Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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628. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position on the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories Bill 2018); if he will seek to pass it; if he will seek updated legal advice from the new Attorney General; the way that he intends to fulfil Ireland’s obligations under international law around the ongoing illegal occupation of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2143/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Occupied Territories Bill would not be compatible with EU law and would not be implementable. This is the clear legal advice on this matter. The Government will therefore not be taking it forward.

Ireland has supported legal avenues to differentiate between settlements and Israel, for example by joining a case before the European Courts in 2019 on labelling of certain goods produced in settlements. Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed settlements and this Government will continue to do so.

Ireland plays a leadership role at both EU and UN level in taking a consistent, clear, and firm line in relation to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Government remains committed to a two-State solution and will continue to work with partners to revive a political process in line with international law, which ensures equal rights and is acceptable to both parties.