Results 41-60 of 209 for israel speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I have looked into that. The advice is as follows. Ireland is party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, as are Israel and Palestine. All contracting parties to the convention undertake to prevent and punish genocide. If a party to the convention considers that another party is failing to meet its obligations, the injured party should initiate a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...that would stop the killing in Gaza. I do not think that is a fair comment, if that is what the Deputy meant. It is almost trying to blame the Irish Government and the Irish people for the actions of Israel and-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...do not think anyone could find the current situation to be anything more than unbearable, quite frankly, to see thousands of people being killed and thousands of children losing their lives. While Israel has the right to defend itself, the actions it has taken, in my view and that of the Government, are disproportionate and will ultimately be counterproductive. We know from history that...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...and rising Islamophobia. From the Irish Government's point of view, we very much welcome the ceasefire in Gaza. It has facilitated the release of hostages taken by Hamas and prisoners taken by Israel, many of whom are teenage boys, in some cases subject to administrative detention for throwing stones. It has also allowed humanitarian aid and supplies into the territory, which is really...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...and it has facilitated the release of hostages and prisoners and allowed aid to get into Gaza. We did not talk about the medium or long term. On the other matter, I spoke to our ambassador to Israel last night. She was one of a number of EU ambassadors summoned. I assure the Deputy that she was able to both explain and defend the position of the Irish Government on all of these matters.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...We also discussed the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, the urgent need for a ceasefire and the importance of EU partners working together to bring about a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, based on a two-state solution. France and Ireland will continue to work closely on these and other issues, both within the EU and at the UN. Following our...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...means something else and to other people it means something else again. That is one reason it would not be a good idea to put something like that in the Constitution. On the latest motion on Israel, it is very clear in the Government's countermotion that we refer to Hamas in one paragraph and refer to Israel very clearly in another paragraph. In fact we use the term "deplores" in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy very much. I join the House in welcoming the news that there will be a four-day ceasefire in Gaza, to be observed by all sides: Israel, Hamas and the other armed groups in the territory. I recognise the role of the US Government and the Qatari Government in mediating this welcome ceasefire. The ceasefire will facilitate the release of 50 hostages being held by...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (21 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...regard to Irish citizens who are in Gaza, almost all who want to leave and their dependants are now out, or at least the majority are. We are working on a few further cases. We engage with the Israeli, Egyptian and Jordanian authorities, and others, on this. I know there are people who want us to expel the Israeli ambassador. Being able to talk to the Israeli ambassador at least gave...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I outlined our position on this only in the last hour. We have very strict rules in relation to the use of Shannon. There are no flights going from the US through Shannon to Israel. There are troops being carried to US bases and anybody carrying munitions needs permission and a licence.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to Shannon, the US does not fly planes through Shannon to Israel. It does bring some of its troops to service people through to bases in Europe and other parts of the world, and has done that for a very long time. I have set out the rules in relation to the use of Shannon Airport for transit. I think that has happened to the Palestinian people for the past 75 years is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...we will call on the House to deeply deplore the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the death of more than 11,000 people, almost half of whom were children, as a consequence of Israel's military actions in Gaza, condemn the barbaric acts on 7 October by Hamas in Israel and specifically condemn the killing of children and civilians. We will raise our very deep concerns...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...and to which we have provided additional funding as a meaningful action, precisely so that it can carry out the investigation it wants to carry out into activities in the occupied territories, by Israel, of course, but also by other militant groups, like Hamas, that may also have committed war crimes. That is the work the court is doing and we should support it in that work. It is why we...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...calling for the hostages to be released and we believe a ceasefire can facilitate that. We are calling for the killing to stop, and that is why a ceasefire must be adhered to by all sides, not just by Israel but also by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the other armed groups involved in this conflict. A ceasefire can create the space, perhaps, to begin contacts about the day after and about how...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I have explained earlier on a number of occasions the Government's position on the ICC and also about the need to keep diplomatic relations open with Israel through its embassador. Deputy Alan Farrell spoke about what we can do at an EU level. It is fair to say that the European Union is not united when it comes to the conflict in Israel and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...often at great risk to their personnel. UNRWA alone has seen just under 100 of its employees killed and many of its clinics and schools, including those sheltering civilians, damaged and destroyed by the Israel Defense Forces. It is, however, committed to staying there to help the civilian population as best it can. As the House is aware, large numbers of civilians are being...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...my deep concern about what is happening around Al-Shifa Hospital at the moment. I was encouraged to hear President Biden in particular speaking on this issue. We maintain diplomatic contacts with Israel for a number of reasons. Diplomatic relations do not, of course, mean that we are necessarily friends or allies. However, it does mean that we talk and can at least deal with each...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...We can do that. For far too long, we have provided aid to the Palestinians without requiring that they embrace democracy and human rights and end terrorism. For far too long, we have traded with Israel without expecting it to respect human rights and to provide Palestinians with the state they deserve. There is an opportunity for us to play a role in making sure the European Union has a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...the list in the coming days. We are working really hard to make sure all Irish citizens and their dependants in Gaza who want to leave are able to do so in the next couple of days. I have met the Israeli ambassador, the Egyptian foreign minister and the Palestinian Prime Minister about this, and the Tánaiste has been carrying out meetings as well. I recognise all those who have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I agree with the call for a ceasefire for reasons I have outlined in the past. If there is a ceasefire, it is important it be honoured by all sides, including Israel, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other protagonists in this conflict. It would allow aid to get in, citizens of this and other countries to get out and perhaps for peace talks to begin. In relation to the International Criminal...