Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
270. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she supports the use of the European Union's blocking statute (Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/96) to protect EU operators from the extra-territorial application of third country laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37058/26]
View answer271. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on whether the European Union should not recognise the extra-territorial application of laws adopted by third countries and that they are contrary to international law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37060/26]
View answer272. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps she will take to ensure the use of the European Union's blocking statute (Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/96) to protect persons, particularly judges and prosecutors at the International Criminal Court, from sanctions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37062/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 270, 271 and 272 together.
The European Union's Blocking Statute (Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/96) is an important tool available to the EU to protect European economic operators from the extra-territorial application of third country laws. The Blocking Statute prohibits EU economic operators from complying with extra-territorial legislation listed in an annex to the Statute, unless they are authorised to do so by the Commission. It also allows EU economic operators to recover damages arising from such legislation from the persons or entities causing them, and nullifies the effect in the EU of any foreign court rulings based on it. The Blocking Statute initially applied to sanctions imposed by the United States, with extra-territorial effect, in relation to Cuba and, in 2018, was applied to US sanctions in relation to Iran following the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Ireland deeply regrets the imposition of US sanctions against elected officials of the International Criminal Court and those who engage with the Court, including a UN Special Rapporteur. Such measures threaten to corrode the international legal order on which all states – but particularly small states like Ireland – depend. Ireland calls for all coercive measures against the ICC and UN officials to be withdrawn and for the Court to be allowed to continue its important independent and impartial work.
Ireland has been actively engaged with fellow EU Member States and the European Commission on how to best respond to the imposition of US sanctions and to assist the ICC in fulfilling its mandate to end impunity. As part of this, Ireland has called on the Commission to commence preparatory work on amending the Blocking Statute so that it can be quickly activated at the most appropriate time, having regard in particular to when its activation will have the greatest impact in defending the Court and ensuring continuity of its activities.
While we continuously monitor developments, Ireland has also actively supported the ICC in building resilience and encouraged service providers to continue to engage with it.
