Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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211. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the progression of Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61689/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In June, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill. The main purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade held a number of hearings on the General Scheme, and received submissions representing a range of views and perspectives.

Pre-Legislative Scrutiny is an important part of the legislative process and I have thanked the Committee for its report. Detailed work to analyse the report and its recommendations is well underway. The next steps in the process, including the timeline for the progress of the Bill, is being considered.

It remains the Government’s preference that collective action would be taken at EU level and we continue to pursue this.

Notwithstanding the positive and welcome recent developments with regard to a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, Ireland has also made clear its view that the EU must keep the package of measures proposed by the Commission in response to Israeli human rights and other breaches on the table.

At the Foreign Affairs Council on 20th October, I welcomed the ceasefire and release of hostages and called for the EU to support efforts to flood Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid. Preserving the ceasefire and ensuring humanitarian access at scale is a priority. I also recalled the unacceptable nature of what has been happening in the West Bank and stressed the importance of ensuring that the concept of a two-State solution resulting in a viable, contiguous Palestinian State in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, remains front and centre in the EU's approach, and that all future phases of the current agreement are conducive to its implementation.