Sligo Councillors offer widespread support for Occupied Territories Bill

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

A silent protest was held during the December monthly meeting of Sligo County Council as members of North West Mothers for Social Justice and the Sligo Palestinian Solidarity Campaign were present in the chamber for a debate on the Occupied Territories Bill which was submitted by Cllr Ann Higgins.

The group were welcomed at the start of the meeting by Cathaoirleach Donal Gilroy who said, “I know you are making a point and we all agree with your point but the posters aren’t adding to the decorum of our meeting. There is a place for these sort of things and this isn’t the place so I would ask you to keep them down.”

There was widespread support for Cllr Higgins’ motion which called for Sligo “Council opposes the exclusion of trade in services in the Occupied Territories Bill and writes to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, calling on her to include a ban on trade in services in the Government’s proposed Occupied Territories Bill with immediate effect.”

Speaking on behalf of the motion Cllr Higgins outlined the horrific state in which people are living in the West Bank, noting, “Donald Trump's widely lauded peace deal fails to even mention the West Bank.” She added, “Israel intends to stop a two state solution by seizing more Palestinian land.”

Cllr Higgins hit out the delay in passing the Occupied Territories Bill noting government promises before the last general election described the Bill as a priority.”

Cllr Arthur Gibbons spoke in support of the motion saying, “We are always united in relation to the plight of Palestine,” adding, “I ask people to know this Council is 100% behind that cause.”

Cllr Marie Casserly also backed the motion saying, “I am happy to support the motion,” describing the Occupied Territories Bill as “A non-violent pressure tool.”

Cllr Thomas Walsh also offered his support, acknowledging that the Bill was part of the programme for government. He pointed out that “Many of these motions never mention the US Government or embassies who could stop this war overnight.”

Cllr Fergal Nealon cited EU law when he commented, “A country can go it alone in relation to trade where it has concerns.” He added, “It sends an important message to Israel.”

Cllr Michael Clarke also spoke in favour of the motion saying, “It is not only the left that supports Palestine. The general public are very concerned about famine as a tool of war.”

Cllr Thomas Healy supported the motion but took issue with the words of Cllr Walsh when he said, “If Cllr Walsh wants to bring a motion hitting out at the Americans I’ll support that.”

Cllr Donal Gilroy was the final member to speak and he took gave his full support when he said, “I hope it is done as soon as possible.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.