No end to sharp Dáil divisions over stance on Gaza bombardment

Good morning.

For the second day in a row since the Dáil returned from its mid-term break, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar faced questions in the Dáil about the Government’s stance on Gaza yesterday. For weeks before the break, he faced similar questions. It is rare that an issue so grips the attention and imagination of our parliament.

There is support for the Palestinians and condemnation of the ferocity of Israel’s retaliatory assault on Gaza across all parties, but it is especially intense in Sinn Féin and People Before Profit, while the Government strives to maintain the more even-handed approach of the EU.

Last night, People Before Profit asked left wing parties and TDs in the Opposition to co-sign a motion calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, referral of the Israeli prime minister, government ministers, military leaders, and officials to the International Criminal Court, and to push for sanctions against Israel. There is no mention of the Hamas attacks, or the Israeli hostages held in Gaza. It will be interesting to see if Sinn Féin insists on amendments in this regard.

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Meanwhile, the Oireachtas Friends of Israel group met with the Israeli ambassador at the Shelbourne Hotel. Jack Horgan-Jones has the story. But will Israel listen to its friends?

The Taoiseach has continued to reject calls from Sinn Féin and other Opposition TDs to expel the ambassador and initiate sanctions against Israel.

“While expelling the ambassador might make us feel better for a day or two, and it might be a story in the international news for a day or two, it would not actually have an impact on Israel’s policy, not for a second,” he told Paul Murphy of PBP. “The Deputy is a bit naive if he actually thinks that,” as Sarah Burns’ reports from the Dáil.

Thursday morning’s news update from the Israel Hamas conflict is here - Israel considers three-day pause if hostages are released - and you can follow all developments here.

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Intriguingly, while the Government has continued to call for the release of the hostages, and PBP and Sinn Féin demand the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, Danny Healy-Rae had a different idea. “Make sure that she does not go back home until our people come home safe,” he said.

Was this . . . a call to take her hostage?

Later, he elaborated on this daring plan. “There is a request being made continuously that the Israeli ambassador be sent home. I have a different viewpoint. I ask that this Israeli ambassador be seen after here and be kept here,” he said. “Ask her to ensure the safety and return of our people who are out there in the Middle East.”

“Hear, hear,” said Mattie McGrath.

“Whatever side they have been kidnapped by or whatever,” added Danny, “it is the Israelis’ remit to ensure the safe return home of these people. They have the deciding of it. I ask the Minister of State to mind this lady here and tell her she is quite welcome here and ask her to ensure the safe return home of our people.” Nobody can accuse Danny of not thinking outside the box. Expect more exchanges on the subject today.

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RTÉ has proposed a compromise to defuse the row with the Dáil Public Accounts Committee over access to a key document about how Ryan Tubridy’s payments were agreed. Cormac McQuinn reports.

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At the Fine Gael parliamentary party last night, TDs raised questions about plans to house asylum seekers in a number of locations. Independent TDs have been raising this in the Dáil during the week, and Fine Gael TDs don’t want to be caught offside. The issue is not going to disappear, it seems. Jack Horgan-Jones reports

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Freya McClements reflects on the King’s Speech at Westminster and the lack of any mention on the return of devolved government to Northern Ireland. Will Jeffrey finally jump, she wonders

In his weekly column, Newton Emerson wonders if the DUP aren’t quite comfortable outside for a while yet.

And we discussed all this on the Politics podcast yesterday.

Best reads

Wall-to-wall coverage of the Molly Martens sentencing last night

Jack Power reports that the Peter McVerry Trust bought nine apartments in Co Offaly from its own auditor

Naomi O’Leary wonders: what happens in Gaza when the bombing stops?

Denis Staunton reports from Beijing on Micheal Martin’s visit: How’s the craic?

Playbook

Gardaí have warned the Leinster House authorities that an anti-immigration protest is scheduled for outside Leinster House today. It’s likely that barriers will be erected and traffic restrictions imposed, but nobody knows exactly what to expect. Jack Horgan-Jones has the heads-up.

The Taoiseach is in Paris this morning for an international conference on humanitarian assistance for the civilian population in Gaza, convened by French president Emmanuel Macron. According to Government Buildings, the goal of the Conference is “to mobilise the main actors involved in the humanitarian response in Gaza, including States, donors, international organisations and NGOs, and take concrete action to assist Palestinian civilians in the territory.”

In Luxembourg the advocate general of the European Court of Justice delivers his opinion in the Apple tax case, which could see billions of Euros in tax revenues, currently held in an escrow account, returned to Ireland and other EU states. The Government, it will be recalled, is fighting the case. Joe Brennan has an explainer for you.

In the Dáil, there’s a sharp start to the day with oral questions to the Ministers in charge of the Government’s two big problem areas – health and housing. Leaders’ questions is at noon. Very quiet in the Seanad where the last item of business, the committee and remaining stages on the legislation to tax the windfall gains of the energy companies, begins at 10.30am. Quiet too at the committees where the PAC’s weekly meeting sees it discuss the “performance of certain residential retrofit schemes”. The Good Friday Agreement committee hosts academics Jennifer Todd and Joanne McEvoy for “constitutional discussions on a shared island” while poor Michael McGrath, the Minister for Finance, remains locked in one of the great parliamentary sausage-making sessions – the committee stage of the Finance Bill. Full details of the day at the Oireachtas here

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