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A BRITISH MULTINATIONAL already under investigation by two local authorities for planning violations is operating another store in Dublin without proper planning permission.
Documents seen by TheJournal.ie show that discount retailer Dealz recently opened a retail store near the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, at Fonthill Retail Park, which has improper planning permission.
Under the Government’s 2005 retail planning guidelines, local authorities have zoned many out of town locations for the sale of goods of a bulky nature, rather than retail.
One such site is at Fonthill Retail Park in west Dublin, near the Liffey Valley shopping centre, which is zoned for the sale of bulky goods rather than retail.
A document signed by Siobhán Duff, a senior development planner with South Dublin County Council, says that the site is zoned EP2 (bulky goods), the objective of which is:
To facilitate opportunities for manufacturing, research and development facilities, light industry and employment and enterprise-related uses in industrial areas and business parks.
The Dealz shop, however, involves changing the use of the former ‘bulky-goods’ warehouse “to use as a discount store for the sale of non-bulky convenience goods”, she says.
Not exempt
South Dublin County Council has thus ruled that the development was not exempted from Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
In a letter to an applicant seen by TheJournal.ie, the final decision was taken by a senior council planner, who ruled that the store “does require planning permission”.
However, it appears that SDCC has not taken any enforcement action against the company over this finding, and refused to comment after enquiries from TheJournal.ie.
Asked why no enforcement action had been taken against Dealz, a SDCC spokeswoman said: “South Dublin County Council do not comment on individual cases.”
Exploiting
Fianna Fáil’s Dublin spokesman John Lahart called for the council to act.
“If it isn’t exempt from planning and requires planning then enforcement should be used,” he told TheJournal.ie in a statement.
A local Independent Alliance councillor said that the approach of the council’s planning department to stores which contravene zoning is shameful.
“This council might have the poorest record of all local authorities throughout the country for enforcement,” Cllr Deirdre O’Donovan told TheJournal.ie.
Where is the appetite to go toe-to-toe with businesses, with guys who genuinely believe the rules don’t apply to them?
“The problem is that businesses know this, they know the council has no appetite to enforce, and they’re exploiting it.
It is shameful, absolutely shameful.
“It takes 12 weeks to go through process, and this council has sat for years on various enforcement matters, not serving warning notices and not enforcing.
As a councillor I’ve had stand-up rows in the council at the planning desk, with officials telling me I’m not entitled to planning information as a public representative!
“Councillors are elected to act on behalf of the public, and that’s what they tell us.”
Shocking
O’Donovan said that one takeaway opened the South Dublin County Council area a year ago, despite having its application turned down by SDCC – and An Bórd Pleanála.
She claims it was then granted retention planning permission by SDCC’s planning department.
A second local representative, Cllr Madeleine Johansson of the People Before Profit alliance, said the situation was “shocking”.
“It’s shocking that Dealz has been allowed to operate without planning permission in the Fonthill Retail Park,” Johansson told TheJournal.ie.
“The council should act immediately to enforce the rules on this profit-making company.”
Other Dealz issues
Calls by TheJournal.ie to the Irish representatives of Dealz management were not returned.
Last weekend we revealed that the Dealz chain is under scrutiny in two separate local authority areas for contravening planning permission.
Wexford County Council told TheJournal.ie that it had served a warning letter on 13 August to Dealz over the chain’s outlet in Wexford Retail Park. It is understood the premises, formerly a tile store, was zoned for bulky goods, rather than for retail.
The company had four weeks to reply to the warning letter. Wexford County Council is currently considering enforcement under Part VIII of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, which makes it an offence to carry out an unauthorised development.
Dealz, owned by UK firm Poundland, which was recently taken over by a South African retailer, previously applied for retention planning permission at the Wexford store before Christmas of last year, but was told by the Council that the application was invalid.
Galway
Earlier this year, Galway City Council also refused Dealz permission to retain signage on its Eyre Square premises in the city.
The UK-owned chain submitted a conservation report with the application for the building – a former men’s County Club dating back to 1850 – arguing that the signage was “sympathetic” to its location.
After complaints by An Taisce, City Council planners ruled that the building was within the Eyre Square Architectural Conservation Area and the sign contravened it.
Last month, Dublin City Council gave Dealz changed planning permission to take over the Epicurean Food Hall, which sits at the confluence of Liffey and Abbey Streets in Dublin 1. The food hall ceased trading in March after 16 years in business.
Starbucks
The British retailer’s planning issues follow several high-profile cases of multinationals opening stores without planning permission.
Earlier this week, Starbucks opened a new outlet in Waterford City without proper planning,TheJournal.ie revealed.
Waterford Council’s planning department say they have opened a planning enforcement case on the multinational, which was the chain’s first to open in the city centre.
In Cork City meanwhile, a decision on a planning application from Starbucks for its outlet on Princes Street next to the English Market is expected on 21 September.
The cafe is one of three outlets Starbucks opened in Cork in the past 18 months ago without the necessary planning.
In March, An Bord Pleanála body ruled that the three developments – the other two are in Opera Lane and Patrick Street – amount to a change of use, meaning planning permission was needed for all outlets.
Starbucks recently applied for retention planning permission for the Princes Street store to use the unit as a coffee shop with seating.
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Israel declares a four hour ceasefire. People think its safe to get some badly needed supplies. Two and a half hours into the so called ceasefire Israel bombs a market with huge casualties.
This is deliberate murder of innocent civilians and a war crime. Yesterday, they also shelled ambulances killing many people.
This is not war, it is slaughter. It is massacre and genocide.
If any other “nation” did this there would be immediate sanctions
Expel the Israeli ambassador !!
27 rockets were fired at Israel during this ceasefire
Proof it……
@charles are you defending the numerous slaughters by Israel yesterday ?
I have little time for Hamas, but how many Israeli citizens were killed yesterday by Hamas rockets ?
How many innocents did Israel slaughter ?
How is pointing out that hamas broke the ceasefire defending any innocent death?
So Charles, can you condemn the slaughter of innocents by the IDF without reservation ?
I have done several times. Nobody supports innocent deaths. Your rant against Israel conveniently forgot to mention the 27 rockets and in the interests of balance I felt it appropriate to mention it.
Charles ; Away Demon !
