Latest news with #Shatter
Irish Examiner
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Alan Shatter criticised for comparing Occupied Territories Bill to 'Father Ted'
Former justice minister Alan Shatter has been criticised for comparing a ban on trade with Israeli settlements to the TV show 'Father Ted'. Ex-Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter appeared at the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee in his role as a member of the Ireland Israel Alliance, opposing a draft law banning trade with Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands that have been deemed illegal. Mr Shatter repeatedly described it as a "Father Ted" measure and compared it to Jews being targeted during the Second World War. Mr Shatter said the bill was "based on falsehoods" and "abandons all lessons learned in our own peace process". He said a lack of definition around the word 'originated' in the bill "creates a myriad of difficulties". "The bill is the first initiative of any European government to enact legislation to intentionally boycott and discriminate against Jews since the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945," he said. Committee member Brian Brennan said that he had met seriously injured and orphaned Gazans as well as "hardened" charities in Cairo at the weekend. "I went and I sat on a bed with a young man who was in the prime of his life and has two months to live because of what's happening in Gaza," the Fine Gael TD for Wexford-Wicklow said. I played football with teenage kids who are orphans because of what's happening in Gaza. I held the hand of a two-year-old child who had bullet wounds because of what's happening in Gaza. "How dare you come in here and make such statements as 'a Father Ted bill'." Responding, Mr Shatter said the bill is "a thing of complete irrelevance" to peace and did not deal "with the lives of people". "What you're doing is trying to ban the importation of a small amount of olives and avocados from the West Bank of East Jerusalem, the total value of which, over five years, came to €685,000." Asked by Fine Gael TD Barry Ward if there is acceptance that settlements were contrary to international law, Natasha Hausdorff, barrister with the Ireland Israel Alliance said that "one cannot occupy what is one's own property". Committee chair John Lahart said the idea that the bill is antisemitic was "hugely hurtful, hugely offensive, slanderous" and he "rejected it in its entirety". You won't find antisemitism here, and you would do this country — which you love, and we all love — a great favour by promulgating that view as widely and as strongly as you possibly can. Mr Shatter responded that this is "the perception the bill internationally creates". Maurice Cohen, chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, called the bill "misguided" and "not a plan for peace". He said that "while this bill may not set out to target Jews or Jewish life, it is a message unmistakably felt by us". He said the "bill may feel good", but "does it do good?" Labour's Duncan Smith said that there was a "fundamental point of divergence" on whether settlements were illegal. Earlier, Tánaiste Simon Harris responded to Mr Shatter's Father Ted reference by saying there was nothing humorous about the killing of children in Gaza. Mr Harris told Newstalk radio that the Irish Government can differentiate between a people and their government, and that the actions of the Israeli government are "despicable". Read More Israeli strikes kill 30 in Gaza, health officials say
Irish Independent
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘How dare you': Former minister Alan Shatter criticised in committee on Israeli settlements bill
©Press Association Former justice minister Alan Shatter has been criticised for comparing a ban on trade with Israeli settlements to TV sitcom Father Ted, with one TD asking 'how dare you' use that description. Ex-Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter opposes the Irish Government's draft law banning trade with Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands that have been deemed illegal by the UN's top court.
Irish Independent
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘How dare you': Alan Shatter criticised in committee on Israeli settlements bill
©Press Association Former justice minister Alan Shatter has been criticised for comparing a ban on trade with Israeli settlements to Irish TV show Father Ted. Ex-Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter opposes the Irish Government's draft law banning trade with Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands that have been deemed illegal by the UN's top court.
