Good morning,
The mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza is mirrored by a growing intensity in how it is reflected in domestic politics.
It dominated events in Leinster House on Wednesday, featuring in Leaders’ Questions and then across a marathon three and a half hour session where all sides made lengthy statements.
Later on Wednesday, Micheál Martin told his TDs and Senators it was becoming an “apocalypse”. The Dáil debates reflected what is a dark and troubling time. Miriam Lord’s column takes it all in.
In addition to facing pressure to bring forward legislation on trade with the occupied territories, and a Sinn Féin bill to prevent the Central Bank from dealing with Israeli bonds, the Labour Party opened up a new front, seeking to put pressure on the Government to do more at a UN level. It will lay a Dáil motion on this next week.
From the Government’s perspective, there were advances on two positions. Tánaiste Simon Harris put a bit more detail out about the timeline for the Coalition’s replacement for the Occupied Territories Bill - he will bring a memo to Cabinet next week seeking permission to draft the bill. It is still some time before we’ll get a sense of what’s in there, but a draft is promised before summer. There will be significant attention on what it does - and doesn’t - envisage.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said that Ireland now believes the EU’s trade deal with Israel should be suspended while it is being reviewed. It will be worth watching how Ireland formalises that position, whether it seeks to bring other EU countries towards it, and how successful it is in doing so.
The day ended dramatically, with political fallout over warning shots fired by the IDF at a diplomatic delegation in Jenin which included two Irish officials - and a formal demarche delivered to the Israeli ambassador in exile.
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies continue to report difficulties in getting food and aid into Gaza, with large numbers of civilians - including many children - facing starvation.
Refugees in Ireland: is the Government getting the balance right?
A critical warning
We report on another warning for the Government from Uisce Éireann about the need for wide-ranging legislative and regulatory changes if it is to stand a chance of facilitating enough homebuilding to reach the coalition’s targets.
Documents sent by UÉ to the coalition lay bare a thicket of overlapping issues which the utility says is holding it back. This is a Government that has said it should be judged by the yardstick of delivery. The missive from Uisce Éireann shows that the task is, in its own words “immense”.
On Wednesday, the Government faced more pressure over housing, with Sinn Féin raising the prospective removal of rent controls in the Dáil, and Social Democrats housing spokesman Rory Hearne organising a protest on Wednesday evening outside Leinster House.
Other members questions - an honourable mention
There cannot have been a more controversial Dáil speaking slot than that created during the speaking rights row to facilitate contributions from Independent TDs and government backbenchers - Other Members’ Questions. The opposition dismissed it as another opportunity for softball questions to be put to Coalition leaders.
But Dublin West’s Emer Currie (FG) used the slot on Wednesday to forensically examine some of the shortcomings in the childcare sector that persist, notwithstanding significant investment by the last administration.
She raised unmet needs, comparatively low levels of capital investment, and a flawed model designed to get the private sector to build childcare facilities alongside new housing, among other things. Not so soft.
Best reads
Nama boss Brendan McDonagh was in at the Finance Committee yesterday, and wouldn’t you guess it, his brush with tsardom came up.
Newton Emerson on the UK’s reset with the EU, and how it lowers the Irish Sea border further than expected.
From Brussels, Jack Power writes on the same topic.
Conor Gallagher’s investigation into Russian money in Ireland continues.
It is ten years to the day since the marriage equality referendum. Kitty Holland has the numbers that tell the story.
Politics and property intermingle in the paper today, with news that former cabinet minister Shane Ross is putting his Wicklow pile on the market for a cool €3.5 million.
Playbook
It’s an early start for Minister for Higher Education James Lawless, who will be on his feet for oral PQs at the ungodly hour of 8.47am. He’s followed by his party colleague, minister for Rural Community Development Dara Calleary at the more civilised time of 10.23am.
The final Leaders’ Questions of the week is at midday, before Other Members’ Questions and questions on policy or legislation before lunchtime.
A bill on wind turbine regulation is being introduced, while Government business is given over to statements on “delivering a world class education system”. Topical issues follows, before Sinn Féin legislation on the oversight of RTÉ’s accounts.
The full schedule is here.
In the Seanad, commencement matters are at 9.30am, with Government business covering statements on public procurement before it adjourns at 1.30pm.
Here’s a full rundown of matters in the upper house.
Over at the committees, it’s a first nibble at the National Children’s Hospital for the new Public Accounts Committee from 9.30am. Children’s Health Ireland and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board will traipse in.
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