Vol. 1083 No. 3
70. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress on the drafting of the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill 2025; if she will outline the recent advice she has received from the Attorney General; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23431/26]
This question has been frequently debated in recent months and years. The Government was elected on the basis of both parties committing to pass the occupied territories Bill, not a watered-down version of it. In any event, the progress we have seen on any occupied territories legislation has been quite halting since the election of this Government. When are we going to see that Bill on the floor of the Dáil?
I thank the Deputy for raising this question. He is right that this something we have debated and discussed many times, and not just the Bill itself but the ongoing devastating conflict in Gaza in the Middle East. That conflict has now, unfortunately, escalated and widened and is now including many more innocent civilians. Everything that this Government and the previous one have done and everything the people of this country have done has been with the sole intention of making sure we can bring about a lasting peace. It is about making sure that those innocent civilians who are impacted by this ongoing conflict are protected and assisted in every way possible and that we have a pathway towards a two-state solution. That is something that we all agree on here and that we all want to achieve. Whether it is the recognition of Palestine, decisions we have taken at European level, the humanitarian assistance that has been provided or progressing this legislation, every objective here has been to ensure a lasting peace and to protect civilians on the ground.
The Bill itself is not straightforward and we have always been very clear in saying that, given the need for any legislation to be implementable on the ground but also the fact that requests on the legislation and the possible scope of it have changed and varied. In June 2025, the Government approved the general scheme of the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill. The main purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, in line with the programme for Government commitment. Legally, the regulation of external trade in services is considerably more complex than is the case with goods at EU level. Obviously, the Oireachtas committee itself had done a body of work on this and had asked for this to be looked at. There is greater complexity when it comes to implementation than is the case when it comes to trade in goods.
The Government has received the Attorney General’s advice on the question of whether the inclusion of services in the Bill is permissible under EU law. As the Deputy can appreciate, I cannot discuss here advice provided by the Attorney General to the Government but what I can say is that the advice reflects the very significant difficulties that going beyond our programme for Government commitments and adding a prohibition on services to the legislation would entail. Following detailed consideration by my Department, clarification has been sought from the Attorney General on a number of legal issues related to the advice provided and I expect to receive that very soon.
My concern and that of a lot of people is that we are going to continue with this dance whereby the Attorney General sends something across to the Government, the Government looks for clarification, the Attorney General sends something back and we are at this slow-bicycle race forever. The urgency of this is very clear. For all of the talk of the ceasefire, the Board of Peace and so on, the situation on the ground is desperate. The Minister is quite aware, I am sure, that at the minute aid organisations are being restricted from going into Gaza and that settler violence is on a scale we have not seen in quite some time. Torture is being used. There is the appalling story of a two-year old child being tortured in front of his father with a view to extracting who knows what. There is talk of sexual abuse in forms of interrogation and many other appalling stories are coming out of Gaza, all because there has not been accountability. It is important that there is accountability.
There are actions Ireland can take. I would not overstate our influence but we should use what leverage we have and this is clearly one instance of it. We need to get this Bill onto the floor of the Dáil and debate it. Let us have the debate on the amendments. We currently have no clear sense of when this is going to come forward and that is not acceptable.
I agree with the Deputy that what is happening is appalling. I fully agree that what we are seeing is appalling. The ceasefire is not a proper ceasefire. Over 400 people have been killed since then and proper aid is not being let in. I visited the area myself at the beginning of the year and saw that goods that are by no means, or could ever be described as, a threat are not being let in. Enough food is still not being let in. We are doing our utmost. Our focus, and my priority at the outset, is to ensure that aid gets in because that is the most immediate need. Parallel to that, we need to determine how we stop what is escalating in the West Bank. I fully agree we are seeing an increase in settler violence and displacement. What I also know, from talking to my European colleagues and from the actions we have taken in the past that have helped to lead us the ceasefire, albeit an imperfect one, is that we are most effective when we act in unison and work together at a European level. A number of European countries are progressing legislation and looking at what we are doing as well. We are engaging with them, and where we make movement together and where we are looking at legislation that can actually be enacted and be impactful, we can make a bigger difference. That does not mean we are not doing anything in the meantime. We are providing assistance and increasing our assistance in ways other countries are not. We are also calling at every opportunity for progress on the peace board, the board that has been put in place to try to develop and ensure that people on the ground are starting to see a normal way of life again. However, a lot more work needs to be done and I appreciate that.
