Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2017
339. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider an official boycott of goods from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories in view of the UN position that these ongoing settlements constitute a flagrant violation of international law and a serious obstacle to peace in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25827/17]
View answerI refer the Deputy also to my reply today to Question 94 on trade with Israel.
In relation to illegal Israeli settlements, I agree that these are deeply damaging to the prospects of a peace agreement, and are tending – intentionally – to make a two state solution impossible.
I have consistently argued for stronger international action on settlements, and Ireland has been instrumental in achieving a number of EU actions on settlements in recent years, clearly differentiating EU policies on settlements from our relationship with Israel.
These have included guidelines on labelling of settlement goods, exclusion of settlements from EU research funding, refusal of Israeli health certification for meat from settlements, and advice against investing in settlements.
Other measures remain under discussion, but there is not as yet agreement on further actions.
I would be open to consideration of excluding settlement products entirely from the EU market, but it is clear that at present any such proposal would have no chance of reaching agreement.
