Ireland passes bill banning goods from Israeli settlements, but services excluded amid opposition criticism
The Dáil approved legislation prohibiting imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, but the government blocked an opposition amendment to extend the ban to services.
Background
The bill, formally titled the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026, traces its origins to a 2018 proposal by independent senator Frances Black. Her Occupied Territories Bill sought to ban all trade, goods and services, from illegal Israeli settlements. The renewed push gained momentum after the International Court of Justice advisory opinion in July 2024, which concluded that Israel's occupation violates international law.
- Senator Frances Black drafts the Occupied Territories Bill, calling for a ban on Israeli goods and services from occupied Palestinian territories.
- The bill passes votes in both the Dáil and Seanad but is questioned by the government over legal practicalities.
- The International Court of Justice issues an advisory opinion concluding that Israel's occupation violates international law.
- The bill faces further delays amid increased political focus after the October 7 attacks and Israel's military response.
- The Dáil passes the government's bill banning goods from Israeli settlements; services are excluded.
What the bill does
The government's version, passed on Tuesday, prohibits only the import of goods from "certain Israeli settlements". It replaces Black's broader bill and is framed as fulfilling Ireland's international obligations under the ICJ opinion. The legislation is expected to become law before the Oireachtas summer recess on 16 July.
Services exclusion debate
Opposition parties argued the bill was gutted by omitting services, which they say account for roughly 70% of trade. Amendments to include services were voted down. Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire called the exclusion a "political decision". People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy accused the government of suspending independent foreign policy "for the benefit of US multinational corporations and for the fear of offending Donald Trump".
We have suspended independent foreign policy for the benefit of US multinational corporations and for the fear of offending Donald Trump, that's what's happening here.
Minister of State Neale Richmond defended the bill, saying it "fully delivers" on the programme for government pledge. He described the idea that the legislation was driven by US pressure as a "conspiracy theory" and warned that including services would make the bill "unworkable and wide open to legal challenge".
The government made a decision on foot of the ICJ opinion that there was an opportunity to take the good work done by Senator Black and introduce a piece of legislation that will get us some degree there.
International context
The Irish move is one of Europe's most far-reaching trade measures over Israel's occupation. The government has noted that EU legislation creates "huge challenges" for enforcing a services ban and that member states must identify the correct legal level to act. Similar discussions are underway at EU level regarding the EU-Israel partnership agreement.
Next steps
With the bill now at report and final stage in both the Dáil and Seanad, it is likely to be enacted before the summer recess. Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has been in contact with Attorney General Rossa Fanning to ensure the legislation is legally watertight.
