The Cabinet has agreed to begin drafting legislation that would ban trade with the occupied Palestinian territories, reports RTE.
This move was proposed by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris.
The proposal is set to go before an Oireachtas committee next month for pre-legislative review, reports RTE.
The Tánaiste is expected to return to Cabinet in June to seek ministerial approval for a draft version of the legislation. It will then be passed on to an Oireachtas Committee for further examination later in the same month.
Labour Party whip Duncan Smith told the Dáil that the Government’s timeline for the legislation was “simply unacceptable”, reports RTE.
Labour is pushing for more Dáil sitting days to be allocated to ensure the legislation can pass before the summer recess.
Ireland has limited trade with the occupied Palestinian territories.
Mr Harris believes that Ireland’s stance is gaining traction at EU level, especially on issues where the country has shown early leadership, such as reviewing Israel’s human rights compliance under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, reports RTE.
He expressed hope that other EU nations would follow Ireland’s lead by enacting similar legislation.
Speaking ahead of the Cabinet meeting, Mr Harris said: “In many ways this is a small measure, but it is imperative on all countries do what we can to maximise the pressure and conditions to bring about a ceasefire because the scale of humanitarian disaster is almost unimaginable. It is certainly unconscionable and is certainly a war crime. What I hope today is when this small country in Europe makes the decision and becomes one of the first countries, and probably the first country, in the western world to consider legislation in this space, I do hope it inspires other European countries to join us,” reports RTE.
Mr Harris also said Ireland would continue working with EU partners under the association agreement framework.
He noted that he remained open to including a ban on services, in addition to goods, in the upcoming legislation.
Mr Harris acknowledged Senator Frances Black, who originally introduced the Occupied Territories Bill in 2018, and said they have had extensive discussions on the matter, including the services aspect, reports RTE.
“We don’t have a policy difference on this contrary to the misrepresentation of this by some in opposition,” Mr Harris said, reports RTE.
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He emphasised that he wants legislation that can withstand legal scrutiny and is open to collaboration to ensure the strongest version possible is passed.
“That is the purpose of Oireachtas Committees, to tease these things through, so I have an open mind in relation to (services),” reports RTE.
The Taoiseach stated that there is a global urgency to put pressure on Israel to end the war.
Micheál Martin described the proposed legislation as “important in terms of the ongoing horrors that are occurring in Gaza, and the absolute need for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the end to the slaughter that is occurring in Gaza right now”.
“The indiscriminate bombing that is going on right now and the killing of families and the destruction of households is beyond any moral compass,” Mr Martin said, reports RTE.
Senator Frances Black welcomed the Government’s move to progress the draft bill banning trade with the occupied Palestinian territories.
She said: “Today’s decision by Government is a really important and welcome step, but our work is not done yet.
“I first tabled the Occupied Territories Bill in 2018, and finally, after seven years of delay, I’m relieved we are finally seeing some action, reports RTE.
“It’s horrible that it has taken so much suffering to get here and we can’t afford to waste any more time,” reports RTE.
“The onus is now on Government to act with the urgency this moment demands – to stand firmly against the horrific war crimes being committed both in Gaza and the West Bank,” reports RTE.
Mr Harris will also ask ministers to extend the participation of Defence Forces personnel in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another 12 months.
UNIFIL remains Ireland’s largest international military operation, with 345 Defence Forces members currently serving in a joint battalion with Polish forces in southern Lebanon.
On a separate trade issue, the Tánaiste will brief the Cabinet that the EU has shared its proposals with the US for an “EU-US Agreement on Reciprocal Mutually Beneficial Trade”.
This initiative outlines measures to lower tariffs and non-tariff barriers, strengthen economic security, and encourage strategic investments and business opportunities, reports RTE.
He will argue that a comprehensive trade deal protecting consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic is urgently needed.
Given ongoing instability in global trade, Mr Harris will also request approval to draft the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025, which is necessary to ratify the EU-Canada trade agreement, known as CETA, reports RTE.
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