TCD board meets after talks with SU on encampment

Trinity College Dublin’s board is meeting this evening to formally agree a statement which it is hoped will end a five-day protest from its Student Union on its campus.

The protest started on Friday night, with the union demanding the college fully divest its links to Israeli institutions.

On the campus this evening, some of those protesting are preparing to leave the encampment.

TCDSU president László Molnárfi said two meetings were held with college management today, at which management outlined what it would do.

“We had two meetings with college management, at 1pm and 2.30pm and we came to an agreement with college management, that TCD has divested from all the things from Israel that it could in the short-term,” he said.

He added: “Then the other investments and ties will be looked at by a task force.”

It’s expected the encampment will end this evening, however it is dependent on the college’s public statement confirming what the Student’s Union is seeking.

Draft bill obliging universities to divest Israeli ties

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin has drafted a bill which would oblige Irish universities to cease any investments which support “certain Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory”.

Mairéad Farrell, the party’s Spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, said that the Irish Universities (Amendment) Bill (2024) comes as the Irish people “are clear on their stance” over the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.

Ms Farrell praised the “courageous” acts of the students in Trinity College Dublin, who have “unified with staff” to deliver a “really powerful” message on the massive loss of civilian lives in the enclave.

The bill is “saying very clearly, do not invest” in those who are occupying Palestinian territory. Universities can “have no hand, act or part” in such activities, Ms Farrell told RTÉ News.

The Bills Office in the Oireachtas has received the draft legislation, and the deputy expressed her hope that it would be “made a priority”, allowing her to introduce it in the Dáil before the summer recess in mid-July.

The bill would also ban investing in any country or region named on the European Union’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.

Nor would universities be allowed to invest in those named on the Financial Action Taskforce’s (FACT) list of non-cooperative countries and territories for the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.

Earlier in the Dáil, Taoiseach Simon Harris said that universities should “reflect” on links to Israel and the issue of divestment.

He would not comment specifically on the protest at TCD, but addressed the issue “more broadly”.

Mr Harris was responding to Solidarity-PBP TD Bríd Smith who praised the students’ courage, bravery and determination, which she said was causing change around the world.