Irish bill curtailing trade with Israeli settlers to be rewritten

Republic has been wrestling with a ban on goods and services from occupied settlements for years

A man walks past a mural in support of Palestinians, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, in Dublin. Reuters

An Irish Republic bill curtailing trade with Israeli settlements in Palestine is to be rewritten, the country’s foreign minister has said.

“Virtually every section” of the current legislation, which was drafted by the Independent Senator Frances Black, is unconstitutional, according to Micheal Martin.

Ireland has been one of the most pro-Palestinian countries in Europe, consistently pushing for controls on Israel's war in Gaza.

Speaking at a special session to ratify the Programme of Government, he said it had been “acknowledged by all sides” that the bill was “unconstitutional as drafted”. In other areas it was deficient, he said.

“So, the issue is whether we have a new bill. I think probably we will move forward to a new bill in respect of imports into Ireland from the occupied territories, because I think it needs a full debate on the Dáil second stage,” he added.

The bill, the result of years of political wrangling, was postponed in November until after the general election, when Fianna Fail became the largest party.

Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin speaks to members of the media as he attends a European Union Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels. Reuters

The bill, first tabled in 2018, has been frozen for several years on concerns that it did not comply with EU law. However, an advisory ruling by the International Court of Justice in the summer declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal under international law, prompting renewed calls to pass the bill.

The law would make Ireland the first EU country to outlaw goods and services from settlements. Campaigners hope Ireland's decision will inspire similar action in other pro-Palestine EU countries such as Spain, Luxembourg and Belgium, possibly paving the way for an EU-wide ban.

Mr Martin said the ceasefire in Gaza was “long overdue”, adding that the “collective punishment” of people in Gaza was unacceptable.

“I welcome the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which offers hope after a brutal 15 months of war,” Mr Harris said in a statement.

“Today, families will be reunited with their loved ones after being abducted and held hostage following the despicable Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian demonstrator outside the Israeli Central Court in east Jerusalem. AFP

“I urge both sides to respect the terms of the ceasefire agreement and to implement it in good faith.

“I welcome the release of the first three hostages.”

The rest of the hostages must be released, he said. “They have suffered for far too long and their enforced captivity was unacceptable.”

The people of Gaza, “who have endured unimaginable hardship and trauma”, must be allowed to start to rebuild their lives, he said.

He welcomed the first UN aid lorries to enter Gaza and said the access must continue “unimpeded and in increased volumes”.

“The hope of this ceasefire must now be translated into efforts to secure a complete cessation of the fighting and to work towards a lasting peace. The way to bring about peace and stability to the Middle East is a two-state solution.

“Ireland wants to see the State of Israel and the State of Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security.

“Ireland will play its part in supporting the international community to ensure this is the way forward.”

Mr Martin said Ireland took a “strong leadership position” on Gaza, primarily in terms of the humanitarian context.

“Ireland, through our intervention in the case that South Africa has taken before the International Court is founded on humanitarian corridors, and the absolute necessity that there can never be a denial or a refusal to allow humanitarian aid into areas affected by conflict,” he added.