Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for the question. The Government’s position and, indeed, that of the EU is clear: settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the realisation of a two-state solution.

While decisions regarding the operations of individual companies rest with those companies, a corporate decision to engage in economic and financial activities in settlements poses potentially significant reputational, legal and financial risk.

The Government does not maintain a list of companies operating in Ireland that may be trading with or linked to companies located in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland does not encourage or support in any way economic and financial activities in such settlements. Ireland has not issued any export licences for dual use or other goods in such settlements. Ireland does, however, strongly support the promotion of legitimate trade relations with the Palestinian Authority.

At EU level, the Interim Association Agreement on Trade and Cooperation sets out the legal basis for relations between the EU and the Palestinian Authority. Ireland strongly supports the deepening of the EU-Palestine bilateral relationship, including in the area of trade, and it is welcome that the first ever meeting of the EU-Palestine high-level political dialogue took place in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council on 14 April 2025. At this meeting, the European Commission announced a multi-annual comprehensive support programme worth up to €1.6 billion to foster Palestinian recovery and resilience, including a pillar to provide support for the private sector there.

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