Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2026
36. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the need to block trade with illegal settlements in the Palestinian West Bank; her views on the need to freeze assets of companies who support the genocide in Gaza; and to sanction members of the IDF and Israeli Ministers. [69381/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Act came into effect on 15 September. The importation of goods originating in Israeli settlements into Ireland is now an offence under section 14 of the Customs Act 2015. The Act fulfils the commitment set out in the Programme for Government.
The Act will contribute positively to Ireland’s efforts to uphold and comply with international law, including the findings of the 2024 ICJ Advisory Opinion, as well as contributing positively to Irish and international efforts to prevent unilateral actions that impinge upon the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and upon the viability of the two-State solution.
In addition to the legislation we have enacted at the national level, the Government remains focused on progressing action at the EU level to prohibit all trade with Israeli settlements. Collective EU action will have greater impact than any measures adopted by an individual Member State and is the strongest and most effective route to ensure EU compliance with international law, as I have set out in detail on a number of previous occasions.
The Government supports targeted sanctions against Israeli individuals and entities and has consistently called for appropriate action at EU level in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles.
It should be noted that Ireland implements EU and UN sanctions. Ireland does not have a domestic sanctions framework. EU sanctions are designed to align with international law by operating within the legal frameworks of the UN Charter and the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. EU sanctions are always targeted.
There are almost fifty EU sanctions regimes, and they are all designed with reference to the particular context or issue at hand. The application of sanctions by all EU Member States increases their reach and impact. This is why it remains the Government’s preference that collective action would be taken at EU level.
Ireland welcomed political agreement at the May Foreign Affairs Council on sanctions against violent Israeli settlers and entities, as well as leading Hamas figures, under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. The measures were formally adopted on 28 May.
Ireland has consistently supported consideration of additional sanctions, including the proposals brought forward by the Commission President in September 2025 concerning extremist Israeli ministers, and believes that further measures are required.