@ Charles….senator Morris knows the IDF is deliberately targeting the civilians…… because he was sitting in the cockpit of a plane , or tank . , oh! Wait!
@taxi. I like the good senator. I disagree with some of his points though.
How many hit ?
So Charles how many civilians were killed by these rockets ?
How many civilians were killed b Israel ?
@taxi bill naw, he is just stating the obvious
Against the backdrop of the current Gaza conflict, several pro-regime Egyptian columnists have written about Hamas’ demands to open the Rafah crossing as a condition for a ceasefire, and claimed that this conflict was against Egypt more than it was against Israel. They said that getting the Rafah Crossing opened, with the aim of assuring Hamas’ continued control in Gaza, was the real reason for the current round of fighting, and that the fighting was unrelated to the Palestinian national struggle.
Michael if you want to interview me contact my agent.
Charles – who was the ceasefire between? Because Hamas didn’t agree to a ceasefire.
So in effect Israel had a proposed 4 hour coffee break from murdering people, then awoke their soldiers from their siesta early when they heard that people thought they had time to get a few groceries in.
Lol Charles is he a mossad agent ?
@ Charles well said, , I shall reiterate that condones the deaths of innocents civilians …
But remember there is only one body count Hamas is concerned about, that’s the death of 60 odd IDF soldiers, why else keep firing rockets into Israel.
They will at the end of this cycle of violence see this as a great victory By then they may have killed 100 soldiers. It is quite obvious to even the most anti Israel person that they dot care about their own (civilian) casualties.
Leaving aside rockets etc, that system of tunnels must have cost tens of millions of $ sometimes running up to 4 km into Israel , Even if it was used for air raid shelters you could understand it, they chose to waste thousands of tonnes of concrete on building them, where it is aledged that up to a hundred children have died in their construction.
Call me crazy Rh, if hamas had the best interests of their people at heart they’d have demanded or agreed to an extended humanitarian ceasefire days ago.
Remember the first attempt at a ceasefire in this conflict? Hamas is not looking for peace and never was.Egypt has no intention of amending the terms of its proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said Saturday. The Egyptian proposal, which was submitted to Israel Tuesday, stated that both sides must halt all attacks and only then negotiate the terms of a longer lasting truce. The proposal was accepted by Israel but rejected by Hamas. I believe that there is a bit of faction fighting going on in the Hamas camp between the 7 groups within that organisation and dealing with them must be difficult to say the least.
Charles, p*ss off. You horrid troll. You are an affront to humanity. Fognostical, there’s not even words to describe how offensive I find you. You are a cretin. Go back to underneath your rock. I wouldn’t even argue with you two anymore. You are disgusting humans.
Ceasefire means we can slaughter more innocent civilians, in Israeli speak
And you too Taxi Bill. The three of you should get a house together. Although your logic would be to turn up at someone else’s house and tell them that your family lived there 2,000 years ago according to some book, so you’re going to take their house and bomb their neighbours. You people are vomit.
Charles if u had ur land taken fm u and you people murdered daily would you not be angry???
@dog. Yet you will insist on name calling. Go back to primary school.
Your an idiot Charles, all you deserve is name calling. People have debated with you but you just don’t get it. Your a mug mate. “Go back to primary school”. Good one. Now head off on your sick way, defending the murder of children, the slaughter of adults and the subjugation of an entire people, despite the mounting evidence to the contrary. You are clearly a nasty piece of work. I sincerely hope you have no friends apart from the virtual fools here that support you’re warped view of the world. I am sick of Israel, and I am sick of you. You piece of absolute filth.
@stephen. Undoubtedly, but seeing the cycle of violence I’d have to examine how realistic my goals were ( elimination of israel) On this basis I’d likely try to outmanoeuvre the israelis and say fine you be israel, we’ll be Palestine and leverage the publicity this current conflict is receiving to guarantee future peace. Peace is their ultimate goal isn’t it?
someone send this dog fcuker back to the pound!
@dog. Go away. You made your points ( about 5 different times) last night. At this stage I’m worried you’re hitting on me ;)
Taxi who is Senator Morris?
Yeah, and leave the liars supporting the IDF Rory. LIke from Charles: “I’d have to examine how realistic my goals were ( elimination of israel) ” Hamas no longer call for the removal of Israel, and their charter has not been in use since 2006. More smoke and mirrors from the Israeli bunch. These people are renowned on The Journal for their trolling. When they don’t troll people comment about them, asking how long before they turn up with their vile views. Charles is the smartest, Taxi Bill is a thick and Fog is not Irish, most likely Israeli.
Yep Charles. And I will continue, you cretin. You can say go away, but unless you bomb me like your masters do to innocents I’ll still be here. I bet you wish you could, just kill those that don’t fall into your ideological standpoint.
Get a room lads … none of us are interested in your tit for tat crap.
This goes for both sides of the coin … you’re all annoying me!
So Charles , it’s all right so, for the Israeli’s to murder small kids so , because Hamas fired some small rockets that were intercepted by them ?
Is there a particular reason that these young innocent children & UN Workers are a threat to Israel ?
Please answer ? You appear to be the Resident Spokesperson on behalf of The Israeli Government, to The Journal.ie , in these matters !
Either Charles is ignoring the facts out the, he is willfully ignorant or he is just a moron. I don’t believe he is a moron, so I’m taking the middle option. The facts are there but he keeps ignoring them, such as any efforts at ceasefire fail to contact Hamas or ignore the position of Hamas. Why would Hamas agree to a ceasefire that puts them in the very same position, a country under blockade by a foreign power. Save the propaganda Charles, many Journal readers are educated on these matters.
Where’s Adrian? AAAADRIIIIIANNN!
Adrian Parkes, that is.
Anyone?
Charles your sophistry knows no bounds!
Norris should know better. As a gay man, if lived in Gaza and Hamas got wind, that he was Homsexual, he would be getting a bullet to the back of the head, and dragged through the streets on the back of a motorbike. Norris’s sexuality is an affront to Allah.
Last I heard he was organising a list of volunteers to monitor irish news forums etc for evidence of israeli hasbara agents. No, really.
