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LAST UPDATE | 8 Jun 2022
THE TAOISEACH HAS told the European Parliament that Ireland “strongly supports” Ukraine’s application to join the bloc.
Addressing the parliament in Strasbourg today, Micheál Martin said membership of the union has been “transformative” for Ireland, describing it as “an historic enabler of sustained progress”.
Martin said he is “humbled and inspired” by the courage of the people of Ukraine and said he hopes that the European Council sends them a “clear and positive” message when it meets this month.
He said the prospect of membership can be a powerful driver of reform and membership itself is the most powerful tool to ensure peace and security in Europe.
“Ireland’s lived experience – and we are not alone in this – is that EU membership is transformative. It is not only about access to markets and to economic opportunity, though that is, of course, important, it is about what it means for people,” Martin said.
The Fianna Fáil leader said Ireland strongly supports the toughest possible sanctions on Russia. “And we do so understanding that this involves costs for us all,” he noted.
“The conflict is, at its most fundamental, about two utterly incompatible views of the world – autocratic and democratic. The new imperialism of Putin’s regime must not stand,” Martin said.
Ukraine’s cause must be the cause of every person who believes in free democracy. As the European Council said once again last week, Russia must end its slaughter and withdraw from the entire territory of Ukraine.
The Taoiseach added that it’s an honour that more than 34,000 Ukrainians have sought shelter in Ireland since Russia launched its invasion.
Martin said Ireland is ready to assist the EU in responding to the looming threat of food insecurity due to Russia’s aggression.
“As a country with our own experience of famine, we condemn the illegal appropriation of agricultural production in Ukraine which is having a direct impact on global food security and affordability, and is affecting the most vulnerable communities in parts of Africa and the Middle East.
“It is hard to comprehend that hunger itself has been weaponised – Ireland will support the EU in playing its part in an effective and swift international coordination to ensure a comprehensive global food security response,” he said.
Protocol
The Taoiseach also discussed climate change and the ongoing tension between the EU and UK over the Northern Ireland Protocol during his speech.
He said there are solutions to the problems posed by the Protocol but the UK government must engage with “good faith, seriousness, and commitment” to find them.
The issue was also addressed by European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, as she introduced the Taoiseach.
Metsola said the European Parliament’s support for the Protocol is “unwavering” and it is “fully committed” to preserving peace on the island of Ireland.
‘Humiliate’
Meanwhile, Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly delivered a blistering attack on the French president Emmanuel Macron when he spoke in the European Parliament this morning.
Macron told media last Friday that the EU must try to avoid ‘”humiliating” Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking today, Ireland South MEP Kelly asked: “How would he like if somebody invaded France and we started talking about ‘we mustn’t humiliate the aggressor’? So part of France should be handed over to the aggressor.”
He demanded EU leaders find out what the French President meant by his recent calls for Russia not to be ‘humiliated’ over its invasion of Ukraine.
“I think now is the time, and particularly at the next council meeting, to ask Mr Macron what does he mean by this and why is he saying this when the lives of Ukrainians are being destroyed every single day,” he said.
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Years ago, youth defence set up a camera to film men going to a support group in Outhouse. Bit weird. Bit nasty.
A group of kids I knew from a weird prayer group in Coolock (they used to speak in tongues and do charismatic dancing) joined YD and became vehement and rabidly anti gay, anti abortion, anti everything.
I felt pity for them – what a waste of their youth, being filled with hate and nonsense about god.
Who the hell gave thumbs down to this comment? What on earth was offensive?
Do we need to check with you before commenting on every issue now Paul? Thought we lived in a free country myself, where everyone is allowed express their opinion?
We’ll just take your word for that one so.
Is there any proof that they were actually hacked?
Well hacked off at their latest crucifistin’……sky-fairy above!!
Proof? It’s either hacked or webmaster has gone rogue!
Sigh, where is your evidence that YD filmed people going into outhouse? On the other hand, a pro-abort video shows support from the Outhouse for a mob vandalising the YD office.
This is a publicity stunt designed to garner sympathy for youth defence. If they wanted to take this down they could very easily by shutting down the site temporarily. They are leaving it there for good reason and I would not put it past them to fake an attack like this.
its inaccurate
I have tried to share this article to FB many times but keep getting a message that I can’t because of security check. Never saw this before. Did anyone else have this problem?
