The Palestinian flag will fly outside Clare County Council buildings for a week following a motion at the latest meeting of the county’s elected representatives.
It comes as a majority of members of this county’s local authority have voted to call on the Government to enact the legislation which would prohibit Ireland from trading with illegal Israeli-occupied settlements.
In an unusual move, the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Sixmilebridge Fianna Fáil Councillor Alan O’Callaghan, asked all present at this month’s meeting to stand for a moment of silence as a mark of respect to people of Palestine.
The touching display concluded a discussion instigated by a motion brought forward by Shannon Sinn Féin Councillor Donna McGettigan which asked that the Council call on the Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill.
The motion was tabled on foot of the International Court of Justice’s ruling in July that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is against international law.
If entered into legislation, Ireland would be prohibited from having any trade relationship with Israeli-occupied settlements.
Councillor McGettigan says history shows us that even at a local level, we can have a positive impact on the international stage.
The motion received support in the chamber which means Clare County Council will now write to the Government asking that work be expedited to pass the Bill into law.
In attendance at the meeting was Independent Senator Frances Black who first tabled the Bill in 2018.
The Bill has passed various stages in the Oireachtas but has been stalled at committee stage in the Dáil since 2020.
Previous Attorneys General had advised that it would be contrary to international law but hope has been revived this week as the current Attorney General has told Government party leaders there’s a “new context” to examine the Bill.
Senator Black say she’s “blown away” by the level of support for Palestine in Clare.
A separate motion brought forward by Clarecastle Sinn Féin Councillor Tommy Guilfoyle was also passed which means the Palestinian flag will fly outside Áras Contae an Chláir for a period of one week.
Independent Senator Eileen Flynn, who was also in the gallery for this week’s meeting and whose mother was from Ennis, says while the Bill has received political support throughout the country, the solidarity on show in Clare is particularly moving.
