Richard Boyd Barrett: Accuses government of blocking Occupied Bill
Richard Boyd Barrett accused the government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, of blocking the Occupied Territories Bill since 2018 and said this has allowed Israel impunity for crimes against Palestinians. He said the government is using legal excuses and kowtowing to the US after the US ambassador reportedly contacted him about 90 minutes before an announcement that the bill would only be reviewed.
He said the Occupied Territories Bill has been obstructed since 2018 by the government and argued that the delay has enabled ongoing impunity. Barrett criticised officials for citing legal and procedural reasons while protesters continue to call for sanctions against Israel amid allegations of genocide.
Barrett said he received contact from the US ambassador shortly before a public announcement that the bill would be subject to review rather than passage, and accused the government of being influenced by warnings of consequences. He also cautioned colleagues about naming an ambassador in the House when that person is not present to defend themselves.
He welcomed the appointment of the first ever ambassador from Palestine to Ireland, saying the Palestinian authorities were pleased by the development. Barrett dismissed criticism of that appointment and described it as an important moment for the Palestinian Authority.
He said the Foreign Affairs Committee planned to consider the matter, with the minister for foreign affairs and the bill sponsor expected to brief the committee. Barrett praised Senator Francis Black for leadership on the issue and argued legislation must be drafted to withstand challenges in European courts - not fall at the first hurdle.
Separately, Barrett addressed Garda numbers and recruitment, saying a training centre has been reopened and that recruits are now graduating regularly from the Garda college every 12 weeks. He indicated the government will continue work to increase Garda capacity.
Blocked legislation and sanctions debate
He said the Occupied Territories Bill has been obstructed since 2018 by the government and argued that the delay has enabled ongoing impunity. Barrett criticised officials for citing legal and procedural reasons while protesters continue to call for sanctions against Israel amid allegations of genocide.
Allegation of US pressure
Barrett said he received contact from the US ambassador shortly before a public announcement that the bill would be subject to review rather than passage, and accused the government of being influenced by warnings of consequences. He also cautioned colleagues about naming an ambassador in the House when that person is not present to defend themselves.
Diplomatic recognition noted
He welcomed the appointment of the first ever ambassador from Palestine to Ireland, saying the Palestinian authorities were pleased by the development. Barrett dismissed criticism of that appointment and described it as an important moment for the Palestinian Authority.
Committee process and legal concerns
He said the Foreign Affairs Committee planned to consider the matter, with the minister for foreign affairs and the bill sponsor expected to brief the committee. Barrett praised Senator Francis Black for leadership on the issue and argued legislation must be drafted to withstand challenges in European courts - not fall at the first hurdle.
Garda recruitment and training centre
Separately, Barrett addressed Garda numbers and recruitment, saying a training centre has been reopened and that recruits are now graduating regularly from the Garda college every 12 weeks. He indicated the government will continue work to increase Garda capacity.
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Transcript
The government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, have blocked the Occupied Territories Bill since 2018, putting a money message in its way, allowing Israel impunity for the crimes that they had been committing for years against the Palestinians. Now a year of genocide and the government still finding legal excuses for saying they can't do anything about the Occupied Territories Bill until after the election. And now we have the revelation of the real explanation from the ditch that the US ambassador contacted me on mark 90 minutes before he announced that there was only going to be a review of the Occupied Territories Bill rather than its passage based on consequences, the warning of consequences. Sorry, excuse me. I don't think anybody in the House should name the ambassador, the United States ambassador in the House in the manner in which he has been named. You can go online. You can go online. It's online. It's been published. We are not online here. It's published. It's published. Well, it's not appropriate to make allegations. The rest of the country will be discussing it. It's not appropriate. But we can't discuss it. You can discuss all you like. It's not appropriate to make allegations against the ambassador from any country or anybody else who's not here to defend themselves. Well, this Saturday there will be tens of thousands again out in the streets calling for this government to finally impose sanctions. But the truth is the government are using excuses because they are kowtowing to the US government to prevent actual sanctions being imposed on Israel for genocide. For genocide. Thank you very much, Kean Corla. Firstly, I should remind the House or inform the House that today the government appointed the first ever ambassador from Palestine to Ireland. I think that's an important moment. I wouldn't tut-tut about that. I think it's something seen as very important by the Palestinian Authority. If you want to tut-tut about that, Deputy Pringle, that's on you. But I think the ambassador is very pleased to have been appointed, as is the president of Palestine and the prime minister of Palestine and the government of Palestine. So that's the first point to make. Second point is this. It's my understanding, Kean Corla, that this matter will be discussed at the Iraq, this foreign affairs committee today. My understanding is that the Taunashtown minister for foreign affairs is attending that committee. My understanding is with the agreement of the chair and the sponsor of the bill. Senator Francis Black, I do want to acknowledge, has shown huge leadership on this and very constructive engagement, by the way, and engaged intensively with the Taunashtown on this. I thank her for that. My understanding is both the senator and the Taunashtown and the Taunashtown's officials, including the legal advisor to his department, will present to the committee this evening in relation to the legislation. I think that is quite important. Deputy Pringle is right on this, that I certainly don't speak for the entire door, but I get the sense that there is now a consensus across government and opposition that we would like to see legislation passed in relation to this. But we'd also like to see legislation passed that isn't going to fall at the first hurdle, that isn't going to fall in the European courts, that isn't going to fall, we have to get this legislation correct, and I think the appropriate way to proceed, Kean Corla, is for the Foreign Affairs Committee, where the bill will be at, to consider this issue this evening, to be briefed by the line minister and the sponsor of the bill, to receive presentations from both, and then for that committee to advise us on how to proceed. In relation to Deputy Nocton, I can certainly... I can only account to this house what I have been informed, and I have been informed what I have relayed to this house by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, that is my information, that is all I can relate to this house. In relation to Deputy Nocton, I can discuss that with the minister, but we're not proposing making time available is the truth, because we have a lot of legislation we want to get through in the remaining days of this door, but I will ask that the minister engage with you on the matter, and I note your views as well. In relation to the issue of Garda numbers, Deputy McGrath appreciates the issue of Garda numbers is an important issue, that's why we've reopened Tempo more, it's why we've seen Tempo more now full of capacity, it's why we see more Garda recruits coming out in your own county, from the Garda college every 12 weeks, every 12 weeks, and the government will continue its work in that area.