Entirely fantastic! Good stuff out of you hackers. Thank you!
So hacking is ok if you agree with the message?
Yes
I’m out on the door steps asking for people to say yes to something positive, 2 people wanting to commit to each other. The yes side really doesn’t need tactics like hacking websites. Getting your friends to go vote on May 22nd will help so much more!
Yes
Hacking of websites is OK if you agree with the hackers’ message but not if you don’t? I see.
What???
“So hacking is ok if you agree with the message? ”
It’s unethical, but less unethical than what was there before the hack.
It also wouldn’t surprise me if it wasn’t a hack at all. It could be a cynical ploy to garner sympathy.
And if we disagree with you can we hack your website or facebook? Thought not
So Kim Mackenzie-Doyle, in your brave new world I don’t suppose there is any room for different opinions?
I think your world is controlled by people in pink hob-nailed boots!
There are good and bad sides to hacking, this is an example of a good hack!
Maybe Youth Defence have changed their mind and now support the Yes campaign.
Murder. That’s a bit extreme. Jesus protect me from your followers.
Hacking a nasty little hate group is fine by me.
they have nothing whatsoever to do with either opposing or supporting the gay marriage referendum..
Isn’t hacking not a form of psychological rape?
Absolutely, yes.
which makes hacking their website totally pointless and irrelevant from the point of view of scoring points or something.
“Illegal and utterly pointless”
That’s exactly how I described Youth Defense and some of their tactics
A yd member wished a pro choice person had been aborted on there face book page.what a contradiction. Preach Jesus and live disagree with them and they show there vile hatred and intolerance
Pretty petty and stupid. From a yes voter.
There is no motivation to hack an anti abortion group that has nothing to do with the referendum. This is just YD looking for attention.
Agreed
But of course the “Sounds of Sodom” leaflet or the one distributed in Maynooth couldn’t possibly have been done by the Yes side? Hypocrisy alive and well.
@Top Cat:
“Sounds of Sodom”.
What a great name for a Death Metal band or album!
“youth defence looking for attention”? I think you’ll find it was the Journal releasing this in the public domain, as they’ll do anything to promote a yes vote. Bit unfair to blame YD don’t you think?
No, I don’t think. YD have a history of being underhand.
Correct Colin C, you don’t think full stop.
That shower have been consigned to the dustbin of history so what’s the point in targeting them? It will just give them another excuse to unleash another volley of poisonous hatred. The best policy is to ignore them as they hate that.
History has a dustbin?
Be gay and be done with it. Tired of having people’s sexuality thrust in my face. I don’t dislike you, I just don’t care what you do in your private life. It ain’t my business.
Good points david but referendum is about them being able to wed
The point is too many people DO care what others do in their private life and are willing to make their discrimination a lifelong campaign. This is why the referendum is so important to us. It’s why equality matters so much. Good for you if you don’t care about the sexuality of others, but on May 22nd please try to care, because you’ll be helping people protect their private lives from the meddling of others.
I’m not a racist but…… Dave McShite
David this has been going on in the lead up to the referendum because we need to get people thinking and talking. You can’t have a referendum without campaigning. Since I was a teenager I have had heterosexual behaviour in my face consistently, on TV, in pubs, on posters, in the park, in town, everywhere! And I’m pretty sure it’s as unappealing to me as homosexuality is to you. Yet I don’t get to say keep it behind closed doors! Many lgbt people don’t show affection in public for fear or people’s reactions, I find it really sad that people are afraid to show love, to show affection.
@McShite: It’s not your business, yet based on my sexuality I have to beg you to afford me the same rights as my heterosexual brothers and sisters. I don’t want to stick my sexuality or any other part of me for that matter into your face. But on the basis of humanity I ask you to vote YES and allow me to be your equal under the law.
Then get out and VoteYES and let them shove their sexuality into each other under the full protections afforded married people.
Hacked? Did it themselves for publicity.
You have proof of this, obviously?
Oh sorry, I didn’t realise we were in court. I just wish that all those who were campaigning for a No vote were required to prove their ridiculous claims.
So when you make a claim that a group sabotaged their own website you dont think its fair to at least back it up?
