Helen McEntee brings ban on West Bank goods into effect
Helen McEntee has signed a commencement order bringing into effect legislation that bans the import and export of goods from the illegally occupied territories in the West Bank, starting tomorrow. She says Ireland is the second EU country, along with Spain, to introduce these measures and welcomed similar announcements by the UK and other countries.
Helen McEntee explains that the commencement order activates legislation enacted before the summer recess that prohibits trade in goods from the illegally occupied territories in the West Bank. The law covers both export and import activities tied to those territories.
McEntee notes that Ireland joins Spain as one of two EU countries to date to make this legal change and she welcomed recent commitments from UK colleagues and other states. She emphasises the need for collective EU action.
McEntee says she will continue to press for an EU-wide ban on goods and trade from the illegally occupied territories, calling for a coordinated European response to the issue.
What the order does
Helen McEntee explains that the commencement order activates legislation enacted before the summer recess that prohibits trade in goods from the illegally occupied territories in the West Bank. The law covers both export and import activities tied to those territories.
Ireland in a European context
McEntee notes that Ireland joins Spain as one of two EU countries to date to make this legal change and she welcomed recent commitments from UK colleagues and other states. She emphasises the need for collective EU action.
Next steps and appeal to the EU
McEntee says she will continue to press for an EU-wide ban on goods and trade from the illegally occupied territories, calling for a coordinated European response to the issue.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Barry Andrews
Barry Andrews: On Trump, the Good Friday Agreement and a Border Poll
Michael McNamara
Michael McNamara: Ireland must secure emergency gas reserves
Lynn Boylan
Lynn Boylan: Ulm Five trial is attack on civil liberties
Barry Andrews
Barry Andrews: Climate Policy Is Science, Not Ideology
Nina Carberry
Nina Carberry: Call for an EU Brain Health Action Plan
Transcript
Hi everyone, so I have just signed a commencement order which means as of tomorrow legislation that I enacted before the summer recess will legally come into effect. This is legislation that will ban the export or the import of goods from the illegally occupied territories in the West Bank. Ireland is the second such country in the EU along with Spain to introduce these types of changes and last week I really welcomed the announcement by my UK colleagues and a number of other countries that have committed to introducing this type of legislation. What's really important now however is that the EU responds collectively and I will continue to advocate for an EU wide ban on goods, on trade overall in the illegally occupied territories.