American ZOG threatened Ireland for Israhell

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Revealed: US pressure on Ireland over Israeli settlements bill
https://www.rt.com/news/459677-us-pressure-ireland-israel-settlements/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

US politicians and lobbyists applied pressure on the Irish government before it passed a bill banning goods from illegal Israel settlements, including threatening the immigration status of Irish people in the US.

Documents obtained from a Freedom of Information Act request by the TheJournal.ie reveal lobby groups and US politicians sought to influence the Irish government to stop the passage of the Occupied Territories Bill, banning the sale of goods from illegal Israeli settlements. The bill passed in both houses of Ireland's parliament in December and January.

Republican Massachusetts Rep. Steven S. Howitt wrote to Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and leader of the opposition Fianna Fail party Micheal Martin in January, warning that the bill "threatens to jail citizens of Irish origin and sanction Irish based companies in Massachusetts who engage in commercial activity with the State of Israel."

The Irish bill makes it an offence for a person to import or sell goods or services or extract resources originating in an occupied territory. US law prevents companies from taking part in boycotts against Israel.

Howitt claimed this would force Irish citizens to "make an impossible choice, whether to return to Ireland to face prosecution or stay [and] violate the terms of their immigration status in the United States."

Indiana Secretary of Commerce James A. Schellinger also wrote to Coveney and Martin explaining that while he "respects the autonomy of the Irish government," Indiana has a "strong relationship with the State of Israel." He said he was concerned that the bill could impact companies operating in Indiana, and affect the state's economy.

Meanwhile, the Jewish Voice group wrote to Israel's ambassador to Ireland in January, saying the Irish bill "singles out Israel" and "sets a dangerous precedent which is detrimental to the relations between our countries."

The letter said that because Irish people do not understand "the intricate minutiae of the territorial conflict," the legislation would mean people would conclude "it's open season on Israel."

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The Irish government is using an obscure measure to block a bill that would ban imports from Israeli settlements. Niall Carson ZUMA Press

Battle underway in Ireland over ban on settlement goods
https://electronicintifada.net/content/battle-underway-ireland-over-ban-settlement-goods/27841

A battle is underway in Ireland to ensure that a ban on imports from Israel's settlements in the occupied West Bank will not be vetoed.

Legislation to introduce such a ban has received majority support in both houses of Ireland's parliament, the Oireachtas. Yet the country's government is expected to try and wreck the legislation by invoking the little known "money message" provision.

"Money messages" rely on a clause in the Irish constitution which states that no law involving the expenditure of public finance will be enacted unless it has been signed by the taoiseach, the country's prime minister.

A paper drawn up by Michael McDowell, a prominent Irish lawyer and politician, insists that the legislation banning Israel's settlement goods does not require approval via a "money message."

The Occupied Territories Bill – as the legislation on settlement goods is called – "does not entail any direct expenditure and instead involves the creation of a criminal offense," McDowell's paper states.

Approximately 50 bills are stalled in Dáil Eireann, the lower house in the Oireachtas, as they are awaiting a "money message."

Although the "money message" provision has long been in existence, it has only become controversial lately as Ireland's minority government has been using it to block legislation which commands majority support in the Oireachtas.

Earlier this month, the government refused to issue a "money message" for the Climate Emergency Measures Bill aimed at halting oil and gas exploration in the nation's waters. Simon Coveney, the foreign minister, indicated in January that he would seek to obstruct the Occupied Territories Bill by the same means.

McDowell's paper argues that the rule of procedure under which these bills are blocked goes further than the "money message" clause in the Irish constitution. The rules of procedure can be changed, according to McDowell, who has formerly been the tánaiste – Ireland's deputy prime minister – and the attorney general.

"World is watching"
Ireland's political leaders have been under pressure from Israel and its lobbyists – including some members of the US Congress – to thwart the Occupied Territories Bill.

Yet support for the bill has remained solid among elected representatives in Dublin.

Niall Collins, foreign affairs spokesperson with the main opposition party Fianna Fáil, said that an independent legal adviser to the Oireachtas will soon provide an opinion about the use of "money messages." The opinion is expected to be delivered in the autumn.

"This money message mechanism does have a role to play, as it stops a populist headbanger from coming forward with crazy promises which would incur a huge cost to the Irish state," said Collins. "But the mechanism is open to abuse and this government has clearly been abusing it."

Collins added that advocates of the Occupied Territories Bill are preparing to mount a legal challenge if the government continues blocking it.

Frances Black, the Oireachtas member who formally proposed the bill, vowed to fight for its implementation "even if it's the death of me."

"The government should not have what is essentially a total veto over opposition bills," Black, who is also a well-known singer, said. "To do something like this is unfair and unjust. It's a vital piece of legislation for the people of Palestine. The reality is this will give so much hope to the people of Palestine, that somebody out there in the international community actually does care."

"The world is watching this legislation," she added. "We have been invited to Brussels, the Netherlands, London and Chile to talk to parliamentarians about this piece of legislation. Parliamentarians all over the world are paying attention to this and considering bringing in similar bills of their own. What is happening now is anti-democratic and we have to call it out."