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LAST UPDATE | 2 Oct 2023
Niall O’Connor reports from Kyiv:
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN Affairs and Defence Micheál Martin TD has said the presence of EU foreign ministers in Kyiv is a “very powerful symbol” of the EU’s support of Ukraine and its people.
Martin was speaking to reporters in Ukraine’s capital this morning and outlined that discussions will focus on “sustainable” funding for Ukraine “in the long-term”.
An Tánaiste arrived in Kyiv this morning after travelling by train from Poland. He is being accompanied by a garda close protection team.
Questions in the US around its ongoing financial support of Ukraine has led to some partisan political fighting. In Slovakia yesterday, the populist Smer-SD party, which is critical of military aid for Ukraine, was the victor in the country’s elections.
Martin, however, said that the EU’s support is unwavering.
“I’m looking forward to our discussions today, which would centre on a sustainable approach to supporting Ukraine in the long-term, both financially in terms of the macro-financial facility, and also in the medium-term in the European peace facility approach,” he said.
Ireland has been very supportive from the beginning of the Ukraine application to join the European Union, we support enlargement and we’re looking forward to ongoing discussions in relation to that.
“We’re also taking the opportunity to meet with a number of United Nations organisations and agencies here in Ukraine, because recently we announced a further package of €23 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which brings our overall support package now to about €210 million.”
He added: “We want to talk to agencies on the ground who are distributing those funds, and also to meet with Irish citizens who are working in the EU civil mission here, and also in the various UN agencies.”
Asked by The Journal about Irish troops training Ukrainian soldiers in military competencies, Martin said such training would be expanded.
Yes, we’ve engaged in a number of training with EUMAM in respect of medical combat, and in terms of de-mining training, and we have a number of other programmes identified where our personnel will also provide training, and that will expand that yes.
The Tánaiste is expected to take part in meetings with the country’s prime minister and foreign minister as part of the one-day visit.
He’ll also meet with UN partners whose work in Ukraine the Irish State is supporting, as well as members of the Irish community.
Today’s meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Kyiv is the first beyond the EU’s borders, something Martin described as “symbolic”.
“It’s a very powerful symbolic presence of the entire Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, in the context of Ukraine’s application to join the European Union and the Ukrainian European perspective, that is a very powerful symbolic presence by European foreign ministers here,” he said.
“I think that in itself, in terms of indicating and making it clear to the Ukrainian people that we stand foursquare behind them, and also that we see their perspective as European Union perspective.”
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Good.
@rHxNmwTx: boycott Israel. Along with Saudi its a trouble making regime.
@prop joe: you forgot Merica the biggest trouble makers ever.
@prop joe: A terrorist state run and funded by USA
@rHxNmwTx: That means that those who volunteer to go are supporting the Apartheid Theocracy on their own bat.
@Denis McClean: maybe they are just doing their job.
@Seamus Mac: if their job is to support apartheid then yes. They’re just doing their job.
@Dermot Foley: must be a new position at rte. Does it pay well?
Never a mention of Hamas oppressing any and all opposition to its rule since it took over in 2007 or the Palestine authority paying a bounty to the families of Muslims that kill or mane Jews. The 300 million paid on the bounty is one of the reasons the reasons USA has pulled its funding. Funny none of this is mentioned, it’s almost as if the Irish media and the population in general were anti-semitic.
@Michael Duckster:
Ah here we go again…..
Anti Semitic
Pathetic
@Isthatright: RTE is a bastion of left wing Ireland and left wing Ireland has a long tradition of being anti-Semitic. Left wing politics hates any body that is successful and wealthy. One third of the Noble prises have gone to people if Jewish extraction. Google and many, many other great business concepts have come from the Jewish lineage. Jealousy is a terrible thing.
