Egis engineering, the parent company of United Nations (UN) blacklisted firm Egis Rail hosted a stall at a recruitment fair organised by Trinity Careers Service. The fair was held in the Sports Hall and aimed at engineering students.
A subsidiary of Egis, Egis Rail is on the UN blacklist for “The provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements, including transport” in Occupied Palestine, according to the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner.
The University Times has seen email correspondence between the Careers Service to Trinity College Dublin Student Union (TCDSU) President Jenny Maguire stating that the Careers Service “carry out a series of checks on all companies that sign up to engage with us on graduate recruitment through our Careers Portal. This includes verifying that they are not on the UN Blacklist.”
The UN Blacklist
The UN Blacklist was established to identify companies working in Israeli settlements. It seeks to promote transparency and assist business enterprise in complying with international law.
The list was updated in 2023 and serves to promote clarity and transparency and assist both Member States and business enterprises in complying with respective obligations and responsibilities applicable under international law.
The United Nations Human Rights Council first drafted the list in 2020 after a resolution was passed to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and has since been updated to reflect companies that have removed their operations from the Israeli Settlements.
An email that was sent coursewide to Engineering students in each year of study by Internship Coordinator and Industry Liaison Officer Sarah O’Brien from the School of Engineering, said of the Careers Fair “These events are a brilliant opportunity for you to connect with potential employers, learn about graduate programs, and gather tips for the application process”.
A College Spokesperson responded to The University Times’ request for comment on Egis’ attendance at the Trinity Careers Fair, stating “This was a genuine error. The company registered for the Careers Fair under its former name.”
The company that was to attend the Careers Service Fair was called J.B. Barry and Partners, who have since been bought by Egis. However, the stall (as pictured) was solely branded by Egis.
According to their website, “Egis has operated in Ireland since 1994. We design and operate roads, railway, bus and active travel systems, water and energy infrastructure, buildings and structures.” The firm also has an office domiciled in Israel, as well as 100 other offices worldwide.
Following the update of the UN Blacklist in 2023, Egis Rail is one of 122 companies listed. 15 companies were removed in 2023 from the list due to no longer having involvement in Israeli settlements.
Egis have been contacted for comment.
This article was updated at 6.55 pm to reflect that J.B. Barry and Partners have adopted the Egis name.
