NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Justice Minister confirms Irish government will continue to buy weapons from Israel

Justice Minister confirms Irish government will continue to buy weapons from Israel

Alan Shatter defends trade links in light of latest Gaza conflict

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, December 17, 2012, 7:33 AM

Updated Monday, December 17, 2012, 9:41 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

34 Comments

Ireland's Minister for Justice Alan Shatter defends trade links in light of latest Gaza conflict

Photo by Google Images

Ireland will continue to buy weapons from Israel, according to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.

The Fine Gael Minister has told the Irish parliament that the policy will continue despite Israel’s policy on Gaza.

The Dublin government has spent over $20million on Israeli weapons in recent years according to a report in the Sunday Independent newspaper.

The UN has claimed that Israel was guilty of war crimes during previous invasions of Gaza.

Israeli secret service agents have also been accused of using Irish passports during murders and political assassinations.

But Shatter has told Sinn Fein deputy Sean Crowe in the Irish parliament that the principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts has to be used by the Department of Defence for the acquisition of defensive equipment.

34 Comments

15 - 34 | See all comments

IrelandNorth | Dec 21, 2012, 08:29 AM EST

I think what the Rt Hon Dep Sean Crowe, TD SF was driving at was whether there was any conflict of interest in arms procurement by a Jewish-Irish Min for Justice, Equality and Defence (JED) from Israeli arms procurement agency he may be invested in? And to what extent it's advidable from a seperation of powers perspective for a government minister to be holding three ministerial portfolios, two of which are extremely sensitive. And if a triple portfolio carrier is paid three salaries, allowances and pensions? Or if they get a average thereof in the light of justification for such amalgamation being cost cutting?

Report abuse

seanomelb | Dec 20, 2012, 05:57 PM EST

Let China sleep for when she awakes the whole world will tremble" s said Napoleon.

Report abuse

darragh S | Dec 20, 2012, 01:08 AM EST

@hooligan6a I saw a nice doco on the tank battle Isreal had with Syria. I just goes to show you. It has a similarity with the American War of Independence. While the Yankee's had rifled barrels and could pick off the British Officers, the Isreali's were out numbered to and had better tanks which could fire in elevated positions. Syria was repeatedly cought in tank traps and limped home despite having such a high numerical advantage. This should serve as another example to China's more recent assertions about its numbers and its ambitions. Just saying.

Report abuse

seanomelb | Dec 19, 2012, 06:51 PM EST

Hooligan by name and hooligan by nature.

Report abuse

hooligan6a | Dec 19, 2012, 12:48 PM EST

Since 1948, Israel has been attacked by Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Hamas(Palestinians). And Israel, a much smaller nation has beat their butt every time. I know this pisses off all you bigots but you better live with it. Israel is here to stay and when the Arabs run out of oil, they can go back to herding goats. Up the IDF.

Report abuse

esatdigiwank | Dec 19, 2012, 02:23 AM EST

Does that mean our justice minister is now Alan 'Shrapnel -oops!

Report abuse

seanomelb | Dec 18, 2012, 06:59 PM EST

I dunno Tom eggs are 4 bucks a dozen in Melbourne!!

Report abuse

merefalow | Dec 18, 2012, 06:36 PM EST

money,overcomes principle.if ireland cant sympathise with an impoverished and invaded country,by a stronger and merciless foe,?there is no hope for justice.

Report abuse

tbradynumber1 | Dec 18, 2012, 05:53 PM EST

To Caoimhin: You said the following in your post: "As an Irishman I’m outraged that Shatter representing Ireland is doing business with war-criminals and child murders, its Barbaric and obscene that our Taxes will help keep these murders productive at what they do best." So let me understand you. You think that the Arabs are all good and the Israelis are all bad. And you also think, I'm guessing, that there was not the slightest reason for the Israelis to mount an assault on the Gaza strip recently. The Israeli 'murderers' as you call them were just doing what they do best for the sake of killing innocent people? Is that what you believe? From where I'm standing I feel some empathy for the Palestinians because I see them as being uses as pawns in a war they want no part of. They have suffered for long enough as have the Israelis and I bet if you got the people of both nations around a table (it would want to be a big table) you would come up with a resolution to stop the violence. But the problem, as I say, is that outside forces are using Palestine as a platform to attack Israel and the Palestinians are somewhat powerless to prevent this.

Report abuse

tbradynumber1 | Dec 18, 2012, 05:42 PM EST

To WoundedKnee. Amazing how you can only see one side of the story. I guess you never heard of the 700 or so missiles that were fired into Israeli territory since February of this year. But then again, why would you when the media reports only half the facts. Why wouldn't they defend themselves against such provocation. If it was Ireland being attacked do you think people would stand idly by?

Report abuse

WoundedKnee | Dec 18, 2012, 03:33 PM EST

"the Israeli developed Cornershot which allows a weapon to be fired around corners." Now I get it. This is how the Israelis are able to murder people who are trying to take cover in their homes.

Report abuse

ancavker | Dec 18, 2012, 02:24 PM EST

Tom S: Shows how little you know about Ireland's Defense Forces, but ties in with you running down everything about the place.

Report abuse

anglo-norman | Dec 18, 2012, 10:44 AM EST

This is good buisness by Shatter

Report abuse

darragh S | Dec 17, 2012, 11:42 PM EST

Classic Post Hoc Failure.

Report abuse

cillowen | Dec 17, 2012, 11:34 PM EST

poor bastr..... foreed to pay reparations - may the wretched country be fracked beneath the sea. the effers didn't do enough for shatter's tribe during wwii.

Report abuse