The reason behind this latest conflict has damn all to with egypt it has to do with the palestinian unity government and their unilateral push to be recognised as a state in the un. Netanyahu has said after the start of the round up of palestinians in the west bank during the investigation of the murders of the 3 israeli teens that israel would no way hand over security of the west bank and jordanian border to the palestinians or any other entity not for any agreement . Therefore putting an end during his tenure to any hope of a 2 state solution.
Charles they have put forward the details of one year peace deal which includes a complete cessation of all military operations which has been agreed to by plo fatah and islamic jihad as long as israel stop the bombardment ,open the border crossing and ease the blockade, during which time negotiations can take place for a more permanent peace. Israel have so far said no
@charles
One that I’m prepared to sign up to.
To be honest, if he had offered military training, counter intelligence and guerilla warfare workshops, I’d be banging down his door – trying to get in, you understand!
A few points of fact that seem to be misunderstood or ignored.
Israel not Hamas initiated the current round of violence on the pretext of the murder of the settler teenagers. Israeli police have said they do not believe Hamas murdered the teenager. Either way the Israeli government had no interest in due process and ceased the opportunity to commence aerial assaults in the West Bank (the part of the occupied territories where civilians aren’t currently being massacred).
Secondly, Gaza tunnels into Egypt and Israel have existed for decades (well before Hamas ever existed). This has been well documented and it is known that ten of millions of dollars of goods pass through these tunnels every year to provide Palestinians with commodities like food and medical supplies that they cannot acquire due to Israels blockade. At one time it was claimed that there were 1200 tunnels between Gaza and Egypt.
Claims by Israel and its cheerleaders that these tunnels are a recent discovery and part of Hamas’s infrastructure are inaccurate- bordering on deluded.
Scipio how are gay men and women received by Hasidic and Jewish settler communities?
Lynching I suspect.
Baby delivered by section from dead Palestinian mother has died.
Why is it that it’s almost taken as a given that if one side is bad the other must be good? If you are for Hamas then you’re against Israel and vice versa. From what I’ve seen there are in fact two sets of black hats in this tragedy namely the government and armed forces of Israel and Hamas. The good guys are the victims, Palestinian and Israeli of the bombs, bullets, rockets, missiles and shells that these two sides throw at each other with the savage abandon of small children.
Another thing that strikes me is how anyone who is against the State of Israel is accused of being an anti-semite. An anti-semite is against people of the Jewish faith and not against a state. One can be against the actions of the IDF and the Israeli government and love the jewish faith, one can be against them and be a jew even.
If it is valid to accuse those opposing Israel as being anti-semite then one could equally accuse Israel of being an apartheid state regarding its attitude towards Palestinians. Apartheid comes from Afrikaans and means “the state of being seperate” (roughly translated). Is this not the policy of the Israeli government? Do they not, time and again demonstrate their wish to be seperate from the Palestinians? Is this approach not institutionalised in their system?
Is it not then reasonable and just to suggest a boycott of Israel similar to that carried out against South Africa and for precisely for the same reasons?
I wonder how many replies were in this convo
@charles
Since you’re a stickler for balance
Palestinian Deaths – 1400 mostly innocent women and kids
Israeli deaths – 58 (56 IDF)
2 innocents versus 1400. How can you not see this as anything other than slaughter?
The narrative has now changed from stopping Hamas rocket fire to destroying tunnels. Neither matter. It is simply designed to starve out Palestinians, terrify them and force them out of their country so it will be only for the Jewish. A disgusting state that deserves the isolation of North Korea, unless they dramatically change their tune. They should be the pariah of the world. We should also boycott the US, the number one aggressor on planet Earth. A rogue violent state that bullies the rest of the world, their exceptionalism is their penchant for violence.
Michael that was a fantastic opening post
yip,yip,yip,yip, from the little doggie.
But how many hit any kind of target…Israel has the facility to intercept incoming rockets, a facility that the Palestinians do not have…a situation fully exploited by Israel
Charles — You are a moral abomination.
charles..you’re a w@nker
fognostical…johnny no mates..really you should think about that as a new name, sad little fella . Uneducated lil w@nker…fcuk off back down under ur rock dickhe@d
Fog is a Dickhe’d
Unfortunately both you Fognostical and Charles are wrong. You have ddecided to follow the israeli propaganda hook, line and sink. This reveals most unfortunately flaws within your moral character. To follow the party line of “it is all Hamas fault” shows no moral fortitude, nor ability to question the reality. David Norris is a giant of a man compared to you.
#
What is the plan of action from this? They might as well be chatting about it down the pub. Nothing done as usual.
It’s keeping up the illusion of democracy.
Maybe they will conduct an enquiry into the €3 billion missing from the EU aid donation? The Dutch are also concerned as to the whereabouts of around €250 million .
fog….Yawn!!!
Fog you have proof please forward it to the relevant authorities, there’s a good lad.
Fog off.
Flanagan OUT .
The Terrorist state’s Ambassador Out.
PS Charlie Flanagan you a a disgrace
Charlie Flanagan should renounce his membership of the “Friends of Isreal” based on grounds of terrorism.
Why is Israel portrayed as the only democratic state in the Middle East when a significant proportion of the people living there cannot vote and are discriminated against. It is time for the apartheid state to end. Would apartheid South Africa be called a democracy?
Anyone who believes Israel is a democratic state is either a fool or a liar.
This is a country who prohibits mixed marriage between Jews and non-Jews and prohibits same-sex marriage. They injected Ethopian Jews with the birth control drug Depo Provera without their knowledge or consent, thus sterilising them. They segregate school children and have separate busing for Palestinians. In same instances they even have separate roads for Arabs and Jews.
That’s without mentioning the horrendous living conditions many Palestinians are forced to endure. All of this needs to stop but sadly our Western leaders are toothless and only care about their own PR. Witness Obama’s near silence and Cameron blaming Hamas for ‘starting it’. Playground stuff for people none of us should take seriously.
Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization but what doesn’t get mentioned is how Hamas came about in the first place. The organization was founded as a response to the oppression and subjugation of Palestinians by Isreal. Palestinians have been losing their homes, livelihoods, and even their lives due to Israeli expansion into Gaza and the West Bank that has gone on for decades. I don’t support or condone terrorism in any way, shape, or form, but I don’t know what I would do if I were ever facing the type of oppression that the Palestinians have faced for so many years.
Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood/ ISIS/ Boko Haram, all franchises of the head-hacking group.
Of course they have segregation. They are afraid of suicide bombers. How do people not understand this?
Forget your meds again fog.. you naughty boy
“Of course they have segregation. They are afraid of suicide bombers”
And did you ever ask yourself why those suicide bombers exist in the first place? One fact you are either unaware of or deliberately ignoring is that Hamas was not founded until 1987, at which time the occupation was already 20 years old.
@ Niall
Israel is a democracy … it’s just a different democracy to us. In Ireland, we have laws against abortion and gay marriage that to other democracies make us seem backwards and non democratic. But Ireland is also a democracy isn’t it? Surely a democracy means ability to vote (and yes I acknowledge some people living in Israel can’t. Some people in Ireland can’t vote either of course), having a justice system that doesn’t include stoning, etc. You get my point I’m sure?
This article is interesting as a view of apartheid. It is a couple of years old but an interesting insight into the issues you have raised. The Guardian is notoriously Pro Palestine so it is a fair assessment of whether Israel is an apartheid state or not from a South African who has lived in both SA & Israel.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/26/israel-arabs-not-apartheid
Hi John Everyman So Israel is the only place where suicide bombers have struck then.
@ Bryan
I’m aware they are a democracy if you judge it by their own terms. The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel calls Israel a Jewish state and so anyone can concede that Jews are fairly represented there.
I don’t care about semantics though, I’d rather focus on how anyone can promote and condone a country that has segregation running throughout its state, that has sterilised civilians without their knowledge or consent, that attacks UN facilities and that prohibits marriage between their people from marrying outside of their religion, thus keeping their people ‘pure’.
Leaving aside you trying to bring Muslims in to this with your stoning comment as well, I’d rather just focus on that point above.
Maybe what the people up in the north did when they found out that the British army hadn’t come in to save them from the B-Specials, Ani.
“So Israel is the only place where suicide bombers have struck then”
Eh no…..
I didn’t say that. Forgive me, but I’m not quite understanding the point you are trying to make, or even if you have one.
The article says Israel is not an apartheid state, it should have said “Israel is not a South African style apartheid state.” The arguments presented in at are, at best, weak, ar worst spurious. Claiming that the state of Israel’s actions are not based on apartheid but security is an incredibly myopic exercise in semantics. The claim is, ironically enough, not new, similar arguments were heard in europe in the thirties and forties about another section of the population.
Like him or love him, Senator Norris is a very passionate man – certainly gave me a few hair-raising moments during his speech on Gaza in the Seanad.
26000 plus signatures – please sign
Why aren’t you calling for the expulsion of the Palestinian ambassador too?
Pedal on troll – you’ll not get someone to bite here
Because you’re anti Israeli and more concerned about scoring points than you are in the actual events. There are crimes being committed on both sides. Only difference is Hamas can’t get its rockets far enough. As for “here” pal, it’s not an anti Israeli sanctuary – far from it. Most here recognise war crimes on both sides. Israel’s disproportionate response is reprehensible. But it does NOT absolve Hamas…
Totally agree, Hamas is not innocent in all this. Why arnt Egypt opening the border to Gaza as well. Theres a lot more going on here than we are being told.
I ain’t your “pal” and frankly, I hold governments to a higher standard as should we all.
There are certainly wrongs being committed by both sides but the sustained murdering, including a sizeable number of children is beyond defending and I for one would like this little State of ours, which has a history of conflict, to say there has got to be a better way and the widespread bloodshed has to stop.
Didn’t Norris’s lover get locked up by an Israeli court for sexual offences against a minor? and didn’t Norris then write to request leniency from the Israeli court…conflict of interest anyone..
Senator Norris wasn’t too put out about any offences committed against children by his lover…but now he is all in a lather wanting to protect the children.
And maybe my comment could not be deleted as it only states facts.
Signed and shared on Facebook.
Egypt do what israel tell them to. The new egyption regime is no friend of the palestinians
Is Norris still receiving a disability pension on top of his salary for that magic hepatitis he contracted on some holiday?
Larry what has your question got to do with the article?
Remember the same Senator is held in high esteem in this country, Ireland is not America mud slinging has the opposite affect to what you would expect.
Imagine if we had actually elected this man president
This is not good idea.
I believe that the Gaza war is horrific and pray for a ceasefire.
I do not believe it is either useful or effective at bringing an end to the fighting.
Ireland should be using it’s influence to bring both parties to the table and bring about peace.
Expelled Israel’s ambassador today and stop the talking. Act now to stop this genocide.
Expel. Ooops
And how exactly does Ireland throwing out the Israeli ambassador lead to a peaceful end to the conflict?
Charlie Flanagan is an idiot he’s already shown his incompetency in foreign affairs department
Sometimes Norris can be a bit of a blowhard but he is absolutely correct here, the deliberate targeting of civilians is a war crime!
By both sides?
Joe of course charge both Hamas and Israel with war crimes
Hamas has murdered 3 civilians to date through targeting.
Israel has murdered in excess of 1000 civilians to date through targeting.
Well said David Norris.
Well done to Averil Power, too. Very emotional contribution.
The Irish conscience is opening up ; awaking as it were !
“you will not resolve this problem until like we did in this country you involve both of the participants”
Hear! Hear!
Ban ki moon is as much use as a one legged man in a one minute arse kicking competition, !!!!
The IDF must be shitting themselves
Sharpen you fingers Keyboard warriors for justice … the game is about to reach a new level after we hear what Charlie friend of Israel has to say !
What can you expect from a government that arrests peace activists, colludes in torture, tacitly supports transports of weapons through Shannon airport and refuses to speak for the people of Ireland who are outraged of what is going on. Instead they bow to EU pressures. They are only governers for that construct, not representatives of the people. I have only one word : ‘spineless, empty suits’.
Bolivia has just declared Israel a terrorist state and renounced a visa exemption agreement with it. The president Evo Morales filed a request with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to prosecute Israel for crimes against humanity. The Irish government should do the same. Bolivia broke off diplomatic relations with Israel in 2009 over a previous military operation in Gaza. The Irish government should do it now.
