Frances Black 'extremely concerned' services will be excluded from OTB
James Cox
Senator Frances Black has said she is "extremely concerned" trade in services will be excluded from the Occupied Territories Bill.
Ms Black, who first tabled the legislation in 2018 and has led the campaign for its passage, was responding to reports that the Bill could be amended to exclude trade in services.
“I'm extremely concerned that Government may walk back on its commitments on the Occupied Territories Bill and exclude services from the final legislation. This would significantly undermine both the intent and impact of the Bill, and is totally at adds with the clear, unanimous vote of all members of the Foreign Affairs Committee - including TDs from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. It's also totally out of line with our obligations under international law and the ICJ ruling, which Government have insisted they will implement, and the comments of Government-backed presidential candidate Heather Humphries just a few days ago."
Ms Black added: "Leadership now means including services. That is where the money is. It's what the ICJ says is required, and it's where intense pressure is being applied to get Ireland to back down. The Tánaiste has said there is no policy difference on this, it's solely a legal question we're still waiting to hear from the Attorney General on, but the Taoiseach's comments last night are very concerning, focusing instead on US companies and questions of implementation dealt with at length in committee. The Government must clarify its position urgently."
Ms Black said "the Irish people are frustrated in waiting for action on this".
"In September, Spain announced its own OTB and it was passed fully into law a month later, banning the import of goods but also the advertisement of services. Where is the same political will and urgency here? We finally have an extremely welcome and long overdue ceasefire in Gaza, but now is the time for EU countries to actually deliver on their promises and implement international law, or we'll only end up back in the same unjust status quo. Long term peace requires action."
