Paul Murphy: Urges halt to Central Bank sale of Israeli bonds
Paul Murphy challenged the Central Bank's facilitation of Israeli bonds across the EU and said those bonds are literally paying for the genocide in Gaza. He told the Dáil the Central Bank must stop the sales and that declarations of genocide require legal and moral consequences.
Paul Murphy opened by thanking the Social Democrats for securing time for the joint motion and accused the Government of obfuscation and attempting to mislead in the counter-motion and the Minister's speech.
He acknowledged the Central Bank "doesn't sell these bonds," "doesn't endorse these bonds," and "doesn't oversee these bonds," but argued the key point is that the Central Bank is facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds across the European Union that are literally paying for the genocide in Gaza.
Murphy said the EU Prospectus Regulation should be interpreted and applied in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and challenged whether a regulation on financial prospectuses should override the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
He noted that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have said on the Dáil record that Israel is carrying out a genocide and insisted those statements must have legal and moral consequences rather than being token words. He urged the Government to "grow a backbone" and do everything possible to stop the genocide, including stopping the Central Bank facilitating these sales.
Murphy said he had no confidence in the so-called international community of Western governments, which he described as complicit, but expressed confidence in the international community of ordinary people — trade unions, mothers, flotillas and people on the march to Gaza — and said he was proud to be participating.
Debate and motion
Paul Murphy opened by thanking the Social Democrats for securing time for the joint motion and accused the Government of obfuscation and attempting to mislead in the counter-motion and the Minister's speech.
Central Bank's role
He acknowledged the Central Bank "doesn't sell these bonds," "doesn't endorse these bonds," and "doesn't oversee these bonds," but argued the key point is that the Central Bank is facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds across the European Union that are literally paying for the genocide in Gaza.
Legal arguments and regulation
Murphy said the EU Prospectus Regulation should be interpreted and applied in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and challenged whether a regulation on financial prospectuses should override the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Government statements and consequences
He noted that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have said on the Dáil record that Israel is carrying out a genocide and insisted those statements must have legal and moral consequences rather than being token words. He urged the Government to "grow a backbone" and do everything possible to stop the genocide, including stopping the Central Bank facilitating these sales.
Critique of international community and grassroots support
Murphy said he had no confidence in the so-called international community of Western governments, which he described as complicit, but expressed confidence in the international community of ordinary people — trade unions, mothers, flotillas and people on the march to Gaza — and said he was proud to be participating.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Shay Brennan
Shay Brennan: Clarifies Central Bank Role in Sovereign Bond Prospectuses
Gerard P. Craughwell
Gerard P. Craughwell Condemns Magdalene Laundries, Calls for Seizure
Victor Boyhan
Victor Boyhan on Institutional Abuse: Thanks, Memory, Progress
Joe O'Reilly
Joe O'Reilly Urges Government Action to Save Wellman Jobs
Michael Fitzmaurice
Michael Fitzmaurice warns SI risks losing small livestock suppliers
Martin Daly
Martin Daly on 'mental disorder' definition - urges clinical clarity
Transcript
First of all, thanks to the Social Democrats for using their time to allow this joint motion to be debated. There is a lot of obfuscation from the Government and an attempt to mislead people in the counter motion and in the Minister's speech. It's true that the Central Bank doesn't sell these bonds. It's true that the Central Bank doesn't endorse these bonds. It's true that the Central Bank doesn't oversee these bonds. But the key point is that the Central Bank is facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds across the European Union that are literally paying for the genocide in Gaza. There is no question that Israel is carrying out a genocide. The Taoiseach and the Tanishda, on the Dáil record, have now said it. But they seem to think that they will just say it, get some credit for saying it, and it doesn't have any consequences. It must have legal and moral consequences. You have to do everything in your power to stop a genocide taking place. Which means no more hiding behind the technicalities of the EU Prospectus Regulation. Which by the way is supposed to be interpreted and applied in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights. But is your argument seriously that a regulation on financial prospectuses should override the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide? You are offended when it is said that you are complicit, but what else can it possibly be? Just yesterday, the Tanishda said that anything that can be done to make sure the eyes of the world are fixed on Gaza at a time when the international community is failing to do enough is a good and appropriate thing. It shouldn't require flotillas, it shouldn't require civilians getting on boats and trying to highlight this. It should require the international community growing a backbone here and saying stop, stop the genocide. Take your own advice. Grow a backbone. Do everything you can to stop the genocide. Stop the central bank facilitating the sale of these bonds. But I have no confidence in the so-called international community of Western governments that are complicit, funding and supporting the genocide. I have a confidence in the international community of ordinary people, those on the streets, trade unions, the mothers, the people on the boats, the people on the march to Gaza, which I am proud to be participating in.