You would need to ascertain on what basis they claim they were hacked.
It’s funny that they don’t seem to be in a hurry to take their website offline to protect it…
I’ve noticed the way the Journal will not the word ”Pro Life”.
The Irish Times have banned their reporters from using the term ‘Pro Life’ also.
For good reason.
Maybe that’s because most people are pro-life sweetie,as much as they are pro-food and pro-sleep,the term is inappropriate for these organisations,anti-choice is more accurate,that’s just the way the English language is.
It’s a loaded and deliberately antagonistic term. I support its banning. And youth defence are a dreadful little hate group. I don’t support hacking their site, but I can understand people reacting to their hurtful propaganda.
Almost upsets me to say it but….. Very, very well said Richard
I much prefer anti choice myself
It’s no more loaded than “pro-choice”, since no-one is against the concept of choice. You could call them “anti-abortion” but “anti-choice” is ridiculous.
Then you compound the Orwellian nature of your newspeak by supporting the banning of words like zozimus here? How very liberal of you all
Many people are anti-choice! People fully support a complete ban on abortion on our shores and travelling to other countries, even if the foetus will not survive outside the womb and may fatally harm the mother. These people are anti-choice, anti-abortion
Your problem is you think the abortion is the only issue involving choice. It’s not. As Richard Cheney points out above “that’s just the way the English language works”.
Look how opposed to choice these “pro-choice” people are
We are discussing an isolated topic here
Ah, so we’re taking about an isolated topic when it’s “choice” but when it’s “life” we mean in general? How convenient.
No when we refer to either we are talking about the isolated topic of abortion. Pro life is innaccurate as the life of the mother is irrelevant to those that describe themselves as such. Anti-choice is accurate as they campaign to ban a choice of any kind on the topic.
@Con:
Pro Crap seems more apt!
Zoe I’ve noticed you’re an insufferable Zealot.
Ehhh… The phrase ‘Pro Life’ is used in this article.
Second last paragraph.
Ehhh… this isn’t the Irish Times
And if you read the comments you’ll see that several people support their ban
Ailbhe as you implicitly acknowledge in your earlier comment not everyone who is pro-life wants a total ban on abortion, just as not everyone who is pro-choice supports partial-birth abortions
It’s moot anyway, since your rationale – “no-one is anti-life” – clearly goes beyond the isolated topic of abortion
Every sane person who is not a serial killer is pro life!!
This is the level the yes side are stooping to now. A tactic used by the likes of Anonoymous and dare I say it ISIS.
Top Cat,last week you responded to a comment accidentally as finbarr o’cormac (also Linda O’Neill) and now you’re posting as two of your three bigoted personas again,what gives buddy?
Lol I think Topcat is Paddy Scully in dusguise. Comparing those pesky “militant” gay activists to ISIS, ya know the group that throw gays to their deaths off minarets or stones them….. Paddy made a similar comparison a few months back.
Because thats so realistic!
I know it means something else in Ireland to where I come from Conor,but I think Top Cat may have sand in the fanny over this referendum.
“A tactic used by…”
Are you trying to deflect from the fact that this type of hacking is not used by militant groups?
You guys need to see someone because that level of paranoia is not normal.
A perfect description, Richard.
Top cat, you werejammin and the other half witted trolls get a automatic red thumb from me. I don’t even read your comments.
Go off and do something useful with your life.
Ok and thanks for the advice “JakeTheMuss”.
Cat, why do you have multiple profiles? It’s a bit sad really
You only have one, Ailbhe? Really?
I don’t have the energy to keep up with multiples Paul! Nor the time
Paul – you may only have one account, but you are such a cluster of contradictions you must have multiple personas.
You compare those who hack a site run by a group with a blind unquestioning devotion to a religion to ISIS…… funny
Nor the need for that matter. Why pretend to yourself that people support you. Have the confidence in your own opinions.
I have no need for alternate accounts but whatever helps you get through the day.
Paul does have multiple personalities, one being more bitter than the next.
Brian,
I don’t think I know you, and if I don’t, I wonder why anybody would post as you have done about somebody they don’t know. I can understand that you disagree with what I say, but I’m confused why you might think that I should avoid contradictions in my comments. I don’t see how that is possible, given the fact that every story has a different slant.
