Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will be as quick as I can. The infrastructure of the previous legislation in regard to applying to occupied territories generally was preferable. It is not a reason to stand in the way of this legislation, but these are not the only areas that are occupied contrary to international law. It would be right not to permit trade with or to have sanctions against trade from Russian-occupied Ukraine, Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara and so on.

I will comment on points made by Mr. O'Neill and Senator Black and I have a question for Mr. Liston. The international climate is in a particular place at the minute, but things could change between now and the passing of the Bill. I would be anxious about any arguments that now is not the time if there was to be a ceasefire. I am not sure one will come in the short term but if it is the case that there is a ceasefire and people then argue that now is not the time and we should put things on ice, I would not accept that. There was a comment yesterday from the Department along the lines of empowering the legislation. It was something like that. There are treaties, the Constitution, laws and regulations. What the Constitution says applies, whether it is specifically enacted or not. It is the fundamental law. Should the same not apply in this case? Surely the absence of a statement in relation to the obligations under international law does not mean those obligations do not apply.