An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-09
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Patricia Stephenson (SD), Labour Panel

I wish to comment on the weaponisation of international sanction regimes designed to put pressure on those responsible for human rights abuses but instead being used against advocates for human rights. Francesca Albanese has again spoken in the media about the financial sanctions brought against her by the US and the crippling impact this is having on her. She has, in effect, been removed from the global banking system. In addition, the US has been openly attacking the International Criminal Court, ICC, by placing sanctions on key officials. These are targeted attacks designed to delegitimise and undermine human rights bodies and we simply cannot stand idly by while institutions designed to protect international order are being attacked. Francesca Albanese has said, "It is important that people understand the extent ... [to which] the United States, Israel and others would go to silence the voice of justice, the voice of human rights." She also said, "We are frail and we are weak only if we are isolated." Therefore, our support for her is crucial.
The Tánaiste has stated that Ireland remains a steadfast supporter of Francesa Albanese and the UN. When those we support are attacked and punished for doing their jobs and for upholding international law, how do we react? If we do not actively support those responsible for implementing international law, and indeed if we do not uphold it ourselves, we risk the unravelling of these institutions. Frankly, the whole concept of international law is today balancing on a knife-edge. What Ireland does in the fact of that matters. Ours is a country which has championed neutrality, peace and human rights, and to which other countries across the world look to as a moral anchor on the global stage.
Israel is actively killing people, imprisoning others without trial, denying Palestinians their basic rights and attempting to wipe out an entire nation, and the US Administration is sanctioning those trying to hold the Israeli state to account. I ask that we have a debate on international law in this Chamber. We need a serious debate on our role in the world because in the face of conflict across the globe and the ICC being attacked and undermined, we risk the very existence of international law that we, as a small island nation, depend on.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:26+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-09