Pringle calls for meaningful actions against genocide, not ‘weasel words’
- Updated: 7th November 2024
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has pressed the government for meaningful action to support the people of Palestine, as he called for Shannon Airport to be closed to US military aircraft and other measures to stop the Genocide.
Addressing the Dáil today, Deputy Pringle said: “This is an incredibly important issue for the Irish people. The marches, vigils and protests calling for a ceasefire that we’ve seen across the country over this past year have shown, once again, that the people are ahead of the Government.
“We have been shown this week through the FOI from The Ditch, which the mainstream media try to ignore, that this government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens is more interested in appeasing the Americans than in listening to the voices of the hundreds of thousands of Irish people.
“It’s plain to see that you are interested in being seen to be doing the minimum to try and keep the Irish people happy and not piss off the yanks, which, it is clear, is the real concern of this government.
“We are treated to the weasel words from the government to say they are doing all they can,” he said.
The deputy was speaking in support of the Social Democrats’ Motion regarding Genocide in Gaza.
Deputy Pringle said: “Hospitals in Gaza continue to be attacked and journalists, healthcare and humanitarian workers continue to work under life-threatening conditions.
“A month ago, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that more than 43,000 Palestinians, including 16,000 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks and thousands more are buried under rubble and threatened by illness. And that number is most definitely significantly higher now.
“Every day brings new atrocities.
“The Palestinian people must feel completely abandoned by the European Union and the international community. And they’re right – they have been.
“When Ireland recognised the state of Palestine earlier this year, I said it would be an empty gesture without action. We are still waiting to see any meaningful action.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have refused to pass the Occupied Territories Bill which I had restored to the Dáil order paper last term. This government had every opportunity to pass this bill and they didn’t.
“The future government must ensure that this bill is passed and that our airports and airspace are not used to transport arms.
“We must close Shannon Airport to the US military by banning US military aircraft from landing at the airport.
“Ireland needs to take a meaningful stand against America’s facilitation of Israel’s genocide against Palestine. In terms of meaningful actions that Ireland can take to support the people of Palestine, this is by far the most important.
“It is well beyond time to take that action and ensure that Ireland plays no part in aiding Israel’s apartheid regime,” he said.
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