The manifesto commitments were different from the programme for Government commitments but both Government parties had access to the Attorney General's advice at that point, which was that while it is challenging to do, there is no particular obstacle to acting on services as well as goods. The Minister talked about other European countries. Ireland is now but one of five that are examining this. One of those, Spain, has effectively completed the action and another, Slovenia, is quite well advanced, as I understand it. Spain has been able to bring services into the ambit of the legislation, albeit in relation to advertisements. The fact that Spain has been able to do that and that there have been much less successful infringement proceedings against the Spanish Government demonstrates that it is possible to do this under EU legislation that there is no obstacle to acting on services. What I want to know from the Minister, first and foremost, and I ask her to be as clear as possible, is when a Bill is going to come before these Houses. When are we going to be able to debate it and pass it?
In terms of the programme for Government commitment, it was relating to goods and we were very clear on that. The Oireachtas committee then asked that we would look at services and it is important that we engage with the committee and its recommendations on any legislation. That was the advice that was asked of the Attorney General and that was the advice that I received soon after coming into the Department, just before Christmas. Questions needed to be asked and those have been asked of the Attorney General. I expect to get a response from him soon. Once we have that response, we will progress the legislation. It is not the case that we receive a Bill and it moves straight into the Houses. There is always engagement with the Attorney General. I would again stress that where we have made real progress for people on the ground and seen the ceasefire progress and where pressure has been put on Israel and other parties, it is where we have worked together, not where one country has moved forward on its own but where we have moved forward collectively.
I agree with the Deputy that what is happening on the ground is appalling. It is not acceptable and it is not in line with the ceasfire or what has been agreed. In fact, when I met with colleagues in Washington from all sides of the houses, both Republican and Democratic, they all agreed that what is happening in Israel, and in the West Bank in particular, is illegal and is not appropriate and they want it to stop as well. We are all on the same page. The question is how we exert pressure and make progress? It is by working together, in unison.
71. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether she supports the calls from Colombian President Gustavo Petros for states to invoke Resolution 377, the UN’s uniting for peace mechanism in relation to Gaza; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22633/26]
Staying with the issue of Gaza, I accept the Minister's point that we all want to work together and make progress towards peace but what we have now is Trump's odious, so-called Board of Peace, which is anything but that. Would the Minister and the Irish State support the calls from the Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, for states to invoke UN Resolution 377, the UN's uniting for peace mechanism in relation to Gaza? If we are to work together, the UN remains the best place to do that.
I agree with the Deputy that the UN is the best place for all of us to work together and Ireland, as a member and a partner, will always stand up for and advocate for the UN and its structures. We understand how important it has been, not just in this conflict but in many conflicts and, most important, in its resolutions over decades. In relation to the uniting for peace resolution, Ireland will always take part in and be a part of any structure or grouping with member states that can provide a way forward. The resolution itself provides for an emergency session of the General Assembly to be called on matters where a lack of unanimity in the Security Council prevents action in relation to international peace and security.
Since 1997, there has been an emergency special session dedicated specifically to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. The fact that it has been resumed over 20 times since it was established, including on multiple occasions since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on 7 October 2023, is a reflection of the importance that the international community and the UN give to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland will continue to actively participate in this special emergency session.
It is important, however, to acknowledge what the uniting for peace resolution can and cannot do. The resolution itself does not create any obligation on the Security Council or any other body of the United Nations to act, nor is it binding on any UN member state. No effective mandates for action in the areas of peace and security can be created by the General Assembly. It is not possible for the General Assembly to authorise a peacekeeping mission, for example, as it would lack the robust mandate required for such a mission to function effectively. Nevertheless, as we have seen in relation to the situation in Palestine, the consideration of any issue by the General Assembly is an important and impactful opportunity for each member state, including Ireland, to speak in defence of the protection of the fundamental values of the United Nations, as we have done, and to outline the horrors that have been happening and continue to happen in Gaza. In addition to our participation in this, we take every opportunity to reiterate our support for that just and sustainable peace by always intervening.
I thank the Minister. I am fully aware of the limits and obligations of the uniting for peace resolution. However, we are in a desperate situation. The ceasefire is Gaza is a ceasefire only in name. Bombardments continue. People continue to be killed daily. Aid continues to be blocked. Earlier this week, three planned UN convoys to collect supplies from the crossing had to be cancelled after the Israeli authorities informed the UN that only fuel would be let in that day. Most crossings into Gaza remain closed. Only Karem Abu Salem, Karem Shalom, is opened with some regularity. That presents a major bottleneck. Close to 20,000 patients are in dire need of medical care outside Gaza and cannot get out. Settler violence in the West Bank continues apace.
We are in a desperate situation. The UN is paralysed. The Security Council is paralysed. I know the General Assembly has been in emergency session but it is not pushing hard enough to provide some kind of alternative to Trump's Board of Peace.
