The Speaker for the North of Ireland Assembly Edwin Poots has determined that the Executive must review Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald’s decision to end state help to companies supplying weapons to so-called ‘Israel’.

Archibald had issued her instructions in October after conducting a review of Invest NI’s role in providing financial assistance to companies producing weaponry for use by the Zionist entity. The report into the matter stated:

Following a review of its internal controls, Invest NI concluded that no additional measures or amendments are required.

Archibald said at the time:

The review is categorical – Invest NI does not support the manufacture of arms or their components for Israel. I welcome this finding.

However, as an additional precaution, she urged measures be put in place to:

…eliminate any risk of public funds being used to support the manufacture of arms or components that are used for genocide.

The Sinn Féin minister also pledged to:

…not engage in the British Government’s trade talks with Israel while it continues to illegally occupy and impose apartheid on Palestine.

Stormont-Israel connection: Archibald’s measures were weak to begin with

As covered by the Canary, it is very likely the report into Invest NI was highly misleading, as it only examined whether arms are being sent directly to the illegitimate settler-colony. The F-35 program operates by having parts made all over the world, then assembled into warplanes, many of which will end up in Zionist hands. Therefore, even if components aren’t shipped directly to so-called ‘Israel’, companies in the north of Ireland are still almost certainly helping to construct the death machines used to slaughter innocent Palestinians.

Nonetheless, Archibald’s weak response was still too much for many unionists, who seemingly can’t stand the thought of the Gaza holocaust ceasing. Archibald firstly faced a legal challenge from the Unionist Voice Policy Studies think tank, then a petition launched by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to have her policies related to trade with the Zionist pseudo-state reviewed.

In a letter addressed to “All Assembly Members”, Poots lays out his reasons for referring the matter to the Executive. The procedure first requires 30 signatures to go to the next step – consultation of parties at Stormont. In this instance, Poots received 31, all from unionist parties. It seems all of the DUP’s 26 MLAs signed the document. From there, Poots notes:

…the receipt of 30 signatures required me to do two things. Firstly, to consult the political parties in the Assembly. Secondly, it was then for me to decide ONLY whether the decision referenced in the petition was of public importance – in which case it is required to be referred to the Executive.

The Speaker, who was formerly leader of the DUP, then:

…wrote to all the parties and independent Members in the Assembly seeking their views on whether the subject of the petition was one of public importance.

Rarely used ruling dragged out due to DUP’s craving for mass death

He notes that many of the responses he received queried Archibald’s authority to take the action she did; this is likely in relation to whether she is entitled to rule on international trade, which is not a matter devolved to Stormont by Britain. Poots was not required to consider this, however, only whether it was a matter of public importance. It’s hard to find clear guidance on how exactly “public importance” is determined, or what factors Poots took into consideration, as he only makes reference to noting:

…the frequency with which Members have raised matters regarding relations with Israel in the Assembly.

While little can be gleaned from publicly available documents, Urgent Questions guidance for the British Parliament (which influenced the construction of Stormont rules) suggest factors like recency and imminence play a role “public importance” rulings, along with whether it has “more than a local or temporary significance”. Matters like financial cost and whether there is exceptional public interest are also likely to guide decisions.

By whatever arcane process Poots came to his determination, the infrequently used mechanism now ensures the north of Ireland has taken a step backwards into the mire of assisting a genocide. The former DUP MLA pointed out:

This is a procedure which has been rarely used – this is the first such valid petition to be received in more than ten years.

Robinson talks shite as he gloats over prospect of assisting genocide

One can think of the hundreds of issues debated in Stormont over that period, but the one to most exercise the DUP is that which retreated from profiting off mass slaughter of innocent children. The party’s leader Gavin Robinson delighted in the possibility of remaining involved in dismembering infants by the tens of thousands, saying:

The Economy Minister attempted to act unilaterally on an issue that is both significant and controversial. The Executive is the forum for collective decision making. It is where major policy shifts are scrutinised and agreed. On such a serious matter such as our trade with Israel, there is no space for Ministerial solo runs fed by political posturing.

Our petition was lodged to protect both the integrity of the devolved institutions and the thousands of workers whose livelihoods depend on our Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space sectors. We remain determined that no Minister should be permitted to undermine a strategically important part of our economy or to stray into areas that are the clear responsibility of the United Kingdom Government.

There you have it in black and white – a straightforward declaration that profit for local companies trumps human life in Gaza. He’s also gone for the cynical politician’s classic nugget of shit – the false dichotomy – claiming it’s either businesses going under here OR genocide there. It could clearly be businesses here AND no genocide there if these factories were repurposed to make something useful like civilian aircraft parts, rather than playing a role in the Terminator-esque deathscape that Zionism has created in Gaza.

Upcoming Executive ruling a measure of whether it’s fit for purpose

The Irish News quotes Archibald’s response to Poots’ ruling, as she commented on her previous action:

It is based on the principle that public funds must not support the manufacture of arms or components used for genocide.

She also referred to the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry which has determined that the lawless settler-colony is committing genocide in Gaza.

The Executive must now rule on Archibald’s decision based on whether there was “contravention of the [Ministerial] Code” and “whether it relates to a significant or controversial matter”. Needless to say, if the Ministerial Code allows you to assist genocide or it’s considered uncontroversial to do so, then it’s clear this is just another piece of Stormont that needs major reform.

Featured image via the Canary

By Robert Freeman

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