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PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT TDs are to boycott US President Joe Biden’s speech in the Dáil on Thursday.
The party states the boycott is in protest against America’s record on Palestine, Iraq and NATO expansion.
TDs are also boycotting the speech due to political parties not being allowed to make contributions or ask questions of the president.
During the visit of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last year, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett used his speaking time to call out Europe for “remaining silent” on the actions taken by Israel in Palestine.
Instead of sanctions for Israel, we give them favoured trade deals and deepen their relationship with the EU, Boyd Barrett said in his speech.
At the end of last month, when the details of the Biden visit emerged, Boyd Barrett told The Journal: “We will be asking in the strongest terms to Joe Biden, why does he continue to support the apartheid state of Israel?”
In a statement this afternoon on Thursday’s boycott, Boyd Barrett said Biden needs to be forcefully challenged “over his long-standing and unconditional support for the apartheid regime in Israel and its brutal and criminal treatment of Palestinians”.
He said questions must also be asked about the US invasion and occupation of Iraq, the promotion of NATO expansion and the “double-standards” of US foreign policy globally.
People Before Profit said they would attend the special Dáil sitting on Thursday if an opportunity was afforded to opposition parties to make statements or ask questions after the president’s speech.
The event is a “pointless charade and propaganda exercise for the US President”, said Boyd Barrett.
He accused the Irish government of allowing Biden use the Dáil as a “political soapbox”.
Boyd Barrett said there has also been a “dangerous escalation” of military and arms competition with Russia and China, which is a policy that “threatens the unthinkable possibility of nuclear confrontation between the big global powers”.
“Of course, we all condemn the utterly barbaric and unjustifiable invasion and occupation of Ukraine by Putin, but it is equally clear that NATO and Biden are enthusiastically exploiting the terrible situation in Ukraine to expand NATO, strengthen US influence and accelerate the process of EU militarisation,” he said.
Biden is being “insulated” by the government from “any critical questioning” in the Dáil, he added.
He urged the public to attend a protest against Biden’s policies which is taking place at the GPO tomorrow at 5pm.
Over the coming days, the US President will make his way to Belfast, Dublin, Louth and Mayo as part of the visit.
Air Force One is due to touch down at around 9pm this evening, where UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will greet him on the tarmac.
He’s then due to travel to Louth tomorrow afternoon, with visits to both Carlingford and Dundalk planned.
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When approached for comment on the boycott the travelling US delegation responded “who?”
They certainly won’t be missed !
He’s always throwing tantrums and having a strop. He must have been a teacher in another life
@shuttleJohn: Jealous of their long holidays?
@Tadhg: He couldn’t be. He seems to have more than enough free time. Wastes it posting drivel on The Journal though.
@shuttleJohn: weren’t most TD’s?
Boyd Barrett is not a real politician. When will people realise this & stop voting for him. He’s a childish brat.
@Thos Pollard: If he annoys the cap-doffers and shamrock wavers such as yourself, he will continue to get my vote.
@Thos Pollard: America are funding the Israeli apartheid regime, it’s anything but childish to take a stand against that.
Above all Ireland is a democracy and it’s great we have politicians representing different views. It’s ok to have mixed feelings on America and we don’t all need to be waving stars and stripes at this visit.
Boyd Barrett is a bit of a head banger but on this occasion he right in what he says
@siobhan mulcahy: nah. lives in a different world that lad. He’ll get to understand one day
@siobhan mulcahy: it’s a very very very odd occasion!
BREAKING NEWS: Richard Boyd Barrett elected new leader of DUP.
Biden when asked for comment stated who that
@Liam Collins: I think that he sometimes wonders who he is as well.
Boyd Barrett is an excellent champion of human rights, always has been. Biden is very welcome as the president of the US, a country that has committed terrible atrocities,and supports terrible regimes like Israel and Saudi Arabia….. but the US has also been a positive force in the world. I don’t think we’d have the GFA without the strong support of the US… imperfect as it is.
People should be free to protest and indeed question Biden on important issues… I’m sure he’s a big boy and doesn’t need to be shielded from genuine questions from our democratic elected representatives…. isn’t that what ” freedom and democracy” is all about?
@Ronan Skelly: Biden isn’t the president of Ireland and he has no reason to account for American foreign policy to the Irish people. Especially in the context of his visit, which is to express American solidarity and support for the Irish peace process.
@Steven Schulz: while he is starting, continuing and promoting wars throughout the world? Hypocrisy and we are hypocrites if we ignore what the US is doing. Be honest Steven.
@Ronan Skelly: what about manners? Do you interrogate and embarrass your guests? I’m not a fan but we invited him, least we can do is act accordingly.
@Brian Smyth: you need to get your hands on a colour tv
@Steven Schulz: the context of his visit is precisely based on his country’s foreign policy..us support for the GFA…in this context as I said he is very welcome. It’s completely reasonable for him to be asked questions in relation to other strands of the US foreign policy… the denial of this, which is unusual…as TDs are normally allowed to speak when such visits arrise, doesn’t seem to be in the spirit of democracy and freedom…. which is a stated ” Pilar’ of US foreign policy.
Obviously good manners and decorum escape these guys.
