Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said the Irish Government cannot support the Occupied Territories Bill, as it is not legally possible to implement.<\/p>\n
The Bill would ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.<\/p>\n
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said his opposition to the Bill is not political, but based on clear legal advice from the former attorney general.<\/p>\n
The issue of the bill was a sticking point in government formation talks in recent weeks, and was removed from the program for government at the behest of Fine Gael.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald called on the Irish Government to recognize the state of Palestine and accept the Occupied Territories Bill.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the Dail on Tuesday, she said: \u201cYou have the power here to recognize the State of Palestine. As you know, that matter was settled and agreed by the Oireachtas six years ago. I\u2019m saying to you as Taoiseach \u2013 do it. Do it while there still is a Palestinian State to recognize.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald said the Bill is a \u201cgame changer\u201d and said the Taoiseach should lead the way on the issue.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cOn the Occupied Territories Bill, you know fine well there has been a strong push back against this legislation because it would be ground breaking.<\/p>\n
“It would change in diplomatic and legal terms how the issue of the occupation and the economy of the occupation which the Israeli state has carefully fostered.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald criticized the decision to exclude the Bill from the Program for Government. \u201cWhen I asked one of the Green Party TDs what happened to the bill they answered in two words \u2013 Simon Coveney.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin replied: \u201cIt is not legally possible to do it. The advices (sic) are there and they are quite substantial. In terms of the bill itself \u2013 let\u2019s be very clear. I met with the advocates and principals behind the bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one ever said to me that it was going to be a game changer. Let\u2019s keep it in perspective and let\u2019s keep some reality to this \u2013 no one said it would be a game changer.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s my sense of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin said the Irish Government is committed to the two-state solution.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI think Israeli Government policy is wrong and Israeli government policy is not conducive to the two-state solution or better relationships.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, people have to live together and they have to share that territory ultimately.\u201d<\/p>\n