Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Reports indicate that Ireland, along with other EU member states, may recognise the state of Palestine as early as tomorrow.

I welcome that, particularly as we see the horrendous death toll in Gaza rising and International Criminal Court arrest warrants being sought in respect of Netanyahu and Israeli and Hamas leaders. We must see an end to Israel's genocidal action in Gaza and the release of the hostages.

In his statement to the International Court of Justice in February, the Attorney General stated that countries must prevent trade that maintains Israel's annexation of Palestine. That welcome statement is at odds with what the Government claims is the Taoiseach's advice on the Restriction of Imports (States in violation of obligations under the Genocide Convention and Occupied Territories) Bill 2024. I am asking for statements or debate with the Tánaiste that would include a question-and-answer session in order that we might settle once and for all if the blockage on progression of this important Bill is legal or if it is merely political. We believe there is no legal obstacle to making further progress on the occupied territories Bill.

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