How happy are you with your life? If you have an opinion to share, please do so, but the terms of use here ask you to stay on topic – and of course, as debate flows, we all enjoy a little dig at each other now and then…. so I can understand how ad hominems happen.
But like I said, I don’t know you.
Haha, asking people to stay on topic while completely going off topic.
TLDR Doc?
Why would topcat need multiple accounts? He has precious little worth saying with one account as it is!
Yeah, I didn’t read it Paul. I just guessed the bit where you were banging on about going off topic. Lucky guess maybe?
Maybe Top Cat is the infamous Barbara / Margo troll who plagues the Irish Times website ..
If so he is male and 24 hours a day Trolling
Youth defence? What are they defending? Youth? “No sorry Father Time beats everyone! He’s undefeated.
Yes for equality for all our citzens! No to irrational Zealotry.
Top Cat, people don’t really like you. I hope you’re not like this in real life.
Paul a long time a go I made a decision not to let what other people think of me influence my well spoken and principled views.
Except on the journal apparently, where none of your views have been either well spoken or principled.
Ah yes, there is strength in numbers, Graham.
“Well spoken and principled views”. That actually made me laugh, coming from you Top Cat. All you do is make baseless statements that just aren’t true as though they are statements of fact. Then, when challenged and ultimately trumped (which you always are) by well-reasoned counter-argument, you disappear off the radar until the next lgbt story comes along and you start the process again. You actually help the ‘yes’ side by conveniently laying bare all the non-sense arguments against marriage equality out on the table for easy refutation.
Or Lloyd, he claims victim status. Poor me and my baseless views being discredited.
Top Cat, maybe you might need to go back and review your decisions. If you didn’t care what people think why did you respond?
Ailbhe! You keep your gay-stapo bullying with facts and evidence to yourself!
Leave the pussy cat to repeat discredited nonsense over and over. It’s bigoted to challenge unfounded bigoted nonsense, as you well know.
“Well spoken”, laugh? I nearly shat!
Youth Defence will have their Hurley sticks ready if they catch the culprit. Youth Defence are tough people. I saw them in action in Moleworth Street in 1983 and it was physically frightening.
Don’t mess with these guys. They are the storm troopers of opposition to abortion in Ireland.
They weren’t formed until the 1990s
You saw them in action 10 years before they were founded? How did you manage that?
He must be referring to the Legion of Mary, they’re all martial arts experts, Mary’s assassins.
More Anthony Lang “honesty” being spouted, as usual.
Ah bless, its linda the troll of many names and faces but never their own, out to play early I see.
What no diatribe on educate together schools today?
Oh dear looks like “linda o neill” has had her posts removed…… Again….. For trolling…… Again!
‘Finbar’ will be along soon
And Top Cat is still posting like it’s his/her job!
Does anyone really believe the youth defence site was hacked? that’s an inside job to smear yes campaign…simple as that #MarRef
Exactly. Qui bono?
Vain attempt to smear the yes campaign..much like their deplorable co-opting of the death of Savita to appear as victims of a pro life attack via dog faeces on their hq
I’d love to know what makes all the fascists commenting that this was done by the Yes campaign so sure. Its hard to believe that an orchestrated ( and far too respectful of the fascist side’s opinion) campaign would not come up with something more subversive than a silly hack.
It could have just been one person, not representative of the whole Yes campaign.
Just like that post card sent to Maynooth – I don’t think it represents everyone who is against this referendum.
I have to disagree with you on the last point. Im so incredibly sick of the Yes side playing nice and peddling the whole ‘they are not all homophobes’ line. Sorry, but they are and need to be called out for it. If you do not believe gay people deserve the same rights as straight people you are a fascist homphobe. Full stop. They might not like being called that and they might not even think they are, but they are and need to be told that. Their vile tactics are getting nastier and the Yes side is still playing it softyly softyly. Its time to trample the fascists down.
I never said they weren’t homophobes.
That post card was disgusting and it was conflating homosexuality with paedophilia, and I choose to believe (maybe naively) that not everyone who is thinking about voting no in the referendum believes that.
Of course, there are a few. I’ve seen plenty in the comments section of this site, but I refuse to believe that is what the majority think.
