Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is obviously a similar question to the one I answered for the Deputy's party colleague, Deputy Ó Laoghaire, but I am happy to answer again. The programme for Government sets out a commitment to progress legislation regarding the occupied Palestinian territories following the July 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion. I was the Taoiseach who requested specific bespoke advice from the Attorney General once the ICJ gave its advisory opinion to see if there was a way forward to passing legislation. That enabled the Government to re-evaluate its position to see if progress could be made. As the Deputy will recall, the Government carried out an extensive analysis and review of the occupied territories Bill late last year.

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The Government's analysis was that substantive amendments would be required to most if not all of the Bill's provisions to bring it in line with our Constitution and to make sure we have legislation that has a decent chance of standing up to EU infringement procedures. I am sure we want to pass a Bill that can withstand those legal challenges. These considerations remain central to the Government's approach.

I will meet Senator Black, as the sponsor of the Bill, next Tuesday to provide her with the most up-to-date information I have, to seek her views and to make a decision on how Government intends to proceed. Consistent with the position of the European Union, Ireland is clear that policies and measures that distinguish between the State of Israel and Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law, do not constitute a boycott of the State of Israel. There is a clear differentiation between the State of Israel and Israeli settlements. That is recognised in the position paper published and unanimously agreed by all EU countries in advance of the EU-Israel association agreement council meeting which took place on 24 February, I believe.

In parallel with following up at national level, Ireland continues to press for appropriate follow-up at EU level to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. I welcome that, at the recent association council meeting with Israel, the EU underlined its commitment to fully comply with international law and to implement legislation and technical arrangements applicable to settlement products accordingly. It is now important the EU also exercises due diligence and ensures its approach to settlement products is compliant with international law.

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