Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm that retailers are not only free to label goods from the West Bank accurately but that, under an EU Directive, they are obliged to label goods from the West Bank accurately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45102/10]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he recognises that there are goods on the Irish market from companies (details supplied) that are misleadingly labelled particularly in light of Case C386/08 of the European Court of Justice which clearly stated that produce from illegal Israeli settlements can neither be considered Israeli or Palestinian. [45103/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.

Goods from settlements in the West Bank are not entitled to avail of the reduced tariff which applies to Israeli goods entering the EU. I have stated in response to previous questions on this topic that I believe it would be helpful to consumers to be able to distinguish between goods from Israel, goods produced by the Palestinian inhabitants of the West Bank, and goods produced in the illegal settlements. It is my understanding that there is nothing to prevent retailers in Ireland from identifying goods in this way if they so choose.

The questions of place of origin labelling, misleading labelling, and implementation of relevant EU Directives or case law, are not the responsibility of my Department, but fall under the responsibility of a number of home Departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Health and Children, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation. I would also refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 299 on this topic on 9 November 2010.