Paul you must be following a different debate because nobody on the yes side is peddling that idea not even former Presidents. The only line being peddled is “vote yes or you’re a homophobe against equality”.
Bruce Arnold is a homophobe?
Judging by his article in the Examiner a few days ago clearly he is.
Bruce Arnold fought alongside David Norris to have homosexuality decriminalised.
I know. Just because he fought the good fight in the past does not mean he is fighting it today. What exactly is your point? Because someone did something for human rights in the past its okay for them to turn around and peddle facism today?
Whether Bruce Arnold is a homophobe or not isn’t relevant (for what it’s worth he’s a gentleman and I have no reason to believe he’s homophobic) he is, however, demonstrably wrong with most of the claims he has made in relation to Marriage Equality,
@Paul!!!
I very dare you to go down that route… lol
Go ahead and ‘trample the “fascists down’
You take that tack… and it gets enough publicity… and you LOSE this referendum. There is a very silent and very apathetic majority who will turn on you if you conduct yourselves poorly in the course of the debate.
Careful now…
I fear the referendum is lost anyway. I find it disgraceful that it is being held in the first place. It is completely wrong that the majority gets to decide on how, in this case, a minority lives their lives. Besides that I think the harsh reality is the ‘silent majority’, as you put it, dont really give a damn about people who are differnet from themselves having the same rights as they do and will vote against equality and extending fairness to people who are different from them. I just hope that the not so silent minorty on the pro-equality side get out and vote and the silent majority who dont really care stay home because the not so silent facist minority certainly won’t.
Thanks Paul for convincing me to vote no. I’ll be thinking of you as I cast my vote.
Yes Hurler, because you were such a strong advocate for equality up to this.
Ha, that is weak. I doubt you needed any convincing from me. At least have the courage to admit you are voting no because you believe in inequality.
A lot of the campaigning from the Yes side has been very off-putting. This is just childish and won’t persuade a single person to vote Yes
Very true
Qui bono?
Colin we all knew it was a quote from The Departed the first time you posted that. Posting it a second time doesn’t change anything
A lot of campaigning on the no side has been bizarre nonsense.
There’s no holistic yes or no camp and there’s no monopoly on people doing or saying stupid things in a referendum campaign in Ireland.
I don’t care if the No side sabotage themselves. I want the Yes side to win, but the Yes supporters have been behaving poorly.
The yes campaign must be getting desperate and the fact that many of the comments seem to approve of this behaviour show that screaming tolerance and acceptance does not stop you from being a bigot.
I’m voting yes. I don’t approve of this. Hacking, apparently, is okay when the “good guys” do it.
Hacking is mostly pretty harmless (including this instance) but if the shoe was on the other foot the tenure of this article would be very different.
Ah the YES campaign, vote YES or else!!
And the YD mantra of fall in line or go to hell is cool though?
What websites have youth defence hacked this morning Ailbhe?
“Mantra of Fall in line or go to hell” just curious is that sort of like “Vote Yes or you’re a homophobe” or “vote yes or your a bigot”?
I didn’t say they did Cat/Linda/Finbar
Spot on Top Cat, if it falls in line with the hippy left wing mantra of the equal rights agenda then everything is fair game.
Well Ailbhe are they not similar mantras? Has the cat got your tongue….
Top Cat, they are. That is exactly my point to Spock up above. He criticises one mantra but not that of YD that is in essence the same.
As usual, thanks for making my point for me! I do love how easy it is with you.
YD have hacked the public footpaths of this country for decades with their graphic judgemental imagery and slogans.
I vehemently disagree with hacking but in the case of YD I will happily turn a blind eye. It couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of fundamentalists.
How tolerant of you.
Wonderful.
I don’t like underhanded tactics as the norm but this is Youth Defence we are talking about here. This is magic.
More nonsense behaviour.
The ‘yes’ camp will do more harm than good at this stage.
In other internet news change.org petition to remove Lolek ltd’s charitable status be removed by the Irish revenue is approaching 10,000 ,but hey everyone look there’s a dead cat on the table ! .if this organisation was hacked report to the guards ,simple
Anyone know how many signatures the change.org iona petition needs before it is acted upon or seriously considered?
Vote Yes
Well I would warrant that’s the best content the Youth Defence site has every had in it’s existence. Probably the first time it’s had content about real love as well.
