International Affairs Motions

International

38. This Ard Fheis welcomes the 2010 initiative taken by the Abertzale Left to create the conditions for a peaceful and democratic process which deals with the causes of conflict between the Basque people and the Spanish state.

·                We commend the Abertzale Left for the leadership they have shown and the efforts they have made to resolve this political issue.

This Ard Fheis calls for:

·                The commencement of direct and inclusive dialogue as an indispensable step towards resolving the Basque National conflict.

·                The immediate release of Basque political activists and others from pro-Independence groupings including Trade Unions, Youth, Cultural and media organizations currently being detained by the Spanish Government.

·                Humanitarian treatment of prisoners, including the release of sick prisoners and the repatriation of prisoners to the Basque Country pending their release.

·                The release of Arnaldo Otegi.

·                The Basque people to be accorded their right to vote for the representatives of their choice.

·                The legalization of the new party proposed by the Abertzale Left.


Ard Chomhairle

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

39. This Ard Fheis remains opposed to the US-British led occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and the policies of the Irish Government that support and facilitate them.  They have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions.  We commend the efforts of anti war activists in Ireland and around the world to end the occupations.

This Ard Fheis therefore calls for:

·       the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan and Iraq and an immediate end to the deployment of Irish troops in Afghanistan.

·       calls on the international community, and especially states participating in or otherwise enabling the occupation, to support the reconstruction of Iraq by providing earmarked financial assistance to the UN humanitarian organisations to enable them to continue to provide and expand their current work to protect and assist those in need.  The only people to profit from this reconstruction should be the Iraqi and Afghani people.

·       the refusal of Irish airspace and facilities to belligerent and civilian contractors transporting war material.

·       an immediate investigation into the CIA’s use of Shannon Airport as part of its illegal renditions programme and the creation of a system to monitor and search suspected rendition flights.

·       a direct diplomatic, and political  intervention by the international community/United Nations to promote a process of negotiation with the Afghani belligerents as a means to resolving the conflict.

Ard Chomhairle

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

40. This Ard Fheis supports the right of citizens in the Middle East and North Africa to protest peacefully for democracy in their respective countries.  We condemn the suppression of peaceful protest.  All human rights violations must end.

Ard Chomhairle

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

41. This Ard Fheis welcomes the recent agreement between Fatah and Hamas.   It as an important development.   It creates a unique opportunity for a real negotiation involving Palestinian and Israeli representatives to achieve a lasting peace settlement.

This Ard Fheis urges the international community to support Palestinian efforts, at the UN, to achieve international recognition for a Palestinian state.

This Ard Fheis expresses its ongoing solidarity with the people of Palestine and all victims of the conflict and their families.

We call for:

  • The immediate end of the siege of Gaza including the lifting of all embargos.
  •  The commencement of an immediate and intensive programme of reconstruction and economic development in Gaza.
  • The implementation of the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council’s Goldstone Report into the war on Gaza.
  • An end to all armed actions and acts of violence.
  •  The commencement of mutual and expeditious co-operation between Israelis and Palestinians to enhance public safety and security.
  • An end to the occupation of the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the denial of freedom of movement to Palestinians in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, and between the west Bank and Gaza. 
  • An immediate removal of the Separation Wall.
  • An end to the ongoing Israeli colonisation of the West Bank and the building of settlements.
  •  The immediate end of Israeli military barriers in the West Bank.
  •  The implementation of United Nations resolutions and the enforcement of international law.
  • The commencement of an inclusive time framed process of negotiations in which all democratic mandates are respected. 
  • The right of all peoples to self determination, an independent Palestinian state and the right of Israeli citizens to live peacefully within state borders agreed in negotiation. 

This Ard Fheis notes with concern the continued siege of the Gaza Strip by Israeli armed forces, and the use of illegal force in order to prevent aid reaching the Palestinian people.

