Speaking outside the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr Harris said the Sinn Féin TD was “misleading” the public and “muddying the waters” on Ireland’s position on the war in the Middle East.
He said Ms McDonald’s demand was “disingenuous” and he insisted the Government was not aware that Irish airspace was being used to transport weapons the Israeli Defence Forces.
“I think it might be a stretch even for her because, let’s remember, the Irish Government and the people of Ireland has been steadfast in our support for Palestine and the idea that she would in any way, shape or form try to muddy the waters on Ireland’s position is extraordinarily disappointing particularly at a time when I am here, the Tánaiste is here, the President is here, all standing up for Palestine, standing up for human rights,” Mr Harris said.
The Taoiseach said he will be meeting with the president of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas and the king of Jordan to discuss the war in Gaza and in Lebanon.
In the Dáil, Ms McDonald said the Taoiseach and Tánaiste Micheál Martin should make statements and take questions in the chamber about the use of Irish airspace used to bring weapons to Israel.
The Taoiseach previously told the Dáil that Irish airspace was not used to transfer Israeli weapons but an on-going review has established at least nine flights travelled through Ireland containing weapons destined for Israel. The Tánaiste described Ms McDonald’s call for a Dáil clarification an “outrageous assertion”.
“To say that we either knowingly – I mean, Mary Lou McDonald knows that that’s not true – and that is false because there’s a set procedure in respect of any flights, airlines that violate our airspace seek permission. No permission was ever sought and I’ve made that point in the past,” he said.
The Tánaiste has attended events with leaders from Arab countries and Europe to discuss the Middle East war sparked by the Hamas attack on Israel in October last year. He is also due to talk to US secretary of state Anthony Blinken.
Israel escalated the war in recent days but attacking areas on Lebanon where they believe Hezbollah leaders are based.
More than 500 people, including scores of children, have been in killed in waves of missile attacks in Lebanon.
The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and President Michael D Higgins were in the United Nations for a keynote address by US president Joe Biden. The Taoiseach spoke with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. Yesterday, Mr Harris met Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah.
The trip was overshadowed by a spat between President Higgins and the Israeli embassy in Ireland over his claim it circulated the letter he wrote congratulating the Iranian president on his recent election.
Mr Harris said he did not raise the controversy with the President when they met in the UN General Assembly.
“To be clear, what the President and I discussed is the fact that we’re gathering in the United Nations at a time of incredible humanitarian catastrophe,” he said.
“Since you’ve arrived in New York, Israel has effectively opened up a second front in terms of a war in the Middle East, and with catastrophic implications. We have seen innocent children killed, and we can’t in any way, shape or form, let this type kind thing be normalised,” he said.
