Tánaiste Simon Harris has stated he does not believe weapons are being flown through Irish airspace en route to Israel, reports Breaking News.
However, he acknowledged that it is “a real challenge” to know precisely what is passing through Irish skies and said that more progress is needed in monitoring this.
Speaking on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show, Mr Harris was questioned about his Fine Gael leadership, Ireland’s stance on neutrality, and Donald Trump’s early days in office.
He revealed that on Friday he had discussions with his department’s officials regarding the Occupied Territories Bill, which seeks to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements, reports Breaking News.
The bill, previously delayed until after last November’s general election, is now expected to be replaced with fresh legislation.
“We’re going to have to do more (on Palestine),” Mr Harris said, reports Breaking News.
“I meant it when I said I think we should legislate in relation to the Occupied Territories. I will fulfil the commitment of the programme for government to bring forward legislation in relation to the occupied territories, we have to do everything humanly possible here, use every lever at our disposal,” he said, reports Breaking News.
Mr Harris explained that the delays were due to efforts to ensure the law would stand up to legal scrutiny.
“I’ve been talking to officials in my Department on it as recently as today, and we will bring forward legislation, and I’ll have a further update on what I hope is the timeline for that next week,” reports Breaking News.
When asked whether weapons could be flying through Ireland’s skies to Israel, he responded: “I don’t believe it is.”
He did, however, admit that greater international coordination is needed to determine the contents of aircraft over Irish territory.
“I think we obviously need to see if there’s more that needs to be done in relation to that,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“The information available to me is that people need to seek consent before any such flights take place, and there is no information available to me in relation to that happening. I think this is a fair point you ask. I also have to be very conscious that when planes fly well above our skies, the ability of Ireland on its own to know exactly what goes through Irish airspace is a real challenge. I do think we need to work at an international level in terms of the treaties that govern those issues. I accept there’s more that needs to be done in relation to that,” reports Breaking News.
As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Mr Harris also commented on the crisis in Gaza, saying children are “being starved” and even essential pain relief is reportedly unavailable.
“Hamas, let me be clear, is a despicable terrorist organisation, they offer the people of Palestine no future,” he said.
“What happened in Israel on October 7 is a disgusting terrorist attack. All the hostages should be released, of course. What is happening to the people of Gaza is despicable, disgusting, unconscionable and a humanitarian catastrophe. And we’ve got to continue to do everything we can, (use) every lever in Ireland and at a European level to help bring about a ceasefire,” reports Breaking News.
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