Protest over Israeli links sees aerospace company pull out of Cork event  

UCC BDS setting up camp on the quad at UCC on Wednesday, to force the university to divest links with Israel. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

An aerospace company has withdrawn from Cork's Carnival of Science following protests over its parent company’s links to the Israeli army as students continue their pro-Palestine encampment at University College Cork (UCC).

University chiefs met Students’ Union leaders on Wednesday to discuss its position on the conflict in Gaza while another student group, UCC BDS — boycott, divestment and sanctions — marked day two of its encampment on the quad.

A spokesman for UCC said it was liaising with the encampment group to ensure “the safe staging of their demonstration”.

“UCC recognises and respects the right to peaceful protest,” he said.

He also pointed out that UCC is in an “ongoing, direct and constructive engagement” with the Students’ Union, which raised concerns last week about the college's stance on the war in Gaza, and is “committed to continuing this collaborative process together”.

Mikey Rose, left, and Morgan Hegarty of UCC BDS after setting up the encampment on the quad at UCC, to force the university to divest links with Isreal. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

UCC committed last week to establishing a Palestine Emergency Response Working Group, involving Students’ Union reps, to identify ways to make its Sanctuary Scholarships available to displaced Palestinian students, and to explore the expansion of its Scholars at Risk programme.

The university has also agreed to divest its investment with an Israeli financial institution, which constitutes less than 0.5% of the university’s overall investments.

Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner has confirmed that Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of Raytheon, which supplies hardware and software to the Israeli Defence Forces, has pulled out of the city council-run Carnival of Science, by “mutual agreement”, following pro-Palestine protests outside its Cork offices earlier this year.

The issue was raised at Monday’s city council meeting after councillors were asked to approve the holding of the science event.

The free non-profit event aims to promote science, technology, engineering and maths through a fun programme that involves exhibitions, child friendly activities, performances and workshops, with up to 5,000 visitors a day expected.

But People Before Profit councillor Brian McCarthy said he had serious concerns about Collins Aerospace being a “sponsor” of the event. A web link to the council’s website listed the company as a stand holder.

“They are a subsidiary of Ratheon Ltd, and they are weapons suppliers to the Israeli army, including the ‘iron dome’. This [carnival] event is aimed at children. They need to be withdrawn from this event,” he said.

He was backed by Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent, Workers' Party councillor Ted Tynan and Rabharta Glas councillor Lorna Bogue.

Collins Aerospace Cork will not be involved in this year's Carnival of Science.

Council chief executive Ann Doherty told councillors no submissions were made when the event was advertised for public consultation.

A vote was called, and councillors voted 23-seven, with one abstention, to approve the holding of the event on June 8 and 9 subject to clarification on the involvement of Collins Aerospace.

However, the company told the Irish Examiner on Tuesday it would not be involved in this year’s event.

The council said the web link which listed the company as a stand holder was related to the 2023 event, and has now been removed from its website, and confirmed the company’s first involvement in the event was last year when it paid a total of €922.50 to take a stand.

“There was a mutual agreement to not participate in 2024 due to protests taking place outside their Cork office connected to the conflict in Gaza,” the council said.

Mr McCarthy welcomed the clarification and claimed it was a victory for protest.