Sinn Féin Senator and European election candidate for Dublin, Lynn Boylan, has called on Fine Gael candidate Regina Doherty to confirm whether she agrees with the attack on Trinity College students protesting against Israeli genocide made by a member of the European People’s Party.

Senator Boylan was responding to comments made by German MEP Christian Ehler, a member of the EPP to which Fine Gael MEPs are aligned, that were made less than 24 hours after Regina Doherty doubled down on her support to reelect the disgraced President Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission.

Senator Boylan said:

“The outrageous attack made by German MEP Christian Ehler against Trinity students protesting Israeli genocide tells you all you need to know about who Fine Gael aligns themselves with in the European Parliament.

“Mr Ehler’s comments come on the back of Regina Doherty this week doubling down on the EPP’s support for the disgraced Ursula von der Leyen’s bid to be reelected for a second term as President of the European Commission.

“Ms Von der Leyen’s handling of the humanitarian crisis, and by extension the EPP, in Gaza has been appalling and has left the European Union’s credibility as a partner for peace and an honest broker for any future negotiations in tatters.

“The latest attack from the EPP on Trinity College students campaigning for peace and against Israeli genocide should be condemned by Regina Doherty.

“What the Trinity students achieved in successfully campaigning for the university to divest its investments with Israeli companies reflects the will of the overwhelming majority of Irish people who stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“Having met with the Palestine women’s national team on the Trinity College campus this week ahead of their game against Bohemians, I had the privilege of hearing first hand what the efforts by those students meant to the Palestinian people.

“In the face of escalating Israeli brutality which has already seen over 35,000 Palestinians killed, including 15,000 children, the successful demonstrations we witnessed in Trinity in recent weeks are exactly the kind of acts of solidarity we should be supporting to hold Benjamin Netanyahu to account, and to help build a lasting peace.

“As Fine Gael’s European candidate for Dublin, Regina Doherty needs to make clear whether she agrees with comments made by Christian Ehler, and voters should also be aware that she is committed to reelecting Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission.”