14. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the progress he has made divesting State moneys from companies that derive profits from their activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. [64395/25]

Sentiment score: 0.23

Why is Irish taxpayers' money still being invested in companies that derive their profits from the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories? Will the Tánaiste give the House an update on efforts to divest from such companies?

Sentiment score: -0.09

It is not good enough that we continue to invest taxpayers' money in companies that derive their profits from a systemic apartheid regime, which involves the occupation of the West Bank in particular. We have known about this for years and that the occupation is illegal. We know of the real-life impact it has had. We also know that because Israel has faced no consequences whatsoever, it has continued to act with impunity, including through engaging in genocide in Gaza over the past couple of years. The very least we can do is ensure we are not investing public moneys in companies benefiting from all of this. While I welcome that there is divestment from six companies, that just shows that progress is far too slow. The Tánaiste indicated that he is going to meet officials from the NTMA. Is he going to instruct the NTMA to accelerate the process?

Sentiment score: 0.09

Companies can come on and off the UN database list but the question is what the point of having it is if it does not ensure that states act accordingly. The UN database sets out those companies that are deriving profits directly from the occupied territories, but it does not even cover all of the companies that are benefiting from Israeli war crimes. One company, Palantir, for example, has seen Irish investment increase since 2021. We are at a point where our holdings are increasing but the value is increasing exponentially. This is a company that has provided the IDF with the resources to conduct its genocide. Is Ireland still investing in that company? Are there plans to divest from that company?

Sentiment score: -0.04