Tánaiste to seek approval for bill to prohibit trade with Occupied Palestinian Territories
Tánaiste Simon Harris will ask the Cabinet to give the green light to draft a bill to prohibit the importation of goods from illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
It will then go before an Oireachtas Committee next month for pre-legislative scrutiny.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs will say that Israel's humanitarian blockade and renewed bombardment of Gaza have resulted in a situation of unprecedented gravity.
While Ireland does minimal trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territory, he will tell colleagues that the Government has been resolute in its determination to use every lever available to end the war in the Middle East.
Mr Harris believes there is now growing support at EU level on issues where Ireland demonstrated early leadership with a small group of partners, including on the review of Israel's compliance with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
He will also ask ministers to approve the participation of the Defence Forces in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a further period of 12 months.
Ireland's participation in UNIFIL represents the State's largest overseas deployment, with 345 Defence Forces personnel currently serving as part of a joint Irish-Polish Battalion in Southern Lebanon.
Separately in the area of trade, the Tánaiste will inform the Government that the EU has shared with the US its ideas for an "EU-US Agreement on Reciprocal Mutually Beneficial Trade".
This proposal includes options aimed at reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, promoting economic security, as well as facilitating strategic purchases, business opportunities and investment.
He will say that a far-reaching negotiated agreement that protects consumers, businesses and the economies on both sides of the Atlantic is the best outcome and that there is now no time to lose to achieve this.
However, given the ongoing volatility in the global trading environment, the Tánaiste will also ask Cabinet to approve the drafting of the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025, which will allow for the ratification of the EU-Canada trade deal, known as CETA.
Taoiseach to update Cabinet on National Digital Strategy
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach will update colleagues on the latest progress on developing a new National Digital Strategy this year.
The updated Strategy will prioritise investment to make Ireland an EU centre of expertise for digital and data regulation.
It will also aim to identify the potential benefits of AI to better deliver public services.
Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler will seek approval to amend the Mental Health Bill.
Ms Butler and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will propose over 200 amendments at Committee Stage to progress the Bill in the coming weeks.
The purpose of the bill is to improve the experience of people who are involuntarily admitted to an acute mental health setting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
22 minutes ago
- The Journal
Irish citizens among activists detained in Egypt after arriving for march to Gaza border
EGYPTIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE detained more than 200 people who arrived in the country ahead of a planned peaceful march to the Rafah crossing on the border with Palestine, according to the march's spokesperson. Asked if there were Irish citizens among those detained, the Department of Foreign Affairs told The Journal it 'has been contacted by a small number of Irish citizens and is providing consular assistance'. Demonstrators from around the world have been arriving in Cairo this week, with dozens of Irish people among them. 'Over 200 participants were detained at Cairo airport or questioned at hotels across Cairo,' the march's spokesperson Saif Abukeshek told the AFP news agency, adding that those detained included nationals from the United States, Australia, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Morocco and Algeria. People Before Profit TD also plans to join the march and told RTÉ Radio this morning that the demonstrators have no intention of trying to enter Gaza. He described the demonstrators as people 'trying to do everything we can to highlight the absolute horror faced by the people of Gaza'. 'The aid must be allowed to enter and Israel must stop using starvation as a weapon of war. The blockade must be lifted and the genocide halted,' Murphy said in a statement yesterday. Meanwhile, a convoy that left Tunisia on Monday is making its way to Egypt to join the march, crossing through the divided and war-torn Libya. Following Israeli war minister's orders, Egyptian authorities directed its security services to block the International March to Break Gaza Siege from entering the country! Thousands taking part in the March, which has been launched from Tunisia, are planning to walk through… — Global March To Gaza (@globalmarchgaza) June 12, 2025 According to the Global March to Gaza website , participants plan to gather in Cairo tomorrow before travelling by bus the following day to Al Arish, where they will begin their 48km march to the besieged Palestinian territory to the north of Egypt's Sinai region. Advertisement 'Over the course of 2–3 days, we'll walk in solidarity toward Rafah,' the website says. The demonstrators have said they do not plan to try and enter Gaza and will camp at the border for three days before returning to Cairo on 19 June. Israel had asked Egyptian authorities to prevent people from making the march. 