Irish Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tanaiste criticises 'Father Ted' comment from Shatter on Israel settlements bill
There is nothing humorous about the killing of children in Gaza, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said in response to comments by former justice minister Alan Shatter. Ex-Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter has criticised the government's draft laws to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands. Ahead of appearing before a committee to discuss the legislation, he described it as a 'Father Ted' measure and compared it to the targeting of Jews during the Second World War. Responding to the comments, Fine Gael leader Mr Harris said "there's nothing funny or humorous" about the killing of children in Gaza. A bill that would ban the trade of goods with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land is progressing through the Oireachtas. The Irish Government said there is a narrow legal basis, based on an advisory opinion from the UN's top court, to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said last July that countries should "take steps to prevent trade or investment relations" that maintain illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. The Government is to ban the trade of goods, but has indicated services are more legally complex. The foreign affairs committee is due to hear evidence in relation to the bill from Israeli, Palestinian and Jewish representatives on Tuesday, including Mr Shatter. Alan Shatter speaks to Ryan Tubridy (Image: Twitter/@RTELateLateShow) Mr Shatter told Newstalk radio on Tuesday morning that the bill was "a Father Ted-like provision" that had "no relevance" to resolving the conflict. He said it would indicate the Irish government believes that "no Jewish person should reside or work in East Jerusalem or on the West Bank". "So this will be for the first time, a bill enacted by a European parliament which specifically targets Jews," he said. "We haven't had that since the end of the Nazi regime in 1945." Mr Harris told the same radio station that the Irish government can differentiate between a people and their government, and that the actions of the Israeli government are "despicable". "I deplore antisemitism, so does everybody in this country, but you know what, I take views of one of the highest courts in the world much more seriously." He referred to the ICJ opinion and said the EU is recognising that member states can enact domestic legislation in relation to it. "People in Ireland want to do everything we can to try and see a ceasefire, see humanitarian aid flow and see a two state solution," Mr Harris said. "There's nothing funny or humorous about genocide and there's nothing humorous or funny about children queuing in Gaza today for food and water who are at risk of being shot dead by the IDF. "There's a genocide happening in (Gaza), references to Father Ted and the likes, they might be humorous soundbites but there's nothing funny about the slaughter of children." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Journal
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Taoiseach calls Israel's 'humanitarian city' plan for Gaza a 'concentration camp idea'
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has described Israel's plan to move the population of Gaza into a restricted zone in the south of the territory as 'a concentration camp idea'. Israel has described the planned camp as a 'humanitarian city', but Martin's comparison echoed the opinion of former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who told The Guardian it would constitute a concentration camp. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz first unveiled the plan during a press briefing last week. It envisions building from scratch a closed zone in southern Gaza during a potential 60-day ceasefire. According to Katz, the area would initially house around 600,000 displaced people from southern Gaza and include four aid distribution sites managed by international organisations. The entire civilian population of Gaza – more than two million people – would eventually be relocated there under the plan. 'In our view, it's a war crime to attempt to do what Israel is going to attempt to do with population of Gaza,' Martin said this morning. He was responding to former minister for justice Alan Shatter's description of a proposed law that would ban trade in goods with illegal Israeli settlements as 'Nazi legislation', a comment the former Fine Gael TD made in an interview with Newstalk this morning. 'I think if he used that language, that's shocking,' Martin said of Shatter's comment. Advertisement 'What we've witnessed is the continuing collective punishment of the people of Gaza, and I think former minister Shatter should perhaps focus on that a bit more and not just completely dismiss the appalling murder and killing of innocent children and civilians in Gaza, which has shocked the world.' Martin added that 'the level of barbaric behaviour is something that genuinely has shocked people, and it should stop'. 'That war should stop.' Shatter is due to address the Committee of Foreign Affairs this afternoon representing the Ireland-Israel Association, when he will voice his opposition to the proposed legislation. Martin also referenced former prime minister Olmert's comments about the plan to push the people of Gaza into a concentration camp. Olmert told RTÉ's Morning Ireland today that the plan could constitute a war crime, 'something that is totally intolerable and unacceptable'. 'The argument that it will become a humanitarian camp is ridiculous,' Olmert said. 'Those who propose it say time and again that they're against any humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza, so altogether clearing a large part of the Gaza in order to make it available for resettling of Israeli settlements is something that may be interpreted as ethnic cleansing.' With reporting from AFP 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