@Michael Duckster: Just to give you an update of the murders that took place last Friday by the IDF. Just in case you missed it
➿ Mohammed Nayef Al-Houm 14 years of Al-Bureij
➿ Eyad Khalil al-Sha’er, 20 years old, from Gaza City
➿ Mohammed Walid Haniya, 24 years old from Gaza City
➿ Mohammed Bassam, 24, from Gaza City
➿ Kamel Munjid Barbakh, 15 years old, from Khan Younis
➿ Muhammad Ali Muhammad Anshasi 18 years east of Khan Yunis.
@Michael Duckster: Using a religion to justify the apartheid state of Israel is not appropriate. Thankfully the Israeli Government don’t speak for all the decent Jewish people worldwide.
@Brendan Barry: Are you Jewish neither am I…However I would guess there are very few Jews worldwide who would describe Israel as an apartheid state….Even Arab neighbours Egypt and Jordan never use that term about Israel….
@iComment: that’s a matter for any individual to decide regardless of where they come from or what religion they are. I’m saying quite clearly that Israel is an Apartheid state and that comes from my own personal experiences no more no less.
@Brendan Barry: you neglect to mention Ari Fuld, an Israeli citizen stabbed to death by a Palestinian terrorist in a shopping mall.
@Brendan Barry: you need to research the term “apartheid “ then.
@Seamus Murphy: I didn’t neglect anything. When you deny people their human rights, homes, dignity and put foreign settlers in their towns and villages, then some people will choose violence. Innocent people will unfortunately come out the worst.
@Seamus Murphy: My favourite troll is out again. segregation by race = A 700 k wall 30m high. Winding among towns & villages not only to separate Israelis from Palestinians but Palestinians from Palestinians. Gerrymandering in elections to ensure a majority.
@Seamus Murphy: oh and by the way the my mentioned names of those murdered last Friday was carried out by the Terrorist Apartheid Israeli State & not an individual.
@Michael Duckster: RTE weren’t sympathetic towards Irish Republicans in our latest fracas with the Brits
@Seamus Murphy: Ari Fuld was a squatting Illegal settler, an Armed combatant in a self declared war on Palestinians. He ran a right wing Fascist organisation committed to the murder of all Palestinians . He painted a target on his own back.
@Brendan Barry:
Where will they find all the virgins for them. Not too many left here.
@Brendan Barry:
Where will they find all the virgins for them. No too many here.
@Seamus Murphy: You neglect to consider the many thousands of Palestinian men women and children murdered and maimed by the Apartheid Theocracy since its inception. Maybe their lives don’t matter?
@Michael Duckster: Not anti-semitic but anti-zionist & there is a huge difference. The majority of Jews are happy to live in harmony with the Palestinians. The problem lies with the Zionist extremists who are determined to totally eliminate Palestine with the backing of their American buddies. Any Irish people who support Israel’s ongoing land grab from the Palestinians must have very short memories as it’s not very long since we reclaimed our own country from an oppressor.
@Brendan Barry: he was actually a member of Hamas. A worldwide recognised terror group
@Brendan Barry: gerrymandering! That’s a new one in your anti Semitic crusade !
@Michael Duckster: Folks, Duckster is another one of these commentators planted into these sites to boost opinion and support Israel. Don’t fall for his propaganda. We all know how evil Israel is.
@Tim O’Connell: as far as I’m aware he was an Israeli citizen. But you twist away on the truth to suit your own narrative. Like always.
@Isthatright: every word is true though.
@Denis McClean: Just imagine they’d stepped up to the table all those years ago and signed a peace deal. More importantly, stick to said peace deal. All that trouble, loss of life and destruction would have been avoided. But that didn’t suit the PA/Hamas agenda, which is the total destruction of the state of Israel and its people.
@Martin Parfrey: that’s the key difference. Ireland belongs to the Irish people. Israel belongs to the Israelis, not the Jordanian Arabs who now refer to themselves as Palestinians
@Seamus Murphy: Reports say he was from New York but living in Efrat a settlement made up of land taken from 3 Palestinian towns in 1983 & considered illegal by the International Community. The US Ambassador said we mourn the death of an American Citizen.