Chile, El Salvador, Brazil and Peru recalled their ambassodors.
Shame on the ‘empty suits’.
I hope the Irish people will come out en masse on Saturday to express their outrage on the slaughter in Gaza and show everyone that the government does not speak for them. Let all see that ‘the emperor has no clothes’.
There will be events in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Ennis, Nenagh and Bundoran. Details can be found on the Irish Palestinian solidarity campaign website.
So no condemnation of the Palestinian side. Of rockets being fired at Israeli civilians?
These marches are pro Palestinian and anti Israeli.
There should be a march against the violence on both sides…
Out of #Gaza far from #Hamas retaliation: misfired rocket killed children yday in Shati. Witness: militants rushed and cleared debris
— gabrielebarbati (@gabrielebarbati) July 29, 2014
How dare they defend themselves against terrorists trying to commit genocide on them with some home made rockets which are shot down by the iron dome system
Because O’Reilly the continous slaughter is being perpetrated by one side only
Hamas are firing rockets firstly in defence of their people who are being subjected to continued opression and having their land taken from under their feet. Gaza do not have an army or recognised military do therefore Hamas carry the tag of terrorists. Exactly what the IRA was labelled when fighting for freedom in this country. Israel are justifying their actions as retaliation but why have Hamas deemed it necessary to retaliate, because their people are subject to horrible opression and border restrictions. IDF have all the power and are using it to systematically wipe out all of Gaza. Israel have the exact situation they have desired, a flimsy excuse to wage all out terror on a near defencless population.
I don’t understand this ‘they have the excuse now’ argument. The fact is if Israel were the monsters lots insist they are, they could have flattened gaza in an afternoon. This hasn’t and won’t happen. Hamas have a great opportunity to sue for peace and start 2 state negotiations. It’s not want they want though. They want Israel gone.
Hamas leaders are safe in Qatar and their children have been sent to schools in Europe so they have nothing to lose unlike the unfortunate Palestinians whom they use like slaves.
Fog that has already been discredited do try to keep up.
Qatar supplies Hamas (the organisation) with hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as funding their collection of luxury lifestyles with limitless budgets – Mashaal lives in a luxurious hotel penthouse, Haniyah owns a $24 million dollar plot.
They all (the leadership) have multiple Swiss Bank accounts (Switzerland, Austria, Cayman etcetera)
Fog proof or you just telling lies and spreading propaganda.
Qatar supplies Hamas with weapons that they bought from the US. Go figure that one
The same guy also rubbished this story himself on twitter.
Prove it or shut it.
Can you pleasse us how you see this ending, as in what is the next step for israel.
What is there end game here, is it to kill all people in palistine.
Kill all in hamas then what, who will replace them, I for one hope that ISIS will take over, then you and all who support the israeli war machine will suffer the same fait as those inocent people in GAZA
That was for fogi and the rest of those israeli defenders.
Sadly you and those others who are not worth mentioning here, have driven me to absolutely hate everything israeli
Sad world
Ireland should follow in the footsteps of Bolivia and officially declare Israel a terrorist state, Expelling the ambassador, boycotting all trade and cutting all ties.
1943 – liquidation of the Warsaw ghetto
2014 – liquidation of the Gaza ghetto
Very sad
The new Nazis Con
Con I’d ask you to read this:
http://brockley.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/gazawarsaw-ghetto.html?spref=tw&m=1
I have to wonder, when they finish off the Palestinians, who will they come for next?
Charles … thank you for posting that.
I am deeply uncomfortable with the comparison of Gaza to the Warsaw Ghetto for the exact reason that is in that text (I have edited it a little as there was information in between that we have all seen here before):
In the Warsaw Ghetto, 400,000 Jews were forced into an area of 1.3 square miles. Gaza is 139 square miles with a population of 1.8 million. The population density of Gaza is high: 13,069.1/sq mi … The population density of the Warsaw Ghetto was 307,692.
That really is astonishing …
When some of the Warsaw ghetto inhabitants fought(as they were right to) back the occupiers labelled them ‘Terrorists’.
To quote – irony of ironies – Pastor Neimoller:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Being honest the Dáil is the house for this discussion !!!
Yeah ? …well where are they then ?
Just more confirmation of the spinelessness of our Taoiseach. The inclusion of Ukraine in this debate is just political cynicism on behalf of ‘our’ government.
well said Seb.
no mention of all the other conflicts that our neutrality demands we condemn !
Have you found the law that says we are neutral yet? Or are you still relying on independant.ie quotes from
Enda?
You can shove your faux praise for my post, Dermot.
We as a people, correctly, condemn the oppressive and immoral actions taken by the Israeli state against the people of Gaza. This is a conflict like no other and to attempt to confuse it with others is exactly the cynicism I referred to in my previous post.
@seb it is not a conflict, it is a slaughter
You’re preaching to the choir, Michael.
Wayne …. I know who you are ! and I know what you are on about …
Are you calling the Taoiseach of Ireland a Liar ? That can’t be done even under Dail privilege ..
.Silly Wayne playing with fire !
Sorry Dermot, didn’t realise what I was dealing with.
Take it easy, man.
cool seb …no panic ..I do pick the pot up by the wrong handle sometimes too !
Still waiting for you to quote the law to me? Of course you know who I am I don’t hide behind a anonymous accounts.
Here is the text of the Seville declaration the official Legal binding international document agreed and signed by the Irish state
“Ireland has drawn attention, in this regard, to its traditional POLICY of military neutrality”
Sorry link to full wording , now show me the legal requirement for Ireland to be a neutral state
@Dermot
LOL – That was a pretty good retort for someone I assumed was mad.
Dinternet boi, mad ting altogedder!
Wayne you are a tosser wtf is your point?
Why not more of a debate on the Ukraine crisis, maybe it’s because we fear Russia more than Israel, Ukraine crisis or war to be more exact could have a very real effect on this country and our European neighbours. If Russian tanks were poised on the door of Poland and ready to roll through Europe in the morning I wonder if our brave senators would be in such a hurry to go debating , they’d be busy packing their bags and flying off to the U.S. or some other safe haven. It’s a pointless talking shop, bunch of idiots embarrassing themselves and wasting tax payers money .
couldn’t bate it with a schtick …. like !
