Latest news with #SimonHarris
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- General
- Irish Times
Ireland to lodge letter of objection to Israel over shots fired close Unifil patrol in south Lebanon
Ireland is to lodge a formal letter of objection with Israel after shots were fired in the vicinity of peacekeepers in south Lebanon. The incident came during a joint Irish United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon ( Unifil ) and Lebanese Armed Forces patrol close to the Blue Line, which separates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights, on Thursday. None of the Irish personnel – who were recently deployed to Unifil as part of the 126th Infantry Battalion – were injured in the incident. The Defence Forces said on Thursday that all personnel were reported to be safe and well, and that they continued to monitor the situation in south Lebanon. READ MORE Minister for Defence Simon Harris said he had been briefed by the incoming chief of staff Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy. He said just before midday, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had fired shots into the patrol area. It is understood the incident took place close to Yaroun village. He also confirmed that a formal letter of objection from Ireland would be lodged with Israel via the UN on Friday. 'Brigadier General Mulcahy provided me with a detailed briefing on the serious events that took place yesterday involving Irish Defence Force personnel in southern Lebanon,' Mr Harris said. 'It's clear to me that the actions of the IDF were reckless, intimidatory, totally unacceptable and a clear breach of the international rules surrounding peacekeeping. 'Brigadier General Mulcahy has assured me that all of our troops impacted are safe and well. They have been debriefed following the incident and patrols are continuing as normal today. 'I want to pay tribute to our personnel deployed with Unifil, who are operating in an increasingly volatile and tense environment. 'My officials in the Department of Defence will today formally lodge a protest letter over what happened yesterday and this will be communicated directly with Israel.' - PA
Powys County Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Ireland to lodge letter of objection to Israel over shots fired close to patrol
Ireland is to lodge a formal letter of objection with Israel after shots were fired in the vicinity of peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. The incident came during a joint Irish United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and Lebanese Armed Forces patrol close to the Blue Line on Thursday. None of the Irish personnel – who were recently deployed to Unifil as part of the 126th Infantry Battalion – were injured in the incident. Oglaigh na hEireann said on Thursday that all personnel were reported to be safe and well, and that they continued to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon. Irish Minister for Defence Simon Harris said he had been briefed by the incoming chief of staff Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy. He said just before midday, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had fired shots into the patrol area. He also confirmed that a formal letter of objection from Ireland would be lodged with Israel via the UN on Friday. 'Brigadier General Mulcahy provided me with a detailed briefing on the serious events that took place yesterday involving Irish Defence Force personnel in southern Lebanon,' Mr Harris said. 'It's clear to me that the actions of the IDF were reckless, intimidatory, totally unacceptable and a clear breach of the international rules surrounding peacekeeping. 'Brigadier General Mulcahy has assured me that all of our troops impacted are safe and well. They have been debriefed following the incident and patrols are continuing as normal today. 'I want to pay tribute to our personnel deployed with Unifil, who are operating in an increasingly volatile and tense environment. 'My officials in the Department of Defence will today formally lodge a protest letter over what happened yesterday and this will be communicated directly with Israel.'
Extra.ie
5 hours ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
Harris urges EU to stay focused on US negotiations
Tánaiste Simon Harris has said Europe must remain focused on securing a US trade deal after a New York court blocked Donald Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs. The Court of International Trade ruling came after several lawsuits arguing the US president had exceeded his authority, left American trade policy dependent on his whims and unleashed economic chaos. The White House immediately appealed the ruling by the US Court of International Trade. And late last night, a US appeals court temporarily reinstated Mr Trump's tariffs during the appeals process. Senior officials yesterday insisted the President will continue with the policy. In a statement – prior to the temporary reinstatement – Mr Harris did not go as far as welcoming the US court ruling but said that the Government has 'noted' the decision. US president Donald Trump. Pic:'I want to stress the position once again today that what is required now is for both sides, the EU and the US, to engage in calm and measured dialogue, and to do so in good faith,' he said. The Fine Gael leader highlighted concerns from businesses resulting from 'continuing uncertainty over tariffs'. 'We will continue to monitor the implications of the court decision in the US while keeping our main focus on the negotiations at hand,' Mr Harris said. Analysts have said that the end to tariffs should be celebrated across Europe as it will curtail Mr Trump's ability to follow through on threats of imposing a 50% tariff on EU goods – which are due to take effect on July 9. 'The easing of some tariffs could calm inflationary pressures and stabilise worrying growth prospects, particularly in China, which has borne the brunt of Trump's tariff policy, and we've seen a positive response in stock markets around the world,' Professor Joe Nellis, economic adviser to financial services firm Baker Tilly Ireland, said. Tánaiste Simon Harris. Pic: Leah Farrell/ But Prof. Nellis noted that the decision also 'clouds the global economy in even deeper uncertainty'. Andrew Thurston, a customs consultant who also works with Baker Tilly, echoed this sentiment. 