Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

15. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his plans to pass the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4363/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

20. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government's position on the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018; the timeline for when he expects this Bill to be passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4385/25]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

37. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the timeline for the passage of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 that incorporates a ban on imports and services from these areas, supported by the advisory opinion on the illegality of Israel's occupation and settlements issued on July 19 2024 by the International Court of Justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4514/25]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to ask for an update on the occupied territories Bill, more formally called the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, which incorporates a ban on imports and services from the occupied areas. I would like a robust and honest exchange on this matter. Slaughter is happening daily in Gaza and the occupied territories. The occupied territories Bill speaks for itself - it is dated 2018. The programme for Government talks about progressing it. When will it be enacted?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 20 and 37 together.

I thank Deputy Connolly. It is an honest question and let me give an honest answer, which is, I do not know yet. I want to engage in the first instance. I take the point that Senator Black is looking to sit down with me. I will make sure that happens in the coming days. I have been meeting my officials on this issue, too.

The decision we will have to make is on whether it is possible to amend the current Bill or is it more likely that we will need to introduce a new Bill. All of the advice available to me - I am being honest - is that the level of change required to the Bill, as highlighted by my predecessor, the now Taoiseach, at the foreign affairs committee, is such that a new Bill may actually be the appropriate vehicle in which to take this matter forward.

I am happy to meet opposition TDs on this and to engage constructively with the Opposition but the most appropriate and important thing I want to do first is meet the sponsor of the current Bill, Senator Black, whom I acknowledge has engaged in good faith with my Department.

The Deputy knows what I am going to say about it because I have said it already, so in the interests of time, I will not repeat it. Our immediate priority is making sure the ceasefire is maintained, the hostage release deal continues and humanitarian aid into Gaza is increased significantly. That is why we allocated €20 million more to UNRWA last week through my Department.

I need to be honest, in that I was the Taoiseach who sought legal advice from the Attorney General to see if it was possible to look at the occupied territories Bill again. I did so in light of the July 2024 advisory opinion. The legal advice was that there was a narrow path to try to take legislation forward. The Deputy and I may have different views or we may even have the same view, but in terms of the legality of this, the path forward is very narrow. As we all are, I am in the business of making sure that any legislation we pass is meaningful in terms of its impact.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This and the previous Governments have had ample time since 2018 to enact the occupied territories Bill. It is a matter of great disappointment to everybody in the Opposition that the programme for Government talks about progressing it. The Government will change the triple lock but it will progress this Bill some time in the future, ignoring completely the reality on the ground and the new reality of President Trump talking about turning it into a Riviera.

I wonder what kind of world we are living in when there is a trampling on international law on every level. The Government hid behind the law with its Attorney General and the advice that said this was not possible, then it changed its mind when the advisory opinion arrived, yet still nothing has happened. The Tánaiste promised the people of Ireland before the election that the Government would enact this Bill.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have to be accurate. I do not believe it was legally possible in 2018 to pass this Bill. The Deputy says we have had ample time since 2018, but the moment that created a potential legal path forward - it was no more than a potential legal path forward - was the ICJ advisory opinion. I find it odd in this Dáil that it is suggested that Ireland and the Irish Government are not supportive of the people of Palestine, a two-state solution or standing up for international law. When I will meet the Palestinian Prime Minister on Friday and Saturday in Munich, he will say the opposite to me. He will talk about how this country is one of the most supportive in the world of the Palestinian people and the two-state solution. The characterisation that is presented of this Government is not in any way reflective of the views of the President or Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I disagree fundamentally with the Tánaiste on this and I take no comfort that we are ahead in terms of our condemnation of what is happening. We need a lot more than condemnation. We need to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Their country has been destroyed. Genocide, in my opinion, is under way as we trade words across the Dáil. There is a case before the highest court in the world regarding the genocidal actions of the Israeli Government and its army-----

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have joined that case.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are beyond trading words, taking credit for standing with the Palestinian people or recognising Palestine, which I fully praised the Government for at the time. There is no Palestine left to recognise on the ground. Some 80% to 90% of it has been destroyed. What is on the ground is the resilience of the Palestinian people, who have failed to give up at any stage. As an independent republic and sovereign state with a particular background that gives us an understanding, it is time to make our words mean something.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Hear, hear.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I believe our words do mean something. They means that, at a time when many countries were turning its back on UNRWA, the humanitarian agency that gets assistance to the very people the Deputy wants to help, we pledged €20 million more.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It has been declared illegal by Israel.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, and I deplore the decision of the Knesset on that, but instead of backing away, we supported UNRWA with €20 million more. The Deputy referenced the ICJ case. We have sought to join it and have made a submission, something that many in the House said we would not do. We have seen how other countries have responded negatively to our decision, but I believe we are on the right side of history by doing it.

Every avenue we can explore, we are exploring. Regarding the occupied territories Bill, we have a clear commitment in the programme for Government and we will progress legislation. I will bring introduce legislation----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government must also enact it.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----and work with the Deputy, and that legislation will need to be enacted. However, I need to make sure that anything we do is lawful. I am happy to work constructively with the Deputy on that.