Sorcha tunney

views endorsed are my own.

[Sinéad Gibney @sineadgibney]

We’re not keeping up. We need to put in place legal frameworks to harness AI for good, to avoid the dangers, and to maximise its potential.

[Caroline O'Doherty @codohertynews]

Green light for massive data centre expansion - with no requirement that they use green energy
#climate
https://t.co/ixMesF52DR

[Ken Foxe @kenfoxe]

There are people calling for creation of an Irish DOGE. I have, of course, never once heard them call for strengthening of the FOI laws that up to now have been most responsible for bringing govt waste to light. It’s just more bullsh** culture war crap appropriated from the U.S.

[Ken Foxe @kenfoxe]

Every single record held by SIPO in relation to the decision to waive part of the 'cooling-off' period for a former government press secretary and special adviser to Leo Varadkar has been deemed exempt from release under Freedom of Information laws.

Perversely, my only appeal option now is to the Information Commissioner, who is one of the six members of the Standards Commission which decided on the waiver in the first place.

[Yonatan Touval @Yonatan_Touval]

🚨Yair Golan, chair of the left-wing Democrats party and former IDF deputy chief, publicly calls on investigating PM @Netanyahu and his team of 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 over reports of secret ties to #Qatar and alleged payoffs that facilitated #Hamas funding.

[Hamza Yusuf @Hamza_a96]

This hostage also looks gaunt. But he’s Palestinian so the media look away and ignore.

[Amnesty Ireland @AmnestyIreland]

The @CIJ_ICJ has been clear: trade and business with Israel's settlements are illegal and must stop. When will the EU comply?

@amnesty and 162 civil society organizations and trade unions wrote a letter to @vonderleyen

#StopTradeWithSettlements

https://t.co/MCa45JKI7K

[Seán Murray @sean_murray1]

Watch my latest documentary detailing the intelligence services role in running agents to sow discord within Irish communities.

[António Guterres @antonioguterres]

To the financial institutions & industries backtracking on climate commitments, I want to say loudly & clearly:

You’re on the wrong side of history.

You’re on the wrong side of science.

And you’re on the wrong side of consumers who are looking for more sustainability, not less.

[Mick Caul @caulmick]

Only three women appointed to senior ministeries in Cabinet - down down from Four in the last government.

Do you not see anything wrong with this Taoiseach? @OCallaghanCian

#Dáil

[Theresa Reidy 🇺🇦 @theresareidy]

Just three women in the new cabinet.
A sorry state of affairs for 2025.

[Frances Black @frances_black]

I've been inundated today with questions about the Occupied Territories Bill, so let me get a few things clear.

Firstly, it makes no real difference whether Government passes my legislation, or comes forward with its own. I honestly don’t care who gets the credit for it, or whose name is on the end of a Bill. I have been fighting for this bill since 2018 for one reason – because I firmly believe that it is the right thing to do. The settlements are totally illegal, rob families of their land, and undermine the prospects for peace. We say this again and again, but then trade in the proceeds of the crime. It is hypocritical and has to stop!

What actually matters is the policy. Whether it is my Bill, or a Govt Bill, the key thing is: will it implement a *full ban on all trade* with the illegal settlements? Will it do what is required of us under international law, as made crystal clear by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), or will there be carve outs or exemptions or a watering down? This is the one question every journalist, activist and politician should be asking when the Dáil reconvenes, and when any legislation is moved forward – regardless of who has sponsored it.

Second, many commentators would like us to forget about international law, so I am going to remind them. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest court in the world, issued an historic finding. It found that not only is the occupation illegal, that the settlements are illegal, but that there is a legal “obligation” on all states not to trade with them. This is a clear requirement set out by the highest court in the world. The question now is whether we will take it seriously.

The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have both referred to these “obligations”, and I’m glad to see this recognition. The PfG also commits to following the ICJ. But the court was absolutely clear: states must “abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings” and “prevent trade or investment relations” with Israel regarding the occupied territories and the illegal settlements (para 278). There is no ambiguity here. They do not separate this out into physical goods on the one hand and services on the other, because it is not the 1950s. Trade means trade. We cannot just attempt to ignore one aspect of this because it is politically more challenging.

What we are asking for here is also not new. In 2014 Ireland and the EU quickly banned trade in goods *and* services with Russian-occupied territory. This full ban was implemented within months of Russian’s illegal occupation of Ukrainian territory, and rightly so. Why should there be a double standard? International law must be applied equally and consistently, or else it means nothing. This matters even more given the EU’s shameful response to the genocide in Gaza.

I will say it again: if we want to give effect to the ICJ ruling then the quickest and best way to do that is to pass the Occupied Territories Bill. I have no issue with technical amendments to strengthen and improve it, and it is misleading and unfair to suggest otherwise. But what matters is that a full ban is implemented and that we stick to our commitments. No more theft of land without consequences. No more ifs or buts. Ireland can lead on this, and there’s no more time to waste.

I truly believe we’ve gotten this far because ordinary people all over the country have spoken out and demanded action. We have to keep doing so, starting outside the Dáil next Weds 22nd and at the @ipsc48 march in Dublin this Saturday 25th. See you there.

Frances

[Richard Boyd Barrett @RBoydBarrett]

This is a disgrace and will be resisted. The regional independents & Healy-Raes helped write the Programme for Government and have committed to installing them in power. They're not opposition, how can they get opposition time & resources? Let the government give them time.

[Miriam Donohoe @miriamdonohoe]

While the #Gaza ceasefire is welcome it’s too late for hundreds of thousand says @Actionaid_Ire CEO @KarolBalfe in a letter published in @Independent_ie & @irishexaminer. She urges the Government to stick to the election campaign commitment to pass the Occupied Territories Bill

[Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD @PadraigMacL]

When a government TD sought to have this globally discredited IHRA working definition of antisemitism applied to the Houses of the Oireachtas, it was unanimously rejected following the appeals of a range of anti racist, civil society organisations. This is an appalling action!

[Amnesty Ireland @AmnestyIreland]

Outgoing Government's suddenly endorsing IHRA “working definition” of antisemitism is deeply regrettable. It's been weaponised elsewhere to undermine freedom of expression and suppress criticism of Israeli authorities' human rights violations. New Government must reconsider this.

[Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD @PadraigMacL]

Last night's email to opposition will be strongly challenged. TDs with agreement to support govt can’t sit in Opposition. SF getting independent legal advice. I am talking to opposition whips today. @Toibin1 @CNolanOffaly need to make clear they won’t be part of this farce.

[Caroline O'Doherty @codohertynews]

'Climate cakeism' says @OisinCoghlan
Presenting old as new says @CAugustenborg
Vague & ambiguous say @Env_Pillar & @FairSeasIreland
Experts have their say on the climate & environment policies in the draft Programme for Government
https://t.co/4Mm2LJSJVV