The Sanctions Against the State of Israel Bill will be voted on in the Dáil this evening.
The Bill is the first time a proposal of full economic sanctions on the state of Israel itself has come before the Dáil, proposing to prohibit all trade, investment, financial dealings and state-linked economic activity with the entire Israeli regime.
There will be a demonstration in support of the Bill at the Dáil from 5.30pm this evening.
Speakers at the demonstration as follows:
Chair Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit)
Fatin Al Tamimi (Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign)
Daniel Lambert (Chief Operating Officer at Bohs and involved in Stop The Game)
Family member of flotilla participant/ Karen Moynihan (Global Sumud Flotilla)
Poem: Liam Cunningham
Frances Black (Occupied Territories Bill Ruth Coppinger (Solidarity)
Sara O Rourke (Irish Anti-War Movement)
Ruth Coppinger (Solidarity)
Song: Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Sinn Féin)
Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
Duncan Smith (Labour)
When: 5.30pm this afternoon, Wednesday, 20th May
Where: Kildare Street - in front of Leinster House
STATEMENT FROM RICHARD BOYD BARRETT
Trade between Ireland and Israel has grown rapidly, and Ireland is now Israel’s second biggest trading partner.
The Sanctions Against the State of Israel Bill is the first time a proposal of full economic sanctions on the state of Israel itself has come before the Dáil, proposing to prohibit all trade, investment, financial dealings and state-linked economic activity with the entire Israeli regime.
Deputy Boyd Barrett said:
“My Bill is the first time a proposal of full economic sanctions on the state of Israel itself has come before the Dáil, proposing to prohibit all trade, investment, financial dealings and state-linked economic activity with the entire Israeli regime. Previous sanctions bills proposed in the Dail have focused only on trade and investment in the occupied territories.
“Israel’s exports to Ireland have increased from €198 million in 2020 to €3.3 billion in 2024, and Ireland is now Israel’s second biggest trading partner. Last week, the Currency news outlet reported that in 2024, at the peak of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the Irish Department of Trade authorised the export of €20 million worth of military capable equipment to the Israeli Defence Forces or Israel’s Ministry of Defence, organisations centrally involved in mass slaughter in Gaza at that time.
“It is absolutely shameful that after three years of a genocidal massacre of Palestinians in Gaza by Israel, and decades of systematic apartheid and ethnic cleansing, Ireland continues to do billions of euros worth of trade every year with the regime guilty of these crimes. It makes a mockery of the government's claimed commitment to International law.
“My Bill will prohibit trade with Israel, any business dealings with Israel, and the provision of new loans or credit to the State of Israel. The Bill will also prohibit dealing in Israeli state and Central Bank bonds. In violation of international law and in direct breach of the recommendations of a parliamentary report, the Irish Central Bank continues to facilitate the sale of Israeli bonds. Our Bill will ensure this ends.
“Despite the unspeakable horror that Israel has inflicted on the people of Gaza, no sanctions whatsoever have been imposed by Ireland or the EU. This is in stark contrast with the sanctions that were immediately imposed on Russia in 2022 when they illegally invaded Ukraine and in 2014 when they annexed Crimea. The bill that will be voted on this evening is seeking to implement the same kind of sanctions that were imposed on Russia, and previous decades the apartheid regime in South Africa.
“Members of Parliament who vote against this Bill are voting to keep Ireland economically tied to a state actively committing genocide and guilty of apartheid, ethnic cleansing and countless violations of international law. I have therefore urged people who are horrified by the crimes of Israel against the Palestinian people to contact their local parliamentary representatives to demand they support the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025 when it is voted on this evening, Wednesday May 20th.”