The Israeli Defence Minister has called for the "immediate" closure of its Dublin embassy days after a bill was passed by the Seanad banning the importation of goods originating from Israeli settlements in Palestine.

Israel's foreign ministry has summoned Ireland's ambassador to express dismay over Dublin's mayor attending an "anti-Israel" event in Ramallah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told his country's Foreign Ministry to summon the Irish ambassador in Israel after the Seanad debated a bill tonight to block the import and sale of goods from Israeli settlements.

MORE than 675,000 people from home and abroad lined the streets of Dublin for one of the world’s most colourful St Patrick’s Day parades.

Around 650,000 people today lined the streets of Dublin as one of the world’s biggest street parties paraded through the capital.