Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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389. To ask the Minister for Finance whether an amendment is required to the Criminal Activity (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 to allow him to exercise his powers under section 42 of the act to impose restrictive measures against Israeli settlers and any businesses that finance illegal settlements without the support of the Council of the European Union. [29065/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Restrictive measures, or sanctions as they are colloquially referred to, are a tool of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. Ireland implements EU sanctions, and UN sanctions are routinely also implemented via EU sanctions.

EU sanctions have direct effect in all Member States of the EU, and they are legally binding on all natural and legal persons in Ireland. As such, a natural or legal person who contravenes a provision of an EU sanctions regulation would be guilty of an offence and liable to prosecution.

Section 42 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, as amended, allows for the Minister for Finance to introduce restrictive measures in response to an EU measure which falls within the terms of subsection (1) of that provision. EU restrictive measures can also be implemented pursuant to the European Communities Act 1972.

As Minister for Finance, I may utilise the powers under Section 42 of the Act in response to specific EU restrictive measures regulations introduced, such as EUs Combatting Terrorism sanctions regime, to implement Statutory Instruments to apply criminal offences and penalties for breaches of sanctions under the regime.

In respect of Israel, Ireland has strongly supported the sanctions adopted by the EU against both individuals and entities involved in settler violence, and we continue to call for the imposition of further EU sanctions. At the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 May, Ireland called for the immediate adoption of further sanctions targeting violent settlers.

We are continuing to witness appalling scenes from Gaza. The renewed offensive in Gaza and plans to establish full control of the Strip are extremely alarming. We strongly urge Israeli authorities to exercise restraint. We need an urgent end to hostilities.

The immediate focus of the international community must be on efforts to ensure an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and a surge in vital humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.