16/06/2025
With regard to the occupied territories, the Government’s position and, indeed, that of the EU is clear: settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the realisation of the two-State solution.
The Government carried out an extensive analysis and review of the Occupied Territories Bill late last year.
The Government’s analysis was that substantive amendments would be required to most, if not all, of the Bill’s provisions in order to bring it in line with the Constitution and to try to reduce the risk of EU infringement procedures.
The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to progress legislation prohibiting goods from Occupied Palestinian Territories following the July 2024 International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion.
We are committed to fulfilling the commitment in the Programme for Government.
Last month, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade sought and received Government approval for the preparation of the general scheme of a bill to prohibit the importation of goods from illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and not to progress private members bills in this area on the basis that the Government has decided to introduce its own bill.
The Tánaiste proposes that the scheme would:
- prohibit the import of goods from illegal settlements in the OPT;
- create relevant offences;
- define relevant terms, including ‘illegal settlement’;
- provide for commencement.
At this point it is not proposed to regulate trade in services as the basis in EU law that might enable a member state to act in this field is much weaker than is the case in the field of goods trade; however any recommendations arising from pre-legislative scrutiny on this, and any other issues will be taken into account in the drafting of the subsequent bill.
In parallel, Ireland continues to press for action at the EU level in light of the ICJ Advisory Opinion.
