Irish President Michael D. Higgins expressed outrage at the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for menacing Irish troops deployed to Lebanon as part of the United Stations Peace Keeping force. Higgins stated: “Members of the Irish Defence Forces are risking their lives, and their families are making this sacrifice, on behalf of defenceless civilians in southern Lebanese villages. We all daily think of them and the importance of their safety and provisions. Ireland’s contingent of 347 is part of an allocation of 10,000 UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Leabon) soldiers.
It is outrageous that the Israeli Defence Forces have threatened this peacekeeping force and sought to have them evacuate the villages they are defending. This is not only an insult to the most important global institution (U.N.), but it is also an insult to the soldiers and their families who have taken risks so we might all live in peace and protect the most vulnerable. I am sure that the courage being displayed by our contingent and their colleagues has the thoughts and prayers of all those who value peace, at home and abroad..”
Taoiseach Simon Harris stated, “Any firing in the vicinity of UNIFIL troops or facilities is reckless and must stop.” Taniste Micheal Martin, who is also Ireland’s Foreign Minister and Minister for Defence added, “the attacks on U.N. Peace Keeping Troops “illustrate the dangerous environment that peacekeepers are now operating within and the need for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel.”
United Nations base UNP 2-45, is better known as “Camp Shamrock.” The border with Israel is onlya few miles from Camp Shamrock. Irish soldiers have been part of peace keeping efforts in Lebanon for more than six decades. Let us pray for peace in the Holy Land.
Fourteen Billion Apples to be exact ($14B). From Irish Government Press releases: The European Commission launched a State aid investigation into Apple’s Corporation’s operations in Ireland. Both Ireland and Apple rejected the Commission’s 2016 decision and appealed.
Recently, The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), the EU’s highest court, found that the amount of tax paid by Apple was insufficient. Ireland’s Minister for Finance, Dr. Jack Chambers issued the following statement:
“The Apple case involved an issue that is now of historical relevance only; the Revenue opinions date back to 1991 and 2007 and are no longer in force; and Ireland has already introduced changes to the law regarding corporate residence rules and the attribution of profits of non-resident companies operating in the State.
Much has been said about Ireland’s corporation tax regime. However, a few key facts are often left out of the discussion. Ireland’s corporate tax policy, and broader industrial strategy, has consistently been focused on attracting real, substantive investment and the creation of employment. We have been very successful at this, and a low but substantive competitive tax rate is just one small part of the story.
The strengths for which we are admired are clear – the talent of our workforce, the quality of our education system and how it interacts with industry, our place at the heart of Europe, the stability of our political system, and that we are an English-speaking, common-law jurisdiction with predictable tax policy. Overall, we are seen a trusted and reliable partner, that honours commitments and gets things done. Ireland continues to work with our international partners to ensure a global solution is implemented which provides for fair and transparent global taxation.
The government will need to carefully consider what is the best course of action to take with this revenue, and I will be engaging with the party leaders over the coming weeks on the matter.”
I would suggest Ireland escrow a chunk of this mammoth windfall to fund costs associated with the eventual reunification of Ireland as well as upgrade the Irish health system to match that available in the Six Counties NHS.
The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Sports and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, announced that a National Plan for Irish Language in the Public Services has been has been published: “Today’s announcements herald the beginning of a new era in the journey towards embedding high-quality bilingual public services across the public sector, in line with the rights of the citizens of Ireland under the Constitution. “With the National Plan for Irish Language now published, it is intended that it will act as a roadmap for public bodies in terms of systematically increasing and improving the number and quality of Irish speakers in the public services, as well as increasing the number of staff who are competent in Irish in accordance with the Act’s 20% recruitment target.”
New Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches are called to be developed to increase teaching of the Irish Language.
U.S.A.’s Stella O’Leary has been announced as a recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad (2024). The award will be presented by President Michael D. Higgins at a ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin (the Irish Presidential Mansion in Phoenix Park) in January 2025.
Ms. O’Leary was a critical ingredient in efforts to keep President and Mrs. Clinton’s energies directed towards the hope for peace and reconciliation in Ireland. Irish Tainiste shated: “The Presidential Distinguished Service Award acknowledges the connection between the work of the recipients and our values as a nation, strengthening the ties between Ireland and the Diaspora.”
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming TD added: “We are immensely proud of our global Irish family.”
Each of this year’s recipients is a leader in their chosen field and rightfully deserving of the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards in recognition of their work and their contribution to enhancing Ireland’s reputation. Stella O’Leary is being recognized for her work on “Peace, Reconciliation and Development.”
O’Leary was appointed by President Biden as the U.S. Observer to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI). O’Leary is also the founder and President of the Irish American Democrats PAC. The main goal of the IAD is to support, “Democratic candidates who promote peace, justice and prosperity in Ireland.”
Stella is a native of Dublin and graduated from University College, Dublin. She archived a collection of rare Irish books and manuscripts at Catholic University upon her arrival in the U.S.A. in the 1960s. She also co-authored the reference volume, Classical Scholarship: An Annotated Bibliography, and is the mother of four children and a grandmother.
Find this and other John Myer’s Donnybrook columns HERE!
The new issue of iIrish has arrived, get yours from more than 450 locations – the complete list, sorted by zip, is on iIrish.us
Need a Laugh? Or many times that? Check out the Wise Craics words for this month
The Irish have always been great writers, this month’s selection is no different. …
*John is an attorney in Cleveland. He can be reached at [email protected].
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive news and event emails from iIrish, 14615 Triskett Road, Cleveland, OH, 44111-3123, US, https://iirish.us. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.
Get the shenanigans and the soul in your inbox, every other Wednesday, for free. Reminders, news, and events that come in after we went to print, and last-minute updates to those events too!
Monthly newsmagazine serving the Irish and their friends from Cleveland to Clearwater. We cover the movers, shakers & music makers each and every month.
iIrish now has branded merch! Be an official iIrish Craictivist, or grab other soft, warm, breathable gear.
Click below to visit our store and grab your favorite iIrish gear today!
