Christina Finn

THIS TIME LAST year it was becoming pretty apparent that despite the pre-election promises, the Occupied Territories Bill was not on the priority list for the government. 

As the summer approached, questions were being asked about when the legislation would be enacted, with members of the opposition quick to say they would be happy to sit through the summer break to get it passed. 

Ultimately, that offer was rejected and nearly a year on, the issue is back up for discussion yet again. 

Over the last 12 months, views expressed by some politicians in Leinster House were that the legislation would never be brought forward. Others said that stalling it, while waiting for the EU to move as a unit, was the new government strategy. 

But as time went on, it became clear that even as genocide unfolded across TV screens and social media, nothing was enough to force Europe as a whole to act.

Images from the recent flotilla to Gaza, which President Catherine Connolly’s sister Margaret was part of, appears to have shifted the dial for Ireland. 

The 14 Irish citizens detained in Israel after the aid flotilla they were on was intercepted arrived home last week. 

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee announced this week that she had received the updated advice from the Attorney General, and she plans to pass the bill by the summer recess at the end of July. 

The Journal asked a number of government TDs this week if this deadline will be met, and the majority said it would be. 

While accusations have been flying from the opposition benches this week that the government’s proposals, which do not include services, is a watered down version of the original bill, there’s a growing unease among government TDs too. 

Not including services goes against the recommendation of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, whose members include government party members, who recommended that services be included. Those TDs suspected that the backlash of hollowing out the legislation would prove a greater risk perhaps to the economic ones. 

A number of government TDs this week said they believe there is no reason why services are not included, but acknowledge that the Taoiseach is making a calculated political call on the issue. 

Those that agree with this stance are understood to be contemplating proposing amendments to the legislation to include services, or at the very least to follow in Spain’s footsteps and ban the advertisement of services. 

This issue was raised during Leaders’ Questions this week with the Taoiseach stating: 

Spain has not included services [in its ban]. It has included the advertisement of services.

Martin said that with every action he takes, he has to protect jobs.

In a heated debate in the Dáil, he said the opposition could afford to be virtuous in their calls, but that as Taoiseach, he had to consider the consequences in the round. Responding to People Before Profit TDs, he said: 

“Has anyone in the opposition done an assessment of what it would mean economically?… It is great to be virtuous, Deputy, but for the workers’ representative, you lack all virtue when it comes to protecting Irish workers.  

“We have to take everything on board and be sensible about it. At the same time, we have been principled. We are one of the few European member states that has stood out there. If you talk to the Palestinian National Authority, Jordan, Egypt or anyone in the gulf and the Middle East, the first thing they say is, ‘Thank you to the Irish government for leading on this’.” 

US lobbying

Even before the general election, Martin acknowledged that US lobbying on the issue was taking place. 

One government TD told The Journal this week that threats from the US, which some questioned before, are now playing on the minds of those at the top of government. 

During the exchanges in the Dáil this week, Martin indicated that the government is under pressure from the US side, particularly when it comes to the inclusion of services. 

The Taoiseach fears reputational damage and the threats to 250,000 jobs. While he battles between principles and practicalities, he said there are only two forces that can stop Israel right now: America, and Europe acting as a whole. 

With zero chance of the US stepping in, and with the EU far from united on this issue, Irish people are once again asking: What role can we play? 

The opposition believes cowering to the US is morally wrong, and some in government do too. 

If there is a whiff that the Irish government has one knee bent to America on this issue, Martin runs the risk of losing this political test.