Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-15
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Michael McDowell (IND), National University of Ireland

While we are on the subject, I take Senator Ahearn's point. We cannot make the best the enemy of the good.
On the question of services, I do not agree that there is a significant difference. As a matter of international law, "trade" covers both.
I thank the Minister for her remarks about the International Criminal Court. We hold the Presidency of the EU. The American Government is sanctioning judges of the International Criminal Court and making their lives impossible by telling the likes of Visa, Mastercard and banks that they may not deal with these people. They are threatened with criminal prosecution in the United States if they do so. It is easy for me to say this but I think the European Union should stand up clearly against those sanctions and impose counter-sanctions on any company that obeys American law in this respect. It should make adequate provision for the people who are the subject of these sanctions. It should stand up for them and make sure they are not driven into poverty, isolation and incapacity to function as ordinary people in a complex society as the result of bullying from Washington. I do not know how the Minister could do so but, as we now hold the Presidency, if we really do believe in the ICC, we have to collectively stand up and say to the American Administration, even if Visa and Mastercard are frightened of American sanctions, that they will be sanctioned in Europe for undermining the ICC. We should tell Washington that and see how it goes down. We in Europe are very naive. I am not suggesting the Minister or the Irish Government is in any way lacking in this respect but the whole of Europe has to say that we believe in the ICC, that any attack on it is contrary to the European Union's fundamental values and that we will take steps against any company that co-operates with American sanctions against the judges, prosecutors and staff of the ICC with a view to damaging that institution or, to use Secretary of State Rubio's phrase, dismantling it and causing countries to abandon it.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-15/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:16+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-15