Written answers
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Department of Finance
Trade Relations
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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291. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps being taken to ensure the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund is not investing in corporations profiting from trade with Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56712/25]
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with international law, Ireland distinguishes between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967 and ensures that any bilateral agreements with Israel do not apply to the occupied territories. A whole of Government approach is applied to this policy of differentiation and the Department of Foreign Affairs ensures that there is information available for the public and companies regarding Ireland's policy on settlements on its website.
The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) portfolio is constructed within the legislative framework set for it by the Oireachtas. ISIF has, to date, completed several divestment programmes and excluded investments from the Fund. Exclusion is used on a limited basis, reflecting exclusions mandated by legislation including the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018 and the Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2008 and, inter alia, exclusions on sustainable investment grounds including Tobacco and Nuclear Weapons.
The Deputy may be aware of the UN Human Rights Council Database (the UN Database) identifying businesses involved in specific activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories which was first issued in 2020, updated in June 2023 and most recently updated to include 158 companies in September 2025 as mandated by the UN Human Rights Council.
ISIF has taken an investment decision to divest from six companies, all of which remain on the updated UN Database, with a total value at the time of the divestment decision of approximately €2.95m. The six companies are Bank Hapoalim BM; Bank Leumi-le Israel BM; Israel Discount Bank Ltd; Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd; First International Bank Ltd and Rami Levi Chain Stores Ltd.
ISIF will continue to monitor its holdings to ensure that investments remain aligned with its risk profile and investment parameters and will continue to construct its portfolio within the legislative framework set for it by the Oireachtas.
ISIF does not comment on individual investments, however a list of ISIF investments are available in the 2024 NTMA Annual Report.
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