THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES Bill will be brought before cabinet for government approval later, with the aim of enacting it before the Dáil summer recess.

The long-awaited bill was first proposed by senator Frances Black in 2018 and would ban trade from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Tánaiste Simon Harris previously told The Journal that the bill could be ready before the summer.

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee will later seek government approval and aims to meet this summer deadline.

A department spokesperson remarked that Ireland has “continually advocated for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians”.

However, the spokesperson added that it is “clear from the actions of the Israeli government, both in Gaza and in the West Bank, that they have no intention of reaching a peaceful resolution”.

The spokesperson added that it “remains the government’s preference that collective action would be taken at EU level” and that McEntee is “continuing to actively pursue this”.

Last week, the Netherlands agreed to ban the import and trade of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. 

Following this, McEntee said Ireland was one of nine EU member states calling on the European Commission to bring forward proposals to ban trade with illegal settlements.

Speaking to reporters, McEntee said it was “time that we take action at a European level, and time that we respond to these constant breaches of international law”.

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Enacting the bill was one of the commitments in the Programme for Government.

A Department spokesperson said the bill will “positively contribute towards Ireland’s compliance with its international legal obligations as identified in the 2024 International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion”.

This called for states to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Once the bill is enacted and commenced, the importation of goods originating in the illegal settlements into Ireland will be an offence.