Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 20 and 37 together.

I thank Deputy Connolly. It is an honest question and let me give an honest answer, which is, I do not know yet. I want to engage in the first instance. I take the point that Senator Black is looking to sit down with me. I will make sure that happens in the coming days. I have been meeting my officials on this issue, too.

The decision we will have to make is on whether it is possible to amend the current Bill or is it more likely that we will need to introduce a new Bill. All of the advice available to me - I am being honest - is that the level of change required to the Bill, as highlighted by my predecessor, the now Taoiseach, at the foreign affairs committee, is such that a new Bill may actually be the appropriate vehicle in which to take this matter forward.

I am happy to meet opposition TDs on this and to engage constructively with the Opposition but the most appropriate and important thing I want to do first is meet the sponsor of the current Bill, Senator Black, whom I acknowledge has engaged in good faith with my Department.

The Deputy knows what I am going to say about it because I have said it already, so in the interests of time, I will not repeat it. Our immediate priority is making sure the ceasefire is maintained, the hostage release deal continues and humanitarian aid into Gaza is increased significantly. That is why we allocated €20 million more to UNRWA last week through my Department.

I need to be honest, in that I was the Taoiseach who sought legal advice from the Attorney General to see if it was possible to look at the occupied territories Bill again. I did so in light of the July 2024 advisory opinion. The legal advice was that there was a narrow path to try to take legislation forward. The Deputy and I may have different views or we may even have the same view, but in terms of the legality of this, the path forward is very narrow. As we all are, I am in the business of making sure that any legislation we pass is meaningful in terms of its impact.

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