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Conflict in Gaza continues to dominate politics in Ireland

Inside Politics: In China, Micheál Martin takes press questions on situation faced by eight-year-old hostage Emily Hand

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said Ireland had spoken to “all the key interlocutors” in the region about Emily’s situation. File photograph: Collins Dublin

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Pat Leahy
Tue Nov 7 2023 - 07:38

The ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel continues to overshadow politics here and everywhere, as the assault on Hamas in the enclave continues and the humanitarian crisis there worsens. Five thousand miles away in China, where Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin is making an official visit, the fate of Emily Hand, an eight-year-old Irish-Israeli girl previously thought killed in the Hamas attacks, was high on the agenda when the Tánaiste faced reporters.

Mr Martin was cautious about commenting on the fate of Emily, whose family has been told by the Israeli Defence Forces that they believe she was not killed by Hamas on October 7th but has been taken hostage into Gaza.

Speaking in Beijing at the start of a four-day visit to China, Mr Martin said Ireland had spoken to “all the key interlocutors” in the region about Emily’s situation.

“We were made aware of the situation in respect of Emily, and our ambassador in Israel has been in touch with the family. It’s very sensitive. That’s why we haven’t commented all along. Because in situations like this, one has to have, in this case, young Emily’s wellbeing uppermost in how we deal with this,” he told our Beijing correspondent, Denis Staunton.

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“We know there have been discussions between the US and others around the hostage situation and key ministers in the neighbourhood, key countries in the neighbourhood. We’ve made key ministers aware of Emily’s situation.”

The Tánaiste declined to say if any of the interlocutors he spoke to were in direct contact with Hamas. But he did emphasise the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels – a not too subtle dig at Sinn Féin, which wants to see the Israeli ambassador expelled.

Sinn Féin says it won’t invite the ambassador, Dana Erlich, to its ardfheis this weekend. The Fine Gael Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said yesterday she would have no problem with Ms Erlich attending the Fine Gael ardfheis, which takes place the week after.

Ms Erlich, along with dozens of other diplomatic representatives, was at the Fianna Fáil event last weekend.

Former diplomat Bobby McDonagh also weighs in on the question of expelling the ambassador.

Meanwhile, Sarah Burns has an interview with Ibrahim Alagha, an Irish Palestinian man who is stuck in Khan Yunis with his family, which makes our lead story today.

A motion at Dublin City Council to fly the Palestinian flag didn’t meet the threshold for approval last night.

And a group of Irish university staff have written to The Irish Times distancing themselves from a letter written by fellow academics calling for a boycott of Israeli universities, and expressed disappointment that the latter group’s letter did not call for the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Latest news this morning updated throughout the day.

The Cabinet gathers this morning for its weekly meeting at Government Buildings but in absence of the Tánaiste, nothing especially controversial or divisive – such as the proposals on changing the conditions for Ukrainian refugees – is expected to be on the agenda. The Minister for Education Norma Foley will bring forward proposals flagged at the weekend for guidelines on smartphones in schools, though these will be optional. Harry McGee has the details on the rest of the agenda – including a new fodder support scheme for farmers, a bid to host the new EU anti-money laundering agency and plans for a “private act” of the Oireachtas to change the charter of the Royal Hibernian Academy.

Harry also reports that a bust of David Trimble will be unveiled in Leinster House, and there are plans for a replica in Westminster. Trimble was at home in London and regarded the Republic for a long time with suspicion and hostility. But you make peace with your enemies, not your friends, and he was a great peacemaker.

The indefatigable McGee also reports that Fine Gael Dublin MEP Frances Fitzgerald will step down next year. The scramble for the FG nomination has already started.

Best reads

Donald Trump is in court again in New York and is getting scolded by the judge

Fintan O’Toole writes in praise of the Government’s stance on Gaza

Also on page one this morning, Jack Power has news of a nursing home group in crisis

Dublin Port running out of capacity, Government is told

Playbook

Cabinet this morning, followed by Dáil business at 2pm. Leaders’ Questions will be followed by the order of business for the week, Taoiseach’s oral questions and, later, questions to Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman, who will surely be asked about the frequently flagged changes to conditions for Ukrainian refugees. Sinn Féin will seek to keep its focus on housing, with a motion in private members’ time.

Over in the Seanad there’s a private members’ Bill sponsored by Fianna Fáil senators Malcolm Byrne, Erin McGeehan and Mary Fitzpatrick which would lower the voting age for local and European elections to 16. It would be a surprise to see this become law before next summer’s contests, to put it mildly.

It’s a busy day at the committees with a series of hearings on several meaty subjects, including mental heath care for migrants, early childhood care issues, consent at third level and the committee stages of the Finance Bill. But most attention will probably focus on the appearance of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris at the justice committee. Full details of all the day’s schedule at Leinster House is here.

Busy day too at Westminster where the State Opening of Parliament will be performed by King Charles for the first time as King, where he will deliver – yes, the King’s Speech. Much frippery and folderol will ensue, with a central role played by a man called Black Rod. And Jerry Buttimer, the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, will attend for the first time as the guest of the Lord Speaker.

“My presence at Westminster today as the first elected office-holder from the Oireachtas to attend the King’s Speech is another milestone in the important friendship between our two countries and the strong relationship between our parliaments,” said a statement from the Cathaoirleach’s Office, modestly. Say hi to Black Rod for us.