Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

The Deputy is right. It is offensive, to put it mildly, that it has taken this long to get to the point of reviewing the association agreement. It is as clear as day that the human rights clauses of the association agreement are being breached. I understand there needs to be a review to establish that, and I get that, but this is something that we called for in February 2024.

I welcome the fact that there is now a clear majority of member states, big and small with different political governments in power, that have recognised this now and joined the Irish, Spanish and Dutch position on this. The fact that there are 17 member states shows how Europe is speaking up about how these atrocities need to end in a way other parts of the world are not. I want that review to be quick. I hope it can be. I expect it can be. We have waited long enough for it to commence, now it needs to conclude in an efficient manner. I accept this is not the majority position in the European Union but our position is that the agreement should be suspended.

In the meantime, we will go ahead with our own domestic legislation and I encourage other European member states to look at what we are doing and also consider banning trade from the occupied Palestinian territories.

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