Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 April 2017
162. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the extent of the NTMA or other State bodies' investments in areas or projects in illegally-occupied Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16044/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund ("ISIF") has a statutory mandate to invest on a commercial basis to support economic activity and employment in Ireland and is engaged in a strategy to sell its investments outside Ireland over time to fund Irish investment commitments as they arise. The Fund's annual report for the year ended 31 December 2016, together with a full list of global holdings, will be published during the second quarter of 2017.
The ISIF currently operates a Sustainable and Responsible Investment policy and is a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.
On the basis of unaudited preliminary data, the fund has one legacy holding of 0.9 of one share, valued at €0.12 in Africa-Israel Investments. Given the nominal value, sale of this holding is difficult however it will be sold at the next practicable opportunity. Other than that, to best of the ISIF's knowledge, the fund does not have investments in areas or projects in Palestine. In the absence of a list of specific holdings which may be of concern to the Deputy, ISIF is not in a position to give a more detailed response at this time.
