Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate this evening. I commend Deputy Brady on his work, along with others, on drafting this important and excellent legislation. The case for supporting this Bill could not be clearer. At its essence, this Bill is a critical tool to end Irish State investment in companies that are complicit in war crimes.

In 2021 this Dáil led the way when it became the first Parliament in the European Union to recognise Israel's illegal occupation as an annexation. In this, we recognised it as a war crime. Today we have the opportunity again to set an example for our international counterparts to show real leadership when it comes to opposing Israel's apartheid regime and to support the oppressed Palestinian people. The Irish people stand with the people of Palestine in word and in deed, including through their cultural and sporting institutions. Our political institutions must follow.

This Bill is a natural extension of the 2021 occupied territories Bill which committed the Irish State to focus efforts to bring an end to settlement activity in the occupied territories. It also aligns with Ireland's national action plan on business and human rights, which implores the Government to implement human rights standards in business. Let us send a message to the world yet again that Ireland is willing to uphold international law, that we support the human rights of all peoples and that we are unwilling to invest in companies that sponsor war crimes. We must show that we stand with the Palestinian people, and that we believe in their human right to live free from persecution caused by the relentless effort by the Israeli state to occupy their Palestinian homeland. This week marks 75 years since the Nakba, and 75 years of human rights abuses, war and violence and merciless pursuit by Israel to occupy Palestinian lands. By supporting this Bill we are not just standing with the Palestinians; we are also standing in defence of the very principles this State was founded on. I urge the Government to withdraw its amendment and I urge all Deputies to support the Bill.

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