Statement from Ivana Bacik TD on war in the Middle East

Speaking today, leader of the Labour Party Ivana Bacik TD said:

“I strongly agree with the statement today, International Women’s Day, by our President Catherine Connolly. As I have said this week, the failure of the Government to call out and condemn illegal strikes across the Middle East has been shameful.

“Just this week, a girls’ school was bombed as part of the war being conducted by the US and Israel on Iran with hundreds of children killed as a result. Our Government must stand up and, as President Connolly has said, unequivocally condemn the violations of international law.

“It is entirely possible to condemn the tyrannical and repressive Iranian regime – as Labour has consistently done, standing with women’s rights and pro-democracy campaigners and speaking out on cases such as the horrific killing of Mahsa Amini and the brutal detention of Irish citizen Bernard Phelan – while also insisting that international law must be upheld and multilateralism defended.

“I would urge the Taoiseach to heed the calls of President Connolly, and revisit the appropriateness of handing a bowl of shamrock to President Donald Trump in a little over a week.”