Latest news with #Dornan
Scotsman
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Another Dornan step too far
Evening News readers might remember a particularly stupid and baseless allegation against Lothian Buses that it had cancelled services on St Patrick's Day in 2021 because of some hidden anti-Catholic bias that mysteriously Catholics had never noticed. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Of course, anyone with half a brain knew the services were halted because night after night bus services in some parts of Edinburgh were being subjected to wanton vandalism and thuggery, but not Glasgow MSP James Dornan who came up with the crazed sectarian theory just the same. Displaying the same level of incisive analysis, Mr Dornan has reacted to the proscription of the Palestine Action group as a terror organisation by lodging a motion calling for the UK Government to 'proscribe only those organisations that it considers really do or did cause a threat to life, such as the Israeli Defence Force.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We all know what Mr Dornan thinks about Israel, but there are still an estimated 20,000 Hamas 'fighters' ─ rapists and murderers ─ holed up in Gaza, an army dedicated to the extinction of the Jewish state, and the IDF is entitled to defend its people. Causing a threat to life is what armed forces do, following orders from politicians, so following Mr Dornan's logic, so too should the British Army be outlawed. He'd probably agree, but what's harder to understand is why an otherwise moderate Leith MSP Ben McPherson has backed Mr Dornan's extremism. Yes, the killing must end, but first and foremost that must apply to the Hamas death cult.
The National
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
SNP MSP threatens Russell Findlay with legal action amid IDF row
James Dornan issued the warning to Conservative group leader Russell Findlay amid a row over calls for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to be proscribed as a terror organisation. The UK Government proscribed the group Palestine Action late last week after a claimed £7 million of damage done to two planes at the RAF Brize Norton base on June 20, both of which are again operational. After the proscription, supporting or being a member of Palestine Action can be punished with up to 14 years in prison. An 83-year-old reverend was among the dozens of people subsequently arrested on terror charges in London over the weekend. READ MORE: How UK media are covering up British spy flights for Israel Ahead of the Labour Government's move, Dornan had lodged a motion at Holyrood opposing it, which was backed by former SNP ministers Paul McLennan and Ben Macpherson, as well as MSPs Stephanie Callaghan, Stuart McMillan, and Evelyn Tweed, and the Greens' Maggie Chapman, Ross Greer, and Patrick Harvie. Dornan's motion said that the UK Government seemed 'embarrassed by the actions of Palestine Action and terrified to show anything but utter compliance and subservience to the Israeli government' despite the 'ongoing ethnic cleansing of Gaza'. It urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to let the justice system deal with any potential criminal offences from Palestine Action activists, and urged the UK Government to 'proscribe only those organisations that, it considers, really do, or did, cause a threat to life, such as the Israel Defense Forces'. The IDF are actively engaged in breaches of international law in Palestine, including Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Smoke rising in Gaza after an Israeli bombardment (File photo)In Gaza, the IDF is widely considered to be engaging in a genocide, with the International Court of Justice ruling that Palestinians' right to be protected from genocide is under 'plausible' threat. Responding to Dornan's motion, when it was reported by the press over the weekend, Scottish Tory MSP Findlay suggested that criticising the IDF amounted to 'antisemitic poison'. 'If they got their way, Israel would be wiped out by Iran and its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah etc,' Findlay said of the SNP MSPs to have backed the motion. READ MORE: 'I spent 16 months in Gaza amid Israel's genocide. Here's what I saw' Responding, Dornan said: 'No surprise to see you rush to the defence of the perpetrators of war crimes, Russell. 'But if you call me an antisemite again then I will be considering taking legal action. 'I'm anti war crimes and, unlike many of your colleagues, I haven't been 'persuaded' to say otherwise.' A petition to have the IDF proscribed has garnered more than 13,000 signatures, at the time of writing. It comes after more than 130 leading charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Gaza issued a joint call for an end to the 'deadly' Israel- and US-led aid distribution scheme.
