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Omission of services from draft Occupied Territories Bill shows government lacks conviction

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 […]

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EU’s anti-fraud watchdog must investigate government’s failure to inspect Shannon flights

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 […]

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EU must impose sanctions on Israeli government ministers

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 […]

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Senator Patricia Stephenson condemns arrest of ‘Madleen’ crew by Israel

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 […]

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Government inaction on Gaza highlights the hollowness of its words

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 […]

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Completely unacceptable for Israeli Defence Forces to fire on Irish diplomats

It’s beyond outrageous that the Israeli Defence Forces has fired on a peaceful European Union delegation in the West Bank, which included two Irish diplomats, according to Social Democrats Foreign Affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Irish lives were put in danger today, marking a clear escalation from the IDF and its unwillingness to […]

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Hardening of EU attitudes towards Israel’s atrocities will not avert humanitarian catastrophe

The European Union’s belated decision to review its trade agreement with Israel, while welcome, will not come soon enough to stave off the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, according to Social Democrats senator Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson, who is the party’s spokesperson on foreign affairs and trade, said: “With dire warnings from the UN that […]

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