Laois TD Brian Stanley wants pressure 'piled on Israel' after Palestine protest as Dáil resumes
TD trade with Palestinian territories illegally occupied with Israel banned
Laois TD Brian Stanley took to the protest line in Dublin in support of the campaign to outlaw trade with parts of Palestine that are illegally occupied by Israel.
The independent TD joined protestors in a campaign to have the commonly known as the Occupied Territories Bill enacted by the Government.
"While it is good that the Government is joining the case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, they also need to push ahead with actions around trade sanctions.
"One of the things Ireland can do on its own is to implement the Occupied Territories Bill which would impose sanctions on any goods coming from any territory that is occupied by Israel in Palestine. As a TD I am calling for that," he said.
The former Sinn Féin TD said Government support is needed for it to be passed by TDs in the new Dáil.
"Given the horrendous situation in Palestine, other governments would take a lead if such sanctions were implemented by the Irish government," he said.
He said the move would add to the welcome decision to support South Africa's case against Israel.
Signing of register for 34th Dáil with Dáil Clerk Peter Finnegan.
The Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 would ban and criminalise "trade with and economic support for illegal settlements in territories deemed occupied under international law", most notably Israeli settlements in Israeli-occupied territories. Violators would face fines of up to €250,000 and up to five years in prison.
The bill was tabled in the Oireachtas by independent senator Frances Black in January 2018, who stated that "trade in settlement goods sustains injustice".
Trócaire estimates that, as of 2019, Irish imports from Israeli settlements amount to between €500,000 and €1,500,000 each year, out of €50 million total Irish imports.