Also that mural is a beautiful image, the artist has done an amazing job and certainly captured the essence of the whole equality campaign.
The two homosexual men engaging in public fornication in the homo/promo look like twins.
Shocking.
Absolutely shocking behaviour.
Two men hugging is now public fornication.
who knew?
Fornication? Is THAT how gay men do it? I was led to believe it was a little more intimate than a hug…..
So Chandler and Joey were fornicating on friends all the time.
Google “Henry Makow” and “homosexuality” Tommy. He explains the political machinations behind the current events.
I’ve ever heard of Henry Makow before. From his Wikipedia page,
“Makow’s website, “www.savethemales.ca”, has published a wide array of articles claiming that the global power-structure is coopted by The Illuminati, Sabbateans, Radical Feminists, and Aliens, among others”
Sounds like a trustworthy guy.
I love the word fornication. I learnt it when I was seven and had to hand in my baptismal cert or some cert for communion. Behind adopted, mine was green rather than white. I was shouted at by the teacher that O was the product of fornication (two words I didn’t understand). That was 1975. These nutbags don’t rule anymore. They still have a voice though, a very loud voice. Let’s show them that their Ireland is gone. Vote YES and make grá the law.
“Two men hugging is now public fornication. ”
Tommy Newman is a friend of Barbara / Margo … the notorious Irish Times Troll
Hell he could also be Top Cat
This is all red herring stuff. Let YD fester in their own hatred. But one group who are actively involved in the referendum campaign are the Iona Institute whose charitable status means they can avoid paying tax. However, this also means they shouldn’t be campaigning in the referendum. Complaints can be made here…
Iona clowns should be given as much air time as possible! The damage they do to their own arguments is fantastic and the blind deluded Zealots don’t even realise.
I can’t take any of them seriously and they all have that glazed over indoctrinated look in their eyes.That creepy my brain is powered by Jesus look.
Like if we allow equality for gay marriage, can a mother marry a daughter? and other ridiculous flawed logic from the Iona-bots.
I’m no fan of Youth Defence, but have they actually been involved in the “No” campaign?
Nope, but they were just co-opted
So the consensus is that Youth Defence hacked their own website to generate publicity in a referendum they’re not even involved in.
I really can’t wait for May 23rd and we don’t have to listen to the Yes side any more.
Interesting. Is this YD black propaganda to portray the yes side as being hackers, or well-intentioned hackers taking down a known hate site. Either way, I’m still voting yes :P
Odd that it’s not been taken down
Yes. Very simple to remove if they wish.
And this is news how? Completely pointless article.
If Youth defence and it’s other Zealot affiliates think that’s bad just wait til ISIS hack them.
I may not always agree with what’s been said but you should defend the right to say it no matter what. The same hackers would have worn a “we are Charlie” label I’m sure.
They finally got it set to “Under Maintenance”.
No way it should’ve taken that long.
I hope whoever their Administrator is demands that those with ‘Pa$$w0rd’ as their password are removed from this privilege.
False flag CIA operation, Carrie Matheson told me so
I’m late in coming to this thread but, from feedback I have seen elsewhere, the YesEquality campaign definitely do not endorse this hack. They also have not supported the petition going around regarding the charity status of the Iona Institute.
These actions serve to deny the right of all voices to be heard, and deflects from the true issue of the referendum – equal access to civil marriage for all Irish citizens.
Respect Ireland’s cultural heritage.
Act responsibly.
Don’t be a sheep.
Vote no.
Well, this escalated quickly.
vote yes for equality
It seems logical to me that they would support same sex unions.
O look the liberal want equality crowd have decided to attack people who they do not agree with? Lets have freedom, equality and use other words that sound good and ATTACK those who we do not agree with? That is what this says to me, equality has at its core respect not thuggery?
Lads have a bit of cop on, hacking YD for the second time in as many years is not on. A stupid sideshow distraction and a complete waste of time. What the heck is it meant to achieve?
Fundamentalists convey anger. How do we know it definitely wasn’t an inside job?
Crash override!!
Oh, I am so with outrage. This should not be allowed to be made happen. It is such a bad thing that this bad thing happened. I am so much sympathetic to the poor oppression supporters……
have your say