TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has said he doesn’t believe that weapons are being flown through Ireland’s airspace to Israel.

But he said it was “a real challenge” to know what is being carried through Irish skies and said more work was needed in this area.

The Tánaiste was speaking on RTÉ’s Late Late Show, where he was asked about housing, his leadership of Fine Gael, neutrality and Donald Trump’s 100 days in office.

He said he had spoken to officials in his department yesterday about the Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban trade between Ireland and illegal Israeli settlements.

The bill had been stalled until after November’s general election, after which the Government suggested that new legislation was now required.

“We’re going to have to do more (on Palestine),” Harris said.

“I meant it when I said I think we should legislate in relation to the Occupied Territories.

“I will fulfil the commitment of the programme for government to bring forward legislation in relation to the occupied territories, we have to do everything humanly possible here, use every lever at our disposal,” he said.

He said that delays in passing legislation were about ensuring it is “legally robust”.

“I’ve been talking to officials in my Department on it as recently as today, and we will bring forward legislation, and I’ll have a further update on what I hope is the timeline for that next week.”

He added that he would be meeting with Senator Frances Black, who first introduced the Occupied Territories Bill into the Dáil in 2018, next week to discuss the Bill.

“I’m not going to pass a law that won’t stand up to legal test,” said Harris.

“I’m not going to do something, though, just to be seen to be doing something.

He said he would have a further update with a “timeline” on the Bill next week.

Asked if weapons were being flown through Irish skies to Israel, Harris said: “I don’t believe it is.”

But he admitted more international co-operation was needed to find out what is being flown through Irish skies.

Tánaiste Simon Harris on the use of Irish airspace #latelate pic.twitter.com/nKATdASpG8

— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) May 2, 2025

“I think we obviously need to see if there’s more that needs to be done in relation to that,” he said.

“The information available to me is that people need to seek consent before any such flights take place, and there is no information available to me in relation to that happening.

“I also have to be very conscious that when planes fly well above our skies, the ability of Ireland on its own to know exactly what goes through Irish airspace is a real challenge.

“I do think we need to work at an international level in terms of the treaties that govern those issues.

“I accept there’s more that needs to be done in relation to that.”

Harris remarked that that children in Gaza are “being starved” and there are reports of basic pain-killing medication being unavailable.

“Hamas, let me be clear, is a despicable terrorist organisation, they offer the people of Palestine no future,” he said.

“What happened in Israel on 7 October is a disgusting terrorist attack. All the hostages should be released, of course.

“What is happening to the people of Gaza is despicable, disgusting, unconscionable and a humanitarian catastrophe. And we’ve got to continue to do everything we can, (use) every lever in Ireland and at a European level to help bring about a ceasefire.”

And when asked on Trump’s first 100 days in office, Harris replied to applause: “Is that all?”

Tánaiste Simon Harris on President Donald Trump#latelate pic.twitter.com/qSeijDYjeS

— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) May 2, 2025

He added that the Irish government will engage with the US and said: “We have to be honest with friends and it’s easy to turn up in Washington when everyone’s getting along great, it’s much harder to turn up when you points of disagreement.”

At a confirmation hearing this week for the US ambassador to Ireland nominee, Edward Sharp, there were calls for Sharp to ensure o “Ireland understands America strongly supports Israel”.

The chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee described the decision by Ireland to recognise the State of Palestine as a “mistake” and Senatore Ted Cruz attacked Ireland for saying it would exercise arrest warrants issued for Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ireland was also called on to “increase defence spending to safeguard vital undersea cables from our shared enemies”.

-With additional reporting from Diarmuid Pepper