I agree with the Deputy. My biggest concern is that the ongoing conflict in the wider region of the Middle East will take away our focus on our priority, which should be trying to find a way forward for the civilians in Gaza. We are, and I am, absolutely determined to ensure that will not be the case. At every meeting we have had, even where it related specifically to the ongoing conflict in Iran, I have raised the situation in Gaza and the need for us to make progress. I have raised what is happening in the West Bank. I have raised what is now, unfortunately, happening in Lebanon, where there is clearly an annexation happening in the south. I have said consistently that we need to do more.
While I believe that some progress has been made through the Board of Peace and the new board that has been established to try to bring about a structure in Palestine, it is not happening quickly enough. People are not able to get in. Many of them are still situated in Cairo. On top of that, as the Deputy has mentioned, in regard to the number of aid trucks and the amount of aid that is getting in, while my understanding from talking to ambassadors on the ground is that the situation has slightly improved, it is nowhere near where it needs to be. If we can, through the General Assembly and the UN structures, continue to raise these issues, we will. We need to do everything we can to bring about action. That is what we need. We need more trucks and openings and more progress on the Board of Peace.
That is what I want. What is the Irish Government's position on the Board of Peace? Are we in favour of it? Are we backing this board or are we remaining silent and seeing what, if anything, it manages to achieve? It seems we are paralysed in terms of calling it out.
The Government needs to support Resolution 377 A at the UN. We need to pass the occupied territories Bill in full. Deputy Ó Laoghaire articulated that clearly and eloquently a few moments ago. We must pressure the Israeli authorities to enable full, safe, sustainable humanitarian access and movement into Gaza and the West Bank with the complete opening of all border crossings. We must pressure the Israeli authorities to reverse the annexation and end the unlawful occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with the dismantlement of settlements.
The UN Security Council is paralysed. Our voice has always been powerful in the UN. We need to bring it, as loudly as we can, to the UN General Assembly. I believe that although it is in a weakened position, it is the best avenue towards some kind of resolution.
We have not joined the Board of Peace and have been clear in our reason for not doing so. We do not believe that any other structure should be mirroring the work of the UN at all. It is doing work with a particular focus on Gaza. That is why it was established. That was the UN resolution for which we and everybody else voted so that a structure would be put in place to support the redevelopment of Gaza and so that we could provide a clear pathway and future with a ceasefire for people on the ground. We support the structure that has emerged from the Board of Peace. What we really need is to ensure that the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian people are included in the work that is progressing. While they are not on the board in the way we want them to be, a number of structures have been put in place to try to ensure that they are consulted and engaged with, and that they are very much a part of any future that is decided. The problem is that it is not happening quickly enough. We have met the chair and those who are leading this. It is not happening quickly enough. As this conflict in the Middle East continues, we need to ensure that a focus is retained. At every opportunity that I have with my colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council, that the Taoiseach has at the European Council and that my other colleagues have, we are trying to keep that pressure on to ensure that while work is progressing, albeit wholly imperfectly, we do more in terms of aid and access. We will continue to provide that.
72. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government will make efforts to ensure that European sanctions are made against Rosatom, the Russian atomic agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23432/26]
In the four years since the start of Russia's appalling war of aggression against Ukraine, there has been a wide range of sanctions against Russian individuals and companies, and against the Russian Government. In recent days, we have, unfortunately, seen an easing of sanctions on oil and gas by the United States. I am sure that is something the Minister regrets. That move makes it all the more important that Europe maintains a robust approach to sanctions. It is remarkable that four years in, given the centrality of atomic energy to the Russian economy and the Russian war effort, the Russian atomic agency, Rosatom, has not been sanctioned. I want the Minister to raise the issue at the European level and encourage action.
Ireland has consistently supported strong sanctions in response to Russia's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, which, as the Deputy said, has been ongoing for more than four years. The sanctions adopted in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in EU history. Over 2,700 individuals and entities are now subject to EU restrictive measures. An unprecedented range of sectoral measures against Russia have been adopted, including measures targeting the trade, finance, energy, technology, defence, media and maritime sectors. These measures are agreed on the basis of unanimous decisions of the Council of the European Union. They are carefully targeted to ensure maximum impact on Russia while avoiding unintended consequences, including for civil nuclear safety. To date, the EU has negotiated and adopted 19 packages of sanctions, all of which we have supported and have been keen to see progress as quickly as possible. Work is advancing on the 20th package of sanctions, which we hope can be agreed soon. We have had challenges in that regard, but hope we can make progress soon.
Since the extension of sanction measures introduced in 2022, the question of restrictions relating to Rosatom has not received unanimous support from EU member states. This is a complex issue, and the reason it has not received that support is that it touches on the energy supply chain for a number of countries. That is a matter that has been taken into consideration for any of the packages that have been agreed in recent years. We have supported successive rounds of sanctions against Russia and will continue to do so under our Presidency because we know they are having an impact. The clear feedback from our Ukrainian colleagues, and from what we can see in terms of the economy in Russia, and other actions we have taken, is that the sanctions are having an impact. We will continue, however we can, to press for and ensure that no sanctions are eased off if there is no peace agreement or peace deal moving forward.
