Government should pass ban on Israeli settlements trade before Christmas – Bacik

The Irish Government needs to pass legislation banning trade from illegal Israeli settlements by Christmas, the Labour leader has said.

A motion is to come before the Dail on Wednesday morning about the Government’s Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Bill.

The bill would limit trade with illegal Israeli settlements, but activists and opposition figures have raised concerns that it would only include trade of goods and not services.

Ms Bacik said there would be a “unity of purpose” and “a common cause” from left-wing parties who supported Catherine Connolly as president.

“Today I am calling on the Tanaiste to pass the Occupied Territories Bill in full by Christmas and to make that commitment this week, because we need to see that passed,” Ms Bacik said on Saturday at the party’s National Conference.

“It’s the clear desire of the majority of people – the vast majority of people in Ireland as we’ve seen the horrific genocide being perpetrated among the people of Gaza by Israel.

“There is a clear appetite for this to be done, and to be done swiftly.

“It was promised by the Tanaiste previously and we need to see him deliver on that promise.”

On other issues, Ms Bacik said the party was delighted that Ms Connolly achieved “such a landslide result” in the presidential election to become Ireland’s 10th president.

She said they had opened the nomination process to contest the by-election prompted by Ms Connolly’s election.

“We will be contesting that by-election and, as I said I am delighted to welcome councillor Helen Ogbu here.

“We do have strong Labour representation, a strong Labour base and a strong Labour history in Galway West and we want to continue to build on that – and we are good at by-elections.”

She said the left should approach the by-election as distinctive parties “with a common cause” and that it was her “fervent ambition” they would agree a programme for government before the next general election.

“This is a project that goes beyond the presidential election, that goes beyond the Galway by-election and goes into the next general election, that we campaign as distinct parties, but unite where there is common purpose.”

In her address to the party’s conference on Saturday evening, she said Ms Connolly’s campaign had “brought together the parties of the left”.

“It united many of us who, for far too long, had focused on our differences, not our common cause.”

She said the party’s priorities in the coming Dail term would be supporting Ukraine and Palestinians, and housing would be their “number one” priority at home.

She also mentioned climate action, the cost-of-living crisis, universal childcare, a statutory right to organise at work and to improve healthcare – including trans healthcare.

On the constitutional question, she said Labour’s vision was for a “new 32-county Republic” and to create “an Ireland for all”.

“Conference, we condemn outright the ugly politics of racism, the hideous protests and attacks against IPAS centres, and the recent horrific fire in Drogheda.

“We stand in solidarity with those families burnt out of their home just two weeks ago.

“I am so proud of all our Labour representatives who have stood firm against hate.

“Unlike other parties, we provide leadership for inclusion and tolerance.

“Not dog-whistle rhetoric on migration.

“Because we are the party of inclusion and of equality.”