Addition of services to Committee Report on Occupied Territories Bill crucial step in the right direction
Addition of services to Committee Report on Occupied Territories Bill crucial step in the right direction - The Labour Party
Speaking following a meeting of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, Labour’s spokesperson Duncan Smith TD welcomed the recommendation to include services within the scope of the bill.
Deputy Smith said:
“There is a strong and unequivocal recommendation from the Foreign Affairs Committee calling on the Government to expand the scope of the proposed Occupied Territories Bill to include services.
“This is a response to the compelling evidence provided to the Committee from multiple witnesses who stated services is included within the overall definition of trade and that it cannot be separated from goods.
“There was cross party support for this position at the Committee with members of both opposition and Government offering draft recommendations to include services. This alone is a testament to the strength of the testimony this Committee has heard in recent weeks.
“This is a welcome outcome from the Committee and one I didn’t think would happen when our work began as I feared Government members wouldn’t support opposition calls to include services.
“The fact we have this agreed recommendation with no dissent is a testament to the compelling evidence given by multiple witnesses. Put simply, goods and services cannot be separated if we’re serious about isolating Israel economically.
“This sends a strong message to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that he needs to expand the scope of this Bill to include services which is not only the wishes of this Committee, but we believe the popular wishes of the Irish people.
“There are no words to fully describe the horrors in Gaza. Israel has turned Gaza into a living hell. Let’s isolate Israel economically and do all that we can to bring this horrendous war to an end.”