Sinn Féin's Israel motion does not seek ambassador's expulsion 

Ard fheis will debate a motion condemning the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas and the Israeli bombardment of Gaza

Sinn Fein deputy leader Pearse Doherty said 'the Sinn Féin ard fheis this weekend is about setting out the type of change that a Sinn Féin government will deliver if the people give us that opportunity'. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Sinn Féin members will vote on a motion condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza, but which does not call for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Ireland.

The motion put forward by the party’s Ard Comhairle condemns the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas and the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. It will be voted on during the second day of the party’s ard fheis in Athlone.

Other motions to be debated reiterate the party’s condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, call for the end of the Cuban trade embargo, and criticise last month’s budget. Another put forward by the Tipperary comhairle ceantair asks the party to push the Government to bring forward legislation requiring public and private bodies to accept cash.

It says that many businesses and government entities as well as enterprises associated with event organisation “are in some cases denying citizens the right to pay for goods and services by means of a physical cash payment” and adds that “the unjustness of the denial of physical legal tender as an accepted method of payment is dramatically increased in cases where no alternative is available due to the nature or location of the goods or services or where there is no competition or alternative source available within a reasonable geographic distance”.

Speaking ahead of the ard fheis, Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty said the party’s focus is to win enough seats in the next election to form a government without Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

“We are on the countdown to the next general election and the Sinn Féin ard fheis this weekend is about setting out the type of change that a Sinn Féin government will deliver if the people give us that opportunity. It is an ard fheis all about the future, about hope and opportunity.

“The housing crisis is the government’s greatest failure and ending the housing crisis is Sinn Féin’s number one priority. We will be setting out our plan to fix the housing crisis, to build homes and cut rents.

“The choice at the next election is a worsening housing crisis under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael or a Sinn Féin-led government that will fix the housing crisis, once and for all.”