In a truly historic moment for Palestine, on Thursday January 24th 2019, the Dáil voted by 78 votes to 45 in favour of the Occupied Territories Bill. That means that the Seanad has passed and the Dáil supports in principle a Bill which, if enacted, will ban the sale of goods and services originating in illegal Israeli settlements established on stolen Palestinian land.
78 – 45! That is the extraordinary majority of the vote in Dáil Éireann in support of the Occupied Territories Bill. Huge congratulations to Niall Collins TD and his colleagues in Fianna Fáil, to Sinn Féin, Labour, the Green Party, Social Democrats, People Before Profit / Solidarity and the range of Independent TDs who voted for the Bill. Significantly, three Government Ministers abstained, choosing not to support the Government in its opposition to the Bill. We are so proud of your representation of the will of the Irish people.
This is a major step in challenging Israel’s impunity in its daily breaches of international law. The vote in favour of the Bill represents the strongest possible statement that Ireland as a nation will not stand idly by while Israel commits war crimes against the Palestinian people.
The Occupied Territories Bill was introduced to the Dáil on Wednesday, 23rd January, by Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Niall Collins TD and supported by all political parties (except Fine Gael) as well as by a large number of independents.
This is about doing the right thing at the right time and taking the lead – Niall Collins TD, Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs
What happens next?
Without the votes to defeat it, the Government, which opposes the Bill, is now seeking to block its progress by withholding what is called a “Money Message”. The Bill will be subject to detailed scrutiny at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. This is likely to be scheduled for April or May 2019. Within two weeks that meeting, a determination will be made as to whether a Money Message is required. Watch this space – Sadaka will continue to update this page as the Bill progresses.
Trade Union Friends of Palestine 