Meath County Council held a special meeting today Tuesday 9th September which was brought by Independent councilor Alan Lawes. The vote to pass a motion calling on ”Meath County Council to consider all lawful sanctions it can take against the apartheid state of Israel in order to put pressure on them to stop the Genocide and forced starvation of the Palestinian people.” There was 100% support of all the councillor’s voting, passing by 27 votes 13 cllrs absent. The vote needed was 14 to pass the motion. Everyone present in the chamber and online voted in favour.
Cllr Lawes brought the motion and called on his fellow councillors to send a clear message that as elected politicians ” take the lead and introduce sanctions against the genocide and the state of Israel” In a call to councillors he stated ” I have no doubt that all my fellow councillors are sickened and horrified by the daily reports of children being brutishly murdered by the Israel state and worst of all Israel is starving a whole nation to death.”
He also drew attention to all the ordinary citizens that had been marching all over the world for the last two years. ”We need action and we need it now! ” was his clear message. He also drew attention under legislation to have proper procurement policies. He also reminded members that Fianna Fail minister Jack Chambers is on record advising the all councils ‘are entirely independent corporate entities”. They have full responsibility under law in their procurement for the performance in being compliant with the law. Human rights can be taken into account in those decisions of the chief executives under EU directive.
Cllr Lawes also mentioned, Elaine Daly of the Meath County Council executive team, has also agreed to meet with Meath IPSC (Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign) group to see what can be done lawfully to sanction the state of Israel. He personally thanked her for agreeing to listen and see what action may be implemented. He also thanked all the councillors for taking the time to attend the meeting and to vote on the motion. He finally added that ”let Meath be the trailblazer on taking action against a genocidal state.”
Cllr Maria White also addressed the meeting reminding the members that, we too, were once a state that suffered, from a man made forced starvation. ” Unless you have no feelings, whatsoever. It is in our soul and the psyche of every Irish person, what it is like to experience forced starvation. As councillors we needed to show leadership by example. ” She accepted that the council are bound by contracts , as previously mentioned by the chief executive. ”The conduct of all councillors should be befitting of the role. We should never stoop so low as to become involved in name calling to each other, on discussing such emotional issues such as this.” she reminded her fellow councillors, (In reference t0 last Monday’s Monthly Meeting which at times became heated).
All councillors that voted ,were in unison in the vote, 100% with the Independent councillor, the motion carried.