Ard Chomhairle

McGrath/O’Brien Cumann,
Waterford

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

42. This Ard  Fheis calls on the Irish Government to use all available diplomatic and economic options open to them in order to bring about an end to the continuing humanitarian tragedy which the Palestinian people are currently forced to endure.

This Ard Fheis also sends a message of support and solidarity to all organisations involved in trying to bring about an end to the siege in Gaza including the ‘Irish Ship to Gaza Fund’ and those involved with the MV Saoirse and MV Rachel Corrie on delivering badly-needed aid to Gaza.

Markievicz, Ryan and O’Farrell Cumann, Tallaght

Black/Ryan Cumann, Lucan,
Dublin

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

43. This Ard Fheis strongly condemns the actions of the Bahrain Government in its arrest and trial of 48 doctors and nurses for allegedly trying to overthrow the monarchy because they defied a government order to not treat the Bahraini protesters in public hospitals and on the streets of Bahrain. 

This Ard Fheis calls for the immediate release of these medical practitioners, some of whom completed their medical training in Ireland and worked in Irish Hospitals, and this Ard Fheis further calls on the Irish Government to offer asylum, if requested, to them and to their immediate families.

Markievicz, Ryan and O’Farrell Cumann, Tallaght

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

44. This Ard Fheis opposes NATO’s bombing campaign in Libya.  We call upon all parties in Libya to resolve their internal conflict through peaceful dialogue and negotiation.

Black/Ryan Cumann, Lucan,
Dublin

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

45. This Ard Fheis welcomes the growing climate of political and economic co-operation between Latin American and Caribbean countries.

We condemn the outside interference in the affairs of Latin American countries such as Venezuela and in particular the attempted coups in Honduras and Ecuador.

We welcome the successful efforts by the Venezuelan and Colombian Presidents in assisting the return to Honduras of the ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

This Ard Fheis calls for President Obama to use his powers to have the Cuban 5 released immediately on humanitarian grounds.

We call for an end to the illegal US led blockade of Cuba.


Ard Chomhairle

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

46. This Ard Fheis notes the 2011 report of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) which revealed that 90 trade unionists were murdered in 2010 for their efforts in defending workers' rights.   This included the assassination of 49 trade union leaders in Colombia. In addition to those killed across the globe, many more trade unionists were arrested, attacked or subjected to harassment and intimidation.  This included 75 recorded death threats against trade unionists, at least 2,500 arrests, and around 5,000 sackings of union members for promoting decent working rights and conditions. In Turkey alone, an estimated 350 unionists were dismissed solely for their union activities. 

This Ard Fheis notes the need for international solidarity to confront this activity, which is carried out by both governments and international corporations.

This Ard Fheis reiterates its long-standing support for the campaign to boycott Coca Cola for its corporation’s failure to act in support of workers at bottling franchises in Colombia and other countries.

 Michael J. Marren, South Sligo

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

47. This Ard Fheis actively engages with like minded democratic and progressive forces in Greece, Portugal and other countries with a view to transnational co-ordination of opposition to austerity, cutbacks and privatisation programmes being imposed on these countries along with Ireland by the EU/ECB/IMF in order to bail out international bankers and speculators at the expense of working people, the poor and most vulnerable in society.

Clancy/O’Callaghan Cumann,
Limerick City

Black/Ryan Cumann, Lucan,
Dublin

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

48. This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish government to carry out a review of the use of diplomatic immunity in Ireland and to encourage such a review at international level.

Patrick Cannon Cumann, Donaghmede,
Baile Átha Cliath

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

49. This Ard Fheis condemns the use of all weapons that impact most heavily upon innocent civilians including uranium-tipped shells, white phosphorous bombs, landmines, cluster bombs and other deadly weapons.  We also oppose the sale, trade and distribution of such weapons.

Black/Ryan Cumann, Lucan,
Dublin

Passed                 Lost                   Referred

Ard Fheis 2011

International guest speakers