Helen McEntee fails to say if US and Israel are breaking international law, despite being asked eight times

Minister McEntee repeatedly said ‘it’s very clear’ that the attacks are ‘outside of the UN mandate’

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee stopped short of calling the US and Israel’s attack on Iran a breach of international law, despite being asked eight times to clarify her stance.

Around 400 passengers arrived on the first flight from Dubai to Dublin last night, with Minister McEntee saying around 80% of these were Irish citizens coming home. A second commercial flight is due to land later today, while the Government’s chartered jet will take off tomorrow from Oman.

Minister McEntee said half of those who were offered a seat on the flight have decided not to take it. The cost for passengers is €800 – half of the overall price – with the Government providing a free bus service from the UAE.

Speaking this evening, the Foreign Affairs Minister said: “In some instances half of those that have been contacted decided to wait and see if they can get a commercial flight home and I think we can all understand that it’s a lengthier journey to Oman and as flights are moving from the commercial side they are wanting and willing to wait and take those flights instead.

“The cost will never be a reason why somebody cannot get home. In this instance, if people have an issue or concern, the consulate team are dealing and engaging with them directly. At the moment, the flight and the plane, we hope, will be able to accommodate more than 280 to 300 people.”

During a press conference in Government Buildings, Minister McEntee failed to say that the US and Israel have broken international law, despite being asked eight times. Instead, Minister McEntee repeatedly said “it’s very clear” that the attacks are “outside of the UN mandate”.

Acting outside of a UN mandate generally means breaking international law, however, there are limited exceptions. Members of the opposition have been calling on the Minister to condemn the US and Israel, with Labour’s Duncan Smith saying the Government must “immediately state that these strikes constitute a breach of international law”.

The Foreign Affairs Minister said: “It is essential that any type of conflict has a mandate by the UN this does not. Our position, from an Irish perspective, has always been clear, any type of conflict like this must have a UN mandate.

“We’ve been equally clear in the response from Iran, where they have now targeted, quite literally, several countries, up to 11, that are not involved and have not been involved in this conflict.” She added that Ireland wants to see “an improvement and change” for the people of Iran and for them to “set out their own destiny”.

Asked if she wouldn’t say the US are breaching international law due to Taoiseach Micheál Martin meeting President Donald Trump shortly for St Patrick’s Day, Minister McEntee said: “I think our visit to the White House has provided us with an opportunity over many years to raise the concerns, and if we have a concern as to their actions or any other actions, we can use this as an opportunity to raise it.

“I think we have always taken the opportunity in the past to raise very complex and challenging issues.”

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