Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 December 2012
38. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has considered introducing a new labelling system for goods from illegal Israeli settlements as products of Israeli occupied West Bank; if his attention has been drawn to other international examples following that model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55928/12]
View answerI am familiar with voluntary guidelines on labelling of settlement products issued in the UK and more recently in Denmark. As the House has been informed, information on the UK guidelines has been carried on my Department’s website for a number of years, for the guidance of importers and retailers if they wish it. My Department has recently participated in a workshop on this issue with the UK and Danish authorities, and others, and in the light of those discussions will be considering what further steps Ireland might take in this regard. The Deputy will be aware however that labelling of goods in Ireland is a matter for a number of domestic Departments, and not for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
