Taoiseach defends EU chief von der Leyen’s response to Gaza

By Cate McCurry, PA

The Taoiseach has defended Ursula von der Leyen’s response to Gaza, saying attempts to make her a “bogey woman” do not tally with the “action she is taking”.

Last week, EU leaders endorsed a second five-year term for Ms von der Leyen as European Commission president.

She will face a vote in the European Parliament later this month when MEPs will meet to take part in a secret ballot.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns was critical of the Government party’s decision to back Ms von der Leyen.

“Fine Gael at least were honest about their intentions in advance of the election. However, honesty is not a word that can credibly be attached to the position of Fianna Fáil on this issue,” she said.

“von der Leyen and the EU institution do not care about the massacre of Palestinians; that is the reality.

“While the Irish Government professes outrage and solidarity with the Palestinians, it is simultaneously supporting von der Leyen and therefore, trade with Israel, which actually increased since this war started.”

But Simon Harris said it was the German politician who had “significantly increased” the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA aid budget.

Mr Harris said: “This attempt in Ireland to characterise the inertia at an international level on the Middle East around one individual is misplaced.

“Ursula von der Leyen is working on financial packages and support for the Palestinian Authority.

“She has been somewhat successfully portrayed as a bogey woman, but I am not sure how successful it actually was when we look at the outcome of elections across Europe.

“The effort to make her some sort of bogey woman does not tally at all with the action she is taking.”

Ms Cairns said that what was unfolding in Gaza was beyond horror.

“It is the stuff of unrelenting nightmares,” she said.

“For nine months, the Israeli army has bombed, maimed and tortured a starved and captive population.

“Its aim is not self-defence but rather annihilation. According to a report from Save the Children, more than 14,000 children in Gaza have been killed and 21,000 children are missing.

“The report said children are also among those found in mass graves recently, with many showing signs of torture.

“This is the reality of the Israeli government’s barbarity and cruelty. Gaza is now a graveyard for children.

“The slaughter still continues in the full glare of the media spotlight. The publicity does not make a difference.”

The Cork TD also asked why the Government had not enacted the Occupied Territories Bill.

“It says the Government has disavowed the Bill for ‘legal, political and practical reasons’.

“While I and many others do not agree with the legal reasons, I find it troubling and offensive that political and practical reasons are cited as a stumbling block to action.”

Mr Harris said: “On becoming Taoiseach, I asked about the legality of the Occupied Territories Bill again.

“The same position has been reiterated to me as has been reiterated to my predecessors.

“Indeed, the same position has been reiterated to me by the attorney general that would have been reiterated by his predecessors as well.

“I fully accept the deputy’s bona fides that this is a point of difference, but the very clear legal advice to me, which would be the same legal advice available to Deputy Cairns if she were in my position, is that the Bill is not compatible because these matters are dealt with at a European level.

“I can absolutely tell Deputy Cairns that Ireland continues to push at a European level to change policy on the association agreement between the EU and Israel.”