The National
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
IDF should be proscribed as terror group, says SNP MSP James Dornan
James Dornan, MSP for Cathcart, lodged a motion with the Scottish Parliament on June 25, where he said that Palestine Action are a 'non-violent campaigning organisation'. Palestine Action lost a late-night Court of Appeal challenge on Friday evening, which sought to stop it being banned, less than two hours before the move came into force at midnight. The designation as a terror group means that membership of or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. READ MORE: 29 people arrested at protest in support of Palestine Action It comes after SNP MP Brendan O'Hara set out why the SNP abstained on the vote to proscribe the group in the House of Commons. Dornan's motion was described as 'antisemitic' by the Board of Deputies. In his motion, Dornan set out that Palestine Action are now proscribed alongside international terror organisations including Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, and the Irish Republican Army, among others. The motion adds that 'all of these groups have, unlike Palestine Action, at some stage taken part in violent action'. The move to ban Palestine Action was announced after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, which police said caused around £7 million of damage. Dornan's motion adds that the decision is 'an overreaction' from the UK Government that appears to have been 'embarrassed by the actions of Palestine Action and terrified to show anything but utter compliance and subservience to the Israeli government in what it sees as its ongoing ethnic cleansing of Gaza'. (Image: Getty) The motion says that this also applies to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the warrant for his arrest for war crimes by the International Criminal Court. It continues: 'Urges the Home Secretary to let the justice system deal with any ongoing criminal offences potentially committed by Palestine Action during reported events at RAF Brize Norton, and to proscribe only those organisations that, it considers, really do, or did, cause a threat to life, such as the Israel Defense Forces.' The motion was backed by former SNP housing minister Paul McLennan and former international development minister Ben Macpherson. Other SNP MSPs Evelyn Tweed, Stephanie Callaghan and Stuart McMillan were joined by four Scottish Green MSPs, outgoing co-leader Patrick Harvie, Maggie Chapman, Ross Greer and Mark Ruskell. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action on June 23, stating that the vandalism of the two planes was 'disgraceful' and that the group had a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage'. MPs in the Commons voted 385 to 26, majority 359, in favour of proscribing the group on Wednesday, before the House of Lords backed the move without a vote on Thursday. READ MORE: Proscription of organisation won't end the debate around terror laws The SNP abstained on the vote - with Argyll and Bute MP O'Hara stating that they would have opposed the ban had the UK Government not included two neo-Nazi organisations - Maniacs Murder Cult and the Russian Imperial Movement. Speaking in The Sunday Times Michael Wegier, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said Dornan's motion was 'ludicrous' and that the IDF was defending Israel. 'If the IDF did not exist, Israel would cease to exist,' Wegier said. 'Had the IDF not existed since Israel was created in 1948, there would be no Israel. 'So the only implication of this motion is that it is calling for the dissolution of the state of Israel, which is clearly antisemitic.' He added that there is a 'distinction' between criticising the Israeli government and 'calling for Israel's dissolution', which Wegier argued proscribing the IDF would do. Asked whether the SNP backed Dornan's motion and to set out its position on the proscription of Palestine Action, a spokesperson said: 'Since the beginning of this conflict, the SNP has been consistent in calling for an immediate ceasefire by all parties, the unconditional release of hostages, an end to UK arms sales to Israel and the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state as part of a two-state solution to secure a lasting peace. 'The focus of the international community must be in ensuring that peace is delivered, that humanitarian aid is delivered unimpeded to those who need it and that the international rule of law is enforced.'
