Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Deputy Harris, for what I believe is genuine from him in terms of a commitment to moving forward, although we will, with others, and I see the Chair of the foreign affairs committee here also, be looking to ensure we do not see a dilution of the occupied territories Bill and that we see its full meaning, impact and compliance with international law reflected.

We also need to puncture some of this narrative of self-congratulation which I am also seeing coming through from certain other Ministers and from certain other narratives. There is this idea that Ireland has always been consistent. Ireland has been consistent but Ireland has also been complacent and at times complicit in the normalisation over decades of a situation of colonialism, of casual and continued breaches of international law, and of a message that international law does not apply and that business as usual continues and rewards those who breach international law. That has been the situation for decades.

Sadly, we have had a false logic. I am proud to have been a co-sponsor, back in 2017, of the occupied territories Bill but we have heard a narrative for years that in Ireland we are such wonderful master diplomats that we are not going to do anything and we are going to wait and bring everybody along with us slowly and the tide might turn. The tide turned for the worst and it turned based on inaction and failure to show that we are serious about international law.

I believe now Ireland is acting but the message is not, "Wasn't it great we waited?" The message is: you do not achieve change by hiding behind a culture of complicity and going along with business as usual. You achieve anything by acting, and Ireland will. I was with Senator Black in the European Parliament and we met with people from many different countries. They are realising - the penny is dropping - that we are living in history now and that how we act now will be the history books of the future.

It is useful that Ireland is acting rather than hoping there might a change in position because we have to be realistic. There are nine countries in the European Union who still are not concerned about human rights breaches by Israel in relation to the association agreement and that is why we must act. Passing, in its full form, the occupied territories Bill is action and leadership and I believe other countries will follow if we lead.

Also, that ICJ ruling's key line, the obligation of member states "to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory", is crystal clear. That was not created last July. The ICJ has reminded member states of the obligations they already had under international law, but if we are serious about that ruling, it needs to follow through into full divestment of the Irish State from any area. It needs to follow through in relation to ensuring we give leadership in saying we will not approve prospectuses that fail to even mention international law, we will not facilitate the sale of bonds offered by the finance minister we have heard quoted at length earlier in this debate who has a clear agenda, and we will not be complicit in relation to dual-use goods - the technologies of war. Bear in mind, this is the kind of technology that brought us things such as "Hello, daddy", the idea that, when a father arrives home, you bomb the family home.Let us be consistent. Ireland will be a leader and will be consistent with its words and with what I believe to be the passion, belief and hope for a world of international law that the public wants when we have dual-use goods, action in relation to our powers on inspections, proper penalties for those who breach our laws by flying weapons over us without even seeking approval, divestment in full form, removal of the sale of bonds and the passing of the occupied territories Bill. That is what is on the docks right now.