Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and welcome the statement he made last Friday following his meeting with the so-called Elders group that goods from illegal Israeli settlement colonies or colonies in the West Bank should be clearly labelled in all EU countries. This would give consumers a real choice as to whether they want to buy, boycott or bin such goods. However, I believe the EU should go further and ban such goods. Would the Minister accept that politically, a ban would have a greater impact on Israeli policy? I believe such a ban would send a strong message to the Israeli Government should it continue to ignore or defy international law. Many people speculated about possible initiatives during our Presidency but we are in month five of our six-month term now. Will the initiative centre on labelling, and will we go our own way in terms of a ban? The Minister said he is hoping to reach consensus on the issue of a ban. I presume that is his favoured position in that regard. Which comes first, the labelling or the ban? Many people are looking to Ireland for leadership on this issue.

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