Wayne you are the caddy …..I’m Timber Woods…thanks for the TEE-UP.. watch your dream of a Natofied Eire fly down our Fair Way …
An chead uimhir, Numero Uno, Numero Primo, First number, Gold Position …you get the point ..
Article 1 …
The Irish nation hereby affirms its inalienable, indefeasible, and sovereign right to choose its own form of Government, to determine its relations with other nations, and to develop its life, political, economic and cultural, in accordance with its own genius and traditions.
Look at the last word ; Traditions – constitutionally protected …let that be the end of now Wayne good ladeen …there are people watching and they might know you …and your friends in J.S.O.C. may find it counter-productive !
Slan leat a mhic agus go neirigh an bothar leat !
I like you Dermot!
I love peace ..it gives me a great sense of humour , or is it that it humours my senses ? Time will tell !
Keep up the good fight Seb – anyone can kill children – that’s cowardice of the lowest grade in my opinion !
You certainly have a great sense of humour – no doubt.
Take care and good night.
Mike thanks again for your personal abuse it makes me warm and fuzzy inside that you have nothing else.
Dermot, I am not sure a government policy is a tradition, you simply have nothing the wording on the Seville deceleration repeats the word Policy, if all three branches of GOV approve we could go to war in the AM! There is not
Horgan v an Taoiseach April 2003
“(e) interpretation of the Constitutional principles as argued for by the plaintiff would clearly permit a challenge to a war declared by the Executive even with the approval of the Dáil under Article 28.3, on the grounds that it was a war that did not comply with justice and morality, or the principle of pacific settlement of disputes, under Articles 29.1 and 29.2.
I accept and hold with the submission of the defendants that the provisions of Article 29.1 — 3 are to be seen therefore as statements of principle or guidelines rather than binding rules on the Executive.”
But you keep referencing obscure wording and poorly phrased political quotes on a newspaper rather than proven case law!!
Good Time Charlie should hang his head in shame. The UN report on how we treat women in Ireland under his watch says it all. He also stands by while his fellow ministers take resource teachers from the travelling community children, his legacy of being in power when the mother and baby homes were open. No integrity whatsoever.
“Charlie” is a slang word for cocaine !
Not in my name Flanagan, not in my name.
“I killed 13 Palestinian kids in a day”…. Israeli sniper.
An Israeli sniper has admitted to killing 13 children in the Gaza Strip in one day, as Tel Aviv continues its aerial and ground attacks in the besieged enclave. Posting on an Instagram account of a Palestinian, David Ovadia released a photo of himself holding a sniper rifle.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/07/31/373518/israeli-sniper-admits-killing-13-kids/
Iran? The home of press freedom? I know you lot are gullible but this one takes the proverbial.
Fognostical …Just to let you know… that Instagram went viral before it was removed…
Fog . ; define – press freedom !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_m98GAdqKM ..Russell Brand knows whats going on!
Astonishing of course they were B***dy deliberate one shot from small arms weapon, tank! rocket, artillery etc possibly accidental/negligent discharge 3+ al hitting targets not harmlessly in the air. These were aimed! deliberate shots and I strongly suspect that forward air controllers.artillery observers were involved.
When Will politicians stop making such stupid comments and act.
I’d have more respect for Norris if he had called for the expulsion of the Palestinian ambassador too…
Agreed kick the two of them out.
I’m genuinely not sure if either should go. Surely we want our views fed back to them and then back to their respective country / authority. Perhaps we should call the Irish Ambassadors serving there to come back here?
Bryan their governments through their military are both killers of innocent civilians only the IDF killers are more efficient, what more needs to be said to their respective governments.
The Jews in the Warsaw ghettos also retaliated against the Gestapo attempt to storm it and killed far more members than Hamas have, seventy years on the Jews have became the Gestapo while the world watches live on TV, shame on you Charles Flanagan
As the Jews of Warsaw and Krakow were regarded as “parasites” to be eliminated by the Nazi’s in the early 1940s, the Gazan’s are viewed in the same light by Israeli and western Governments including the Irish Government who are not more that stooges of the USA and EU. Norris is one of the few Irish Politian’s with balls, and must be included with the likes of Noel Browne for standing up and being counter while the rest turn a blind eye. Flanagan is just a 21st Century “blue shirt”.
Oh no! It turns out that it was Grad rocket fired by Hamas and accidentally fell short not reaching Israeli territory as BTW 20% of all rockets fired from Gaza do.
Interesting. Will TD Norris blame Hamas now? Do not think so.
He’s not a TD and any chance of a coherent sentence? Cheers.
Sarah would you like to post the link from the Italian reporter that this is based on, and then post the link from his twitter feed that rubbishes it.
Proof?
Sarah NOT IRISH – T.D. ..That’s all you need to know !
Sign and Share if you care!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/An_Taoiseach_Enda_Kenny_Expel_the_Israeli_Ambassador_to_Ireland/?cZJeteb
The Palestinian ambassador should be expelled too. What is wrong with you people?
O’Reilly – pick up your hasbara cheque at the door.
O’Reilly You mean the US Ambassador.. for fueling this crisis by supporting another terrorist state.
Mosque full of weapons, naughty Hamas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWkjwfkh-qM#t=63
Foggy full of lies naughty foggy.
If any of the Seanad feel tired out and stressed they might ask Ismael Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, if they could spend a few days at his $4 million beach side home in Gaza when things quieten down.
Terrorism pays more than Haribo pays we ‘shills’ to come here to show the reality.
Pick up your gummy bears at the door, Fognostical.
Haniyeh house in gaza was flattened the other day so the seanad might have to opt for tel aviv fog
maricón
Interesting how the American superpower says “please Israel tut tut tut you are killing civilians” then when Israeli supply of munitions is running low says ” here lads you need some extra supplies”. Israel is the US proxy state in the Middle East but also places like Gaza, Syria etc are proxies of Russia. The two power blocks are again using their proxies to promote their own regional interests.
Just because Ireland is “too small to affect change by itself” doesn’t mean you just throw in the towel! The fact that the Good Friday agreement is renowned worldwide should really get them TD’s to do something. Anything is better than nothing FFS!
Is that Fidelma one tweaking, or what?
