Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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10. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he had any discussions or engagement with any Israeli counterpart or any person with regard to preventing the passage of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40616/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government’s legal advice is that the Occupied Territories Bill is not compatible with EU law, as the EU has exclusive competence for external trade. The Government’s approach has not changed since the matter was considered by the Oireachtas in 2018 and 2019 and it has not been the focus of any recent engagement on my part, with Israeli or other counterparts.

Engagement with third-country counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In relation to Israel, I most recently met with then Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on 16 November 2023, during my visit to the region. During this visit, I reiterated Ireland’s condemnation of the terror attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October and underlined the need for the unconditional release of all hostages. I also underlined my concern over the catastrophic situation in Gaza and reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire, an issue on which Ireland demonstrated early and clear leadership at EU and international level.

Current Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, engaged with EU Foreign Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council in January of this year, enabling a further full and frank exchange on the situation in Gaza, during which I underlined Ireland’s concern at potential breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza, notably with regard to the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.