The Taoiseach has stated that it is crucial that people “don’t play politics” with legislation that would prohibit imports from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, reports Breaking News.
Before the Dáil is dissolved, as is generally anticipated to happen at the end of next week, Simon Harris questioned if the Occupied Territories Bill will be passed.
In order to execute the Bill, Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats have scheduled time in the Dáil for early next week.
However, Tánaiste Micheál Martin stated that the Bill would not be advanced until an election is held and that it must be “substantially” altered, reports Breaking News.
Due to worries that it would violate EU legislation, the 2018 bill has been stuck in the parliamentary process for years.
However, the government has claimed in recent weeks that the situation has changed as a result of an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the summer, which declared that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful under international law and that states have a duty to prevent it.
Speaking at a gathering in Portlaoise on Friday, Mr. Harris stated that the Bill must be re-examined and modified in order to adhere to the Attorney General’s recommendations.
“What the Government has endeavoured to do is to create a consensus in the Dail, in our national Parliament, for a need to legislate in this area. What is happening in Gaza is unimaginable, unconscionable and is clearly a war crime. Every country needs to use every lever at its disposable to maximise the pressure to bring about a ceasefire. Ireland is taking real, practical action in relation to that. We want to do more,” he added, reports Breaking News.
“Once the ICJ gave a very clear opinion in July, I think that does place an obligation on countries to do more, including in the space of trade. It has consistently been our position that the European Union should review the trade agreement between Israel and the EU. That would be the most impactful way of making progress. Unfortunately, there is not a consensus in relation to that and we will continue to advocate and argue for that. We have said we want the Occupied Territories Bill to now be re-examined and indeed to be amended to comply with the Attorney General’s opinion. We are working in good faith on that. At the same we have got to be honest, there is going to be a general election within days. What I should say to people at home, and I think this is important, people sometimes think when the Dail has an election that every piece of legislation disappears. Of course that isn’t the case. Once the election takes place, the Dail can resume legislation at the point that it was at,” reports Breaking News.
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