Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Cork South-Central · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“That is important and the Minister and I share that view, much as we disagree on how it is not right to get rid of the triple lock. We have made that very clear and we think there is scope to deploy on peacekeeping missions elsewhere.”
“As I probably will not get more questions and it is my last contribution before the recess, I wish to take the opportunity to thank the staff of this institution and the Ceann Comhairle's office, who serve us so well.”
“We have all probably been guilty of the offence of going over time at different stages, I am sure. Despite our disagreements in relation to the triple lock, I think the Minister and I agree that peacekeeping missions are important.”
“In the context of the previous question, I submitted another question that was ruled out of order, which is fair enough. I probably did not word my question as precisely as Deputy Gibney worded hers. I record my concern about legal representation in that regard. It is important to say that. This question relates to another welfare issue.”
“The Minister said that she is not pushing anybody to the courts. I am not a doctor and cannot make a clinical decision, but if people suffered negative health outcomes that they believe have a connection to their clinical exposure, and they have never taken a case, how precisely is the Government going to help them?”
“The Minister talks about the need to ensure that Defence Forces personnel have the ability to deploy internationally and are not prevented from participating in rescue missions. I have no problem at all with head No. 7. Actually, most of the legislation is fine. It is just head No.”
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“The legislation which complies with the ICJ findings…" following which a statement from Fine Gael stated that "Fine Gael is in favour of passing the Occupied Territories Bill"; regrets that the current Programme for Government commitment fails to meet the obligations of the ICJ opinion through only committing that "This Government will progress legislation prohibiting goods from Occupied Palestinian Territories, following [sic] the July 2024, International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion"; and calls on the Government to progress the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, and introduce a legislative ban, in line with the opinion of the ICJ, on all trade, including services, with Israel's illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — the advisory opinion rendered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 19th July, 2024, regarding the legal consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem in response to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 77/247 of 30th December, 2022; — the ICJ found that states have a duty to "abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) or parts thereof which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory" and "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"; and — the ICJ further found that all states are "under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory"; recalls that: — on 24th January, 2018, Senator Frances Black introduced the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, in Seanad Éireann; — on 5th December, 2018, the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, passed Fifth Stage in Seanad Éireann; — on 23rd January, 2019, Fianna Fáil introduced the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, in Dáil Éireann; — while introducing the Bill in the Dáil, Niall Collins TD, expressed "To those who have tried to dissuade us from supporting the Bill and say that it is not the time for such a Bill, I say if this is not the time to act, when will that time come?"; — Darragh O'Brien TD, expressed that "The time for waiting is over now" and that "The time for waiting for a pan-European approach is over at this stage"; — Jim O’Callaghan TD, expressed fear that the then Government would block the Bill by invoking Article 17.2 of the Constitution; — on 24th January, 2019, the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, passed Second Stage in Dáil Éireann; — Fine Gael did proceed to block the Bill by invoking Article 17.2 of the Constitution; — despite the 2020 Fianna Fáil general election manifesto containing a commitment to "Progress the Occupied Territories Bill" the Bill was not progressed following Fianna Fáil entering Government with Fine Gael, in the aftermath of the election; — on 22nd October, 2024, then Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD, having received legal advice in relation to the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, welcomed that the advisory opinion of the ICJ stated that states have a duty including "an obligation to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the OPT"; — in advance of the general election of 29th November, 2024, on 30th October, 2024, then Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD, formally requested that the block invoked under Article 17.2 of the Constitution be removed; — on 5th November, 2024, Dáil Éireann referred the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, to the Oireachtas Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, for Committee Stage; — in advance of the general election of 29th November, 2024, on 5th November, 2024, then Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD, informed the Oireachtas Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence that the ICJ advisory opinion represented "an authoritative statement of applicable international law, which is binding on all states and international organisations"; and — in advance of the general election of 29th November, 2024, during a televised leaders' debate, then Taoiseach Simon Harris TD, stated "I'll support the legislation [the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018].”