Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on this important topic. I welcome the Palestinian ambassador, Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, to the House to listen to this debate.

I support this proposed legislation being brought forward by Sinn Féin, which would compel the ISIF to divest itself of its holdings in companies listed in the UN database of companies with business ties to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The database of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, lists 112 companies operating in breach of international law in the occupied territories, in which Irish taxpayers are shareholders in nine such companies. We cannot continue supporting Israel’s apartheid. It is time we took a stronger stance on this issue.

The Nakba took place in Palestine 75 years ago yesterday, in which 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes. The Nakba, however, did not end in 1948. It continues to affect more than 12 million Palestinians who remain stateless today as they fight to end the Israeli occupation. Things are only getting worse. Attacks by Israeli armed forces and settlers against Palestinians have increased dramatically in the past year. Since the start of 2023, Israeli settler-related violence reached an average of three incidents per day, compared with two incidents per day in 2022 and one incident per day in 2021, according to the UN.

This is the highest daily average of settler-related incidents affecting Palestinians since 2006. Last week, 33 Palestinians were killed after five days of intense fighting in the Gaza Strip. It is clear that the international community needs to step up. Ireland needs to do more and this Bill should show our absolute and unwavering support for the Palestinian people.

I am going to be frank, however. I am sceptical of Sinn Féin’s commitment to this issue. I appreciate that it has brought forward this Bill today and I hope that this is a reflection of their priorities when in government, but I am not so sure. Unfortunately, in this country we have a long history of parties doing one thing in opposition and the exact opposite when they get into government. Four years ago, Fianna Fáil was in full support of the occupied territories Bill. However since getting into government, the Bill has not progressed. I cannot count the number of times I have seen parties U-turn on issues that were once of importance to them and I will be watching very closely over the next few years to ensure that I am very clear on where they stand on issues of importance.

The situation in Palestine is extremely important to the people of Ireland and my constituents in Donegal, who I am here to represent. It is important that we are not afraid to hold all parties to account for their role in facilitating Israel’s apartheid.

As I have previously stated, I am in support of the Bill today. However I would also like to take this opportunity to urge the Government to progress Senator Frances Black’s occupied territories Bill, which has already passed through the Seanad and some stages in the Dáil. It can be done. The Minister of State fully supported it when he was on this side of the House, so what is different today?

Trade rules may apply to all EU member states. However, exceptions are granted where they can be justified on grounds of public morality, public or public security and the protection of the life of humans. It is telling that the Government is afraid of potentially breaching EU law, yet seem to care very little about the fact that Israel is in breach of international law every single day. It is time to stand with the people of Palestine.

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