Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)

Over the past few days we have heard from the Taoiseach that the inclusion of services in the occupied territories Bill is not implementable. This is completely at odds with the recommendation of the foreign affairs committee, which unanimously agreed, on a cross- party basis, on the inclusion of services. Could the Taoiseach please be frank about what aspects of services he specifically believes are not implementable? The foreign affairs committee met with eminent EU and international lawyers who established a clear legal pathway for the inclusion of services. Furthermore, officials from the Department of foreign affairs said that the failure to include services would mean that we would not be compliant with the International Court of Justice's ruling. The horrendous increase in violent expansionism in the West Bank, as well as the horrors of the genocide in Gaza, make it imperative that we do not facilitate Israel's further illegal theft of Palestinian land. Frankly, a waterered-down version of the occupied territories Bill would award that expansionism. We either believe in and uphold international law, or we do not. It is that black and white.

The inclusion of services in the Bill is not some nice little extra to have; it is actually a legal obligation we must meet. The people of Ireland have always stood on the side of justice. The majority of people in this country do want the Bill to be passed as a matter of urgency and for services to be included. Successive Governments have prevaricated on and slow-walked this legislation. The public is watching, and we must deliver this.

I was disheartened that not one word of the Taoiseach’s speech included reference to the occupied territories Bill. Before the election, the Taoiseach told people this would be a priority. When did it stop being a priority? The Government has proven that it can act with urgency when necessary. In the face of international law being systematically broken by a genocidal regime, where is that urgency now? The Taoiseach spoke very well about the concept of a just peace. This is what the occupied territories Bill would provide. It would provide justice for Palestinians who have had their land and their homes violently stolen for years. This is about justice. It is about ending the impunity Israel has had for decades. That is why I ask the Taoiseach to be clear with us when he says it is not implementable. Do not be coy. We need clarity, and we need it now, because everyone is watching. The occupied territories Bill is something that the Irish people do, in fact, care about.