Excluding services undermines purpose of Occupied Territories Bill
Excluding services undermines purpose of Occupied Territories Bill - The Labour Party
Labour’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Duncan Smith TD has today expressed deep concern following An Taoiseach’s comments that services will not be included in the Occupied Territories Bill. Deputy Smith said the exclusion weakens the intent of the legislation and fails to reflect the strength of public feeling across Ireland on the issue. He called for the full Bill to be passed — covering both goods and services — to ensure Ireland plays its part in standing up for the Palestinian people.
Deputy Smith said:
“While the ceasefire now in place is of course welcome, it does not mean that our work is done. The genocide carried out in Gaza by Israel has led to the loss of more than 67,000 lives. There is no way to account for the long-term impact of this destruction — the trauma, displacement and grief endured by people across Gaza. This scale of suffering demands a response that goes beyond words.
“Since the horrific attacks of October 7th 2023 and the devastating escalation that followed, the Irish people have spoken with one voice. They have called for a ceasefire, for an end to the killing, and for a just and lasting peace that allows humanitarian aid to flow freely into Gaza. Those calls have been clear and consistent, from the streets to the Dáil chamber.
“The genocide in Gaza has shocked the world. It has shown us, once again, the catastrophic cost of inaction and complicity. Ireland has a proud history of standing for international law and human rights — but that history is not enough. We must live up to it today. Allowing trade in services with illegal Israeli settlements would make a mockery of our values.
“The exclusion of services from the Occupied Territories Bill undermines its purpose. That cannot be tolerated. Passing the full Occupied Territories Bill, including both goods and services, would send a clear message: Ireland will not profit from or enable occupation. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael must stop delaying, close the loopholes, and bring forward the Bill without dilution.”