C of I inquires about CRH links to Israeli 'security wall'

The Church of Ireland has made "tentative nquiries" to Cement Roadstone Holdings (CRH) about its involvement in the construction of the widely-condemned Israeli "security wall" on the occupied West Bank of Palestine.

However the church has taken no decision on selling its €5 million shareholding in the company on ethical grounds.

A Church of Ireland spokeswoman said its investment committee had made approaches to CRH about the involvement of it or any of its subsidiaries in the building of the wall.

No response had been received as of yet, and no decision had been taken in relation to the future of the church's shareholding in CRH.

The approaches by the Church of Ireland investment committee to CRH follow a recommendation by the Anglican Consultative Council to its various provinces to look at their investments in companies with connections to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The spokeswoman said the council had not made any request in relation to investments. All that had happened was that the investment committee had taken steps to ask the company about its involvement in the construction of the wall, part of a wall and fence barrier which Israel argues is necessary for its security.

It is understood the Church of Ireland has about 4 per cent of its €168 million investment portfolio in equity in CRH.

CRH, in a statement last night, said it had a minority stake in an Israeli company, Mashav, which owned a cement-producing firm, Nesher.

CRH said neither was it involved directly in the construction of the barrier nor in any other building or civil engineering project in the country.

"Cement is widely available in the region from different sources and international suppliers to Israeli and Palestinian customers in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Egyptian, Turkish and Jordanian cement is also available in this region. Cement is used in the manufacture of concrete products, and is available from a variety of locations, with collection organised by customers without any reference to the intended application or end use.

"Neither Mashav nor Nesher manufactures concrete products of any type or for any application.

"They have no contracting activities, and therefore are not directly involved in the construction of the fence or any other building/civil engineering projects in the country."

CRH added that Nesher could not, as a matter of law, refuse to sell or discriminate between any customer of whatever religious or political affiliations.