A general election candidate has said the Social Democrats' plans for a €10 million fund to bring Palestinian children to Ireland for medical treatment is a natural continuation of the solidarity Ireland has shown to Gaza.
The €10 million fund to bring Palestinian children to Ireland would be for education, cultural exchanges and medical treatment.
The proposal is contained in the party’s ‘Positive Neutrality’ policy document, which was launched by foreign affairs spokesperson Gary Gannon, and Patricia Stephenson, the Social Democrats general election candidate in Carlow-Kilkenny.
The policy highlights how, in government, the party would allocate €10 million to fund and facilitate grassroots community initiatives to bring Palestinian children and young people to Ireland for education, cultural exchange, and/or specific medical treatments.
As part of this same scheme, there would be an exchange programme for Palestinian public servants to be mentored in Ireland, including sponsored attendance at the Institute of Public Administration.
Ms Stephenson told BreakingNews.ie: "The context of what's happening in Gaza is so extreme, that to give humanitarian aid in situ when there aren't medical centres operating anymore and all those challenges, this plan is an action of solidarity within that context.
"Over the last 1,000 days of the war in Ukraine, the support people across Ireland have given to Ukrainians has been remarkable. These would be short-term schemes. A lot of them are children and young people who would come for specific training programmes and medical support.
"I know there are huge challenges around housing and the healthcare system, but these would be targeted to those most in need."
Ms Stephenson said a lot of Irish people want to do more to support Palestinians who are being subjected to "unimaginable horrors" as a result of the Israel-Hamas war.
People have expressed so much solidarity with the Palestinian people, and I think there are a lot of people who want us to do more.
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"I think it's really important for solidarity, it's in line with what we do in humanitarian aid anyway. It's a different modality in bringing people here, but it's in line with our 2030 sustainable development goals, our commitment to tackling global injustices.
"I think it fits with the spirit of Ireland. People have expressed so much solidarity with the Palestinian people, and I think there are a lot of people who want us to do more. This would be an example of doing more."
Six months ago, Ms Stephenson met with Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.
She said he noted Ireland's solidarity, but also said any help possible would be welcomed.
"I know it's hard to understand what that [solidarity] does for people in Palestine. We've seen the horror on our phones, but international solidarity helps people to keep going under this horrible oppression, and it is having an impact. He also said you can do more, you can pass the Occupied Territories Bill. This would be a further step to support those children who are facing unimaginable trauma.
"We're in favour of the Occupied Territories Bill."
The policy also includes additional funding for the Defence Forces, and legislation that would mean any significant changes to Ireland's neutrality would be put before a Citizen's Assembly and possibly a referendum.
It also pledges to stop the transfer of military equipment through Ireland bound for war zones.
"The protests in Shannon have been large. I don't think anyone in Ireland is behind participating, in any way, in the delivery of military equipment to Israel. We're furious it has been done, and it puts our stance on neutrality into question.
"In terms of Gaza, people are concerned about weapons being flown over the country. That is an active conversation that comes up regularly when I'm canvassing, brought up by people on their own volition."
