The Government’s Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 is scheduled to be debated in the Dáil on Wednesday, 10 June, after the short Dáil recess next week.
The legislation prohibits the importation into Ireland of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
According to Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee who is bringing forward the Bill on the Governments behalf, it is designed to ensure Ireland meets its obligations under international law, particularly following the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on the issue.
The Bill is expected to proceed through the Dáil in the coming weeks, with the Government aiming for passage prior to the Dáil’s Summer recess in July.
The timing of the debate follows recent heated exchanges in the Dáil.
During Leaders’ Questions, Taoiseach Micheál Martin responded to People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett, who has been a longstanding advocate for sanctions against Israel. The Taoiseach cautioned against overly broad actions that could endanger Irish jobs, specifically referencing major employers such as Intel.
He emphasised the need to protect workers in the technology sector while pursuing ethical foreign policy positions.
Martin told the chamber that while moral stances are important, they must be balanced with economic reality and the safeguarding of employment.
In response, Richard Boyd Barrett said that he wanted “a complete boycott, divestment and sanctions. At the least, the Government should pass Frances Black’s occupied territories Bill as he promised he would do in the programme for Government.”
“Do we continue to increase the amount of trade we do with states that are doing genocide and apartheid? Do we, in 2024 in the middle of a genocide, approve €20 million of licences to the IDF, the military force that is committing the genocide in Gaza? That is what the Government did,” he said.
Opposition parties are expected to table numerous amendments during the debate, arguing that the Bill should go further.
The Government maintains however that the targeted measure strikes the right balance.
If passed on Wednesday the 10th, the Bill will still have to proceed to scrutiny at committee stage and then report and final stages before being sent to President Catherine Connolly prior to enactment.