News

The government must immediately urge the US to rescind its sanction on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “UN Special Rapporteurs are independent experts charged with upholding human rights – Francesca Albanese is peerless when it comes to highlighting states’ obligations to protect the […]

If these children are not allowed to come to Ireland it will be a stain on this government that will never be erased The government should be moving heaven and earth to ensure 33 children from the West Bank can travel to Ireland with GAA Palestine next week, according to Social Democrats sports spokesperson Sinéad […]

It’s utterly unconscionable that the government has reduced the Occupied Territories Bill to a toothless shadow of itself by removing the ban on services, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “It’s deeply disappointing but perhaps unsurprising that there is no mention of banning services in the government’s limp iteration […]

Social Democrats senator Patricia Stephenson has called on the EU’s anti-fraud watchdog to launch an investigation into the Irish government’s failure to inspect flights into Shannon that may be facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. Senator Stephenson, who is the party’s spokesperson on foreign affairs, said: “There is credible evidence that military contractors and private […]

In the wake of the UK sanctioning two Israeli government ministers for inciting violence and violating human rights in Gaza, the EU must do the same, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “The EU response to the genocide in Gaza has been shameful. It has failed to suspend the […]

Social Democrats councillor Caroline Winstanley has welcomed the decision to drop Lockheed Martin – a major supplier of military hardware to Israel – as one of the sponsors of this year’s Bray Air Display. Cllr Winstanley, who represents Bray West, said: “In response to mounting public pressure, the organisers of the air show have done […]

The interception of the ‘Madleen’ charity vessel and arrest of its crew by Israeli forces represents another egregious breach of international law, according to Senator Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson, who is the Social Democrats’ spokesperson on foreign affairs, said: “I would like to commend the bravery and determination of the 12 peace activists who took […]

The government will have another opportunity to stop the Central Bank facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds after the Social Democrats announced plans to use its Dáil time to bring forward a cross-party motion on the issue, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan. “Last week, while decrying the situation in Gaza as […]

Ireland has a legal obligation under the Genocide Convention to do everything we can to stop genocide, according to Social Democrats Foreign Affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “It is shameful that the government is hiding behind vague legal advice when it comes to preventing the Central Bank from facilitating the sale of Israeli […]

The Dáil should sit next week to fast-track the Occupied Territories Bill, according to Senator Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson, who is the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, said: “We need to see this bill enacted as a matter of urgency, even if this means recalling the Dáil next week and delaying summer recess. “Almost six months […]