In a unique turn of events, two distinct Irish Prime Ministers will visit the White House within this year and have discussions with US President, Joe Biden. Simon Harris’s upcoming visit to the White House is an opportunity that will considerably boost his publicity in the lead up to the general elections, anticipating the timing to be around November.
Our correspondent in New York, Jennifer Bray, has reported that this visit by Harris follows an invitation to commemorate 100 years of diplomatic ties between Ireland and the US. Harris plans to make his way to Washington DC next month, though the precise date remains undisclosed. His itinerary will also include bilateral talks with global leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York.
What’s noteworthy is that the US was the first country to acknowledge Ireland’s status among international nations.
Meanwhile, the onslaught by Israel in Lebanon proceeds unabated, with ongoing bombing, as Tuesday faced another day of relentless attacks. The casualty count from two days of aerial strikes has almost touched 560. This number is already half of the number of fatalities in the 2006 month-long conflict between Israel and Hizbullah.
During his speech at the UN General Assembly, Biden reiterated the call for restraint from all parties, although previous US admonishments to Israel have been outrightly dismissed over the past year. Biden emphasised to the assembly that the only solution that will bring lasting peace is through diplomatic means.
He further stated that, “Full-scale war benefits no one,” conveying his concern with the escalating Israel-Lebanon crisis.
Problematically, Israel has resorted to gross misinformation, claiming that Hizbullah is exploiting civilians as human shields, to vindicate its indiscreet slaughter of individuals, which includes a minimum of 50 children in Lebanon. This displays a lack of regard for Arab lives within the dominant mentality of those in power in Israel, and their supporters.
Outside the UN headquarters, Tánaiste Micheál Martin emphasized to Jennifer Bray and additional attendees that Irish forces stationed in Lebanon are safe. He further conveyed that the government is executing all necessary precautions to maintain this safety. He expressed the government’s concern for the soldiers operating in challenging conditions.
Meanwhile, Jack Horgan-Jones highlighted the story of Fianna Fáil TDs causing discord within their Coalition. They’ve gone against their partners by prematurely releasing sports grant announcements, akin to the prizes given out on the Late Late Show, an act that carries no downside. This act allows a TD to inform a local sports club that they’ve been awarded a substantial amount of money to improve their facilities, an undoubtedly rewarding announcement to make.
But tensions are high within the Coalition. Fine Gael and the Green Party are accusing their partners of rushing the announcement to share the positive news with their constituents. One person from the Green Party alleged Fianna Fáil were ‘breaking embargo to get a jump’.
Furthermore, disagreements continue about the extent to which the government was aware of the Irish airspace being used to transport military equipment to Israel. Marie O’Halloran and Jennifer Bray highlighted a dispute in the Dáil. Simon Harris, joining from New York, accused Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald of making baseless accusations.
The Department of Transport has identified potential breaches of Irish aviation law by nine flights this year. However, the government is yet to confirm definitively if these planes were indeed carrying military gear. The Ditch has reportedly confirmed it after gaining access to manifests provided by the Belgian aviation authorities.
Paschal Donohoe informed the Dáil that these flights did not have government permission. Meanwhile, McDonald responded by alleging that this does not change the fact that these incidents seem to have occurred, suggesting this dispute will continue.
In her column, Miriam Lord offers incisive criticism towards the government for their insights garnered from the scandal around the national children’s hospital. Donohoe struggled to answer inquiries put by McDonald and Ivana Bacik. Pat Leahy writes about a slimmed-down version of hate crime legislation, which will uphold special safeguards for non-binary and transgender individuals.
Meanwhile, Cormac McQuinn discloses the Dublin city chief returning officer’s admissions about escalating complications in recruiting personnel for election counts. In another column, Michael McDowell posits that the Dáil bike shed and NCD are typical of a more extensive problem. Sadhbh O’Neill shares her experience of forking out €81 for a taxi following a no-show ghost bus in Waterford.
Politics aside, the main happenings in Leinster House will take place within the LH 2000 committee rooms. Here, the children’s hospital debacle and the OPW’s expenditure of €336,000 on a Leinster House campus bike cover are being looked into.
Marie O’Halloran provides the previous day’s commentary on the NCH discussions in the Dáil. The Taoiseach and Tánaiste are expected back from the US soon and the weekly cabinet meeting is set for tomorrow.
The Dáil’s agenda for the day will go as follows:
9.58am: Private Members’ Business (Regional Group): Motion regarding Carer’s Allowance Means Test
12pm: Leaders’ Questions
1.04pm: Introduction to the Planning and Development (An Taisce) Bill 2024 – First Stage
2.10pm: Bill debates,
– Health Information Bill 2024 – Second Stage
– Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024 – Second Stage
7.06pm: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024 – Committee and remaining stages
8.06pm: Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024 – Report and Final Stages
9.06pm: Deferred Divisions
9.36pm: Dáil adjourns.
The proceeding will continue to the Seanad Éireann.
At 12:45pm, the Report and Final Stages of the Planning and Development Bill 2023 will be resumed. Following that, the Committee Stage of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 will commence at 7pm. The Seanad will adjourn at 9pm.
At 9.30am, the Joint Committee on Enterprise will convene to discuss the issue of Unemployment Blackspots. Representatives from Social Justice Ireland and the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed will be present.
Simultaneously, the Joint Committee on Health will gather to receive an update on the construction of the new national children’s hospital from Representatives from National Paediatric Hospital Development Board.
At 9.45am, the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will meet to discuss the latest developments at the General Affairs Council with Jennifer Carroll McNeill, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, along with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
At 1.30pm, the Comhchoiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge will review the state’s approach to advancing the Gaelic education system in a proactive and appropriate manner with Education Minister Norma Foley.
At this same time, a joint meeting of the Committee on Transport and Communications and the Committee on Environment and Climate Action will be held. They will confer with the European Court of Auditors (ECA). The discussions will focus on reports that fall under the jurisdiction of both Committees. The representatives from the European Court of Auditors will be Tony Murphy (President), Emily Davis (Secretary in the Cabinet of the President), and Peter Borsos (Attache in the Cabinet of the President.)
Finally, the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach will engage with the Office of the Public Works at 1:30pm.