Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

21. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a timeline for the enactment of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37864/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As this House is aware, the Government carried out an extensive analysis and review of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill late last year.

The Government’s analysis was that substantive amendments would be required to most, if not all, of the provisions of that Bill in order to bring it in line with the Constitution and to try to reduce the risk of EU infringement procedures.

On 24 June, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill. The scheme delivers on the commitment in the Programme for Government to progress legislation prohibiting import of goods from the settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory following the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024.

The General Scheme has now been referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny, which began last week.

In parallel, Ireland continues to press for action at the EU level in light of the ICJ Advisory Opinion. This was a key focus of our engagement with EU partners in advance of the June Foreign Affairs Council and I joined nine other EU Foreign Ministers in writing a letter to the High Representative calling for the EU to undertake a detailed review of its compliance with the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ. This review will now be taken forward in parallel with the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I have been calling for this work for some time, and will continue to press for action. It is essential that the EU abide by its commitments under international law.