Latest news with #RichardBoydBarrett
Agriland
31-07-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Minister questioned over plans for Irish language food labels
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD, Richard Boyd Barrett has questioned the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill about the use of the Irish language on food and drink labels. In a series of parliamentary questions this month (July 2025), Deputy Boyd Barrett claimed the minister was deflecting responsibility for bilngual food and drink labelling to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. He believes that minister should use her department's legislative authority over the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation to act, and asked if she accepts that "this amounts to a deliberate political evasion" of the state's obligations under the constitution. The minister for health acknowledged that her department has responsibility for food safety legislation, including an EU regulation on the provision of food information to consumers. She outlined that that this regulation provides that mandatory food information shall appear in a language "easily understood" by consumers, and that EU member states may require that the information be given in one or more languages from among the official languages of the EU. Minister Carroll MacNeill said that when transposing the language requirements of the EU regulation, and in light of the Official Languages Act 2003, flexibility was provided to ensure that food placed on the market in Ireland can be accompanied by mandatory food information in either English, or Irish and English. She said: "Flexibility was necessary to ensure that the legislation was not creating barriers to trade and that the burden placed on businesses, including micro, small and medium enterprises was not disproportionate. "The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010–2030, for which the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has responsibility, includes a commitment for government to examine the feasibility of introducing a voluntary code for bilingual labelling and packaging of all goods sold in Ireland." "The flexibilities provided for in (the regulation) ensure that any such voluntary code, as it would relate to food information, will not contravene the mandatory information requirements of the EU FIC Regulation," the minister added. Minister Carroll MacNeill said that the Department of Health "will be happy to assist" the Department of Rural and Community Affairs and the Gaeltacht in progressing the code. In 2022, an FIC interdepartmental group was established in direct response to the EU Commission's 2020 proposal to amend certain aspects of the FIC regulation, which did not include language provisions. Minister Carroll MacNeill has responsibility for the FIC regulation, and says that she currently has no plans to convene a group to examine the language provisions of the regulation.
Irish Examiner
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
People Before Profit members leave party over stance on coalition with Sinn Féin
A group of People Before Profit members, including a South Dublin County councillor, have left the party, criticising it for being open to government with Sinn Féin. In a 3,000-word statement, the group calling itself the Red Network, which includes Clondalkin councillor Madeleine Johansson, says People Before Profit should not go into government with the main opposition party. The group says it 'has always and will always push for united front social movements — like the water charges movement — to take on the government', but that 'practical unity on particular issues must be accompanied by free and open debate about political strategy and tactics'. The group added: 'Political differences should be discussed openly in front of the working class. We feel that the Red Network has a special voice on the socialist left, a working-class voice, and we think it needs to be heard.' While the group praises the likes of Richard Boyd Barrett, Gino Kenny, and councillor Conor Reddy, it says 'the nature of People Before Profit as an organisation means the fruits of all that work are often wasted'. '32-county worker's republic' The group says it will continue to work alongside many of the same activists, but 'the lines of political demarcation will be clearer'. It says a Sinn Féin government would 'coalesce with the establishment and leave untouched the real government, the permanent government — the state bureaucracy, army chiefs, and head guards'. The Red Network says it wants 'a 32-county worker's republic where assemblies of workers in workplaces and communities elect delegates, who are recallable, to a worker's national assembly'. The statement says the current left is 'divided into those who talk about revolution but sit on the margins of the working class, or those who stand in elections and do work in communities but play down their socialist politics'. The group says that People Before Profit has 'argued ... that we needed to drop anger and appear more respectable — in order to chase white-collar votes'. 'Those of us who went on to form the Red Network argued that failing to articulate the deep anger people felt in the estates would leave an opening for the far right to misdirect that anger." The group says it believes 'student moralism has overtaken People Before Profit as the class basis of the party has changed'. Read More Government to withhold support for motion to end Central Bank facilitation of Israeli war bonds
Irish Examiner
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
No formal garda complaints from protestors removed during Gaza rally at Leinster House
