Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On becoming Taoiseach, I asked again about the legality of the occupied territories Bill. The same position has be reiterated to me as has been reiterated to my predecessors. Indeed, the same position has been reiterated to me by the Attorney General that would have been reiterated by his predecessors as well. I fully accept the Deputy's bona fides that this is a point of difference, but the very clear legal advice to me, which would be the same legal advice available to Deputy Cairns if she were in my position, is that the Bill is not compatible because these matters are dealt with at a European level.

What I can tell Deputy Cairns is that Ireland continues to push at a European level to change policy on the association agreement between the EU and Israel. I strongly share the Deputy's view that it cannot be business as usual for that association agreement.

I share that view, Spain shares that view and Belgium somewhat shared that view recently but it still remains a minority view among the member states of the European Union. That is frustrating to say but it is a truthful portrayal that I can give from my engagement at the European Council, as recently as last week. Ireland did make amendments to the conclusions of the European Council last week, specifically around the International Court of Justice, ICJ, and the very clear orders of the court, particularly in May in relation to Rafah, It significantly strengthened the language of the European Union's conclusions in relation to that also.

We have repeatedly called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and we continue to work at every opportunity, with partners in the Middle East, including the King of Jordan, to whom I have spoken, and in the EU to build momentum for peace efforts. I also discussed the issue with President Biden. However, I now fear that the stability of the Palestinian Authority is an additional cause for concern. I am already working on this at an EU level. I have already spoken to the President of the European Commission twice about this in the last week as to what role the European Union can play in stabilising financially the position of the Palestinian Authority. This is absolutely key to protecting the State of Palestine and ensuring there is a State of Palestine.

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