Christina Finn

AT THE LAUNCH of the Labour Party conference in Limerick today, party leader Ivana Bacik called for Tánaiste Simon Harris to pass the Occupied Territories Bill by Christmas. 

The Occupied Territories Bill was first introduced by Independent Senator Francis Black in 2018 and proposed making it an offence “for a person to import or sell goods or services originating in an occupied territory or to extract resources from an occupied territory in certain circumstances”.

The slightly amended bill proposed by the Tánaiste, and formally known as the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill, would make it a crime under the Customs Act 2015 to import goods into Ireland that originate in Israeli settlements built over what is legally recognised as Palestinian land.

However, services such as tourism and IT are as of yet excluded in the latest draft of the legislation.

Attorney General concerns

Harris has said he is open to services being included in the legislation, but speaking in the Dáil recently, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “The Attorney General is coming back to us on a number of fronts – one is implementability, by the way. The feedback I am getting is it is not just implementable, but, second, are you putting companies based here in a very difficult position through no fault of their own in respect of how that would be treated in the United States?”

An Oireachtas committee, which includes members from the government party, has recommended that the legislation should include services. 

The timeline for the passing of the legislation is a matter for the Oireachtas, Harris has said previously.

Speaking this morning, Bacik said there will be motion before the Dáil on Wednesday on the Occupied Territories Bill which seeks to have it passed in full to cover trade in goods and services.

“There will be again a unity of purpose, a common cause among those of us on the left, and the other parties who supported Catherine Connolly’s presidential campaign, who will be coming together this week and today, I am calling on the Tánaiste to pass the Occupied Territories Bill in full by Christmas, and to make that commitment this week, because we need to see that passed,” he said.

Bacik said there is the “clear desire” of the majority of people in Ireland for the legislation to be passed, adding that there is a clear appetite for it to be done swiftly.

This is the first time party members will meet since the election of 11 TDs and two Senators as well as Dublin MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin getting elected in the European elections in June 2024.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik will deliver a televised speech on RTÉ at 6:30pm today. 

Housing is set to dominate discussions, with a two-hour policy paper discussion to to be take place today. 

Speaking in advance of the conference, Labour TD for Limerick City Conor Sheehan said this government is failing to provide any hope or vision for change when it comes to housing.

Aside from housing, there will also be policy paper discussions on climate change and public services. There will also be an intercultural event, which aims to promote inclusion and equality. 

A pop-up Gaeltacht will also form part of the national conference today. Later on today, Ged Nash TD will award Lydia Foy the ‘Jim Larkin Thirst for Justice Award’ for her campaign work for trans rights.

The Journal sought comment from the Tánaiste on the expected timeline for the enactment of the legislation but none was forthcoming.