Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2012
376 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his statement published on 4 May on MerrionStreet.ie was referring to the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign; the names of the declassified documents which he believes demonstrates Osama Bin Laden’s supporters see Ireland as promising ground; the evidence to substantiate this claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23903/12]
View answerMy statement issued on 4th May referred to the action of the group mentioned by the Deputy, as reported in the national press, in directing its members to "target" a musical group in order to intimidate the group into cancelling their proposed concerts in Israel which they proposed to undertake "to promote love between two divided communities". While I understand the group's action in cancelling their proposed tour, I deplore the cyber-bullying and intimidation which led them to do so. It is my belief that cultural and artistic exchanges have the capacity to make a significant contribution to fostering understanding and tolerance in a troubled part of the world. The newly declassified documents referred to in my statement and widely covered by the media were those recently uploaded onto their website by the Combating Terrorism Center, West Point, New York and collectively entitled "Letters from Abbottabad", one of which documents refers specifically to Ireland.
