Ministers defend Tánaiste over Israel row

FINE Gael ministers have rallied to the defence of Micheál Martin after a bruising Dáil exchange with Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns over Ireland’s policy regarding Israel.

Ms Cairns criticised the Coalition for failing to act against Israel on numerous occasions, noting Mr Martin would ‘not indicate support for South Africa at the International Court of Justice; he will not refer a case to the International Criminal Court; he will not lobby for economic sanctions at EU level; he will not withdraw the diplomatic status of the Israeli ambassador and he will not pass the Occupied Territories Bill or the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill’.

Responding, Mr Martin accused the Social Democrats TD of being ‘disingenuous’ and engaging in ‘misinformation’ in claiming that the Government had decided to ‘not to join the South African case’. ‘That spin is wrong,’ he said. ‘We agree with everything South Africa has sought from the court in terms of provisional measures. We have been seeking these in advance.’

The Foreign Affairs Minister added: ‘The deputy asked a question, then tried to tell me how to answer it. I do not propose to go down that line because I do think there is a fundamental disingenuous approach being adopted by the Opposition, in respect of this case and this issue.’

Ministers subsequently commented on the clash between Ms Cairns and the Tánaiste in Thursday’s Leaders’ Questions. One Fine Gael minister said: ‘Holly did not appear to know the basics, that [Attorney General] Rossa Fanning is making a presentation on Israel in February.

Another Fine Gael source noted: ‘People are starting to think twice about coalition with the Social Democrats. They seem to be more at home with Sinn Féin. Maybe they deserve each other.’