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US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has provoked a strong reaction with his move to ban travellers from a range of countries – all predominantly Muslim – from entering the United States.
Demonstrations took place across America over the weekend, and petitions opposing Trump’s measures have garnered a lot of attention both here in Ireland, and elsewhere.
It must be pointed out, however, that while many anti-Trump petitions have been geo-specific, it is impossible to say if all of those signatories are from that country.
At the time of writing, just over 30,000 people have signed this petition aimed at halting Enda Kenny from meeting Trump in the White House for his annual St Patrick’s day visit.
The petition is titled: “Shamrock for Trump: Not in my name”.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, the petition’s creator Cornelius Traas said that the idea arose as he felt that there was room for people here in Ireland to express their dissatisfaction at what Trump was doing.
“I wanted to put something together that would be fairly simple,” he said. “A simple petition that people could express a view on.”
While happy with the response so far, he believes that he will receive a great deal more signatures to the petition, as many Irish people are “uncomfortable” with the actions taken by Trump.
“I think Kenny may go, but that’s not the point. I wanted him to know that he isn’t speaking on my behalf, or the behalf of anyone else that signs this petition, when he meets Trump.”
He said he had canvassed local TDs in his own constituency and would urge those who feel strongly on the matter to do the same.
The more people that contribute to this conversation, the better.
It is has now become customary for the Taoiseach to present a bowl of Shamrock to the US President on St Patrick’s Day and it is expected that Kenny would do the same again were he to visit this year.
Kenny will become only the second EU leader to visit Trump in the White House if he made the trip, which has been used as a platform to strengthen Irish-American relations in the past.
In a Q&A on its website, Fine Gael reiterated that Kenny intends on visiting the White House on St Patrick’s Day:
St Patrick’s Day provides the Irish Government with a unique annual opportunity to hold bilateral talks with the US President and this longstanding arrangement is of great value to Ireland.
Visiting the White House on St Patrick’s Day allows the Taoiseach of the day to outline, in person, the Government’s view on a range of issues, such as business and economic ties, immigration and other matters of common interest. The Taoiseach has accepted an invitation from President Trump to visit the White House for the annual St. Patrick’s Day meeting. The Taoiseach will continue to act in the interest of Irish people.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today, Minister of State Darragh Murphy admitted that Trump’s travel ban had created a sense of “significant confusion”.
“I accept that this is a matter that should be discussed,” Murphy said in relation to Kenny’s visit.
He mentioned the concerns he felt from Irish people on a recent visit to the US. He added that it was vital to maintain US-Irish connections.
Labour Leader Brendan Howlin has said: “Put plainly, if the Muslim ban remains in place, Enda Kenny should not be boarding a plane to Washington in March. And our government should be working might and mane to make sure that these policies are not enforced on Irish soil.”
One million signatures for UK petition
The UK’s petition calling for the government not to allow Trump make an official state visit has already got well over one million signatures.
Under the rules for the UK parliament, if a petition gets in excess of 100,000 signatures, it must be considered for debate by parliament.
The petition says: “Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen.”
Although not all petitions end up being debated, a topic will be debated if it’s on a topic that the UK government can do something about.
For example, a petition calling for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be arrested for war crimes was rejected as a topic for debate, as the UK government could not do anything about the issue.
On the other hand, topics such as a sugar tax, legalising cannabis and junior doctors contracts have all been deemed relevant enough to warrant debate so it is likely that Trump’s visit will get a mention in the House of Commons as that is something that the UK can control.
Theresa May has faced growing pressure over her ties to Trump, with this petition joined by dissenting voices on the opposition benches and within her own party urging her to reconsider inviting Trump to the UK.
Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, the smaller Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party have all called for the state visit to be cancelled, as have some Tories.
“We have to question whether … this is something that Britain should be doing for a man who has no respect for women, disdain for minorities, little value for LGBT communities, no compassion for the vulnerable and whose policies are rooted in divisive rhetoric,” Conservative Muslim peer Sayeeda Warsi told BBC radio.
Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston said Trump should not be invited to address lawmakers as Barack Obama did in parliament’s Westminster Hall during his state visit in 2011.
Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the visit could not go ahead “while a cruel and divisive policy which discriminates against citizens of the host nation is in place”.
Trump began telling the public his thoughts in his usual manner this morning, taking to Twitter to air his views on critics of his travel ban.
With reporting from AFP.
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Cancer doesn’t care it you are
Black or white,
Rich or poor,
Or young or old….
Best of luck to you and all others who are fighting the big fight…
Well said
Are you head of his supporter’s club paddy :-)
Hugh why were my comments removed?
At end of the day your health is most important. Good luck to him in his fight
The manner in which Brian Lenihan and his family were treated by TV3 was nothing short of disgraceful. I would hate to think that the same was about to happen to Michael Noonan at the hands of a tabloid newspaper.
Hugh, some would say that the manner in which Brian Lenihan treated the Irish public was nothing short of disgraceful. I doubt that those who have had their medical cards removed from their sick children, as an indirect result of Lenihan’s capitulation to Europe would shed too many tears over a newspaper article.
Im actually shocked at this comment. These people are psychopaths that treat the electorate with disregard to put it nicely. I actually can’t believe you are trying to protect them. Open your eyes
Leave his private medical life to himself ffs.
People have to disclose their private lives to get the treatment they bee to stay alive. Maybe he can now empathise with the MS sufferers and how they have taken their medication off the free medical scheme.
There are others facing the reality of cancer every day and trying to come to terms with it.
I’m willing to bet noonan wasn’t left on a trolly or had to face huge waiting lists for treatment.
I empathize with him but he will be well looked after.
Cancer will effect one in three of us in some way.
What business is it of yours, mine or anyone else’s what standard of treatment he gets.
Well then why go to the media then if it’s his own business?
Well if doesn’t turn up for work in the next few weeks people will be asking why.
Bet he won’t be waiting for treatments like the rest of us
“Seized the initiative”.. went public when the media were about to.
I hope his medical card wasn’t cancelled for some reason. It would seem unreasonable to cancel a card on someone with a serious medical condition….
And still he made it onto the Tarmac to meet Donald. Is it fair, when so many are suffering with cancer that he plays down the heavy toll it that’s on family’s. Noonan Family must be worried sick that the stress of office could hinder recovery. if he feels he can contuine then it must be on medicinal grounds but with the stress test of our banks. His head of dept leaving and a possible property bubble forming should he have the finial say. for that matter show we be worried about the physical and mental health of all TD. Should a medicinal not be compulsory before taking their seats in Dáil Éireann. asking for drug tests and breath samples before voting on legislation maybe going a bit far but leaving control in so few hands and if some where compromised due to drink or mental ability. Could that legislation they voted on not be open to question due to their state of mind.
Excellent!
What’s excellent about that drivel, you must be easily pleased, such asinine posts.
Pass the puke bucket ,please ! It’s a private matter and he’s just another human being ,fighting a battle !
I can’t believe he still has his snout at the trough at 71. There should be a mandatory retirement age for them exactly like for everybody else.
taking leaders questions and according to media reports its opportunity to congratulate him on his fight with cancer……..not a mention of the 800 babies buried in septic tank
I do not really get how this article is an analysis or even why an analysis is required. It’s more of a ‘noonan is a great fella altogether for getting ahead of the ball with this cancer and getting on with the job,’ type of personal opinion.
mike how is Bill
have your say