Richard Boyd Barrett: Why Ireland must impose sanctions on Israel
Richard Boyd Barrett challenged the Taoiseach in the Dáil over reports that Israeli forces fired rubber bullets at flotilla boats carrying Irish citizens and demanded that Ireland impose sanctions. He questioned why the government will vote against a sanctions bill tomorrow night despite allegations of genocide, apartheid and torture cited in the speech.
Richard Boyd Barrett outlines reports from flotilla organisers that Israeli forces are using rubber bullets on boats with Irish citizens aboard and warns of abductions at sea. He frames these actions as a direct threat to Irish nationals and demands urgent government action.
Mr Boyd Barrett criticises the government for not imposing any sanctions on Israel, asking what crime would trigger such measures. He references allegations of genocide, apartheid and UN findings about torture to underline the urgency of accountability.
The Taoiseach replies that EU-level unanimity is required for sanctions and describes efforts to seek suspension of the EU-Israel trade association agreement. The exchange highlights a political divide over whether Ireland can act independently or must wait for wider European consensus.
The intervention points to a looming vote on a sanctions bill and growing public pressure from flotilla organisers and other voices in Ireland. The clip captures both the parliamentary confrontation and the wider debate on government policy toward Israel.
Immediate allegation
Richard Boyd Barrett outlines reports from flotilla organisers that Israeli forces are using rubber bullets on boats with Irish citizens aboard and warns of abductions at sea. He frames these actions as a direct threat to Irish nationals and demands urgent government action.
Sanctions and accountability
Mr Boyd Barrett criticises the government for not imposing any sanctions on Israel, asking what crime would trigger such measures. He references allegations of genocide, apartheid and UN findings about torture to underline the urgency of accountability.
Government response and EU limits
The Taoiseach replies that EU-level unanimity is required for sanctions and describes efforts to seek suspension of the EU-Israel trade association agreement. The exchange highlights a political divide over whether Ireland can act independently or must wait for wider European consensus.
Political moment
The intervention points to a looming vote on a sanctions bill and growing public pressure from flotilla organisers and other voices in Ireland. The clip captures both the parliamentary confrontation and the wider debate on government policy toward Israel.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Paul Lawless
Paul Lawless: Evictions Rise, Working Families Turn Homeless
Richard O'Donoghue
Richard O'Donoghue: Blaming taxes and inflation for the housing crisis
James Browne
James Browne: Supply, not rent freezes, will fix housing
Peter Roche
Peter Roche: Where are the wind energy guidelines?
Richard O'Donoghue
Richard O'Donoghue: Hedges, Wildlife and Human Safety
Danny Healy-Rae
Danny Healy-Rae: Urgent plea over Kerry sewage crisis
Transcript
Taoiseach, as I said to you earlier on, I'm getting reports from the flotilla organisers that Israel is shooting rubber bullets at boats that there are Irish citizens on who haven't yet been kidnapped by this rogue regime. Now there would be uproar if Russia kidnapped people on the open seas for example. We know there were sanctions immediately, they invaded Ukraine, there would be outrage and yet this government hasn't imposed a single sanction on the state of Israel despite genocide, apartheid and now the seizure again of Irish citizens and this is a regime that tortures people according to the UN special rapporteur and widespread reports. So grave concerns for our citizens. What crime does Israel have to commit before we will impose sanctions? Why is your government going to vote against the sanctions bill tomorrow night when the flotilla organisers and I would say the majority of people in this country are saying you should impose sanctions on this state for the crimes it's committed. Thank you. You know that the European sanctions against Russia are European, not individual member states. Same applies to Israel but we haven't been able to get its unanimity at European Union level in respect of Israel. You know that yet you just present a false picture and by the way Russia did kidnap thousands and thousands of children. No I know but you've never bought a billion about that or about anything right but just make the point. I agree what has happened is unacceptable, everybody does. The problem is we've never been in the position, we're now seeking to try and get the Israeli-EU trade association agreement suspended. There's more states coming in terms of supportive of the Spanish and Irish position which we advanced, you know damn well we advanced it. You keep interrupting, we advanced it two and a half years ago, you know we did and yet you just keep on making false assertions about this government's approach to this. I don't think that's fair either.