First step on road to new OTB after first draft approval

RTÉ News​

27-05-2025

Cabinet took a first step today and gave approval to Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris to draft an Occupied Territories Bill.
It has been a long road for Independent Senator Frances Black, who first tabled her proposed legislation on the topic back in 2018.
The next step comes when Mr Harris seeks ministerial approval for what's termed a draft scheme - an outline of what the legislation will contain.
It's at that point both the politicians and public will know the Government's intentions. There's no date yet for that Cabinet meeting.
It's already clear that the bill will seek to prohibit the importation of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
What's unclear is if the ban will extend to services.
The Tánaiste said he has "an open mind" on the issue but is concerned that any legislation doesn't fall "at the first legal hurdle".
No doubt there will be legal advice, after which Mr Harris will have to take a decision.
Speaking on RTÉ's Six One News, he added that what he wants to achieve is "the best and most robust piece of legislation".
Ms Black said the Cabinet decision is a "welcome move" and she is "relieved to finally see some action".
Pointedly, she also said that the inclusion of services in any bill is based on legal advice "...from some of the most eminent lawyers in the world, making absolutely clear that we can include services in the legislation if the political will is there".
The timeline for progressing this legislation is another point of controversy.
Under the plan outlined by Mr Harris, the draft scheme of the new bill will be brought back to Cabinet next month for ministerial approval.
After that, the legislation will be sent to the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee for what's termed "pre-legislative scrutiny".
Given the Dáil will rise for the summer recess on 17 July, the legislation won't proceed much beyond that point.
It's a real fault line between the Government and Opposition parties.
Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger accused the Coalition of "watering down and delaying the Occupied Territories Bill".
She contended it could take another year to enact the legislation, which was "shameful" after a weekend in which "35 people including children were killed in a school in Gaza".
Labour Party whip Duncan Smith told the Dáil that the Government's timeline was "simply unacceptable".
His party argued that additional days should be secured for the Dáil to sit and get the legislation passed entirely before the summer break.
Part of the Opposition anger springs from the Government's strategy of commencing a new bill, rather than trying to amend Ms Black's existing legislative proposal.
Back in January, Taoiseach Micheál Martin claimed this was imperative.
He explained that officials examined the senator's bill and amended almost every line because it was unconstitutional and deficient.
Opposition parties vehemently disagreed.
Ms Black is now having regular meetings with Mr Harris about his new legislation.
The Government acknowledges that the bill is "a small measure" which has more of a symbolic value given the minimal trade Ireland has with the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
"What I hope is when this small country in Europe makes the decision and becomes one of the first countries, and probably the first country, in the western world to consider legislation in this space, I do hope it inspires other European countries to join us," Mr Harris said.
Opposition parties are deeply concerned that unless the legislation is enacted speedily, in weeks rather than months, that it won't inspire anyone.