Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

The Minister outlined previously what was bought, what it was used for and under what procurement policies it was bought but that was not really the question he was asked to deal with, as I am aware of all of those things. The question being posed here is that when companies engage in unlawful practices and we do business with them, then we are facilitating that. While there might be procurement policies, it is also the case that many of the Minister's international peers, recognising this injustice, have taken positive action to ensure they do not have dealings with companies which violate international law, as all of those operating in the settlements do. I am thinking, for example, of the British Government which has an overseas business risk policy that outlines and tries to encourage people not to deal with the settlements. The Dutch Government has been actively involved in providing advice to companies not to deal with the settlements while the Norwegian Ministry of Finance prevented pension funds' money from going into this system for the same reason.

The Minister can take proactive action. It is not unilateral action. The Minister had no problem signing us up to sanctions against Russia, which affected Irish farmers, but he does not seem to have any difficulty standing by while women and children are massacred in Gaza. We can take positive action in these matters.

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