She might be “fraping!”
Massive debate tonight @ 9 pm , all should attend .. It’s down the local pub , outcome will be the same effect as the Seanad .
In 1995 the US arrested Abu Marzouk for activities supporting terrorism and after two years in jail, he was deported without trial. But he kept the money.
“during the 9/11 probe, it was found that he had ties with al Qaeda including money transfers made to the 21 al Qaeda operatives accused of carrying out the attack.”
Today, Abu Marzouk is one of the major billionaires in Hamas. “Arab estimates peg his fortune at 2-3 billion dollars,” Elad says. Another senior-official-turned-terror-tycoon is Khaled Mashaal, head of Hamas’s political wing. “Global estimates say Mashaal is worth $2.6 billion,” but Arab commentators, with other sources, say he is worth between 2 and 5 billion, “invested in Egyptian banks and Gulf countries, some in real estate projects.”
Fog provide the proof or its just more lies and propaganda.
Mike if you want to disprove his comment, the onus is on you to do some homework.
I wouldn’t bother Charles, the EU Court of Auditors and the US Government are all untrustworthy according to the dhimmi, as are the leaders of most countries which are not flying the black flag of islamofascism
Just some of the comments made by the leftards recently
“Fog keeps quoting american presidents backing israel…..laughable considering their relationship.
All the leaders you quote fog are of countries who at one time or another in their recent history engaged in ethnic cleansing genocide occupation and oppression…..very like minded with yourself and israel i can tell
Cameron, Merkel, Obama – can you quote ANY reputable source for any of these “support” statements?
Charles sorry bud but if you make an allegation the onus is on the person making the allegation to prove it.
Poor effort Charlie boy try harder.
Those were my comments and im not a leftard as you put it fog and to back up those statement im sure i dont have to remind the jews of germanys history of genocide and i dont have to remind an irishman of the british history of oppression and im sure you wont have to ask too many native americans do they know anything about us invovlement in ethnic cleansing. And as for you using the us’ backing of israels attacks to somehow legitimise israels war crimes it is indeed laughable considering the financial and military backing that the us gives to israel.
So whats your point fog? You dont like to be contradicted and you dont like it when someone deflates your arguments that support israels killing of innocent women and children?
You turn to none other than charles who may be of higher intelligence than you but is cut from the same cloth for support. Much like israel turning to the us
Mike. This is a ‘comment’ section. Prima facie evidence is not a prerequisite. To demand it is a facile response at best. So again, feel free to find evidence which challenges fogs comment.
Poor effort, as you say I like to say :)
Charles can Fog not speak for himself are you his mouthpiece? His only ability to copy and paste?
Charles I demand nothing I merely ask and I will keep asking every time your buddy makes allegations and call him a liar when he posts lies as he has done further down.
You must try harder Charles with your efforts.
I won’t stop.
So you’ve just taken the scenic route to admitting you have nothing to disprove his comment. Fair enough.
Charles I make no allegations, I need to prove nothing bud.So enjoy your night no doubt I will have the displeasure of comments again tomorrow.
Maybe you’ll choke on your own bile, one can but hope.
Fognostical has no friends so he comes on here for attention…dick
foggy you’re number is up…give up while ya have the chance..you’ve been warned.
FFS, Flanagan spinning the whole UN vote abstention by attempting to convince the Seanad that Ireland is too small – an independent sovereign nation – to impose effective trade and economic sanctions against Israel! He goes on to further describe that any action Ireland would take has to be in agreement with the larger European block.
In other words, the little man has no voice – only large, powerful conglomerates can decide what action is appropriate.
This is absurd and perverse.
At this stage, it’s either they win or we do something.
I’m ready and I know an awful lot of people are too – let’s mobilise, let’s do something. I, for one, have no interest in investing my time, my energy, my life or future generations in a world that has lost its moral compass.
I want to do something to prevent, or at least halt, this craziness – I don’t know how else to describe it!
Does anyone else see this shit? I mean, really, see this shit?
It’s as plain as the nose on Enda’s face Seb !
I be so proud if we took a stand unlike other greedy countries who only think of the economy . People are been murdered FFs and nobody is going nothing. This is not a religious war it’s a territorial war. We should know fm our own past what it’s like to be occupied illegally
I had a lot of respect for David Norris untill today. Israel has the right to defend itself at all costs. We all know what happens if you do noting.
At all costs, provided they aren’t doing it to you or your family Steven .
So you’re fine with at all costs meaning the slaughter of women and children and the targeting of schools, hospitals and even the power supply? What a fine, upstanding Christian man you are, Steve!
you’re a psychopath Steven
That’s right Gerry it won’t be me I ain’t at war you idiot.
I ain’t a Christian I am a realist. And the reality is no country in the world is going to stand by and let anyone fire 100s of rockets onto its people.do you think the irish would have stood by and let the English fire rockets into the republic day in day out.not a chance we would have returned fire with anything we had to make them stop. There’s no difference at all. Israel has the right to live peacefully. There’s always going to be war that’s our nature we just can’t get on with each other. I would love noting more than the conflict to stop now but it’s not going to happen all we can hope for is no more civilians to be killed. We can live in hope
In his own small way, Flanagan has contributed to the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
I agree, Claudia.
Even though Flanagan himself argued that we – Ireland, an independent sovereign nation – could have no effect on Israel by imposing sanctions on them because we are ‘too small’.
In recent times, the political system and its actors have failed us when we needed them most. Something has to be done. We cannot continue like this.
Once the penny drops with the rest of you, I fear it will be too late. Even the most indoctrinated of you must now realise, or acknowledge at least, that things are out of kilter.
Looking at all the comments it looks like Ireland has a lot of eye witnesses on the ground. Surely they would not be listening to all the anti Semitic propaganda doing the rounds.
Ken Thornton
Ken so it would be better to listen to IDF and Israeli propaganda instead?
“There are two Gazas, one above ground and one below ground: an underground terrorist city.” Hamas has invested enormously more resources in the underground Gaza—including special escape tunnels for Hamas leaders and their families—than in the above-ground one. Let there be no more doubt that Hamas leaders regard their own people as cannon fodder whose job is to be killed to provide anti-Israel photo ops.
