Latest news with #ProhibitionofImportationofGoods
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Exclusion of services from OTB 'worrying'
Independent Senator Frances Black has said it is "worrying" that services are not included in the draft Occupied Territories Bill and it is "absolutely crucial" that they should be. The draft of the 'Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025' was published today by Tánaiste Simon Harris. It makes no reference to services being subject to a similar goods ban and has been criticised in the Dáil by opposition parties including Sinn Féin, Labour and the Social Democrats. The Tánaiste insists he is willing to consider the inclusion of services in the bill and has sought the Attorney General's advice on this matter. Independent Senator Frances Black has been closely associated with the bill since first tabling proposed legislation in 2018, and has continued to campaign on the subject and has held meetings with Mr Harris on the Government bill. Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Senator Black said Simon Harris had committed to her and in public that the Government is "willing to include services in the final bill if we can get the legal detail right". She said she was "100% certain" that services will end up in the final bill "if we get this detail" right and she "fully intends on holding him to that promise". "Last year, the International Court of very clearly that the Israeli settlements are illegal, and that all countries must end trade with all of them - and all trade, full stop. "That means both physical goods, like dates and oranges, but also services like tech and IT. "That is the standard that the Government needs to meet," Senator Black said. Meanwhile, Social Democrats Senator Patricia Stephenson said the Government has "yet to provide a credible reason for omitting services from the bill". Ms Stephenson said the Tánaiste "continues to cite vague legal reasons for omitting a services ban" and added that her party has received legal advice saying that the inclusion of services is not only legal but also a "duty to do so in accordance with the ruling from the International Court of Justice". "The vast majority of Ireland's trade with the occupied territories is in the form of services - legislating for goods alone is not a sufficient sanction of the Israeli government's barbaric actions. "We need to see this Bill enacted in the form put forward by Senator Francis Black as a matter of urgency, even if this means working through the summer to do so," Ms Stephenson said. Speaking upon the publication of the general scheme of the bill, the Tánaiste said he has made it clear that the Government will use "all levers at its disposal to address the horrifying situation on the ground" in Gaza. "Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are illegal and threaten the viability of the two-State solution. "This is the longstanding position of the European Union and our international partners. "Furthermore, this is the clear position under international law. "I have been absolutely clear that we have yet to see an adequate response at EU level to the July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, notably as regards trade with Israeli settlements," Mr Harris said in a statement.
Glasgow Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Irish deputy premier to include services from Israeli settlements in trade ban
Simon Harris also said he wants to put pressure on the other 26 European countries to consider banning trade with occupied Palestinian territories, and called on opposition parties to contact their counterparts in the bloc. Mr Harris said Ireland is the only country to publish legislation to ban imports from the occupied Palestinian territories, saying it is 'pretty lonely out there', adding it would be 'a hell of a lot better' if Europe moved together on it. The legislation was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday morning. Mr Harris brought forward the renamed Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025. The Government opted for fresh legislation instead of progressing the Occupied Territories Bill, first tabled in 2018. It will now go before an Oireachtas committee for examination. Mr Harris said that every Government TD will be expected to back the legislation as it forms part of the Programme for Government. 'Let's not forget one thing before we get into the detail of the legislation, there isn't another country in the European Union that you can visit today and ask a government minister about their Bill to ban trade and the detail of it, because they don't have one,' he added. 'We're the first country in the European Union to take this step. We're the first country in the European Union say, yes, trade is a European competency, and it'll be a hell of a lot better if Europe moves together, and a hell of a lot more impactful. 'But in the absence of Europe moving together, we're going to go ahead with our own domestic legislation. 'I would really ask the opposition here not to do this lazy politicking of you know, opposition good, government bad. Everybody in this country is sickened to the pit of their stomach with the genocide they see in Gaza. 'They don't care, the people of Ireland, who they vote for in an election in relation to this, they just know in their gut what is happening, particularly children in Gaza, is genocide is wrong, and everyone has to do everything they want. 'I have no policy difference, zero policy difference with the opposition in relation to the inclusion of services, but we do have a Constitution, we are members of the European Union, and I'm not in the business of putting together legislation that would fall at the first legal hurdle. 'I presume everybody here wants to pass a law that is impactful, a law that is in compliance with the laws of our land.' Earlier this week, a number of countries, including Ireland, asked the European Commission to examine how goods produced in illegal Jewish settlements 'can be brought into line with international law'. Mr Harris said he does not believe the European Union has made itself compliant with the ICJ advisory opinion. 'We will do our own legislation, (I am) open to services, absolutely open to working constructively with the opposition, but also keep the pressure on at the European level,' he added. 'What I hope the opposition will be doing today, every opposition leader should be picking up the telephone, and they should be ringing their counterparts in European countries and saying, 'hey, have you seen here in Ireland we're bringing forward a domestic legislation, would you think about doing it yourself? 'Because so far, it's pretty lonely out there. There's not one other country in Europe that has published any legislation to ban trade, and I'd really appreciate the opposition's help with their counterparts in the 26 other European states.'
