Frances Black (Independent)
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Go raibh míle maith agat. I appreciate it. I thank the Cathaoirleach very much.

I thank the Chair and the members of the committee for the opportunity to speak. I will try to be as brief as I possibly can because I want to leave time for a discussion and questions. I am joined by Gerry Liston from Sadaka and the Global Legal Action Network, and Conor O'Neill, who is the head of policy at Christian Aid Ireland. Mr. Liston and Mr. O'Neill have worked closely with me on the drafting of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, along with people from a wide range of brilliant civil society organisations and activists. They have helped to move this proposed legislation forward so brilliantly. Mr. Liston and Mr. O'Neill are here to provide input regarding amendments and for any legal or technical questions.

I will speak first about where we are with the Bill, the progress we have made and the work we still have to do. As we meet this afternoon in the safety of this committee room, I cannot help but think of the situation in Palestine right now. I must emphasise this point. It is the backdrop to this discussion. What is happening on the other side of the world but being broadcast to us in real time is an absolutely horrific genocide. That is what it is. Every day, I see the images, the horror and the devastation being inflicted on innocent people and children in Gaza and right across the West Bank. It is really hard to describe the despair and the anger this causes me to feel. Honestly, I just cannot believe how the world can look on and do so little. I just cannot believe it is possible. It is really beyond belief.

I firmly believe that we have a responsibility to break this trend and to ensure there are finally some real consequences for Israel's flagrant and repeated violations of international law and the theft of Palestinian land. I must say that words of condemnation are not enough any more. That is why I tabled this legislation six years ago and it is why I am back before the committee today.

As members will know, the Bill has a long history. It has already been passed in full by the Seanad, and the Dáil also voted overwhelmingly in favour of it. The committee undertook detailed scrutiny of the Bill in 2019 and also voted in favour. Unfortunately, despite expressing support in principle, successive Governments, at least up to now, have been unwilling to pass it based on legal advice that my team and I have long argued was wrong.

I do not want to redo those legal arguments of the past six years because, to be honest, the key thing now is to ensure we can finally move on from those arguments. We have shared detailed legal opinions from some of the most eminent experts in the world setting out that Ireland can do this. We built a movement of people across Ireland demanding action and, finally, in July, the ruling of the International Court of Justice put the matter beyond any reasonable doubt. The highest court in the world made it clear that not only is banning trade with Israel's illegal settlements the right thing to do, but that it is actually a firm legal obligation for all states, including Ireland. I am happy to say that the Tánaiste, Deputy Martin, and the Taoiseach, Deputy Harris, are making this exact case now too here in Ireland and at EU level and that the Attorney General's advice has finally changed. It should not have taken this long and it is unfortunate the change has come about so late in the life of this Dáil. The ICJ ruling, however, was of great significance. If this is what can finally unlock things, then I truly welcome it.

For the first time, we can truly say that all political parties have pledged to pass this legislation, alongside an incredible network of activists around the country. We have worked extremely hard to build political support and it is now unanimous. The people marching out on the streets are right. Passing this Bill was the right thing to do when I introduced it in 2018 and it is absolutely the right thing to do now. We should not waste any more time. We must focus on getting this legislation passed as soon as humanly possible with support from all sides of this House. I thank Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, the Labour Party and People Before Profit for offering their Dail time up to try to get the Bill through its final Stages and into law this week. I still firmly believe that this is the right thing to do.

As the Tánaiste said, I met with him at length on this issue and with his officials regarding amendments, which Mr. Liston and Mr. O'Neill can discuss in more detail. The key thing for me, though, is that we are talking about small technical changes to strengthen the Bill and protect it from legal challenge. I have no issue with that. We should get them done as soon as possible. If this does not happen before an election is called, then my message is clear. We will keep going. All parties have now pledged to do this and I refuse to let it be something that is promised before an election and not delivered on afterwards. I know the incredible activists and campaigners across the country will be holding every candidate, TD and party to their promises to ensure, whether it is this week or immediately as soon as new Dail convenes, that we make any final changes needed and pass this Bill into law.

I take this opportunity to commend the amazing activists and NGOs for their dedication to the Palestinian cause, as well as the councillors the length and breadth of this country who have shown that local government has been to the fore in supporting the passing of this Bill. Councillors from all parties and none have not used this Bill as a political football and have unanimously passed motions in support of it.

After decades of theft, dispossession and displacement, and in the context of an ongoing genocide in Gaza, this Bill is the absolute least we can do.