As I have stated on several occasions in this House, the Occupied Territories Bill would not be compatible with EU law, and would not be implementable. This is the clear legal advice on this matter. The Government will therefore not be taking it forward.
Ireland’s resolute opposition to illegal Israeli settlements is firmly grounded in international law. To adopt a unilateral approach that runs contrary to legal advice would undermine Ireland’s clear and principled stance on this issue, as well as our broader promotion of compliance with international law at the UN and other international organisations.
Addressing the dire situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory has been a key priority of mine since the outbreak of the ongoing conflict. The catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza is man-made and is on an unprecedented and inhumane scale. Ireland, alongside the international community, has made it crystal clear that this must end. We need an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and a massive and sustained surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza.
