Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady, has condemned the Government’s refusal to support the Israeli War Bonds Bill, saying its reasons have been thoroughly discredited and amount to nothing more than a smokescreen.
Speaking on the issue, Brady stated:
“The government’s opposition to this Bill has been exposed as baseless. Their claims simply do not withstand scrutiny and show a clear unwillingness to take a principled and meaningful stance on Israel’s ongoing assault on the Palestinian people”.
He continued:
“By facilitating Israeli bonds through the Central Bank, the State is effectively complicit in financing the machinery of occupation, war crimes and genocide. That is utterly indefensible. We have over 20 pages of independent and robust legal opinion, clearly stating that Sinn Féin’s Bill is compliant with Irish law, European law and international law”.
The Wicklow TD reserved particular criticism for his constituency colleagues.
“I am deeply disappointed that both An Tánaiste Simon Harris and Edward Timmins – TDs who represent the people of Wicklow – voted against this Bill. They had an opportunity to stand on the right side of history, to back a clear, legal and moral response to Israeli war crimes. Instead, they sided with inaction and excuses”.
Deputy Brady concluded:
“The time for half-measures and hollow words is over. The people of Ireland – and the people of Palestine – deserve better. It’s time to stop funding war, end the hypocrisy, and take a real stand for justice. The government’s failure to support this bill is nothing short of a disgrace”.