Ireland's long and dark history of British imperial domination and our imperially imposed genocidal famine gives Irish people a deep understanding and appreciation of the genocide being perpetrated by Israel on the Palestinian people in the occupied territories. Ireland has both a moral authority and a moral responsibility to lead a campaign to exclude Israel from all economic, social, cultural and sporting activities. Israel is creating mayhem and devastation in the occupied territories. It is pursuing ethnic cleansing, driving Palestinians from their homes, farms and businesses and illegally occupying their lands. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice concluded that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories is unlawful, that Israel should end that occupation, that it should desist from creating new settlements and evacuate existing settlements, and that it should pay reparations for land and property seized. Israel, of course, has refused to comply with that ruling. The court went further and confirmed that under international law, member states, including Ireland, are under an obligation to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the occupied Palestinian territories 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 the State of Israel in the occupied territories. This includes both goods and services. In 2025, the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee unanimously recommended that services be included in a ban on trade with the illegal occupied territories in Palestine. There is no legal basis for the Government's decision to exclude services from this Bill. We know that from the opinion of the Attorney General. We know it from the opinion of the Department's own legal adviser, who told the Oireachtas committee that "trade is trade in goods and services". This Bill, produced under public pressure, is a tokenistic measure designed to be ineffective. It is a political choice taken by this Government. Slovenia and Spain can include services; why can Ireland not? I ask the Minister to take back this legislation and bring in an amendment including services.

Sentiment score: -0.08