Ken, is Fog’s propaganda what we should base our opinions on? Seriously?
What amazes me is why no one in the IDF has thought of investing in ground penetrating radar, or seismographs which will detect the vibration of digging, if they’re so concerned about putting these tunnels out of action. Apparently it took two years to build one, plenty of time to find the part that stretched into Israel – if the IDF were looking seriously.
Mary, its in Isreal’s interest to have an excuse to go in and commit genocide
Thats all hey are interested in
Were it that simple Mary Kav.
That’s what I was hinting at without saying it out loud, Michael. I believe very little of what the Israeli propaganda. I prefer the evidence of my eyes from TV and internet video feeds.
Now I remember where I heard of John Galt. He’s a right winger who prizes individuality abvove all in that most capitalist leaning of books, “Atlas Shrugged”.
“John Galt is a character in Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged (1957). Although he is not identified by name until the last third of the novel, he is the object of its often-repeated question “Who is John Galt?” and of the quest to discover the answer.
As the plot unfolds, Galt is acknowledged to be a philosopher and inventor; he believes in the power and glory of the human mind, and the right of the individual to use his/her mind solely for him/herself. He serves as a highly individualist counterpoint to the collectivist social and economic structure depicted in the novel, in which society is based on oppressive bureaucratic functionaries and a culture that embraces mediocrity in the name of egalitarianism, which the novel interprets as the end result of socialistic idealism.”
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Galt
Idiot ground penetrating radar does not work down that far there hardly going to have the tunnels a few meters down. You keep to your armchair and pretend you know what your talking about clown
Are we going to ask the Israeli ambassador to tip along home, until they start behaving like people you would want in your country.
The Irish Courts and Civil Authorities stopped 5 concerts, not rent-a-mob.
Blah, blah, blah, blah. Meanwhile babies and children continue to die. At an alarming rate.
Turn on the news and you’ll see a split screen with an Israeli politician on one side and dead Palestinian children on the other. The Israeli leader must defend himself against charges that Israel has killed innocents. That’s why you rarely see Hamas leaders give interviews. They don’t want to answer the question of why they deliberately put their children in harm’s way, why they put rocket launchers on apartment building roofs, or arms depots in school basements, or military headquarters in hospitals, or move terrorists around in school buses. If Hamas officials never go on the air, they don’t have to defend themselves of accusations that they use Palestinian civilians as human shields. They prefer images of dead Palestinian civilians to make their point.
“Pre debate prayer”? Wtf? Are they for real??
Please sign.. https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/An_Taoiseach_Enda_Kenny_Expel_the_Israeli_Ambassador_to_Ireland/?dFsgnab&pv=15
Ismail Haniyeh is the head of the terrorist group, Hamas. They like to cut people’s heads off, kidnap and murder people, locate the rockets they shoot at Israeli school children in UN Schools in Gaza so they can say Israelis target schools when they defend themselves. His mother-in-law has been allowed to enter Israel for medical treatment. Last November, Haniyeh’s granddaughter was also treated in Israel.
Expel anyone connected to Hamas.
fognostical is a W@nker
“the decision to abstain was a collective EU decision” – Which means that we all abstained due to political correctness while ignoring the anti Israel protests across the entire Continent. Public sentiment is never represented in today’s Political madness. Even if you’re only asking that women and children are not murdered our politicians remain gutless and await a pat on the head from their overlords
Senator Sean barrett:the region needs more investment that’s true barrett but right now what they need is rearming the Palestinians and protection with un peacekeepers what a numpty u are barrett
Charlie, 300 people stopped 5 Concerts that would amount to 50 million to the Irish economy. Still think we are too small to do anything?
May this be the rock you perish on.
Any Labour party TD or Fine Gael TD who feel really strongly about the government’s policy on GAZA should resign the whip and walk away from their party.They would do this if their principles are real.Also the International community should be seeking the arrest. Of Netemyau on war crimes
Israel is the only country in the region where David Norris could live , anyone who is willing to allow thousands of rockets to fired at them is a fool , the Israelis are not but judging by many of the posts there are a lot of fools about , Yasser Arafat had the opportunity for peace but he chose war , he knew he would never get support from the militants whose only wish is to destroy Israel ( is the wife still living in luxury in Paris ? ), all the other Arab had lots of opportunities to help the Palastinians , huge countries , some with huge wealth , but no destroy Israel and use these poor people as cannon fodder
So we’ll do absolutely nothing. Disgraceful. What we need is more messages to Israel of our outrage and disgust.
And more of this: http://news.stv.tv/west-central/284549-west-dunbartonshire-council-raise-palestinian-flat-over-building/
Thought they were also going to discuss the Ukraine to???Not much mention of Putins Imperalistic war mongering and arms supplying there.but hey,I guess 298 people being blown out of the sky is old news now to this bunch of intellectual windbags,and also rans especially that old Queen Norris.BTW darling,the capital of Israel is TEL AVIV not Juresaelm.
Russia has already been called to order over this or maybe you didnt hear about the first and second round of sanctions from the us and the eu
298 people blown out of the sky was a crime and is being dealt with through sanctions and investigation, Gaza is ongoing slaughter by the IDF that’s the difference.
Those people on that flight were murdered in one go; your buddies in the IDF are still busy killing.
I stated it twice just so you might understand the difference.
Charlie Flanagan says …”If we expelled every ambassador from Dublin for alleged human rights abuses there would be very few CD plated registered cars around our city”……. and I say …Well get on with it then and expel them, just cause everyone is doing it does not make it right..backbone charlie ..is what its called, standing up against the bully….Its what the Irish nation want .YOU WORK FOR US CHARLIE ,REMEMBER THAT
The terror Israelis are going through Charlie crawl back under a F rock u nobody. Charlie has to go he is pro Jew
I love how my fellow homosexual (David Norris) pretends that Palestine is some kind of civilized place, as though homosexuals are not murdered in “Palestine” simply for being gay. THAT is pinkwashing.
He should have a gay pride parade in Gaza.
this will just get worse until the US change there position on Israel and with the capture of an Israeli soldier I dread to think how many more innocent Palestinians will die
Charles,this question is for you especially,but everyone can try to answer it, Why was the state of Israel set up in the first place,why does it have to be there.
have your say