New Straits Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
World Bank addresses (mis)perception of higher retirement age limiting jobs for younger workers
KUALA LUMPUR: The perception that increasing the retirement age will restrict job opportunities for younger workers is inaccurate and not supported by economic evidence, a senior World Bank economist said. World Bank senior economist for social protection and jobs for East Asia and Pacific region Dr Matthew Dornan said this stems from the misconception that the number of jobs in an economy is fixed. "In reality, the number of jobs in an economy is not static. It evolves based on market demand and economic growth," he said at the International Social Wellbeing Conference 2025 by the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) here today. Dornan said studies have shown older workers remaining in the labour market do not significantly reduce overall job opportunities for younger individuals. Elaborating further, he noted that the presence of older workers in the workforce can have a multiplier effect on job creation. "When older workers remain employed, they have income to spend, and this spending drives demand for goods and services often provided by younger workers," he said. The chain reaction, he added, stimulates economic activity, ultimately leading to the creation of more job opportunities across various sectors. On proposals to raise the retirement age, Dornan said such measures might become necessary in the future to ensure the nation's economic stability, particularly as the population continues to age. He highlighted that many countries have already adopted similar approaches, establishing a retirement age of around 65 years as the new norm. However, he said any decision on retirement age must be made with careful consideration and tailored to Malaysia's specific context and needs. "Typically, countries implement retirement age increases gradually to avoid system shocks and ensure smooth transitions," he said. Dornan recommended that Malaysia evaluate structural labour market factors, fiscal sustainability and citizens' life expectancy before making decisions related to retirement age policies.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Province paid Dr. John Dornan nearly $1.8M in settlement over firing as Horizon CEO
The provincial government ended up reaching a $1.8-million settlement with now-Health Minister Dr. John Dornan over his firing as the head of Horizon Health Network following the death of a Fredericton ER patient. That's 90 per cent of the original record-breaking $2-million payout Dornan was awarded by a labour adjudicator in his unjust dismissal case in 2023, which the province initially appealed. The amount of the year-old settlement was disclosed for the first time Friday in a written statement from Dornan. Both he and the province had to waive a non-disclosure agreement in order for the amount to be made public. "As I said during my campaign and now acting as a Minister of the Crown, I am committed to full openness and transparency with the people of New Brunswick regarding the outcome of this case," Dornan said in the emailed statement. "The total settlement awarded to me was $1,785,000, which was issued on April 18, 2024, with taxes appropriately withheld," he said. "At the time of my initial dismissal, I received $360,000, which was the equivalent of one year's salary for the position. All associated legal fees and taxes have been fully paid." The Department of Justice and Public Safety could not immediately say how much money the province spent on its legal fight with Dornan, or whether it's more or less than the $215,000 difference between the settlement amount and his original award. Dornan now earns $94,523 per year as the MLA for Saint John Portland-Simonds, plus $62,952 per year as the minister of health. At 'pivotal moment' in career He filed his grievance under the Public Service Labour Relations Act in the summer of 2022 after then premier Blaine Higgs publicly announced his firing as president and CEO of Horizon during a news conference. It was part of a larger shakeup of New Brunswick's health-care leadership following the death of a patient in the waiting room of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital's emergency department in Fredericton. Darrell Mesheau, 78, spent about seven hours waiting for care before he was discovered unresponsive by a nurse around 4:30 a.m. on July 12, 2022. Dorothy Shephard was also replaced as health minister and the boards of both Horizon and Vitalité were removed. Dornan was only four months into his five-year contract when he was fired. He was "at a pivotal moment in [his] career," he said in his statement. He had served as interim president and CEO for about seven months when he agreed to take on the role permanently. He gave up his previous position as regional chief of staff for Horizon in Saint John and his endocrinology practice to do so. "Like any New Brunswicker whose employment is unjustly terminated, I pursued my right to file a claim for unjust dismissal," Dornan said. "Following due process, the courts determined that my dismissal was indeed without cause, and I was subsequently awarded a settlement for unjust dismissal." 'Mutually satisfactory resolution' In February 2023, adjudicator George Filliter awarded him special damages of about $1.8 million, representing the value of lost salary, pension contributions and health benefits, plus $200,000 in aggravated damages for "breach of the employer's implied obligation to act in good faith when dismissing him." It was the largest employment compensation award in the province's history, Dornan's lawyers said at the time. The province promptly requested a judicial review, seeking to have the award quashed. But Court of King's Bench Justice Kathryn Gregory upheld the labour arbitrator's decision and awarded Dornan costs of $4,000, plus HST and "reasonable disbursements." The province subsequently appealed, arguing Gregory "erred in fact and law." Then in April 2024 — just four days before the case was scheduled to be heard — the province dropped its appeal. In a statement at the time, then health minister Bruce Fitch said only that the province and Dornan had "reached a mutually satisfactory resolution."