@Michael Duckster: They were that crazy?! Huh!! And they wonder why there is support for Gaza, yet the West Bank gets sympathy…
Even if you disagree strongly with the actions of the Israeli Government and Israeli military the average Israeli is not able to influence what their country does any more than the average American can influence US foreign policy or the average Irish person can influence Irish foreign policy.
@Sean: it worked with South Africa…
@Sean: of course the average Israeli can Influence what their country does. They’ve kept him in power for nearly a decade. When they reinstated him, they voted for a continuation of ethnic cleansing of their neighbours, a continuation of the wiping of Palestinian towns and villages from the map in the West Bank for Jewish only plantations, a continuation of breaking numerous international laws, a continuation of yearly bombings of civilians in Gaza and destruction of their water plants and dropping chemicals on the farmlands to hinder food growth, and then surrounding the area to not allow in any food, water or building material aid.
@Jayo Breathneach: why don’t you tip over and protest. Let us know how it goes for ya
@Dan: that didn’t turn out too good for those previously in the acendency, did it?
@Dan: no it didn’t. The boycott of South Africa started in the 1950s. Apartheid ended officially in 1994. That’s nearly 50 years of failure. You now want to say, hey Palestinians, we will save you in 50 years! What worked was forcing whites and blacks in SA to work together. BDS literally prevents that. It literally supports promoting Palestinian rights while supporting the execution of all Israeli Jews.
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: you’re going to have to explain that last bit, Brian.
@Sean: Respectfully Seán, people still have the right to their opinions. For example, I completely understand why Israel dislike/fear/hate(delete as appropriate) HAMAS, but at the same time, I wish they’d realise treating people so badly only makes them support those that will fight against you where they can’t do it themselves…
RTE entirely accepting Palestinian narrative on Israel….They should also consult with some Irish Jewish groups before making a decision…Is any other state broadcaster in Europe doing this….
@iComment: why consult with a religious group? This is against the Apartheid Israeli Government not a religion.
@iComment: – there is no narrative. There is only the historical truth which Im sure you’re aware of.
@iComment: I’ve consulted with the Irish Jewish group on FB recently for the visit of President Abbas. We differed in that they were for the continued apartheid of Palestinians and the continued land stealing and destruction of Palestinian towns in the West Bank. RTÉ, as well as this website, don’t report most of these atrocities anymore. This is a weekly occurrence in Palestine yet we only get an article or two every month or two. So if anything, our media ignore most of Israel’s atrocities.
RTE is acting like an Arab station….Is there another national TV station in Europe that would consider this….
@iComment: yes they should only support Caucasian stations…wait…how will we know which ones are Caucasian!? That McDonald guy on the BBC news had a dark complexion. Wonder if he’s a spy!
@iComment: a man with one follower on Twitter. Troll anyone?
“ugly regime” ? a great description for the Hamas controlled area, Israel on the other hand is a democratic state and any employees who refuse their job should face sanction
@Stephen Kearon: “Failed Unionist Fianna Fáil politician Stephen Kearon who ridiculed the hunger strikers and supported apartheid in the North is an Israeli apologist” shocker.
@Stephen Kearon: bwahahaha. Been to Palestine then have you? I have and you’re talking pure rámèish. You’re referring to Gaza. And I’ll be you’ve not been there either.
I’d go like a light , free flights free accommodation free food and you get to see a crappy show and you get paid probably a load of allowances as well
@high ho silver: Most likely RTE are aware of this point and are not too concerned about potential staffing issues…
Everyone who wants to boycott Israel, you do realise that to fully boycott this country you’ll have to get rid of your phones as GPS is made in Israel as is many other products that we purchase on a regular basis.
@Patrick: patrick not every phone or computer has israeli made technology. That is a myth repeated by every Israel supporter.
@Patrick: No Patrick you just keep chipping away. I need to change my 2 Hyundai cars this year. I won’t be buying Hyundai. If you have a HP computer like I have, keep it but when it’s due to be changed try to replace if with s different make. I managed to change my 12 in the office✊️. Slowly slowly catch the monkey.
@Brendan Barry: fair play lad. Great work.
