Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade

General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025

2:00 am

Photo of Sinéad GibneySinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)

I appreciate that. I understand the legal picture but I am asking if it was considered. We have talked about infringement proceedings but I will dial back a bit. The concern I have with what is being presented here today, including the twin track referenced by Mr. Keown, is that while we understand it, we also know that there has been absolute paralysis at European Union level. It is very unlikely that any of the pursuits of the Government at EU level to achieve action on the genocide and on historical occupation will progress, as it stands. My concern is that if that is what we are relying on, and this would only bring us into compliance with the ICJ ruling, we will set that semi-compliance in perpetuity. I would have thought we should test the legal boundaries as much as we can. As Mr. Smyth has said already, there is a risk of infringement procedures anyway if it covers only goods and a slightly greater risk with services included. Infringement procedures happen all the time so should we not just go for broke, as it were, try to get the whole lot included and test that at EU level?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.