None of the demonstrators removed from a rally for mothers and children killed in Gaza at the Dáil last month have made a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman, the Irish Examiner has learned. Up to 40 people – including members of the Mothers Against Genocide group – were involved in the overnight staged encampment that began on Mother's Day at the gates of Leinster House in Dublin. The group blocked the entrance to the Dáil and were given a direction and a period of time by gardaí to move under the Public Order Act the following morning. However, when they failed to do so, gardaí removed the protesters, causing outrage among some members of the public and TDs. In the Dáil, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett described it as a 'peaceful sit-down protest' and said the women were arrested 'violently, in some cases.' He said one woman told him: 'I was stripped completely naked and was asked to remove my underwear. When I questioned the necessity of this, I was told I would be forced violently if I didn't comply,' the account read. 'After removing my underwear, they looked inside my private areas and touched all my sensitive parts.' Deputy Boyd Barrett described the alleged behaviour as 'absolutely disgusting' and said the women 'were a threat to nobody.' While Solidarity–People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger said, 'Some of those women were strip-searched and one was subjected to a cavity search.' Mothers Against Genocide protesting outside Leinster House, Mother's Day 2025 The Irish Examiner has since learned that none of the protesters who were removed from the gates of Leinster House have submitted a formal complaint to the new garda Ombudsman. A spokesperson for Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, said it has received '61 contacts from concerned members of the public about the media reports of the protest.' The statement continued: 'It is open to anyone directly affected by or who has witnessed an act or omission by An Garda Síochána members to make a complaint to Fiosrú. 'Fiosrú does not share information relating to complaints made by or against individuals. This is to protect the investigative process, and the rights of both complainants and those complained against. 'Fiosrú is not in a position to comment any further.' The 61 complaints from members of the public include those who viewed videos of the incident on social media or read about it on the internet. It does not include anyone who was directly affected by the incident that unfolded during the encampment. Complaints can be submitted to Fiosrú up to a year after an alleged incident occurs involving gardaí. Megan Ní Ghabhláin of Mothers Against Genocide said at the time there had been a complete escalation by the gardaí against women involved in a peaceful protest at a time when few people were going in and out of the Dáil. 'Unfortunately, this morning, the gardaí decided they were going to remove these precious faces of these children in the most disrespectful manner,' she said. Garda presence as Mothers Against Genocide protest outside Leinster House, 31 March 2025 Labour Leader Ivana Bacik later said she was 'shocked' that anyone from Mothers Against Genocide would be arrested. Meanwhile, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said it was a 'heavy-handed approach' by gardaí. A garda spokesperson said at the time: 'The direction given by gardaí was not complied with and a number of individuals were subsequently arrested for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and conveyed to garda stations in Dublin. '10 females (20s, 30s, 40s and 50s) and one male (20s) were arrested under Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. 'All 11 people have received adult cautions. 'An additional three men (20s and 30s) were also arrested for alleged offences under sections 6, 9, and 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. 'The three individuals have been charged and are now before the courts.'
Leaders
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
Barrett: Ongoing Slaughter in Palestine's Gaza Constitutes 'Ethnic Cleansing'
Irish MP Richard Boyd Barrett has strongly condemned Israel's actions in Gaza, describing them as 'ethnic cleansing'—a crime he asserts has been ongoing since 1948. He argues that the only people with a legitimate right to self-defense are the Palestinians. According to Barrett, the claim that Israel is acting in self-defense is itself a manifestation of apartheid, as the Israeli system is inherently structured in a way that denies Palestinian rights. He asserts that an illegal occupation has no right to defend itself, nor does a state built on ethnic cleansing. The right to self-defense, he insists, belongs to the victims of this oppression—the Palestinians. @palestine88mn2 ♬ الصوت الأصلي – Palestine88●《M•N》~2 He challenges the global narrative by asking: Who are the real victims? Who are the ones enduring persecution? His answer is clear: the Palestinians. They are the ones subjected to ethnic cleansing, living under apartheid, suffering under an illegal occupation, and being killed with impunity, year after year. Barrett also points out that Palestinians are being killed even in the West Bank, where Hamas does not operate. He questions why, despite this, Israel continues to be portrayed as seeking peace. He argues that Israel's actions clearly indicate a long-standing strategy of territorial expansion through forced displacement, a pattern that has persisted since 1948. Finally, he calls out the double standards in international responses, asking why sanctions were imposed on Vladimir Putin for war crimes, yet no similar measures have been taken against Israel despite its relentless attacks on Palestinian civilians, including thousands of children. Related Topics : Arab-Islamic Summit: Saudi Crown Prince Stresses Support for Palestine, Lebanon OIC Welcomes Slovenia's Decision to Recognize Palestine Blour: Future of Greater Israel: Geopolitical Shifts,Corporate-Driven Conflict Hamas, Israel Initiate Ceasefire with Prisoner Exchange Short link : Post Views: 26
