Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a list of companies operating in Ireland which are trading with or linked to companies located in occupied Palestinian territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33465/25]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My first question asks the Minister to provide a list of companies operating in Ireland which are trading with linked companies located in the occupied Palestinian territories. In 2020 the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights published a listing of all businesses involved in the illegal Israeli settlements. It was a highly significant development, naming those in the corporate world complicit with the war crime that is Israel's settlement enterprise. That database was set up in 2023.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As I said, when that UN database was updated in 2023 several companies with offices in Ireland remained on it following the update. It is widely known that these include Airbnb, Booking.com and Tripadvisor. The International Court of Justice ruled in July 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful, that Israel should put an end to the occupation, desist from creating new settlements and evacuate those already established. It further concluded that where Palestinians have lost land and property, Israel should pay reparations. What is the Government's approach to these companies based in Ireland? That is the premise of my question.

Over the last week we have seen the shameful act of piracy against the Madleen aid flotilla and the detention of our colleague, Deputy Paul Murphy. I am sure the Minister is aware of the co-ordinated legal actions which were launched last week in Ireland, Britain and America, targeting the companies I mentioned that are operating in illegal Israeli settlements.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am sure the Deputy is aware that in the case she referenced at the International Court of Justice, Ireland was one of the countries that intervened in that determination to ensure Israeli settlements were deemed to be illegal from the point of view of international law. Our Attorney General went to the Hague to take part in that case. That was one of a number of actions taken by Ireland to hold Israel accountable for its current actions and to support the Palestinian people in the face of the genocide that is happening. As part of that, we have supported UNRWA to the highest level because it is they key mechanism to get aid into the country. We have, along with the international community, supported UN resolution after UN resolution in an effort to change the dial. When I served as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Ireland was one of the very first countries, along with Spain, to put pressure on the EU to try to turn the dial and move on article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement to ensure that Israel is held to account for its human rights violations.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I take on board what the Minister is saying but last week a number of organisations, including the Global Legal Action Network, GLAN, and the Ireland Palestine Alliance launched a High Court action challenging the refusal of An Garda Síochána to investigate Airbnb Ireland and its senior executives for alleged activity in Israeli settlements. Surely companies must abide by international law as a prerequisite to operating in this country. What I am seeking from the Minister is an explanation as to why this is being permitted here. It is not good enough that this behaviour is being tolerated. As in the case of apartheid South Africa, economic sanctions undertaken by the international community should be brought to bear on Israel. The Israeli State has flouted international law and this must be challenged in every single possible way. Back in the 1980s it was women working in Dunnes Stores who took a stand. Again, the Government is way behind the people on this issue. A few weeks ago, the Government refused to support a Sinn Féin Private Members' motion which would have ended the shameful Irish Central Bank's facilitation of the sale of Israeli bonds.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland has been a lighthouse internationally in supporting the Palestinian people. We have, as I pointed out, intervened in the case to ensure that Israeli occupation has been deemed illegal through a resolution of the court. We intervened in the South Africa case and supported that very firmly, as requested by the Dáil and my own parliamentary party. We have supported UNRWA and are bringing forward the occupied territories Bill, which is another significant step in terms of Government support. We have moved the dial by first recognising the State of Palestine, a key ask of the Palestinian Authority and by pushing EU member states to hold Israel to account under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. In every single area, Ireland has been at the forefront in supporting the people of Gaza and we will continue to do so as a Government because it something that is very close to our hearts. I am the father of two young children and am acutely aware of what is happening in Gaza. We will do everything possible, every single day, to help and support the victims of Israeli perpetration.

David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

With the agreement of Deputy Lawlor, we will move on to Question No. 3 now.