Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I was very encouraged yesterday by the very diplomatic and constructive discussions among members yesterday when I was at the meeting. It was lovely to see and I thank members for that. I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak today. This is a really significant moment and it is one I want to recognise and strongly welcome. I have been working on this issue with the support of an incredible network of organisations and activists for many years. I first tabled the occupied territories Bill in 2018 for a simple reason. It was because seeing the horrific decades-long injustice in Palestine, I knew it was the right thing to do. Seven years later, that has sadly only become clearer.

When we look at the horror unfolding in Gaza - a genocide broadcast in real-time - at the relentless theft of land and homes right across the West Bank, it should summon in us the anger to demand real action. Every day, I see the footage of innocent children starving for the lack of food with sunken eyes and visible ribcages while infant formula is left to rot in trucks just a few miles away. Only today, I received an update from Mustafa Barghouti saying that the Israeli army killed 142 civilian Palestinians in Gaza and injured 487 in the past 24 hours. It is devastating. I think of my own beautiful grandchildren and my heart breaks at how obviously, unforgivably, criminally wrong this all is. Would we accept this for our own children? Will we be able to look them in the eyes in years to come if we cannot honestly say we did everything in our power to stop it?

These horrors are the result of a culture of impunity. I firmly believe that we have a responsibility to break the decades-long and failed status quo of strong words but no action and to ensure that there are finally some consequences for Israel’s violations of international law. This legislation is a crucial opportunity to do that and we have to get it right.

I have said all along that it does not matter what the name of the Bill is; what matters is the policy in it. The key test for the legislation before the committee today is whether it meets the standard set out clearly in my occupied territories Bill and clarified by the ICJ last year to deliver a full ban on all trade - both goods and services - with the illegal Israeli settlements.

For the moment, the answer is "No" but the Tánaiste has committed both to me and publicly that the Government is willing to include a ban on services in the final legislation if we can get the legal detail right. This committee has an absolutely crucial role in making clear to the Government that we can. I welcome the fact that it has sought expert input from eminent legal scholars and I note the letter recently sent to Government by over 400 of Ireland’s most prominent lawyers making clear that we can do this with the right political will. My colleagues Mr. O'Neill and Mr. Liston will touch on these issues in more detail.

I do not say this just to be critical. I really want to recognise the significance of this moment and the importance of the step the Irish Government is taking. Despite decades of occupation, despite the indignity of a brutal system of apartheid, despite the clear illegality of the settlement project and despite its binding obligations under international law, no EU government has yet stepped up and moved to ban trade with the illegal Israeli settlements. This is such an important moment and this is precisely why I want us to get it right.

I really believe we can lead on this drawing on the same spirit and determination we showed when we became the first European country to ban trade with apartheid South Africa in the 1980s.

We recognised what was happening there was wrong and we refused to support it. The striking Dunnes workers followed their conscience, kicked off a movement and helped to change history and we can do that again. The world is watching this legislation. I was recently in Brussels meeting MEPs and representatives about the occupied territories Bill. Last month nine EU member states, including Ireland, publicly called on the EU Commission to take action and end trade in both goods and services with the illegal settlements, which is a hugely important step. Momentum is clearly shifting but as the Tánaiste has said, we cannot wait for an EU consensus that may never come. Passing this legislation is the exact thing that can spur action at EU level. It can set a standard, both politically and legally, for other EU states to follow, so let us act now on our principles and do it.

We must also remember that while the horrific genocide in Gaza shows us what happens when international law is disregarded, this legislation is not just about applying pressure for a badly-needed ceasefire. This was necessary in 2018 when I first tabled the occupied territories Bill and it is necessary now. It will still be necessary if, please God, a ceasefire is reached in Gaza. As the ICJ has made clear, the settlements are totally illegal, full stop. They are the engine of the occupation, a driver of horrendous human suffering and as the Government put it, a key barrier to peace. When a ceasefire arrives, it will only hold if we refuse to go back to the failed status quoand take real, meaningful action to address the underlying root causes. Banning all trade with Israel’s illegal settlements is a key part of that. It is a modest but important step we must take. Please, let us not waste any more time.