Opposition leaders join forces with senator Black over Occupied Territories Bill

By Bairbre Holmes, PA

Opposition leaders and Senator Frances Black have joined together to call on the Government to pass the Occupied Territories Bill.

Speaking outside Leinster House on Monday, Richard Boyd Barrett said his party, People Before Profit, would put forward a private members’ motion jointly with Sinn Féin, The Labour Party, Social Democrats and the Green Party.

He said it will call on the Government to “honour the commitment they made in the general election, to pass the Occupied Territories Bill and not to dilute that Bill.”

Ms Black, an independent senator, first put forward the Bill in 2018.

She said Spain brought in a similar proposal in September which was passed within four weeks.

Speaking to reporters she asked: “What is the delay?” added, “we need it done as soon as possible”.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik paid tribute to the senator saying her “persistence and tenacity on this issue is unparalleled”.

She called on the Government to bring the Bill forward and have it passed by Christmas.

The Green Party described the Government’s approach to the Bill as “deeply cynical” saying they have “gas-lit the Irish people” after expressing support for the Bill in the run-up to last year’s general election.

Asked if the Bill could damage economic relationships with other countries, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “think it is absolutely necessary and possible to maintain those relationships, including economic ones, but also to make clear that we have to do what is right here, what is in accordance with international law.”

She said, in particular, Ireland’s relationship with America is “deep and enduring, and I believe that that will continue to be the case”.

She said “the Irish position is well, well, known on Capitol Hill, and has been well, well known for a long, long time.”