26-05-2025
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.
