Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move that this House supports Senator Black's Bill and express my support for it. Although I have listened carefully to the Tánaiste, I believe that there is a way of finding a middle ground between the flexibility he seeks on one hand and the principled, correct view expressed in the Bill at its heart. All of us know that it is for the Executive to conduct Irish foreign policy and that it cannot be that law dictates Irish foreign policy. Under the Constitution that is part of the Executive power of the State. On the other hand, it cannot be that the Houses of the Oireachtas cannot make it unlawful to import certain goods into Ireland if that is permissible under European law. I believe it is permissible under European law for the reasons that have been mentioned and I do not believe that there is a constitutional or European law obstacle to this legislation.

I do not see the Bill as anti-Israeli or anti-Semitic. Nor do I see it as anti-Zionist. I believe the Bill is proportionate and reasonable in its aim. There may be a solution, however, that appeals to everyone in the House. It would be easy to insert into the Bill a provision, as is frequently the case in the United States of America, that the Bill's effect should be delayed if the Minister certifies that sufficient progress is being made in redressing the problems of the Palestinian people. One could have a provision that the Minister would have to continue to certify continual progress towards the delivery of justice for the Palestinian people as a ground on which the Minister can suspend the coming into effect of the legislation. Therefore, I strongly suggest that the Bill should pass Second Stage when that issue is to be decided.

Like many other Members of the House, I have a close interest in Middle Eastern affairs. I have been to Israel twice, to Jordan, to Syria before the revolution started there and to Egypt on a number of occasions. I strongly believe that the people of the occupied territories are entitled to some degree of solidarity internationally-----