Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has stated that the Government plans to continue progressing its commitment to the Occupied Territories Bill, reports RTE.
His comments followed a letter sent by a group of US lawmakers to US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, urging him to consider placing Ireland on a list of nations that boycott Israel if the legislation is enacted.
Mr Harris said he was not surprised that “some seek to distort or misrepresent our proposed actions”, reports RTE.
He said: “Ireland intends to continue to advance our commitment in relation to the Occupied Territories Bill, the Programme for Government is clear in relation to that.
“People in Ireland, in Europe and right across the world feel extraordinarily strongly about the genocidal activity that we’re seeing in Gaza, about the starving children, reports RTE.
“We will use all tools at our disposal. It’s not a surprise that some seek to distort or misrepresent our proposed actions. And remember, Ireland is not alone in relation to this; this week we also saw Slovenia take action in relation to trade from the Occupied Territories, I expect Belgium are likely to do the same and we intend to advance with our legislation. Of course we’ll continue to engage and explain and never let our position be misrepresented,” reports RTE.
The legislation, which forms part of the coalition’s general election pledges, is scheduled to be debated in both the Dáil and Seanad in early autumn.
A recent report from a cross-party Oireachtas foreign affairs committee recommended that the bill include a prohibition on both goods and services from the Occupied Territories, reports RTE.
On Thursday night, 16 members of the US Congress, led by Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney from New York, claimed that passing the bill would mean Ireland is violating US law by implementing an “unsanctioned boycott”.
The group’s letter voiced “serious concerns” about the Government’s plan to block imports from Israeli-occupied areas, reports RTE.
Sinn Féin said the Government must lead by example and ensure the Occupied Territories Bill is enacted.
Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly told RTÉ’s Today with Colm O’Mongáin that even with pressure from the US, Ireland should stay the course and ensure the bill goes through.
She also said the bill is even more crucial now given the current crisis in Gaza, reports RTE.
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