Latest news with #PatriciaStephenson
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Tánaiste not against Dáil working through summer to progress Occupied Territories Bill
On Tuesday, cabinet approved the drafting of the general scheme of the bill which will ban the importation of goods from the Occupied Territories. The government has come in for criticism as a result of the omission of services from the bill. It is expected that the bill will be drafted and ready for committee stage scrutiny in June. Social Democrats Senator Patricia Stephenson said the Dáil should sit during the summer recess, which will begin in July, to pass the Occupied Territories Bill. 'We need to see this bill enacted as a matter of urgency, even if this means recalling the Dáil next week and delaying summer recess,' Ms Stephenson said. Asked if the Tánaiste would support the Dáil working through the summer to progress the bill, a spokesperson said Mr Harris would have 'no objection'. 'It's a matter of the committee to order its business as it sees fit,' the spokesperson said. 'The Tánaiste would have no objection to that if that's what the committee is to decide,' he added. 'The Tánaiste has said he wants to use the levers available to government and this is one of the levers.' In the Dáil today, opposition TDs said the bill to be drafted should not be a watering down of the bill originally drafted by Senator Francis Black and that services should be included. Social Democrats TD, Sinéad Gibney, said not including services would mean 'that a major component of trade would continue to flow even after this bill was enacted'. However, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said there was no major trade because Ireland and the Occupied Territories. 'But that's not the point. The point is, is that it is a symbolic move. That's important in itself,' Mr martin said. He added that Ireland had done other things to support Palestine, including work on the ICJ judgement and supporting UNWRA. 'We recognised the state of Palestine with Norway and with Spain. And as soon as we did that, all those who had called for it, sort of changed the tune a couple weeks later and said, 'Oh, too little, too late, not much significance' 'My point is, we have done very practical things. Probably the most impactful thing has been on the humanitarian side, with UNWRA, notwithstanding Israel's relentless hostility towards UNWRA,' he added.
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Irish peacekeepers ‘targeted' by Israeli ‘laser' & UN post hit with ‘direct fire' as ‘intimidation tactics' blasted
ISRAEL has been blasted for targeting a UN peacekeeping post manned by Irish troops. The peacekeeping position in southern 2 The Social Democrats' Patricia Stephenson branded the incident as 'appalling' The And Irish personnel were among those targeted by the Israeli Defence Forces with a laser system used on weapon scopes. UNIFIL peacekeepers, which included The United Nations has lodged a formal 'protest' with the IDF after the incident involving Irish troops in Lebanon. Read more in News She said: 'The latest incident of the Israeli Defence Forces firing on UN peacekeeping positions, and shining laser lights on Irish troops, is outrageous. 'Irish peacekeepers have been mandated by the UN to conduct their peacekeeping work in south Lebanon, a mandate which should be respected by the IDF. 'It is extremely concerning that Israeli troops, who were supposed to withdraw as part of a ceasefire in the area, have now reinforced their outpost in south Lebanon. Most read in Irish News 'Aggressive, threatening and intimidating behaviour towards UNIFIL and Irish peacekeepers is not acceptable and cannot be tolerated. 'Ireland has a long-standing and proud tradition of peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance abroad. Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman says Israel has plans to ethnically cleanse Gaza 'Our troops are doing critical and courageous work in Lebanon, in an extremely unstable environment, and the IDF's consistent intimidation tactics are a threat to that. 'This latest incident follows a consistent pattern of belligerent and dangerous behaviour by the IDF to peacekeeping troops. There has never been any serious censure for this reprehensible behaviour.' Last year Irish troops The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) made the request in October regarding Irish peacekeepers as well as to countries that are contributing troops. 'DANGEROUS AREA' Israel was reportedly told the soldiers would remain in place. The Defence Forces recently confirmed soldiers at Camp Shamrock in Lebanon were sheltering in a "dangerous area" over the past few months. Conflict has seen them having to be confined to bunkers for periods of time. Troops at Camp Shamrock faced difficult conditions due to reduced access to food and water supplies. 'WE HAVE WORKED HARD' Lieutenant Colonel Shane Rockett, commander of the 125 Infantry Battalion at Camp Shamrock, said the situation is the worst he had seen, with 14 towns and villages in their area of operations affected and damage between 50 per cent and 90 per cent. Lt Col Rockett also described anger directed towards Unifil from some who wanted them to have done more to prevent the violence. He said: 'It's very hard. If you can imagine if somebody came in and bombed your home town or village, and there was a force there, the first question you would ask is 'what did you do to prevent that?' 'We have worked hard in the five months that we have been here to liaise with the local communities and tell them that, 'look, the Irish and Unifil did not leave'. TROOPS RETURN HOME 'If we had left, the destruction would have been a lot worse and probably the casualties a lot worse." Earlier this week, 170 Defence Forces troops serving in the Middle East There were emotional scenes at Dublin Airport's arrivals section as the soldiers were greeted by loved ones. 2 Israel has been blasted for targeting a UN peacekeeping post manned by Irish troops Credit:
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Dublin TD Sinead Gibney replaced as Social Democrats Foreign Affairs spokesperson
The TD has been replaced by Senator Patricia Stephenson. Ms Gibney confirmed this morning that she is no longer the party's spokesperson on Foreign Affairs. She was appointed the party spokesperson for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Defence after the general election. However, she is now no longer the spokesperson for the brief. Party sources said TDs were reshuffled spokesperson positions as they were assigned committee roles in recent days. Asked at Leinster House today if it was true she was no longer Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ms Gibney confirmed: "Yes, and there will be a statement from the party." She would not answer questions on whether she is leaving the party. Social Democrats stand-in leader Cian O'Callaghan said today: "I'm not aware that she's cheesed off, or anything." He said Ms Gibney would have three other roles as spokesperson for the party, on Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Arts, Media, Communications and Culture; and on Defence. Asked if there was any reason she had been reshuffled out of Foreign Affairs, he said: "No. She has been excellent in the role." "We are readjusting our senior roles," Mr O'Callaghan said. Senator Patricia Stephenson was taking over the role and joining the Dáil Foreign Affairs committee "because of her background in peace-building." Gibney has been vocal on Gaza and last week would not rule out resigning form the party if Eoin Hayes was readmitted. Mr Hayes was suspended from the party pending an internal review, after it emerged he sold his shares in a US software company that supplies technology to the Israeli military following his election as a councillor last year. An internal review in February, which examined both the suspension of Mr Hayes and the party's candidate selection process, decided to uphold the indefinite suspension of the Dublin Bay South TD.