Leader Live
10 hours ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Irish deputy premier to include services from Israeli settlements in trade ban
Simon Harris also said he wants to put pressure on the other 26 European countries to consider banning trade with occupied Palestinian territories, and called on opposition parties to contact their counterparts in the bloc. Mr Harris said Ireland is the only country to publish legislation to ban imports from the occupied Palestinian territories, saying it is 'pretty lonely out there', adding it would be 'a hell of a lot better' if Europe moved together on it. The legislation was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday morning. Mr Harris brought forward the renamed Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025. The Government opted for fresh legislation instead of progressing the Occupied Territories Bill, first tabled in 2018. It will now go before an Oireachtas committee for examination. Mr Harris said that every Government TD will be expected to back the legislation as it forms part of the Programme for Government. 'Let's not forget one thing before we get into the detail of the legislation, there isn't another country in the European Union that you can visit today and ask a government minister about their Bill to ban trade and the detail of it, because they don't have one,' he added. 'We're the first country in the European Union to take this step. We're the first country in the European Union say, yes, trade is a European competency, and it'll be a hell of a lot better if Europe moves together, and a hell of a lot more impactful. 'But in the absence of Europe moving together, we're going to go ahead with our own domestic legislation. 'I would really ask the opposition here not to do this lazy politicking of you know, opposition good, government bad. Everybody in this country is sickened to the pit of their stomach with the genocide they see in Gaza. 'They don't care, the people of Ireland, who they vote for in an election in relation to this, they just know in their gut what is happening, particularly children in Gaza, is genocide is wrong, and everyone has to do everything they want. 'I have no policy difference, zero policy difference with the opposition in relation to the inclusion of services, but we do have a Constitution, we are members of the European Union, and I'm not in the business of putting together legislation that would fall at the first legal hurdle. 'I presume everybody here wants to pass a law that is impactful, a law that is in compliance with the laws of our land.' Earlier this week, a number of countries, including Ireland, asked the European Commission to examine how goods produced in illegal Jewish settlements 'can be brought into line with international law'. Mr Harris said he does not believe the European Union has made itself compliant with the ICJ advisory opinion. 'We will do our own legislation, (I am) open to services, absolutely open to working constructively with the opposition, but also keep the pressure on at the European level,' he added. 'What I hope the opposition will be doing today, every opposition leader should be picking up the telephone, and they should be ringing their counterparts in European countries and saying, 'hey, have you seen here in Ireland we're bringing forward a domestic legislation, would you think about doing it yourself? 'Because so far, it's pretty lonely out there. There's not one other country in Europe that has published any legislation to ban trade, and I'd really appreciate the opposition's help with their counterparts in the 26 other European states.'
