Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, has detailed Sinn Féin’s continued support for the Occupied Territories Bill.

The Bill, which seeks to prohibit the import and sale of goods, services and natural resources originating in illegal settlements in occupied territories, was introduced by Senator Francis Black and was moved at second stage in the Dáil today.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Sinn Féin fully supports this Bill and its noble and just aim.

“We supported the Bill at every stage it the Seanad and we were delighted to facilitate the Report and Final Stage of the Bill in our Private Members time last month.

“This Bill seeks to prohibit the import and sale of goods, services and natural resources originating in illegal settlements in occupied territories. It is not extreme.

“It only seeks to establish a legal framework to ban these imports from settlements which are already illegal under international humanitarian law and, most importantly, domestic Irish law.

“Goods and services that are only available because of gross human rights abuses and violations of international law should not be on sale in Ireland.

“A clear example of how this Bill would work is by stopping goods and services from illegal Israeli colonial settlements from entering Ireland. It would send a strong and unambiguous statement from Ireland that there can be no impunity for Israel’s continued illegal occupation of Palestine.”

Crowe continued:

“The Bill is supported by all parties in the Oireachtas except Fine Gael. It is disappointing that Fine Gael continues to oppose this Bill, keeping the Irish Government on the wrong side of history.

“The Bill will likely pass Second Stage in a vote tomorrow and I am calling on Fine Gael to drop its illogical opposition to the Bill and ensure its swift passage through the remaining legislative stages so that it can quickly become law.”

ENDS