Why do Irish people have a love affair with Palestinians? We never bother calling boycotts of China….they literally wipe out any group that disagrees with the leadership.
@Patrick O’Reilly: As a people, we generally dislike apartheid, land theft…and all forms if genocide….I guess this reaction is prolly from our experiences with our next door neighbour during a bunch of centuries.
@Patrick O’Reilly: might be similar to the way the British always support nations that practise apartheid. They are culturally and historically an imperialistic nation. Hence why they’re one of Israel’s main allies, and why they supported the South African government in their practises of apartheid.
@Philip Kelleher: But where is the backlash and boycotts against China? Why so selective? Why just Israel?
@Patrick O’Reilly: because China doesn’t regularly drop bombs on a people just for shts and giggles.
@Patrick O’Reilly: China has lifted 500million people out of poverty in 20 years. It is not slaughtering people in a neighbouring state. No comparison.
@Kieran Woods: might want to have a chat with the Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in China. But hey who cares about them. Or maybe read up on the Chinese settlements in Tibet. Just be consistent in your boycotts and bit that smartphone!!
@Patrick O’Reilly: *bin
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: israel is the most diverse country in the middle east.
Thay have transported tens of thousands of eithiopeans into israel…1.5 million arabs make up israels population with full rights
….you guys are just jew haters..suck it up and face it..
Well done RTÉ management, the ilsreali government is far, far, far from human right complyant.
@angryDuck: there are a mass of conflicts filling the planets…israel is the most diverse country in the middle east…the most liberal…all religions are respected unlike other middle east countries..as is the only democracy..and respect for gays..
….is ireland perfect!…masses of homeless children…run by powerful.lobby groups..thousands on trollies and waiting lists..
…corrupt charities…!!!
Last time I checked, israel is NOT actually in Europe.
Secondly, israel is a vile nation which practices apartheid, land theft and genocide. Anyone who supports such a nation is beyond my understanding.
@Philip Kelleher: ah dats luvlee hun
But will RTE sanction employees who harass those who decide to travel to Israel for the Eurovision?
What’s Marty’s position on this?
@Seamus Mac: Marty’s gonna party
I don’t think it’s Israel they’re avoiding! It’s the Eurovision
Ireland has no place giving any credibility to the child killers of Israel all our media and Entertainers need to stand up together and boycott that Apartheid hole
@Derry man: aaaaand that’s not gonna happen, sorry luv x
Yet American military planes are allowed to land in Shannon
@wiggy:
You want the American jobs to fly out with them?
@Michael Kavanagh: how would that happen? Are you implying we’re being held to ransom by the US and that if we won’t comply and assist their warmongering ways by allowing them to refuel at Shannon, they’ll force their companies to pull out of Ireland?
@Cormac Ó Braonáin:
Yes – quietly but steadily the ground would be lost to other tax efficent places seen as less unfriendly.
@Michael Kavanagh: and how would the US state dept control where global companies that are registered in the US base themselves? But even irrespective of that, would you be happy to be a lapdog to the US in the fear they would act with that much hostility if we, as a ‘neutral’ country, are not compliant in their bombings of civilians around the world? Doesn’t sound like a healthy relationship to me. Sounds like they don’t respect our ‘neutrality’.
Awful competition, awful music, nobody should be forced to go to it
How many do they send 1 would probably be enough !
@Johnny Mason: 1 would still be too many
Israel and Eurovision – double triggers for all offenderati here!
@Michael Kavanagh: I must say, the journal are getting a lot of mileage out of this story. At least one a week.
Great way to donate to terrorists in Palestine I never sanctioned my tax money to be sent to them but this is ireland a great state with links to terrorism
P45 their asses
@John Swan: I wonder if they took the Eurovision to Palestine what would it look like?
@Vote4Pedro: they are taking it to Palestine. Occupied Palestine.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: pretty sure the headline says Israel, if they were taking it to Palestine it would be a very different competition. Campness would be non-existent!!
