in emergency accommodation'. 'The government knows the deeply damaging impact any length of time in homelessness has on young people, yet it is not doing everything it can to prevent children from becoming homeless,' he added. Hearne called on the government to 'maintain rent caps between tenancies, and extend the no fault evictions ban to all tenancies'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
10-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Irish Medical Organisation joins calls for Government to help get aid to people in Gaza
The Irish Medical Organisation has joined the chorus of calls on the Irish Government to do all it can to help get aid to people in Gaza. Dr Anne Dee, president of the IMO, has written to Taoiseach Michéal Martin to express 'grave concern and fear' on behalf of her organisation at what is happening in Gaza. The IMO represents 5,000 doctors in Ireland. Dr Dee strongly criticised the actions of Israeli authorities: "We are seeing blatant contraventions of international humanitarian law by the state of Israel, and I urge the Irish government to do all in its power, nationally and through international organisations to end this horror and to ensure that Israel honours its obligations under international law.' She added: "We abhor the actions of Hamas and we call for the return of hostages and an immediate ceasefire. But what we are witnessing in Gaza at the moment is mass starvation arising from a deliberate blockade of aid through well-established partnerships, by the state of Israel." She criticised the introduction of Israeli-backed aid agencies 'where the most vulnerable, who are seeking assistance, either have been killed or are putting themselves at risk of being killed or injured as they try to feed themselves and their families". 'There is no functioning healthcare system in Gaza and many of our healthcare colleagues have died, along with their patients, as healthcare facilities have come under military attack," she said. This comes as a group of 50 Irish activists are about to join a global march to Rafah in support of the people of Palestine. From June 12 to 20 they will be at the Rafah border among thousands of people to demand an end to the genocide. Cork podcast producer, Bairbre Flood, will be part of the group heading to the Rafah border. "The governments of the world aren't doing anything and the Irish government isn't doing anything. I feel like, as citizens, we have to really step up now and do something to stop this genocide," she told the Irish Examiner. Ms Flood said there are concrete steps Ireland could take. "Why hasn't the Occupied Territories Bill been passed yet? The Central Bank still allowing the sale of Israeli bonds in Ireland, the issue of war planes stopping in Shannon. These are really concrete steps that Ireland could take. I know we have a brilliant reputation and the people are really pro-Palestine, but I just don't feel like it's being reflected in the government policy. "I feel like we should be putting more pressure on America," she said. On June 12, she will be travelling to Cairo before getting onto a bus to Al-Arish. She will then march to the Rafah border. "We have about two nights camping in the desert, and then we should get to Rafah," she explained. She said one of the most important actions would be for "America to stop supplying the weapons" to the Israeli army. "The second most important thing that they need to do is open the border for all the humanitarian aid. There are thousands of trucks sitting with medicines and food and supplies for Palestinian people, and the Americans and the Israelis are blocking it from coming in. "Doctors and medics who've gone over there are coming back and telling us they're seeing children with gunshot wounds to the head, deliberately targeted by the Israeli and shot in the head. We're getting such a mountain of evidence, "I really feel like most people want this to stop. They want Palestine to be free and for the Israelis to leave Gaza," she said. Read More Deadly shooting by Israeli forces near Palestinian aid site in Gaza
The Journal
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Oceans get their day in the sun at UN summit in French Riviera
PROTECTING THE RICH undersea wildlife in our oceans – like the kind brought to life in David Attenborough's recent 'Ocean' film release – is the focus of an international conference taking place in France this week. Environment activists are watching to see whether countries will use the UN Ocean Conference as a platform to ratify the High Seas Treaty – a legal framework to protect biodiversity that is only open to signatures from states for a few more months. Ireland signed the treaty in 2023 when it was introduced but has not yet ratified it – that is, agreed to be bound by it internationally. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed to The Journal that Ireland intends to ratify it later this year pending an EU Directive. Taoiseach Michéal Martin is representing the Irish government at the conference, where a political declaration that has been drafted for countries to consider will focus on ocean conservation and using oceans for economic activities in ways that are sustainable. Advertisement It aims to put countries on track to comply with a 2022 agreement that set a target of protecting at least 30% of the world's marine ecosystems by 2030. New polling by Red C for campaign group Fair Seas last week found 72% of people agree the Irish government needs to do more to show leadership on ocean environmental issues, while 82% said a healthy marine environment is essential for Ireland's long-term food security. French President Emmanuel Macron, who is pushing to reach the necessary threshold of 60 countries ratifying the High Seas Treaty to bring it into force, said in the lead-up to the conference in the French Riviera that the world's future 'depends on protecting our oceans'. The UN Ocean conference meets only once every three years and it's hoped that the gathering of leaders this week will lead to countries pledging funding for measures to protect the oceans. Ahead of the conference, the European Commission revealed a new 'Ocean Pact' on Thursday. It includes measures like fighting illegal fishing, restoring degraded coastal marine habitats, and supporting coastal and island communities. Tom Pickerell of the World Resources Institute's Ocean Program said the pact 'rightly places the ocean at the heart of Europe's environmental, economic, and geopolitical future' and that its 'push for ocean innovation, from offshore renewables and blue biotech to circular economy solutions and zero-carbon shipping, marks real progress toward a sustainable blue economy'. Related Reads Ireland just had its warmest spring in at least 126 years Storm warning: Extreme wind is now 'priority' climate risk for Ireland However, he cautioned that 'bold words must be backed by results' and that 'many commitments lack clear timelines, targets and accountability'. 'As leaders meet in Nice next week for the UN Ocean Conference, this is a vital moment for countries to restore the ocean's health,' Pickerell said. 'Governments must ratify the High Seas Treaty, protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 and back efforts to manage all national waters sustainably.' Oceans are under mounting pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to contain some emissions that would otherwise contribute to global warming, but increasing volumes of these emissions are raising acidification levels in the water, threatening marine life. Economic activities linked to oceans are worth an estimated $2.5 trillion globally but the impacts of climate change on marine life are a threat to the sectors that rely on the blue economy. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
02-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Scene remains sealed off in Carlow following shooting incident
The scene of a shooting in Carlow town remains sealed off this morning, a day after the incident which left one man dead and a child with minor injuries. The incident was deemed to be controlled and there was no longer a threat to public safety, gardaí said. Yesterday, it was reported that a man fired a number of shots in the Tesco supermarket at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre at around 6.15pm. The man was fatally injured during the incident, with his gunshot wounds appearing to be self-inflicted. Gardaí identified the deceased man as a white Irish male. A girl sustained minor injuries in the incident. She was attended to by ambulance personnel at the scene and went home with family members. Gardaí said it is unclear at this time as to how the girl's injuries were sustained. Taoiseach Michéal Martin said he is "deeply shocked and saddened" by the shooting incident. I am deeply shocked and saddened at the shooting incident in Carlow this evening. My thoughts are with the families affected and the local community in Carlow after what was a very serious and traumatic incident. I urge anyone who has information to speak to the Gardaí. — Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 1, 2025 In a post on X, he said: "My thoughts are with the families affected and the local community in Carlow after what was a very serious and traumatic incident. "I urge anyone who has information to speak to the gardaí." Gardaí urged anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it to gardaí at Carlow Garda Station. They also issued an appeal to anyone with information to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059-9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
