This statement is with regard to the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill. I want to assure you that we are on the same side when it comes to the disgust and horror at the suffering of the people in Gaza. It is horrific, and even yesterday the Taoiseach criticised the EU in his address to the EU Parliament.
Key points on services and legal advice:
- The Government sought advice from the Attorney General.
- EU law makes restricting services far more complex than restricting goods.
- Goods can be restricted under a public policy exception in EU law.
- No equivalent exception exists for services.
- Services are harder to regulate because they are often digital, cross‑border and delivered across multiple jurisdictions.
- Even major international agreements, including the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, do not regulate services in the same clear way they regulate goods.
This is not about weakening the Bill. It is about ensuring that any legislation passed is legally sound, enforceable, and capable of delivering real impact. The Government must ensure that measures are legally defensible, practically workable, and mindful of Ireland’s wider economic and employment interests.
The Bill has now passed the Dáil Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and will hopefully complete its full Dáil passage before moving to the Seanad.
For further information, reach out to Erin McGreehan.
ENDS
