Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has denied reports that the Occupied Territories Bill will be “shelved” in a bid to appease the United States.
The proposed legislation – the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 – was introduced by Senator Frances Black long before the current wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
It is aimed at banning trade between Ireland and Israel’s illegal settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories. Although the Bill passed various stages in the Oireachtas, it has stalled at committee stage in the Dáil since 2020.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Chambers said the programme for government set out the position for the Bill.
“We’ve said previously that it requires substantive amendments to be compliant with the EU and with our own Constitution.
“The programme for government commitment is clear on progressing that legislation and the drafting work is continuing between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General’s office,” he said.
“The Bill, as it was previously drafted, requires substantive amendments to be compliant with European and national law.”
If February, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Occupied Territories Bill will not be ready until the summer session of the Dáil at the earliest, because of drafting requirements.
In the same month, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the Government would amend the Bill to ban the trade of goods, but not services, with Israeli firms operating in occupied Palestinian territories.
