5 days ago
'Vast majority of people disgusted' with Government putting money ahead of Gaza's children
The Government is putting its cheque book ahead of helping the children of Gaza, actor Liam Cunningham has said.
Anyone who would compare the socioeconomic health of Ireland to the dismemberment of children has lost their humanity, he said.
It is the very least we can do to stop doing business with Israel, and to pass the Occupied Territories Bill without including services is a waste of time, "it's just tinsel", the activist said.
Speaking at a People Before Profit event, Mr Cunningham said: "The vast majority of people are disgusted with what is going on, disgusted with our neutrality being diluted, and the people in power that we entrusted with the health of our democracy are siding with war mongers.
"I do not want to see this country that I adore being sold down the Swanee so the boys across the road can have their jobs with whatever commission or whatever when they are finally extricated from government."
Mr Cunningham criticised the Government for voting down Sinn Féin's Israeli war bonds bill saying: "You saw in practical terms exactly what happened when the Government shut down the bill. The following day, the Israelis opened fire on Irish troops."
Actor Liam Cunningham has been involved in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which set off from Sicily on Sunday and is hoping to reach Gaza on June 7. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos.
The Game of Thrones star has been involved in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which set off from Sicily on Sunday and is hoping to reach Gaza on June 7. It marks the group's second attempt to bring aid to the region after another vessel was bombed by drones last month.
It is bringing aid which Mr Cunningham said Israel will not allow into Gaza including crutches, antibiotics, baby formula and even a 3D-printed prosthetic baby's arm.
While the people involved in the Freedom Flotilla are remarkable, Mr Cunningham said they should not be the ones charged with bringing aid to the people of Gaza. He said that if Ireland was "doing our job properly" there would be an Irish naval vessel carrying the humanitarian aid.
Mr Cunningham attended the event which saw People Before Profit urge people to join a demonstration on June 14 to call on the Government to retain the triple lock.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said the Government saw an opportunity in Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine to go after neutrality in a full-fronted way.
"We are in an almighty fight to defend our neutrality and we do not think it is a lost fight," said Mr Murphy. "We do not think it is a guarantee that the Government will get through their legislation to get rid of the triple lock."
He added that public opinion is massively on the side of retaining the triple lock.
