Irish campaign group Uplift issued the Irish government with an ultimatum on Wednesday, October 30.
The ultimatum calls upon the Irish Government to immediately suspend all military and dual-use trade with Israel along with the use of Irish airspace for the transport of weapons to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Phoenix Law Group, which is representing Uplift, said in a statement: "If the government fails to suspend these practices within 14 days then the group will proceed to issue formal judicial review proceedings against the Irish government and bring a case to the High Court.
"Uplift has received expert legal opinion showing the Irish government may be at risk of violating a number of domestic, EU, and international laws, including failing in their obligations under the Genocide Convention."
BREAKING: 🚨 Uplift has just issued the Irish government with a 14 day ultimatum and a formal request to immediately suspend all:
1. military trade with Israeli weapons companies
— Uplift (@UpliftIRL) October 30, 2024
2. dual-use export licences to Israel
3. use of Irish airspace to transport weapons to the IDF pic.twitter.com/hvryWmJi7P
Uplift describes itself as "a people powered campaigning community of over 342,000 people who take coordinated action for progressive change across Ireland." It says it is a self-supporting independent organization.
In its letter to Taoiseach Simon Harris on Wednesday, Phoenix Law wrote: "We write formally to seek immediate action in respect of your current position:
"a. to grant export licences to Israel,
"b. to continue to hold existing contracts paying Israeli state-owned weapons corporations for drones and drone support, and
"c. to allow weapons, components and other relevant items and/or personnel to transit and/or use Irish airports and/or airspace.
"The purpose of this correspondence is to put you on notice of our client's concerns and to afford you time to address same by action.
"In the event that the necessary steps are not taken, our client intends on bringing judicial review proceedings to compel you to take the necessary steps required by law."
The document was delivered to Government Buildings in Dublin on Wednesday and was addressed to Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, and Minister for Trade Peter Burke.
The details, Phoenix Law says, focus heavily on the increase in military-related trade between Ireland and Israel over the past year, as well as the regular use of Irish airspace by airlines carrying weapons to the IDF.
Darragh Mackin, Human Rights Lawyer and Director of Phoenix Law who has been advising Uplift's campaign, said: "The EU laws around trading military technology and equipment with countries who commit human rights abuses are quite clear. As are Ireland's obligations under the genocide convention"
Mackin added: "The increased level of military-related trade over the past year, as well as the use of Irish airspace for transporting arms to the IDF, puts the Irish government at risk of violating a number of national and international laws. Many of these laws also apply to other EU countries like Germany and France."
Brian Cuthbert of the campaigning organization Uplift said: "The situation is insane when you stop to think about it.
"On the one hand, Micheál Martin promised to intervene in South Africa's ICJ case accusing Israel of genocide, while on the other hand, he's doubled the amount of money his department are paying Israeli state-owned arms companies. You can't have it both ways."
Cuthbert went on to say "People all over Ireland have been trying desperately to bring an end to the horrific violence in Gaza. The Irish government has been benefitting from a lot of this good will on the global stage but when it comes to taking real action they've actually gone and increased their military trade with Israel. It's truly sickening."
The action comes about a month after Irish outlet The Ditch reported that munitions were being illegally transported over Ireland. The publication has since posted several more stories making similar claims. On Wednesday, The Ditch reported that more than a tonne of guns were transported to Israel over Ireland last week.
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