Mr. Billy Kelleher:

I thank Senator Ruane for raising this issue. This has been raised numerous times in the European Parliament itself. Josep Borrell, the High Commissioner, has said that he has no objections to us ensuring that we bring in some form of ban on goods coming from occupied territories. Of course, when we try to get traction on it, some member states are vehemently opposed to it. That may be for historical reasons but that is no comfort to the Palestinian people. I visited Palestine and sponsored a Bill through the Dáil on the occupied territories before I left the House. It is a different conflict but I note Donetsk and Luhansk are both being sanctioned and products coming from those two regions that have been illegally occupied by the Russians may have goods banned from them. That being the case for Donetsk and Luhansk, that is, being unable to export product to the European Union, I would say that the same should be for Palestine. I am very much of that view. I acknowledge the conflict in Ukraine is an immediate and massive issue but the Palestinian issue has been dragging on for so long.

When I visited Ramallah and met the Palestinian representative bodies, they had the Tricolour flying that day. They really believed that this was a symbolic gesture and that the world was listening. Unfortunately while the world may listen, partially, it has done nothing to address the situation. I believe that one or two large countries in the European Union are vehemently opposed to any sanctions on the occupied territories. That is for historical reasons. Germany is one, for example, and it simply does not want to discuss this matter. But we do have to discuss it. We owe that much to the Palestinian people. In the Parliament itself, there is an appetite for it. What we need to do is unlock the big member states.