News

The thousands of peaceful protestors arrested and charged for supporting Palestine Action must have their names cleared after the group’s victory in the High Court, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson Senator Stephenson said: “Palestine Action should never have been proscribed as a terrorist group in the first place – the court’s […]

UEFA must read the room and ban Israel from taking part in its competitions, according to Social Democrats sports spokesperson Sinéad Gibney and foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Deputy Gibney said: “Our national team players, elite athletes at the pinnacle of their career, have been put in a very difficult position after they were drawn […]

Ireland is failing its responsibilities to uphold international law by refusing to progress the Occupied Territories Bill, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “On Tuesday, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said that new measures to expand the country’s control of the occupied West Bank in Palestine amounts to ‘de […]

Reports that ICE deportation flights carrying Palestinians to Isreal are using Shannon Airport to refuel are deeply disturbing, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Details of these deportations describe Palestinians as having their ankles shackled as they are flown across the world to be abandoned in an apartheid state. […]

The government is acting as if there is a ceasefire in Gaza despite Israel’s ongoing killing of innocent Palestinians, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Israel continues to murder with impunity while European leaders talk about the progress of the Gaza peace agreement. “There is no peace; last night, […]

The Minister for Foreign Affairs should contact the British Ambassador to Ireland to raise concerns about the plight of detained Palestine Action activists in the UK, according to Social Democrats Foreign Affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “I am deeply concerned about the ongoing hunger strike involving the Filton 24 in England, who are […]

Confirmation today that the government intends omitting services from the Occupied Territories Bill is shocking but not surprising, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Minister of State Thomas Byrne let the cat out of the bag in an interview today when he confirmed services would be omitted from the […]

Allowing Israel to participate in Eurovision 2026 is an abhorrent decision by the European Broadcasting Union, according to Social Democrats media spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “RTÉ is to be commended for following up on its commitment to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel was allowed to take part. “It is outrageous […]

The government must immediately respond to weekend reports that it is set to abandon plans to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Yesterday’s report in the Irish Mail on Sunday is deeply concerning. Quoting unnamed Cabinet sources, it suggests the government is set to […]

It is abhorrent that Gazans have already been shot dead by Israeli forces just two days after committing to a ceasefire, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “This morning, five people were killed in the Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City – the Israeli Defence Forces couldn’t even go 48 […]