It time to recognise the State of Palestine

In 2014 Sinn Féin brought forward a Dáil motion calling on the government to “officially recognise the State of Palestine, on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital …”

I was part of this initiative. It got support from other TDs from other parties and none. It was not opposed by the Government at that time. Following a two day debate the motion was passed. This meant that ten years ago both Houses of the Oireachtas supported the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination - to a Palestinian state. This was a positive development. The Government should have acted on this imperative. It refused to do so. I raised this refusal regularly with successive Taoisigh. 

Every Taoiseach since then refused to deliver on the will and direction of  the Oireachtas. They would not  act on this imperative. Instead they argued that recognition  of a Palestinian state remained contingent on a deal with Israel to a two state solution. In reality Enda Kenny, Micheál Martin, Leo Varadkar gave the state of Israel a veto over the right of the Palestinian people to a Palestinian state.

Seán Mackel and the County Antrim Memorial. 

Following my tribute last week to Seán Mackel Dr Tom Hartley has written to me about Seán’s role in designing the County Antrim Memorial in Milltown Cemetery. This memorial  is under the care of the National Graves Association, Belfast. There are thirty four IRA Volunteers buried in this plot. It was originally called the Tom Williams plot, because money raised by the Tom Williams Gaelic Athletic and Camogie club bought the plot. The club was founded by republican prisoners in A Wing, Crumlin Road Jail who wanted to reserve a grave in this plot for the remains of Tom Williams, a young republican hanged in Crumlin Road Jail in 1942.

 Rights in a New Ireland

The issue of rights is at the heart of the conversation on a new Ireland. Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland which has been holding successful Peoples Assemblies across the island over the last 18 months, will host ‘Rights in a New Ireland’ on Friday 3rdMay, in St Comgall’s – Ionad Eileen Howell, Divis Street, between 11.00am – 1.00pm