It has not been a good week. The Israeli destruction of Gaza and its apparent indifference to the value of Palestinian lives – especially children – has continued apace. In the brutal arithmetic of this war, how many Palestinians will die before Israel feels it has achieved the aims it set out following the murder of 1,200 of its citizens, namely the destruction of Hamas and the release of all Israeli hostages.
Political division can run very deep in Ireland but there has been a great deal of convergence in the stance, and approach, of the main political parties to what is happening in Gaza.
It’s almost beyond belief that so many of the EU 27 leaders have remained silent in the face of the carnage and monstrous slaughter we have witnessed.
Leo Varadkar travels to Brussels tomorrow for the December summit, as one of only four prime ministers who has signed a letter calling for a ceasefire. The indolent response of the EU to a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding close to its southern shores is in marked contrast to the response to the invasion of Ukraine.
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It has led to accusations of double standards. There are not too many Irish people who would disagree with President Michael D Higgins when he said that European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen had been reckless in her actions and did “not speak for Ireland”.
TDs, MEPs and Senators from Irish political parties who are strongly pro-EU in their stance have said publicly and privately they find it hard to recognise the values of the EU in the stance adopted by its leadership towards the conflict.
Even US president Joe Biden, who has staunchly defended the Israeli onslaught, has been moved to criticise the nature of its offensive in Gaza. Speaking in Washington yesterday that Israel had the support of the US and the EU but was “starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that is taking place”.
He described the Government as the “most conservative” in Israel’s history and said it didn’t want anything remotely like a two-state solution.
Still there have been glimmers of hope. Last night, the general assembly of the UN resoundingly backed a vote in favour of an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Some 153 countries supported the vote with only 10 opposing. It followed the reverse in the Security Council earlier in the week when the US vetoed a similar motion.
Martin Wall and Mark Weiss report on the vote, as well as the latest grim news from Gaza.
It came as pro-Palestinian protesters had to be physically removed from the gates of the US ambassador’s residence in the Phoenix Park last night.
Deal approved at Cop28
The Cop28 climate summit on Wednesday approved a deal that would, for the first time, push nations to transition away from fossil fuels to avert the worst effects of climate change.
Melanie Robinson, global climate programme director with the World Resources Institute, said: “This text makes a clear call for the world to transition away from fossil fuels and accelerate action this decade. This would dramatically move the needle in the fight against climate change and overcome immense pressure from oil and gas interests.”
It comes after a difficult couple of weeks in Dubai where the optics of holding a climate summit in a petro-state were not helped when it emerged some 2,500 representatives from the fossil fuel industry were registered.
On Monday, the president of Cop28, Sultan Al Jaber, released a proposed text which had incredibly weak language on fossil fuels. However, this morning he hailed the revised deal approved by almost 200 countries as a “historic package” of measures which offered a “robust plan” to keep the target of 1.5 degrees within reach.
Our Environment Editor Kevin O’Sullivan has been in Dubai for the summit and reported that a concerted effort by the EU along with a number of climate vulnerable countries was gathering momentum yesterday in an effort to secure a stronger outcome.
New rules for new Ukrainian refugees
As Cormac McQuinn and Pat Leahy have been reporting the Government has introduced new measures that will see a substantial reduction (from circa €220, to €38, per week) in the financial assistance newly arriving temporary refugees will get. They will also be asked to move on from the State-provided accommodation after three months.
The change has been prompted by the scramble to find any form of accommodation for the high numbers arriving in, in addition to new data which showed a third of new arrivals have come from other European countries rather than directly from Ukraine. That led to a view that some were coming because Ireland was offering more generous support. Pat Leahy’s analysis is here.
It’s been a busier week internationally for the Government than domestically. Micheál Martin was in Brussels on Monday. He travels to London today to meet the new foreign secretary, and former prime minister (they will have a lot in common), David Cameron.
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Playbook
There is a raft of legislation as the rush to get Bills through before Christmas . Expect a number of guillotines this week.
One unusual Bill before the Dáil will allow the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) to change its constitution.
The RHA is the leading body for artists in Ireland. Founded in 1826, it has run a celebrated open exhibition featuring for almost 100 years where thousands of artists submit work that is judged by a seven-person committee. Its gallery is located on Ely Place in Dublin city centre.
Because it was founded by royal charter, like other ‘royal’ institutions and bodies, there was no ready mechanism available in post-independence Ireland to update or amend its charter. Before the State was established, such charters could be updated with approval of the Privy Council, the body which formally advises the king on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative.
Unlike the constitution of bodies created since the foundation of the State, the government or its ministers do not have the power to allow changes to the charter under regulation or an order.
The only way such charters can be updated is by the enactment of a new law. The mechanism employed by the Oireachtas allows the body to apply for a Private Bill.
A special joint committee was formed last month, chaired by Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward, composed of members of the Dáil and the Seanad.
The RHA wants to increase its membership from 30 to 55, to reflect “the growing population of younger artists in Ireland”.
It also wants to create a new position of “Keeper” who will be charged with having the care of its works of art and its property.
It will also update an out-of-date yearly value of £1,000 on the value of assets that can be purchased by, or given to, the RHA.
Another arcane provision is that one of the qualifying professions is that of “engraver”. That is proposed to be replaced by the profession of printmakers.
Another update will allow meetings to be held outside Dublin. At present the charter provides that meetings are held within ten miles of the capital.
There are an estimated 30 bodies in the State which still retain a “royal” charter.
Dáil
9.58am: Private Members’ Business (Independent Group): Motion re Increased Fossil Fuel Divestment
12pm: Leaders’ Questions
1.04pm: Bills for Introduction: Criminal Justice (Promotion of Restorative Justice) (Amendment) Bill 2023 – First Stage
1.10pm: SOS
2.10pm: Digital Services Bill 2023 – Second Stage. (Department of Enterprise)
5.51pm: Private Business: The Royal Hibernian Academy (Amendment of Charter) Bill 2023. Second and remaining Stages
6.51pm: Appropriation Bill 2023 – Committee and remaining Stages (Department of Public Expenditure)
7.36pm: Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 – Report and Final Stages
8.21pm: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 – Report and Final Stages (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)
10.30pm: Deferred Divisions: Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) (No. 2) Bill 2023 – Bill 86 of 23 – Second Stage (Amendment)
11pm: Dáil adjourns
Seanad
1.15pm: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 – Committee Stage (Department of Justice)
3.15pm: Finance Bill 2023 – Report and Final Stages (Department of Finance)
5.15pm: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 – Committee and Remaining Stages (Department of Social Protection)
5.15pm: Motion without debate: Motion regarding the earlier signature of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023
8.30pm: Seanad adjourns
Committees
Some interesting committee meetings in store today and expect sparks to fly. The Football Association of Ireland is before the Tourism and Sports Committee. The main topic will be the top-up paid to Jonathan Hill’s salary.
Gavin Cummiskey gave a preview of what to expect in the committee when he reported from the FAI agm on Saturday. Outgoing chairman Roy Barrett refused to apologise for paying Hill €20,500 to cover commuting costs and cash for holidays not taken.
The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council will be in with the Budgetary Oversight Committee to discuss its sharp criticism of the Government’s October budget.
9.30am: Enterprise – Engagement on the issue of shoplifting and how it is affecting retailers
9.30am: Health – Issues related to cardiovascular health, stroke and heart attack
10am: Tourism, Culture, Arts and Sports – Football Association of Ireland’s Facility Investment Vision and Strategy, and governance issues
5.30pm: Committee on Budgetary Oversight – Representatives from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council
