Trade Agreements
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-21
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Helen McEntee (FG), Meath East

On the EU-Israel Association Agreement, before the last meeting I wrote directly to the High Representative, Kaja Kallas, to ask that this issue be put on the agenda. I engaged with other colleagues who also signed that letter, Spain and Slovenia in particular. While the vote was specifically was on the sanction of violent settlers. I advocated again in the Council meeting with all our colleagues that this would be put to a vote. It was not put to a vote at the last meeting. I have advocated that it be put to a vote as soon as possible, preferably at the next Council meeting, which is in early June. My team has been engaging with other countries to try to build the consensus that there would be a vote and that we would be voting on this but potentially - and it is my preference - that we would also vote on a new proposal that would ban trade in the illegally occupied territories. There are two options here but in relation to this, I have written to the High Representative. This has been shared with all the member states. We discussed it at the last meeting and I am pushing for it to be voted on.
In the conversation I had with Bishop Shomali, he spoke about the increasing violence. As someone who has lived in the region all his life, he spoke about the change he has seen. Actually what struck me was the fact that he spoke about how he works with people from both sides, from Israel and Palestine, and how he sees a hopeful future and how he still sees an opportunity for Israel and Palestine and for the Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side. This gave me a sense that people on the ground still have that hope and that we need to continue to focus on that overall objective and that goal, as difficult as it might seem.
In terms of the flotilla, again, I cannot condemn in any stronger way possible the actions by the Israeli Government in illegally detaining Irish and other citizens in international waters. It is completely against international law. We have stressed this but at this stage the only way we can take firm action is that the EU collectively responds by suspending the trade element of the association agreement and that we move to ban trade in the illegal settlements as well. At home, I have given that clear commitment again. I will bring forward legislation in the coming weeks. There are many people who do not agree with the sanctions Bill that was put forward because it is a blanket ban.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:58+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-21