Ahead of an upcoming Dáil motion by People Before Profit, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has unequivocally denied allegations that Shannon Airport is being utilized by the United States for transporting military supplies to Israel. Speaking on the RTÉ This Week in Politics program, Varadkar emphasized that Shannon Airport is not facilitating any war-related activities, and the transportation of munitions requires explicit permission signed off by the Department of Transport and the Minister for Transport.
Varadkar acknowledged concerns about double standards internationally regarding conflicts, citing a perceived disparity in how actions by Israel in Gaza and Russia in Ukraine are evaluated. However, he affirmed that he does not believe such double standards exist in Ireland. He stressed the importance of consistent application of international humanitarian law and expressed his concerns that varying standards from some Western powers could undermine support for Ukraine globally.
Addressing the influx of Ukrainian refugees to Ireland, Varadkar expressed pride in the country for welcoming over 100,000 refugees since the start of the conflict but emphasised the need to manage the flow effectively. He advocated for a controlled approach, aligning Ireland’s offerings with those of other Western countries and discouraging the secondary movement of refugees seeking protection.
Varadkar concluded by emphasising the importance of honesty in managing migration, highlighting the need for Ireland to ensure its accommodations, work opportunities, and financial support are comparable to those offered by other Western nations, such as the UK, France, and the Netherlands.
Irish Samachar English News