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Illegal Israeli Imports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013

Thursday, 16 May 2013

Questions (72, 73)

Brendan Smith

Question:

72. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the preparatory work carried out to date in relation to the introduction of labelling requirements and boycotting of products from illegal Israeli settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23499/13]

View answer

Brendan Smith

Question:

73. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the most recent discussions at European Union Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the labelling and boycotting of products from illegal Israeli settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23500/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together.

Settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory are not in Israel, and clearly therefore produce from settlements should not be labelled as Israeli produce. In addition, many consumers would wish to be able to distinguish between produce from Israel, from Palestinian producers, and from Israeli settlements, and to make their own decisions as to what they wish to purchase. Indeed, I believe that some consumers may be avoiding produce from Israel because at present they are not confident that this does not include settlement goods. A move to distinguish goods from settlements would also send a strong political signal regarding the highly damaging impact of continuing settlement expansion.

In February EU High Representative Ashton wrote to Foreign Ministers, and committed herself to preparing EU-wide guidelines that would strengthen implementation of EU consumer legislation and ensure its consistency with EU foreign policy objectives. Along with twelve of my EU colleagues I wrote back to her to commend this action and offer our full support. Work is now ongoing at official level in the EU, at this stage primarily between the EAS and the Commission, and it is expected that the EU will develop guidelines on place of origin labelling for products from settlements entering the EU market which ensure that consumers can be fully informed about the origin of such products.

Domestically, I have written to a number of Ministers whose responsibilities have a bearing on the labelling issue, so that we can feed in properly to the consideration at EU level. In due course, if satisfactory action at EU level is not possible, I will discuss with those Ministers the possibility of issuing national guidelines to the same effect. Clearly however a solution at EU level would be better. Separately, I have stated that Ireland could support a ban at EU level on settlement products entering the EU market at all, but that this is not a practical prospect for the moment. I have elaborated on this aspect in earlier responses to Deputies. Finally, it is important also to clarify that these actions relate solely to products of illegal Israeli settlements. I am not considering, and do not support, any action against products from Israel itself.

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