- Opinion
- 16 Jul 26
Seanad passes long-awaited Occupied Territories Bill into law
The final attempt to include a ban on services in legislation has failed.
The Occupied Territories Bill passed through its final stages in the Seanad on Wednesday evening.
Originally proposed by Senator Frances Black in 2018, the legislation is now set to be signed into law by President Catherine Connolly within weeks.
Formally titled the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026, the new law will make it an offence to import goods originating from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.
“Today marks an important step in reaffirming Ireland’s commitment to international law, human rights and a just and lasting peace based on a negotiated two-State solution,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee.
Under international law, these settlements are illegal under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of an occupying power's civilian population into occupied territory.
The final vote was overshadowed by controversy over the scope of the ban. The final attempt to include services, such as technology and IT, in legislation failed.
Senator Black expressed deep disappointment, stating that the omission allows large tech and IT companies off the hook and represents a "tragedy" that leaves Ireland in breach of its international legal obligations.
Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews pointed out that 70% of the trade with these occupied territories is in services, making their exclusion an "understatement" of the Bill's potential efficacy.
Other opposition representatives, including Social Democrats spokesperson Patricia Stephenson and Labour spokesperson Duncan Smith, warned that leaving services out reduces the law to a "half measure" and risks making it symbolic rather than actually effective.
"International law states that the Bill doesn't go far enough," said Stephenson. "The government have been dragged to take action by the public rather than showing real proactive leadership. I cannot fathom why the government is choosing the weakest form of this legislation."
Stephenson suggested that the half-measure was merely designed to quell public outcry following the abuse of Global Sumud Flotilla members by Israeli forces.
The Seanad debate was attended by the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland, Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid.
