Ireland has, it seems, developed a curious two-tier system of political speech. One tier involves saying plainly what is happening. The other involves saying absolutely anything except that.
President Catherine Connolly has opted firmly for the first approach. In a statement on the escalating war in the Middle East, she described the recent attacks on Iran as “deliberate assaults on international law” and warned that the “catastrophic consequences of violating the UN Charter cannot be ignored.” (TheJournal.ie)
It was the kind of language usually reserved for moments when bombs are falling and someone feels obliged to point out that this is, in fact, a bad thing.
Connolly even suggested that Ireland’s history — colonisation, famine, and a hard-won peace process — obliges the country to speak plainly about war. A small neutral state, she argued, can still wield influence when it acts with integrity and purpose. (The Irish Times)
Radical stuff: moral clarity.
Meanwhile, over in Government Buildings, Taoiseach Micheál Martin appears to be practising a different diplomatic art form: interpretive hesitation.
Pressed repeatedly to condemn the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Martin has instead called for “de-escalation,” “diplomatic channels,” and other phrases carefully designed to mean everything and nothing simultaneously. (Express & Star)
Critics in the Dáil have suggested this linguistic gymnastics may have something to do with the calendar — specifically the approaching St Patrick’s Day trip to Washington and the delicate matter of presenting a bowl of shamrock to Donald Trump without mentioning the missiles. (The Sun)
Thus the spectacle: a president speaking about international law, while the head of government tiptoes around it like a cat near a vase.
One can almost picture the scene being rehearsed.
Connolly: “Violations of international law must be named.”
Martin: “Yes, but perhaps… softly. Preferably after March 17th.”
Diplomacy, of course, often requires tact. But there is a difference between tact and stage fright.
Ireland’s Constitution commits the state to peace and the rule of international law. The question now is whether that commitment travels to Washington — or stays at home for the week, minding the shamrocks.
For more than a decade now – people in Ireland have questioned the benefit of our leaders heading to the Whitehouse each March with the glass bowl of shamrock. Some here always felt embarrassed by this annual charade – even wondering if our American cousins knew what Shamrock was.
then there was the counter argument that the whole exercise was about developing trade and investment – and junket’s for the entire cabinet across the states. But has anyone ever pointed to a single job created here in Ireland – that wouldn’t have happened anyway?
and then there is the here and now – the world according to Donald – the new world – what place has a glass bowl of shamrock have in all this. If Miceál Martin really wants to protect existing American jobs here – might it not be safer not going to Washington this year – giving that we have a president who speaks the truth – while Washington has one who cant. Does Miceál not know that the White House is a truth-free zone? And what about Irelands reputation among the international community as a small country of peace – what will the Neighbours say when Miceál shows up this year while the bombs are still dropping on Iran and the killing still taking place in Gaza? A sneaky nation of weasel grovellers!
Fair play to her for being honest about the illegal attack on Iran. Good to see the shinners not traipsing along this year. The unionists of course love these middle eastern conflicts as it fits in with their religious nonsense about Armageddon. Any U.S. serviceman who witnessed the spectacle of the fat Orange faced carpetbagger wearing a stupid baseball cap as dead comrades were being brought home really should consider his position.
Yea Jude, I thought the same when I saw the cringe-inducing baseball cap garb by the man who criticised Zelensky for not wearing a suit in to meet him in the White House.