A communist melt but correct in his assessment of US foreign policy.
Boyd who??
What about popup paul? Will he be not clapping in protest too?
Biden will be devastated that this “protest everything” clown won’t be attending
Wouldn’t expect anything else from communists
Russians friends don’t like the USA, nothing new.
The calibre of the minions that vote for and rally behind this party’s tantrums tells all. Too much time on their hands. If any of them made any real contribution to society there’d be less time for whining.
Can you ever imagine PBP as a partner in Government? Who would get into bed with them? Maybe Barrett could make gestures to Biden with his hands as he is very good with the sign language.
@Irish big fellow: No, I couldn’t imagine a political party in government which prioritised human rights, workers rights, climate and unions over the interests of corporations, which is even sadder.
@Rochelle Hart: well said!
OH , that is really a pity , They will be sorely missed . Just a pity that they wouldn’t stay away from the Dail all the time .
This boycott seems a bit of a charade and exercise in propaganda
I’d doubt if anyone will lose any sleep over the rebel Boyd Barrett not being there
Well done Richard and PBP. This is simply a 100% accurate account of what this trip is and how very wrong it is for Ireland to ignore the awful damage the US has done to our world in the last 70 years. The only ones to say it as it is.
@Brian Smyth: No doubt the US has made some major mistakes. However if the US didn’t fulfill the role it did/does, another country or alliance could have been free to take major actions. The world is not a net zero sum, alternatives to the US could be much, much worse. This is something people never seem to notice or even acknowledge. Could Ireland continue to maintain zero defense capabilities in such a world?
Who cares. PBP is composed of clowns who know nothing about economics and government or the social contract between government and its citizens.
He is truly a joke!
Anyone know where I left my tool bag?
Well done PBP! Thank you very much! The only political party who are not afraid of the Master biden
Omg they are acting like children,
@Paul Scully: Why is taking a stand over the genocide of Palestinians “childish” to you?
Joe Biden wouldn’t be able for unscripted questions.
PBP and RBB always whinging and outraged about something. Probably why almost nobody votes for them.
An Enoch moment and what a privilege it is to take public moral stands on what is for him a thought experiment however the real world is very much here. Everything in his philosophy seems upside down, morality always with the underdog and yet never questioning their position. Poilice,judges,government all get his snoot.
To truly understand Israel we only need look North and perhaps see how far peace would get if we added Boyd Barrett’s large doses of morality teachings and then we choose the underdog and, think this is somehow a path to peace. The Reality is not so simplistic, nor is any conflict.
At this juncture be very thankful of Mr. President, they are not without their faults but Ukraine would of fallen without Uncle Sam and e doesn’t strike me as the fighting type if Russia had crept up to Polands border, I am happy Superman is back , foes are exposed and the US need every ounce of our support to get them to accept the cannot dictate the borders of our continent.
@Albert Brennerman: while I agree with you that none of these conflicts are simple…I think it’s only fair that the US foreign policy is questioned.. would Ukraine be in a war with Russia now if not for US led NATO pushing the boundaries up to Russia’s borders?
Is it not the US who are dictating the borders of our continent. If the US was serious about peace, rather than their own financial interests, they would not have broken every promise they made with Gorbachev…and they would not have blocked Russia’s request to join NATO..
No it’s not simple… but if we can learn anything from the GFA, there are two sides at least to every story.
totally agree with them.. propaganda..
People instead of profit, considering irelands dependence on the USA
There is no doubt the US has made some major mistakes – including a mixture of well and mal-intended ones. However if the US didn’t fulfill the role it did/does, another country or alliance could have been free to take major actions. The world is not a net zero sum, alternatives to the US could be much, much worse, especially for Europe. This is something people never seem to notice or even acknowledge when full on US-bashing.
I can fully accept criticism of the US, however, calling the visit a ‘pointless charade and propaganda exercise for the US President’ is rubbish, quite frankly. Ireland needs continued US interest and support (Brexit, GFA) – what world are we living in that that is not a plain and simple fact?
Could Ireland continue to maintain zero defense capabilities without US favour? What would be his answer if the US turned around and said ‘Ok Ireland, now you’re on your own. No more US-favour’ . Talk about an own goal.
It’s not about the substance of criticism, it’s the idiotic tone that’s grating
@ Albert Brenneman: ” uncle sam” has completely destroyed and raped countless countries for their resources, murdered millions of innocent people and props up the most barbaric regimes on the planet. Fomented neo-nazis coup in keiv reading this conflict their imperialism knows no bounds yet you sit there praising them it’s utter insanity you people can’t understand the depths of their depravity!!
@I9AQcjXs: crawl back under your rock!
Thats earth shattering News
PBP – state controlled opposition.
Just because he’s Irish doesn’t mean he’s stupid
Typical from p b p
@Alan: “@Tadhg: He couldn’t be. He seems to have more than enough free time. Wastes it posting drivel on The Journal though” …..a bit more like yourself don’t you think?
@Chris Gaffney: what’s wrong hunny can’t hand the truth?? Can
you argue any point I made? Or are you just going to spew ignorant childish nonsense??
We should all Boycott Biden! He is a th ug!
Who cares ??
“I might be irish – but I am not Stupid!”
Won’t be missed
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