Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)

I thank the professors for being here. I appreciate their legal experience, wisdom and understanding of Ireland's constitutional obligations and EU obligations. They have a perspective on the broader geopolitical implications as well and they are important. I will try to just ask three questions of each witness. I will go to Professor Butler first.

We are taking a twin-track approach in that we are trying to bring Europe with us and do anything we can to try to improve the situation in Gaza. We are all hoping for and working towards a ceasefire, but in the meantime we have to look at other sanctions and show Israel what we think of it. Does Professor Butler think if the Bill is passed with goods as it is now, or including services if we find a legal framework to put them in, it would set a precedent for other EU member states?

Second, could the Bill, particularly if it were enacted with services included, expose Ireland to legal or economic retaliation by allies such as the United States? We have a lot of FDI. I come from Kildare and Intel is a big employer there so we have to talk about these things. I am interested in that.

Does Professor Butler believe this legislation could meaningfully influence the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories or is it largely symbolic?

I will put those questions to Professor Butler first and come back to Professor Tridimas then.