Middle East
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-26
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Simon Harris (FG), Wicklow

I am not trying to equivocate, though I take the criticism. However, I have a particular legal role as Minister for Finance and I am not in a position to direct the NTMA or the ISIF about this. That is why I am perhaps somewhat precluded, more than other Deputies, from expressing my personal view because the law of the land is clear that these investment decisions must be independent of the views of the Minister for Finance of the day.
The NTMA operates a commitment to be a responsible investor as a steward of public assets, by protecting and enhancing the long-term value of the ISIF and the reputation of the NTMA and how it delivers its mandate as manager and controller of the ISIF. In this context, the ISIF operates an exclusion policy that is consistent with its statutory mandate, as amended from time to time. Exclusion is used on a limited basis. It reflects exclusions mandated by legislation. The investment strategies for the Future Ireland Fund, FIF, and the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund, which are also to be extended to the ISIF, include certain companies listed on the UN database of business enterprises involved in specified activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. Certain Israel-based companies that are on the UN database and derive a significant element of turnover from Israel and the OPT will be excluded from investment by the ISIF, FIF and the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:04+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-26