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Tánaiste to raise Occupied Territories Bill in Cabinet

Tánaiste Simon Harris to raise the outline of Occupied Territories Bill
Tánaiste Simon Harris to raise the outline of Occupied Territories Bill

Tánaiste Simon Harris will bring the outline of the Occupied Territories Bill to the Cabinet this morning.

The legislation will be known as the Israeli Settlements Prohibition of Importation of Goods Bill 2025.

The bill will ban trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territory by making any import from there an offence under the Customs Act.

This will mean that the bill will be enforced by customs officers.

They will have the power to inspect, search and arrest anyone seeking to import goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

While trade is banned, the legislation going to the Government does not cover services.

Although the Tánaiste insists he is willing to consider its inclusion of services in the bill and has sought the Attorney General's advice on this matter.

Once the bill has been approved by the Cabinet, it will be sent to the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade for pre-legislative scrutiny.

But there is currently no indication that the legislation will be enacted before the summer recess on 17 July.

Speaking on his way into Government Buildings this morning, Mr Harris said he hoped the action being taken by Ireland will inspire other countries to do the same.

"I actually think and hope that the real benefit of publishing this legislation today will be that it may inspire other countries to do likewise, because it's important that every country uses every lever at its disposal."