Government responds to President’s comments on international affairs

Responsibility for Ireland’s handling of foreign affairs “rests with” the Government, an official spokesman has said, after the President called for the country to call out breaches of international law.

Meanwhile, the spokesman said nothing was “being ruled in or out” in terms of interventions to rising energy prices, adding that there were “options” for direct intervention and an EU-level response.

President Catherine Connolly said Ireland had an obligation to “speak plainly” about breaches of international law in the Middle East.

Her statement, made on International Women’s Day on Sunday, followed widespread bombing in the Gulf including the US-Israeli bombing of Iran and the assassination of its former leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In a statement which did not specifically name any country, Ms Connolly said: “The violations of international law we are witnessing are shocking and numbing, but we cannot afford inaction.

“What we have witnessed in recent days in the Middle East, and beyond, are not political disputes.

“They are deliberate assaults on international law, the international laws that have underpinned global peace for 80 years.

“We must name them as such, without euphemism and without equivocation.

“Ireland is uniquely positioned to do precisely that.”

Ms Connolly argued that the “hard-won, peaceful resolution” to the Troubles in Northern Ireland “oblige us to speak plainly”, adding that the constitution affirms Ireland’s adherence to “pacific settlement of international disputes” and the “generally recognised principles of international law”.

Opposition parties who backed the President’s election campaign have called on the Government to condemn the US-Israeli strikes as breaches of international law.

Asked about Ms Connolly’s comments on Monday, a Government spokesman said: “Successive governments have always stood firm in support of international law, it’s especially important for a small country like Ireland.

“The Government fully respects the constitutional role and office of President Connolly, but it is important to recall that responsibility for international affairs rests with government.”

Additionally asked if there was concern that Ms Connolly’s comments may impact Taoiseach Micheal Martin’s meeting with US President Donald Trump next week, the spokesman said: “No, the trip is going ahead.”

Elsewhere on Monday, Irish deputy premier Simon Harris said Ms Connolly was “right to remind people of the horrors of war” as he defended the Government’s stance.

Asked if there was much difference between the Government’s position and Ms Connolly’s views, Mr Harris said: “No, I think the Government has been very clear and consistent that the current actions in the Gulf do not have a UN mandate.

“The Government has been consistent in its support for international law. I have huge respect for the President, I have huge respect for her mandate, her constitutional role and her office, and therefore her right to speak on issues of concern to her, and indeed issues of concern to the Irish people.”

On the impact of the conflict on energy prices and inflation, Mr Harris said the Irish Government was “monitoring this situation very carefully” and “will keep everything under review”.

Speaking at an ECOFIN meeting in Brussels, Mr Harris said this week would see 50,000 more households benefiting from the budgetary decision to expand the fuel allowance to Working Family Payment recipients, backdated to January.

He said the best way to address costs would be to increase supply.

Mr Harris said there was a need to get “a better understanding” of the “likely various economic impacts” of the conflict extending beyond weeks into a “prolonged period of time”.

He said both scenarios would have different impacts and require different responses.

“We need to be very careful that the economic medicine that may be administered is the correct prescription,” he said.

Meanwhile, a second government charter flight is due to arrive into Ireland from Abu Dhabi later this week.

A separate Government spokesman said that the majority of people stuck in transit or holidaying in the United Arab Emirates had made it home through charter and commercial flights.

Those involved will pay a fee towards the flight, in a practice the Government said was “normal, standard” and in line with repatriations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Government said it would “work with” anyone experiencing financial pressures.