Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 7: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is planning on proceeding with the proposal undertaken by the previous Government to clearly label any produce that comes from illegal Israeli settlements in order that customers here are aware of the origins of what they are buying. [33717/11]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The regulation of product labelling is not the responsibility of my Department, but is overseen by a number of domestic Departments. The Tánaiste's predecessor, Deputy Martin, undertook to discuss with other Departments the possibility of introducing labelling to identify products of illegal Israeli settlements. He reported to the Dáil in November last year on the outcome of those discussions. The position then was that, bearing in mind the existing labelling requirements, the likely small volume of products involved and the absence of significant stakeholder pressure on this issue, this was not seen as a priority by domestic Departments.

However, it is important to be clear that there is nothing to stop Irish retailers, if they wish, from clearly labelling goods to distinguish settlement produce. They could do so along the same simple and obvious lines as in the DEFRA guidelines in the UK, as either "Produce of the West Bank (Palestinian produce)" or "Produce of the West Bank (Israeli settlement)", or any similar wording. That advice has been available since last year on my Department's website, where it may be viewed by or cited to retailers or members of the public.

Taking the matter further forward within the regulatory framework is a matter for those Ministers and Departments responsible for product labelling. I have also raised at EU level the question of whether settlement products should not be excluded altogether from the EU but as I have reported to the House, there is not yet sufficient support for such a proposal to have any chance of success.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Two issues arise, the first of which the Israeli labelling after the 2000 agreement between the EU and Israel, and the deal in recent years where products from the Palestinian territories are labelled as from West Bank to allow the Palestinian territories to develop economic activities. In the middle, produce from illegal settlements that are against various UN resolutions and which Ireland and many other European countries have condemned can be labelled as Israeli produce and in some cases West Bank produce. In the failure to confront Israel over the settlement, it is completely unacceptable to allow Israel to benefit economically, never mind the fact that it has torn down hundreds of homes. In response to the UNESCO vote, where the international community democratically voted for full membership for Palestine, Israel threatened to build more settlements.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am not sure if there is a question in that contribution.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

They will be in the supplementary contribution.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This is supposed to be Question Time.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Mac Lochlainn and I had an exchange on this general issue during the meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. We are ad idem in terms of the Government's approach to settlements. As the Tánaiste mentioned in his response to previous questions, we are deeply disturbed by the aggressive action of Israel in respect of settlements. If there is some way we can manifest this through labelling, we will be happy to do so. The issue has been raised at European level but there is no willingness to go down that road. At this point, it is deadlocked because the Irish Government has one position while other member states do not share that position.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Is the Government satisfied there is no settlement produce being circulated in the Irish economy? Is the Government considering a ban on produce from these illegal settlements, in order to be absolutely clear on the matter?

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is difficult to say that no such produce is circulating because there is no mechanism for clearly identifying and labelling it. There is probably a small amount circulating in the economy. The issue is how to identify it and how to oblige suppliers to label it clearly. That is a matter for the line Ministers and the issue has been explored. There is no appetite to go down the road of identifying such produce because of the small quantity in question. There is nothing to stop producers and retailers from identifying this produce but this practice has not been taken up. The information is available on the departmental website. A full-scale ban has not been discussed at Government level.