The other way we can provide support is by making sure we agree a support package and continue to support Ukraine. I again highlight the fact that colleagues in this House, including the Deputy, did not vote for a €90 billion package that was intended to support people in Ukraine at a time when they desperately needed it. Sanctions are one thing, but we need to ensure we are providing financial and defence support, and any other kind of support, to Ukraine. If any future vote comes up, I urge the Deputy to do the same.
The Minister will be well familiar with our support for civilian, humanitarian and infrastructural aid. That has been the case for several years, continues to be the case and will be the case in the future.
I welcome what the Minister has said about the sanctions. The package continues to be worked upon. The issue of sanctions against Rosatom is a very clear priority for the Ukrainian Government, as was articulated by President Zelenskyy in mid-February.
He has called for sanctions, given the centrality of the atomic agency to the Russian economy and the war of aggression. The Minister talked about the issue of nuclear safety. There is also the issue that nuclear infrastructure has been targeted in a way that is very dangerous to the civilian population in Zaporizhzhia. There have also been attacks on the protective shell at Chernobyl. Obviously, that will cause a huge amount of concern for people, when they cast their minds to the potential ramifications of that, so that is all the more reason.
I appreciate this is agreed at European level. The Minister talked about countries being vulnerable in terms of the supply chain. Ireland is not one of those countries. There is no reason Ireland should not push it. Will the Minister commit to using her voice to specifically call at a European level for such sanctions?
We have supported and will always support further sanctions. The Deputy can be assured we will continue to support any sanctions package that is brought forward. There are considerations that have to be taken into account. In this particular instance, there are very clearly concerns that have been raised by a number of member states in terms of their own energy security. Nonetheless, even with those issues, 2,700 different individuals and-or companies have been sanctioned. It has had a huge impact. We want to see that continue.
On the €90 billion package, we are providing humanitarian assistance. To date, Ireland has provided €492 million in support of Ukraine, including €198 million in humanitarian assistance and stabilisation. Ukraine is saying to us that is not just what it needs. Of course, it needs humanitarian support, but it needs defence systems. The only way Ukraine has been able to withstand this brutal invasion for four years is it has been able to stop drone attacks because of air defence systems. Europe and Ireland need to continue to invest in it. That is what the €90 billion was about. It was not just humanitarian aid or aid for Ukraine's critical infrastructure at a time when subzero temperatures were impacting people's day-to-day lives. The fact drones have stopped this war from ending on Russia's terms is because we are providing that assistance. I again urge the Deputy, if the opportunity arises, to support this type of funding.
I say again to the Minister that civil, humanitarian and infrastructural aid is important. It should continue and Ireland should continue to support that.
I will raise the issue of Aughinish Alumina in County Limerick, which provides alumina. In recent days, a report in The Irish Times highlighted the fact that smelters supply aluminium to a Moscow-based trading company, which in turn supplies Russia's military industry. That is obviously a concern. The Russian smelters and Aughinish are owned by Rusal, a company with deep connections to the Kremlin and Moscow's arms industry. It is important, when we are considering how to ensure sanctions are effective, that issues like this are taken into account.
I will again ask the Minister specifically. She talked in generalities about the need to support sanctions. I agree with her but I ask her specifically, and I want a clear response in relation to this, whether it is her intention to raise the specific item of Rosatom, which is a priority for the Ukrainian Government. Will she specifically ask that this be included in the next package? That is not a difficult question to answer. I want a clear answer to that and not on the Government's support for sanctions generally. I am aware of that. I appreciate and welcome it but will she call for that specifically?
Apologies; I thought I was clear. We have already supported that. However, there was not unanimity. My understanding is that will not change. We have already supported the progress of sanctions in all instances but there is not unanimity. It is not Ireland's choice at the end of the day. We are one of many member states. We have supported all the packages that have been agreed unanimously over the past number of years. We will continue to support and push for the twentieth sanctions package that is currently on the table. We know it is making a difference and having an impact. There may be more we can do. In the same way, as the Deputy mentioned, Aughinish Alumina has a significant role in supply chains across Europe, there are many similar pieces of infrastructure that have implications beyond the sanctions themselves for European member states. All of these have to be taken into consideration when any sanctions are being put forward. There was not unanimity when it came to this particular plant. I am clear on that-----
I ask the Minister to please clarify-----
-----but we are focused on the twentieth package. We have a package that we have been working on. We are focused on that and have been pushing for it. While we have not had success at the most recent Council, I hope we will be able to make progress. The sanctions are having an impact and are impacting on Russia's ability to continue this war.
Deputy Nolan apologises that she cannot be here for Question No. 73.