@Vote4Pedro: The whole show would be non existent if the occupying forces decided to bomb it with white phosphorous or depleted uranium munitions like they have used on civilian targets numerous times in the past.
@Vote4Pedro: they’d have a job finding it. There’s no such place
@Seamus Murphy: nice try troll
@Brendan Barry: your definition of a troll , anyone who doesn’t vehemently agree with and support your every word and thought. Pathetic really. Maybe you should get out more.
Why am I anti-Israel?
Two reasons fundamentally;
1. The treatment of The Palestinians
2. The fact I love and admire the Jewish people and therefore abhor the association therewith which Zionists wish to cement
@Micheál: I feel the exact same way. Have nothing whatsoever against Jewish people or the Jewish religion. I do however have a major problem with Israeli government policy and their constant push towards the “Greater Israel Project” which will only carry on the continued occupation and ethnic cleansing. This does not make myself or anyone for that matter “anti-semetic”. If I was, I would be supportive of the abuse suffered by the Palestinians, also I do not support our own government policies for the most part, this again does not mean I am either “anti – catholic” (if you want to view it that way) or “anti – Irish”.
Very well said Micheál, the way you’ve put it make it very very easy to understand. It should be common sense.
@Gazza Lazza:
Thanks Gazza, its all so obvious! Why there’s a debate on it mystifies me
@Micheál: Baffles the mind, especially given our own history with occupation. You would think we would be a bit more understanding and sympathetic.
@Gazza Lazza: seeing that you are not antisemitic…what constantly puzzles most jews is the way you guys are so obssessed with only attackin israel…when theres a mass of conflicts filling the planet..the bull that some of my best friends are jewish is treated as a joke by jewisj people..it really is not taken seriously…you dont see any support for the tibetans…think that rte are an aparthied state..all its presenters are white…catholic..much the same education..all cloned to think the same…theres a mass of negaive aspects of irish society that are brushed under the carpet and not discussed…too in PC
Why didn’t they boycott when Israel joined the first time. Now it it is more like sour grapes. If the participate then they can win also.
Ah the fake description of “clashes”, where the journal.ie endeavors to make itself more of a fake news website each day !
There’s a country called Israel that treat the original land owners similarly to the way Hitler treated them. And the world let’s this happen. Even want the Asiavision there…
So basically all the gluten free hipsterscin Rte will refuse to travel…. Er mah Gerd how edgy lol
@RossKeogh: Ireland & Nappy Head Leo, the Muslims’ pals.
Damn feckin’ straight!
Don’t boycot Israel. Every country should go there with a song based on the abuses suffered by the Palestinian people. Not going would be water off a ducks ass.
@Tommy C: Israel could retort with a
version of rocketman.
Good idea Tommy C, now that would be something I’d want to see :-)
@Tommy C: good idea in fairness
@Seamus Mac: the thousands of rockets fired at israel from gaza..
@victor feldman: yes that’s my point
I support Israel although disagree with some of their past actions. But how did they win the Eurovision? They are in the middle east..
We should res-erect Dustin to have another go!
Boycott Eurovision as a whole. It’s been tarnished for long enough
Can we send Dustin?
@Tim O’Connell: We went from winning it nearly all the time, when we couldn’t afford it, to not getting a look in with political voting of all the Eastern Block & Ex USSR :D Sure they will hardly miss us.
Is Israel allowed into the Eurovision because the colonisers were shifted to the Palestinian’s home from central Europe, hence they are really European?
Nor should they.. hopefully that will be sll rmployees…
Zio-Nazi Israel Shouldn’t Even Be In Eurovision! It Is Not Part Of Europe And It Is A Goose-Stepping Regime That Needs A Regime Change, Yet Because The Zionists Have Infiltrated All Western Governments, Nothing Will Be Done To Stop This Rogue, Terrorist, Apartheid State Nor Its Ally In The Middle East, Saudi Arabia. They Both Get Away With Genocide Atrocities And No Intervention Is Even Mentioned By The United States Of America Or Britain. Hypocrisy!!!
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