Parties offer Dáil time to pass Occupied Territories Bill

Sinn Féin and Social Democrats have said they will give Government their Dáil private members time next week to allow the Occupied Territories Bill to pass into law before the general election.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party has Dáil time on Wednesday morning.

Ms McDonald said that there is "no reason why more delays should be placed" on the bill, adding that instead of using its time, Sinn Fein will instead offer it to Government "to make this bill law".

"It's very clear now that there have to be sanctions against Israel," she said.

"It is very clear that this legislation is one part of that, and so we will offer our time next week to complete all stages of that legislation.

"There's no reason why more delays should be placed on the Government's delaying tactics," she said.

"We want to see this on the statute books and so we will open up the opportunity for that to happen.

"I think the right thing is that as we go to the people for the election that the Occupied Territories Bill is law, is made law, in advance of that campaign.

"And if the Government is sincere, and if they are, I'm asking them to avail of the opportunity we will give them next week, to make this bill law.

"We are ready for that, it's long past time that this should happen," Ms McDonald said.

The Sinn Féin leader was speaking as the Dáil's Business Committee met on this afternoon to finalise the Dáil schedule for next week.

Chair 'open' to committee 'setting aside its business'

The Dáil's foreign affairs committee chair has said he is "open" to the committee "setting aside its business" to discuss the bill next week.

However, outgoing Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan - who is not contesting the next general election - said the committee "can only deal with" the bill once it has been "formally referred" to it by the Dáil, which he said "has not happened".

"On the matter of the Occupied Territories Bill I am open to the foreign affairs committee, which I chair, setting aside its business to discuss the matter next week," said Mr Flanagan.

"I am conscious that the committee can only deal with committee stage of a bill if and when it has been formally referred by the Dail. This has not happened.

"The foreign affairs committee did produce a report on this bill in 2019. It raises a number of queries which have not been dealt with.

"I would have more confidence in the bill if I was privy to the 'fresh advice' of the attorney general.

"This advice is crucial to any advancement of this bill and I await same," Mr Flanagan said.

Space of election to be called

A number of Business Committee members said that they believe the schedule opens space for a general election to be called as soon as Thursday, 7 November.

Earlier today, Government confirmed that the technical blockage to the Occupied Territories Bill - which is intended to stop trade with Palestinian land occupied by Israeli settlers - has been formally removed.

This so-called "money message" is a necessary step for any piece of non-Government legislation.

Its requirement has been used by governments to stall bills that have negative financial consequences - including the Occupied Territories Bill.

Once the money message is signed, it paves the way for the bill to proceed to committee stage of the Oireachtas.

It will now be possible to proceed to that stage - where amendments can be tabled - in the lifetime of this Dáil.

It remains unlikely to be passed before a general election is called, but it will now be possible for the incoming Dáil to deal with it early in the lifetime of the next government.

As he arrived for cabinet yesterday, Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the bill has 12 areas that Government believes still need to be made more "robust" to legal discussion.

He said he would be open to a foreign affairs committee meeting next week on the issue, in order to make the bill ready for the next Dáil.

Social Democrats urge Government not to 'squander valuable opportunity'

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said that her party has also offered its Dáil time next week to get the bill over the line.

She urged the Government not to squander a "valuable" opportunity to pass the bill before the Dáil is dissolved ahead of a general election.

"At the Business Committee today, the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin offered to give up a total of four hours of their Dáil time next week to facilitate the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill," she said.

"Given that this legislation enjoys cross-party support, it would provide a fitting end to this Dáil term and send a powerful message of solidarity to the Palestinian people.

"I am urging the Government to seize this valuable opportunity to get this important bill, which would prevent Ireland from importing goods that originate from illegal Israeli settlements, over the line.

"As the Government's proposed amendments to the bill are believed to be technical in nature, there is no reason why this legislation could not be passed within the additional Dáil time offered by the Opposition today," Ms Cairns added.

"Having blocked this legislation for years, the Government now has a chance to do the right thing in the dying days of this administration.

"It must not squander this opportunity to enact the Occupied Territories Bill."

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has restated that the bill should pass all stages in the Dáil next week and her party will facilitate any sittings needed.

She said she welcomed that the obstacle of the money message has been removed, although her party did not agree that such a device was needed.

Additional reporting by Sandra Hurley