Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has said she has been assured by the European Commission that proposals for an EU-wide ban on goods and services from the Occupied Territories will be tabled ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on 13 July.

The minister suggested that while the Government has been advised that a ban on services by an individual member state would face legal problems, an EU-wide ban on trade could also include services.

Speaking ahead of a joint meeting between the Cabinet and the College of EU Commissioners at University College Cork (UCC), Ms McEntee said: “In [the Occupied Territories Bill] we are banning goods from the Occupied Territories.

“It’s very clear that trade overall is an EU competency, but because of the 2024 ICJ [International Court of Justice] ruling [on Israeli occupation], it’s been made clear to me that we have a stronger legal basis to move on goods, but not for services.

“That’s why I’m advocating at an EU level that we would move together collectively, and that goods and services would be part of any proposals by the Commission.”

Ms McEntee added: “I was reassured again last night that there would be proposals put forward before the next Foreign Affairs Council, and I’ll be reiterating that again in our morning session.”

Under the Irish Presidency, the Government and the European Commission are holding a joint session this morning to review the legislation that will dominate the presidency over the next six months.

Minister McEntee is chairing a joint session on EU foreign policy with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who chairs meetings of EU foreign ministers.

There is currently a proposal from the commission to suspend the trade elements of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. However, there is still no consensus among member states to press ahead with the ban.

A weighted majority of countries, however, do support the idea of an options paper from the commission on banning goods from Occupied Territories.

Minister McEntee rejected a suggestion that such a ban would only be symbolic.

“Twenty-seven member states deciding possibly that they would ban trade in the Occupied Territories is quite a significant move, and not something that has ever happened before.

“The intention behind it is quite simple: it’s to change the actions of the current Israeli government, who are intent on moving ahead in what is a very clear attempt to disrupt any future prospect of a two-state solution.

“All 27 member states have agreed that the only prospect of peace in the region is through a two-state solution,” she said.

“The more that we have these illegal settlements continuing in the way they are – they are permanent settlements, these are not encampments or towns, these are towns and villages and cities that are being developed – the longer this goes on, the less likely a two-state solution is viable, and that impact for the region for decades to come is absolutely immense.”

Minister McEntee pointed to an independently verified UN report which accuses the Israeli Defence Forces of targeting children, “not prior to the [Gaza] ceasefire, but post the ceasefire. We all have to stand up and listen to this. We have to respond to these types of actions, so that we do see a change and a different response from the Israeli government.”

Government urged to include goods and services in bill

Meanwhile, the Government has been told to take the “final opportunity” to include both goods and services in the OTB when it returns to the Dail for a final stage vote next week.

Labour Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Duncan Smith made the call before TDs discuss the final stage of the legislation, now officially known as the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill.

The bill will be debated for 90 minutes on Tuesday afternoon, before a vote on Wednesday evening.

Significant debate has taken place in recent years over whether the bill should include both goods and services, with the current legislation limited to goods from the occupied territories.

In a statement Mr Smith said that next week is the Government’s “final opportunity” to get the legislation right, adding that while progress on the bill is welcome, the work is not finished.

“If the Government is serious about standing with the people of Palestine, it must include both goods and services in the Bill before it completes its passage through the Dáil”, he said.

Mr Smith added: “This legislation offers an opportunity to demonstrate Ireland’s clear leadership, especially during the EU Presidency. Government has acknowledged the importance of this legislation. It must now ensure that it is as effective as possible.”