When Michael D. Higgins spoke yesterday at the Holocaust memorial service in the Mansion House, he was “right” to bring up the Middle East, reports RTE.
When Mr. Higgins’ remarks about Gaza during his speech on the 80th anniversary of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp sparked a protest, many Jewish participants fled the memorial, while others were escorted out by security.
Mr Harris told reporters in Brussels: “I think the President was very clear in relation to obviously specific issues regarding the Holocaust and his absolute condemnation of the horror, the murder of the Jewish people, but also, I think, rightly mentioning the situation in the Middle East as well but also calling very much for hostages to be released. I am conscious, though, that this is a very, very sensitive time, and I don’t want to say anything to distract from that,” reports RTE.
Mr Harris said: “I understand there was a small number of people who protested, and of course, people have a right to protest. But I think the President was very clear, as is the Government, as are the people of Ireland, in calling out the horrors of the Holocaust and making sure we remember, that we record that, that we acknowledge that each year, and of course, people have the right to protest,” reports RTE.
Mr. Harris added that Mr. Higgins had attended the ceremony seven times and that it was handled very delicately and solemnly.
“I believe yesterday’s event was a very moving occasion, obviously, for survivors and their families,” he stated, reports RTE.
Mr. Harris stated that he was “not sure” if the Department of Foreign Affairs reviewed the speech prior to its delivery.
Mr. Harris said that the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas envisioned the return of Palestinians to their homes when asked about US President Donald Trump’s demand for a “clear out” of the Gaza people to Egypt and Jordan, reports RTE.
He praised Mr. Trump’s role in bringing about the truce.
“I acknowledge the very intensive work that the Trump administration put in in the days before President Trump assumed office.
“I think that was welcome, and I’ve no doubt that played a very significant role in helping to bring about a ceasefire, a ceasefire that has now seen the killing and the bombing stop, that has seen the aid flow and has seen hostages be released,” he said, reports RTE.
The Minister added that he will forward ideas to the Government next week to create a new trade consultative body to engage with US multinational corporations doing business in Ireland, given Mr. Trump’s declared intentions to repatriate US investment.
According to him, it would be for businesses looking to invest in Ireland.
“It’s really important we also listen carefully to what people who consider investing in Ireland are saying. And they’re saying we need to see a greater investment in infrastructure, things like water, energy and housing. Showing them that we have a road map and a plan for that, as we do, and [have] prioritised in the Programme for Government, would be very good,” reports RTE.
“Mr. Trump is the democratically elected president of the United States of America and will determine the course of the nation for the next four years,” Mr. Harris stated.
According to him, the EU shouldn’t be a multilateral entity that just discusses Mr. Trump, reports RTE.
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