Fianna Fáil TD for Louth, Erin McGreehan, has welcomed the signing into law of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026, describing it as a historic step in support of the Palestinian people.
The legislation was signed into law today by President Catherine Connolly and prohibits the importation of goods originating from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Welcoming the enactment of the Bill, Deputy McGreehan said:
“When it comes to Palestine, Ireland has consistently shown leadership on the international stage. We were among the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine and have continually pushed at European level for a stronger response to the actions of the Israeli state.
“The enactment of this legislation is another example of Ireland leading by example. As Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it sends a clear message about the importance of upholding international law and taking meaningful action.
“I understand the concerns that have been raised about the exclusion of services from the legislation. However, the Government was advised by the Attorney General that, under EU law, restricting services is significantly more complex than restricting goods.
“EU legislation provides a public policy exception that allows Member States to restrict the importation of goods in certain circumstances. No equivalent legal basis exists for services, which are often digital, cross border and delivered across multiple jurisdictions, making them considerably more difficult to regulate and enforce.
“Even major international agreements, including the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, do not regulate services in the same clear way they regulate goods. This reflects how complex and difficult services are to enforce in practice.
“The Government has a responsibility to ensure that any legislation introduced is legally sustainable, enforceable in practice and capable of withstanding challenge. This is particularly relevant in relation to services.
“The Government must ensure that measures adopted are not only politically meaningful, but also legally defensible, practically enforceable and mindful of Ireland’s wider economic and employment interests.
“Ireland will continue to press at European level for the suspension of the EU Israel Association Agreement. As the European Union is one of Israel’s largest trading partners, suspending the Agreement would have a significant economic impact and send a clear message that breaches of international law must have consequences.”
For further information, reach out to Erin McGreehan.
ENDS
