Micheál Martin pleads for major powers to help de-escalate Israel-Iran conflict
Mr Martin warned that the escalating conflicts were very dangerous and deeply worrying - and he said global powers had to work together to achieve an end to the horrors in the Middle East.
He acknowledged the United Nations had been undermined and its influence was waning before international eyes.
"It is deeply concerning that we have so much conflict in the Middle East," he said.
"It is dangerous in terms of its impact on civilian populations in the first instance. We see the horrors of Gaza - Syria is coming out of the embers of a horrible civil war.
"A new Government is installed there endeavouring to find and create some stability - we have instability and war in Lebanon, a new Government there trying to create stability and sustainable life for people in Lebanon.
"We have the appalling settlements in the West Bank.
"Iran should have engaged a long time ago on its nuclear programme and to dismantling it.
"But there has to be a return to a rules-based international order. At the moment it is receding before our very eyes. It is being eroded - the United Nations (UN) is being eroded and that is a matter of deep concern to us.
"We want to see a peaceful resolution to the conflict - we believe in dialogue and we believe in diplomacy. So we would say - to the world powers in particular - to use their influence and stop the hostilities to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages.
"And to get a huge surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza.
"Also to bring about a cessation (of violence) and to de-escalate between Iran and Israel."
Mr Martin urged Iran to engage with the international community over its nuclear programme and to help de-escalate tensions in the region.
"It is important that they would continue to engage but the context now may make that very difficult,' he said.
"They should have engaged, in my view, far more proactively in the past.
"The International Atomic Energy Agency called it out during the week - but equally they said the bombing of nuclear installations is hugely concerning. There is the risk of widespread potential death and destruction.
"The only sustainable way of ensuring peace is through dialogue and diplomacy, ultimately."
Mr Martin welcomed the release of People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy from custody in Egypt after he was detained when he attempted to join a Gaza peace march in Rafah.
Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris confirmed the release of Mr Murphy and a number of other Irish citizens on Friday evening.
Mr Harris had liaised with Irish diplomats in Cairo as well as the Egyptian authorities over the detentions.
"The situation is very fraught out there. Tensions are very high in Egypt and very high in Jordan. We believe people have an entitlement to peaceful protest and to engage in that," Mr Martin said.
"How realistic it was to try to go through Rafah is another question? Let's all be honest and realistic about that - it was never going to happen.
"I have been to Rafah myself - but when I was there as a Government minister there was a complex and a compound. That is all destroyed subsequently by the Israeli invasion.
"The security situation on both sides of that border is very, very tense and volatile. There are challenges to marching right up to the Rafah border.
"That said, people are entitled to peaceful protest and I am glad they have been released and we want their safe return - peaceful, legitimate protest is something that should always be facilitated by Governments."
Mr Murphy has had his passport returned to him by the Egyptian authorities but said his phone was still held.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Who will lead Sinn Féin if Mary Lou McDonald runs for President?
Speculation is intensifying around who could take over the leadership of Sinn Féin amid growing signs that Mary Lou McDonald may launch a bid for presidency. The 56-year-old party leader has refused to rule herself out of the running, prompting a surge in political chatter. Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, McDonald was asked directly about her intentions for the upcoming presidential election but remained tight-lipped, refusing to rule out a potential bid. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. Pic: Fran Veale As Fine Gael begins its search for a presidential candidate, with Mairead McGuinness and Seán Kelly expected to run, focus has now shifted to Sinn Féin and what it would do if Mary Lou McDonald turned her attention to the presidency. According to BoyleSports, McDonald's odds to become Ireland's next President have dramatically shortened from 20/1 to 6/1, making her the third favourite behind Mairead McGuinness (EVS) and Independent TD Catherine Connolly (4/1). McGuinness, a former Vice President of the European Parliament, is seen as the favourite in Fine Gael's race. She previously lost out to Gay Mitchell for the nomination in 2011, but this time has gained high-profile support – including from Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, who said he'd be 'very proud' to see her as President. Mairead McGuinness. Pic: Isopix/REX/Shutterstock Seán Kelly, a fellow MEP and former GAA President, has also shown strong interest in the role. 'I could do a lot,' he said last month, confirming that colleagues had approached him to run. If McDonald steps aside to run for president, the focus will shift to who could lead Sinn Féin into the next general election, where the party is expected to make a serious push for power. BoyleSports has released updated odds for the next Sinn Féin President, with Pearse Doherty emerging as the clear favourite at 4/11. Doherty, the party's finance spokesperson and one of Sinn Féin's most experienced figures in the Dáil, has long been seen as a natural successor. Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos Michelle O'Neill follows at 5/1. The current First Minister of Northern Ireland was once tipped as Sinn Féin's likely presidential candidate, but that now seems less likely. O'Neill remains a major figure in the party and would offer continuity, especially given Sinn Féin's strong support in the North. Michelle O'Neill. Pic:Eoin Ó Broin, the party's high-profile housing spokesperson, is coming in at 6/1, followed by Matt Carthy at 8/1 and David Cullinane at 10/1. A possible leadership change in Sinn Féin comes at a crucial moment in Irish politics. The next presidential election will likely take place between September 13 and November 10. Fianna Fáil hasn't decided if they will enter, and Labour considered former Liveline host Joe Duffy, but he said no. So, the race is still wide open. Independent TD Catherine Connolly is trying to become the left's main candidate. Former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood is interested but hasn't got much support from Fianna Fáil. If Mary Lou McDonald runs for president, Sinn Féin will need a new leader, meaning the fight to replace her could be just as interesting as the presidential race.
