Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 May 2026
73. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason Ireland continues to trade with Israel despite its having violated international law by violating the geocide convention; if the current Government believes it has a responsibility to pursue the enforcement of the prohibition of genocide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38223/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has consistently called for concrete action in response to egregious breaches of international law by Israel.
At the EU level, Ireland was the first EU Member State, together with Spain, to call for a review of Israel’s compliance with its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in February 2024. It is clear from the finalised review that Israel is in breach of its human rights obligations under the Agreement. In September 2025, the Commission proposed a package of measures in response to Israel’s human rights violations and other breaches of international law. Ireland has been clear that these measures should be kept on table and has raised these issues at successive meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council.
In advance of the April 2026 Foreign Affairs Council, the Foreign Ministers of Ireland, Spain and Slovenia wrote to the HR/VP requesting a discussion of the EU-Israel Association Agreement at the next meeting of Ministers. The Ministers of all three countries called for the suspension of the Association Agreement at that time, and called for action on the proposal by the European Commission to suspend the trade elements of the Association Agreement if agreement cannot be reached on suspension of the Association Agreement as a whole.
At the Foreign Affairs Council on 11 May, Ireland again called on EU partners to re-consider the proposal to suspend the trade-related provisions of the Association Agreement. Ireland also requested that the Commission bring forward a proposal to prohibit trade with Israeli settlements on the basis of EU Common Commercial Policy, and for decision at the June Foreign Affairs Council.
At this meeting, political agreement was also reached on the imposition of sanctions against named extremist Israeli settlers.
The Government will continue to press for meaningful action at EU-level in response to Israeli breaches of international law and human rights, and actions that undermine the viability of the two State solution. Action at EU level has the most impact.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Ireland takes these findings extremely seriously.
The commission of genocide, however is ultimately a matter of law, which must be determined by a court or judicial body. South Africa has taken a case against Israel under the Genocide Convention before the International Court of Justice. Ireland has filed a Declaration of Intervention, and continues to follow this case very closely.