Rhyl Journal
10 hours ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Irish deputy premier to include services from Israeli settlements in trade ban
Simon Harris also said he wants to put pressure on the other 26 European countries to consider banning trade with occupied Palestinian territories, and called on opposition parties to contact their counterparts in the bloc. Mr Harris said Ireland is the only country to publish legislation to ban imports from the occupied Palestinian territories, saying it is 'pretty lonely out there', adding it would be 'a hell of a lot better' if Europe moved together on it. The legislation was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday morning. Mr Harris brought forward the renamed Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025. The Government opted for fresh legislation instead of progressing the Occupied Territories Bill, first tabled in 2018. It will now go before an Oireachtas committee for examination. Mr Harris said that every Government TD will be expected to back the legislation as it forms part of the Programme for Government. 'Let's not forget one thing before we get into the detail of the legislation, there isn't another country in the European Union that you can visit today and ask a government minister about their Bill to ban trade and the detail of it, because they don't have one,' he added. 'We're the first country in the European Union to take this step. We're the first country in the European Union say, yes, trade is a European competency, and it'll be a hell of a lot better if Europe moves together, and a hell of a lot more impactful. 'But in the absence of Europe moving together, we're going to go ahead with our own domestic legislation. 'I would really ask the opposition here not to do this lazy politicking of you know, opposition good, government bad. Everybody in this country is sickened to the pit of their stomach with the genocide they see in Gaza. 'They don't care, the people of Ireland, who they vote for in an election in relation to this, they just know in their gut what is happening, particularly children in Gaza, is genocide is wrong, and everyone has to do everything they want. 'I have no policy difference, zero policy difference with the opposition in relation to the inclusion of services, but we do have a Constitution, we are members of the European Union, and I'm not in the business of putting together legislation that would fall at the first legal hurdle. 'I presume everybody here wants to pass a law that is impactful, a law that is in compliance with the laws of our land.' Earlier this week, a number of countries, including Ireland, asked the European Commission to examine how goods produced in illegal Jewish settlements 'can be brought into line with international law'. Mr Harris said he does not believe the European Union has made itself compliant with the ICJ advisory opinion. 'We will do our own legislation, (I am) open to services, absolutely open to working constructively with the opposition, but also keep the pressure on at the European level,' he added. 'What I hope the opposition will be doing today, every opposition leader should be picking up the telephone, and they should be ringing their counterparts in European countries and saying, 'hey, have you seen here in Ireland we're bringing forward a domestic legislation, would you think about doing it yourself? 'Because so far, it's pretty lonely out there. There's not one other country in Europe that has published any legislation to ban trade, and I'd really appreciate the opposition's help with their counterparts in the 26 other European states.'
Western Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Irish deputy premier to include services from Israeli settlements in trade ban
Simon Harris also said he wants to put pressure on the other 26 European countries to consider banning trade with occupied Palestinian territories, and called on opposition parties to contact their counterparts in the bloc. Mr Harris said Ireland is the only country to publish legislation to ban imports from the occupied Palestinian territories, saying it is 'pretty lonely out there', adding it would be 'a hell of a lot better' if Europe moved together on it. The legislation was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday morning. Mr Harris brought forward the renamed Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025. The Government opted for fresh legislation instead of progressing the Occupied Territories Bill, first tabled in 2018. It will now go before an Oireachtas committee for examination. Mr Harris said that every Government TD will be expected to back the legislation as it forms part of the Programme for Government. 'Let's not forget one thing before we get into the detail of the legislation, there isn't another country in the European Union that you can visit today and ask a government minister about their Bill to ban trade and the detail of it, because they don't have one,' he added. 'We're the first country in the European Union to take this step. We're the first country in the European Union say, yes, trade is a European competency, and it'll be a hell of a lot better if Europe moves together, and a hell of a lot more impactful. 'But in the absence of Europe moving together, we're going to go ahead with our own domestic legislation. 'I would really ask the opposition here not to do this lazy politicking of you know, opposition good, government bad. Everybody in this country is sickened to the pit of their stomach with the genocide they see in Gaza. 'They don't care, the people of Ireland, who they vote for in an election in relation to this, they just know in their gut what is happening, particularly children in Gaza, is genocide is wrong, and everyone has to do everything they want. 'I have no policy difference, zero policy difference with the opposition in relation to the inclusion of services, but we do have a Constitution, we are members of the European Union, and I'm not in the business of putting together legislation that would fall at the first legal hurdle. 'I presume everybody here wants to pass a law that is impactful, a law that is in compliance with the laws of our land.' Earlier this week, a number of countries, including Ireland, asked the European Commission to examine how goods produced in illegal Jewish settlements 'can be brought into line with international law'. Mr Harris said he does not believe the European Union has made itself compliant with the ICJ advisory opinion. 'We will do our own legislation, (I am) open to services, absolutely open to working constructively with the opposition, but also keep the pressure on at the European level,' he added. 'What I hope the opposition will be doing today, every opposition leader should be picking up the telephone, and they should be ringing their counterparts in European countries and saying, 'hey, have you seen here in Ireland we're bringing forward a domestic legislation, would you think about doing it yourself? 'Because so far, it's pretty lonely out there. There's not one other country in Europe that has published any legislation to ban trade, and I'd really appreciate the opposition's help with their counterparts in the 26 other European states.'