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Government told to conserve sites or species to retain nitrates derogation
The European Commission has told the Government that in order for Ireland to retain a nitrates derogation for farmers from next year it must demonstrate efforts to conserve designated sites or species under the EU's Habitats Directive. Previously the Commission has traditionally just sought evidence of progress in relation to water quality, however, with Ireland now the only country left in the EU seeking a nitrates derogation the criteria have been expanded. It is understood the Commission contacted the Government in recent weeks about the change, with Irish officials now working on an updated plan, which is expected to be submitted to the EU in the middle of July. Under the Nitrates Directive, farmers have to ensure that the total amount of nitrogen from organic manure applied to their land does not exceed 170kg per hectare per year. The directive aims to reduce water pollution caused by nitrates used in agriculture, and EU member states are required to monitor water quality and identify areas that drain into polluted waters or are at risk of pollution. Due to the country's unique grass-fed farming model, Ireland has a derogation allowing use of up to 250kg for some farmers but it expires at the end of the year, with the EU set to vote on new limits for 2026-2029. The EU is reportedly putting pressure on Ireland to get its plan in as quickly as possible so that it can be considered ahead of negotiations and a vote later in the year. Under the Habitats Directive any project likely to have a significant effect on a designated site or species must be subject to assessment. For Irish farmers seeking a derogation, this would mean that if they are grazing cattle near a Natura 2000 site the area would need to assessed before it was granted. Natura 2000 is an EU network of 27,000 core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species, as well as some rare natural habitat types, which are protected in their own right. Based on correspondence from the European Commission - and legal advice to the Government - to secure the next nitrates derogation Ireland will have to demonstrate compliance with the Habitats Directive when granting individual farmers a derogation. Plans for this assessment process include monitoring and studying 46 catchment areas (with an average catchment size of 150,000 hectares) across the country. These sites would be assessed by experts, including ecologists, before a derogation is granted. Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said that "in developing such a plan, I am committed to engagement and have held a series of stakeholder meetings with that in mind". "My officials have also engaged with the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group where the matter was discussed this morning," he said. "It is important stakeholders are aware of the issues emerging from the discussions and how Ireland is working to fulfil its legal requirements and provide the Commission with the assurances it needs to justify granting our next derogation." If Ireland's nitrates derogation is lowered, farmers would have to take measures such as culling cows, exporting slurry, or acquiring more land to abide by lower limits.
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
'10% tariffs is not a good answer'
There are just two days to go before the end of a 90 day pause on US President Donald Trump's April 2 Liberation Day tariffs. President Trump said the US is close to finalising several trade pacts in the coming days. In a posting on his Truth Social website, he said the US would start delivering tariff letters later today. An EU-US deal is yet to be agreed, Irish businesses are still in the dark about what tariffs will be imposed, or what reciprocal tariffs might be implemented. Speaking on the This Week programme yesterday, the Enterprise Minister Peter Burke said the "best case" scenario in the EU-US trade talks is that a political framework can be delivered on Tuesday evening. While last week the Tanaiste Simon Harris said US tariffs of 10% will be the "new normal". A 10% baseline that could be structured around a framework deal would not be unprecedented. The US has already agreed on a framework for trade discussions with both the UK and China. This type of mechanism could bring the US and EU to the table and create a little bit of certainty for businesses going forward. However, for businesses more broadly, PwC Global Trade and Customs Partner John O'Loughlin highlights that "10% is not a good answer." "A framework deal where we have 10% really puts certainty around that 10%, where I think businesses have been hoping that 10% may have been somewhat of a stopgap ultimately going down to 0%, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen," said Mr O'Loughlin. "And even if we see carve outs, they can kind of go one of two ways; carve outs can be something that looks towards 0% like we've had with pharma semiconductors since Liberation Day, but I would be fearful that we could have carve outs that have put a rate of duty somewhat higher than 10%. "So the carve outs here don't necessarily move towards 0%, a carve out for certain sectors could potentially mean a rate higher than 10%." Irish businesses that do not trade directly with the US are also likely to be impacted by the wider supply chain impact. While the main focus may be on Irish exporters and importers buying and selling to and from the US, many Irish companies trade globally. Big sectors and private businesses will be managing supply chains. "The Liberation Day tariffs didn't focus on the EU, they focused on every country globally," said Mr O'Loughlin. "We'll be watching over the next couple of days to see what the rates are, obviously for the European Union, but what the impact is for the wider global supply chain, particularly companies that are managing supply chains from Ireland, where products never physically come here or come to the European Union," he said. "This is a global issue and certainly companies need to be looking at that issue through that lens over the next couple of days," he added.
