Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In a previous answer, I was told by the former Minister for Finance: "My officials are in contact with the NTMA on an ongoing basis across a range of issues, including those arising from the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023." I fully understand ISIF is independent but there is a policy issue in respect of illegal occupation. The Minister admits and accepts there is a country committing genocide and that we are investing in its trading companies. We still have a sizable proportion, albeit not in the overall scheme of things. Direct and indirect, it comes to more than €10 million. To bring home and put focus on what we are talking about, this refers to: the supply of surveillance and identification equipment for settlements; the wall and checkpoints directly linked with settlements; and the supply of equipment and materials facilitating the construction and expansion of settlements. This is the list drawn up by the UN more than eight years ago to say we should not be investing in those companies. I appreciate the Minister is making the case it is a small percentage, but it is morally significant, not to mention the genocide taking place.

See this speech in context