'I expect the Egyptian authorities to prevent the arrival of jihadist protesters at the Egypt-Israel border and not to allow them to carry out provocations or attempt to enter Gaza,' Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. Katz added that such actions 'would endanger the safety of (Israeli) soldiers and will not be allowed'. Egypt said on Wednesday that it supports efforts to put 'pressure on Israel' to lift its blockade of Gaza, but added that any foreign delegations seeking to visit the border area must receive prior approval through official channels. Speaking this morning, Paul Murphy said the march aims to pressure Israel into lifting its blockade on Gaza, but also put 'pressure on our own governments'. 'I mean, these are peaceful Palestine solidarity protests. We have clear guidelines on what we're doing. 'We're not trying to forcibly break through into Gaza or anything like that. It is a peaceful demonstration. 'Unfortunately, this morning, we're hearing reports of people being detained at the airport, and I think at least two Irish citizens have been detained by Egyptian authorities.' With reporting from AFP Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
22 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Historic Louth shopping centre building hits the market with €500,000 guide price
The Abbey Centre front building along Drogheda's main street offers a 'prime refurbishment opportunity' The historic Abbey Centre front building on West Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth has been listed for sale, offering a 'prime refurbishment opportunity' in the heart of Drogheda town centre. The building along Drogheda's main street is advertised at a guide price of €500,000. It has been a feature in the town for many decades, dating back to its opening as a shopping centre in 1973 by Val Doonican. The shopping centre replaced the Abbey Ballroom and Bogue's Sawmills at the time, after the previous ballroom had tragically burned to the ground marking an end to a social era in the town. 'Val' Doonican was an Irish singer of traditional pop and one of the biggest names on TV, attracting a crowd for the official opening. The building changed hands privately over the years and was subject to another fire and suspected arson incident in 2021. The 'for sale' property is advertised as an 'excellent building that is in need of a thorough refresh' and currently in a 'hazardous state', in need of repair throughout. The front building is spread across three and a half levels, with a floor area of approximately 10,000 sq ft. It contains two shops, a wide foyer, an ex-nightclub (in the basement area) and two large floors of offices.
Irish Independent
43 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Food price surge putting pressure on family budgets
The cost of food is now rising at more than twice the level of general inflation, according to consumer price index figures for May from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). General consumer inflation was 1.7pc in the year to May. But food prices rose by 4.1pc in the year. Staples such as butter, beef, bread, cheese and spaghetti prices are all up in the supermarkets, the CSO figures show. The price of a pound of butter shot up by €1.03 in the 12 months to May. CSO statisticians recorded the cost of a pound of butter at €4.72. The cost of two litres of full-fat milk is up 27c in the year to €2.46. Consumers are being forced to pay an extra 57c per kg of Irish cheddar, with an 800g loaf of white/brown sliced pan 5c dearer. Spaghetti per 500g is 2c more expensive than last year. There was a reduction in the price of a 2.5kg bag of potatoes of 25c when compared with May 2024. The surge in food prices is despite the fact that overall consumer prices remained unchanged in the month between April and May this year. ADVERTISEMENT Anthony Dawson, Statistician in the CSO prices division, Anthony Dawson, said: 'Today's release of the CPI [consumer price index] shows that prices for consumer goods and services in May 2025 rose by 1.7pc on average when compared with May 2024. The rate of inflation may have eased a bit in the past few months from as high as 9pc, but consumers are still paying elevated prices for goods and services after two years of rapid cost increases. This is especially the case with energy and groceries. This country had the sharpest rise in agricultural output prices in Europe between the first three months on last year and the same period this year. Agricultural output prices were up 19pc in the period, according to Eurostat. Agricultural output is the value of final goods and services produced by farmers. Farm gate price rises is one of the reasons Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon warned this week that the recent surge in food prices is unlikely to be reversed. He said it reflects farmers' input costs, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon has warned. Irish consumers have seen food prices rise more than 4pc in the past year, Central Statistics Office data showed in May. That's around three times faster than general consumer inflation. UCC economist Oliver Browne has calculated that grocery prices have increased by 36pc in the last four years. The inflation figures show motor insurance premiums up by 8.4pc in the year to May. This is the 21th month of rising motor insurance costs. Home insurance was up again, rising by 5.1pc. Health insurance costs are up by 8.7pc, the CSO said. Regulator for the sector, the Health Insurance Authority, said the average health insurance premium is now approaching €2,000, up more than €480 in the past two years.
