Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I fully concur that the international community must be concerned about the provocative nature of the expansion of settlements by the Israeli authorities. This policy makes the two state ever more difficult to achieve. I also condemn in the strongest possible manner the murder of four people in their place of prayer last week. The Palestinian community must condemn this attack in the strongest possible manner. Similarly, the Israeli Government must show restraint, as retaliation will only lead to further retaliation and create a spiral of violence.

Is progress being made on the proposal by the European Union and individual member states to ban products from settlements? The Minister's predecessor indicated that specific measures would be implemented in Ireland to ban products from settlements, and I understand specific proposals were to be implemented throughout the European Union. What is the up-to-date position regarding such sanctions?

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