Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Wednesday, October 16 that Ireland "will not wait for everybody in Europe to move on the issue of trade in the Occupied Palestinian Territories [OPT]."
The Taoiseach was speaking with reporters in Brussels ahead of the first summit meeting between the EU and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. He will also attend a meeting of the European Council on Thursday.
Ahead of the meetings, Harris said on Wednesday: "I'll be continuing my work that I've undertaken with [Spain's] Prime Minister Sanchez in terms of the importance of the European Union using every lever at its disposal to help bring about a ceasefire in Gaza.
"And, of course, it's important to say Europe has not yet used every lever at its disposal.
"It is entirely appropriate that the EU Israel Association Agreement would be reviewed. That is not yet the majority position of the European Union. I will be making that point that we should review that Agreement. It's absolutely clear view of the people of Ireland and the government of Ireland.
"But I'd also be making the point that Ireland now, in the context of the ICJ advisory opinion of July, will not wait for everybody in Europe to move on the issue of trade in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
"And next week, my government will receive formal advices from our own Attorney General as to what we may be able to do in this area because the context has very much changed since the ICJ advisory opinion has been given in July.
"In fact, I would go so far as to say it is now no longer a discretion on countries that support the ICJ it is an obligation to take actions to help give effects to that opinion."
According to The Journal, the Taoiseach went on to say that he does not believe his comments would cause a further divide - or even some confrontation - between Ireland, the European Commission, and other leaders.
“I’m not here to have controversial confrontation with anybody," he said.
"In fact, I’m here to take steps that can help bring about peace and political dialog.
"I absolutely understand that trade is an EU competency. I absolutely support that reality."
Harris was speaking two days after Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez called on the European Commission to take a stance on Spain and Ireland's joint request, issued in February, to "urgently review whether Israel is complying with its obligations to respect human rights in Gaza."
As the Taoiseach indicated in his comments to reporters in Brussels on Wednesday, the request is in a new context following the ICJ ruling in July that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the régime associated with them, have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law.
The Taoiseach was also speaking as the debate surrounding the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 reignited in the Oireachtas. The Bill, introduced by Senator Frances Black in 2018, aims to ban trade between Ireland and Israel’s illegal settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Bill has been stalled at committee stage in the Dáil since 2020.
On Wednesday, when asked about the Bill, TD Paschal Donohoe, Ireland's Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, said in the Dail: "The Tánaiste, Taoiseach and Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, received a briefing on this matter at the start of this week from the Attorney General.
"My understanding is that the Cabinet will be briefed on this issue as soon as next week. We will receive an update on it.
"I am sure after that, the Tánaiste, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, will be able to outline if a further course of action is needed.
"At the moment, the Taoiseach is attending the European Council in Brussels where he will again make clear the views of the Government, Dáil, and people of Ireland regarding the violence that is now engulfing the Middle East."
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