'If the court ruling is upheld, we can expect to see fresh trade negotiations opening up. Yet, there will be no return to normality,' Mr Thurston said. The decision comes after Mr Trump said he will pause his threatened 50% tariffs on the EU until July 9, following a 'very nice call' with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. In April, Mr Trump announced a 20% tariff on EU goods being sold into the US. He later reduced that to 10% until July 9 to allow time for talks with Brussels on a potential deal. On Friday, the president claimed the talks were 'going nowhere' and said he was recommending the 50% tariff comeinto effect on June 1. He rowed back on the decision on Monday, claiming Ms von der Leyen called him asking for an extension to the date. Meanwhile, senior White House officials said yesterday they would immediately appeal and try to put a hold on the court order, insisting the President will continue with the policy. Peter Navarro, Mr Trump's trade chief, told Bloomberg: 'We think we have a strong case. Yes, we will immediately appeal and try to stay the ruling.' European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. Pic:He added that the US was still negotiating trade terms with countries, saying: 'These deals are going to happen.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the court's decision was an example of 'judicial over-reach' by the judges, adding that the tariffs were 'legally sound' and the judges had 'brazenly abused their judicial power'. The three judges were nominated to the court by three presidents: Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and Mr Trump. Lizzy Galbraith, senior political economist at UK fund manager Aberdeen, said: 'The ruling has significant implications for countries that were in trade negotiations with the US. Many are likely to wait for clarity on whether the block on tariffs is maintained before making big concessions. 'So, the ruling undercuts Trump's negotiating leverage. Even if the ruling is upheld, the adminitration will have alternative routes to implement tariffs. But these will be slower and more targeted, as opposed to the current sweeping approach.
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Ireland to lodge letter of objection to Israel over shots fired close to patrol
Ireland is to lodge a formal letter of objection with Israel after shots were fired in the vicinity of peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. The incident came during a joint Irish United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and Lebanese Armed Forces patrol close to the Blue Line on Thursday. Advertisement None of the Irish personnel – who were recently deployed to Unifil as part of the 126th Infantry Battalion – were injured in the incident. Óglaigh na hÉireann said on Thursday that all personnel were reported to be safe and well, and that they continued to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon. Irish and Maltese peacekeeping troops on patrol in Lebanon earlier this year (Niall Carson/PA) Minister for Defence Simon Harris said he had been briefed by the incoming chief of staff Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy. He said just before midday, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had fired shots into the patrol area. Advertisement He also confirmed that a formal letter of objection from Ireland would be lodged with Israel via the UN on Friday. 'Brigadier General Mulcahy provided me with a detailed briefing on the serious events that took place yesterday involving Irish Defence Force personnel in southern Lebanon,' Mr Harris said. 'It's clear to me that the actions of the IDF were reckless, intimidatory, totally unacceptable and a clear breach of the international rules surrounding peacekeeping. 'Brigadier General Mulcahy has assured me that all of our troops impacted are safe and well. They have been debriefed following the incident and patrols are continuing as normal today. Advertisement 'I want to pay tribute to our personnel deployed with Unifil, who are operating in an increasingly volatile and tense environment. 'My officials in the Department of Defence will today formally lodge a protest letter over what happened yesterday and this will be communicated directly with Israel.'
RTÉ News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Harris to receive briefing on safety of peacekeepers in Lebanon
The Tánaiste Simon Harris will receive a briefing later today from the new Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy, on the safety of Irish peacekeeping troops in south Lebanon. It follows yesterday's incident, in which a joint patrol of Irish blue helmets and Lebanese soldiers came under small arms fire. The Tánaiste has said the Israel Defence Forces are responsible for the shooting. The Defence Forces have 298 members deployed to south Lebanon in recent weeks to participate in a six-month tour of duty with the 126th Infantry Battalion. Yesterday, a joint patrol, involving Irish peacekeepers and Lebanese Armed Forces, were shot at near the village of Yaroun which had been heavily damaged by the IDF last year. Yaroun is roughly 10km from the main Irish military base, known as 2-45 or Camp Shamrock, which the Tánaiste visited in March of this year. Mr Harris, who is also Minister for Defence, said an IDF patrol in Israel was responsible for firing across the border - something he described as "utterly inappropriate, utterly unacceptable". He told RTÉ News: "This is the latest in a range of what I view as intimidatory behaviour by the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] towards peacekeepers, or as we saw recently, Irish diplomats too. So this is not acceptable." The Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon is expected to convey the Irish government's anger and concern at the shooting directly to the IDF. Later today, the Tánaiste Simon Harris will receive a briefing from the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy, on the safety of Irish peacekeeping troops in south Lebanon. It will be the first formal meeting between the two men. The former Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, has recently taken up the position of chair of the Brussels-based EU Military Committee.
