The Tanaiste has defended the decision by Michael D Higgins to raise the ongoing conflict in Gaza during his speech to an annual Holocaust memorial event in Dublin. Protesters were removed from the memorial event during an address by Mr Higgins on Sunday.
A number of people objected to the invitation to Mr Higgins to deliver the keynote address to the National Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration in Dublin. Survivors of the Holocaust were among the audience who gathered at the Mansion House for the event which included readings, survivors’ recollections and a recitation of the Scroll of Names featuring relatives and ancestors of Irish residents who died in the Holocaust.
As Mr Higgins spoke about the events that unfolded on October 7 2023, when Hamas attacked in southern Israel leading to the conflict in Gaza, a small number of people stood up and and turned their backs to the stage and were removed by security. Simon Harris said that while people have a right to protest, the president has been “very clear” in calling out the horrors of the Holocaust.
“I think it was important that the president of Ireland attended the event yesterday. I think it’s the seventh time he has attended the event, and this is always an event carried out with great solemnity and sensitivity,” Mr Harris said on Monday.
