Dozens of protesters have gathered outside Leinster House, holding a rally calling on the new Government to pass the Occupied Territories Bill in its current form.
Over the weekend, at the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis to ratify the Programme for Government, party leader Micheál Martin indicated that the current bill would be shelved.
However, Mr Martin said that the incoming government will most likely bring forward a new Occupied Territories Bill.
He confirmed that officials have examined the current bill and amended almost every line because it was unconstitutional and deficient.
A protest urging the next government to enact the legislation is taking place at the entrance to the Ard Fheis.
Conor O'Neill, one of the drafters of the current bill and a spokesperson for the 'Campaign to Pass the Bill', said if any new Government Occupied Territory Bill did not meet the standards of the International Court of Justice, they would be "walking back" on commitments made to the Irish people.
Speaking after delivering a speech outside Leinster House, he told RTÉ News: "I think what people need to know is, whether it’s the Occupied Territories Bill tailored by Senator (Frances) Black, whether it’s a new bill taken by the Government - that's a bit of red herring.
"What matters is what’s in it and the Occupied Territories Bill as drafted seeks to do what the International Court of Justice, the highest court in the whole UN system, has said is required under international law - and that is a ban on all trade in physical goods but also services like tourism and finance and so on."
He added: "That is the standard that is set by the Occupied Territories Bill that the ICJ has asked for and if half of that is exempted in any new Government bill that would be a significant walking back, not just of what’s required of us but on the commitments that have been made to the Irish people and we’re calling on them not to do it, to hold their nerve and pass the bill."
Senator Frances Black, who also drafted the bill, called for it to be passed in its full capacity.
"I think we need action and policy is really important when it comes to Palestine and when we come to see how Israel is breaking international law on a daily basis.
"The international community are all looking on and we have to follow what the ICJ is saying and that’s what’s really important.
"That’s why policy is vital at this time and the Occupied Territories Bill, whether it be a Government bill or my bill, it doesn’t matter, it’s about the commitment to make sure that they pass it in full, 100%."
South Kerry Friends of Palestine member Dee O'Shea said she believed the Government were attempting to "blow" the bill "out of the water".
She told RTÉ News: "I think they're (the government) being a bit of a bull in a china shop about it, trying to blow it out of the water and trying to create their own, I don't think it's necessary."
Asked if she believes the bill is now dead, she said: "Absolutely not, it's only got to go through the final stages and amendments can be made, adjustments can be made.
"What we would like to see is what the supposed unconstitutionality is about it."
When questioned over her message to Simon Harris and Mr Martin, she said: "Please enact the Occupied Territories Bill."
Read more:
Passing Occupied Territories Bill 'big test' for new government - O'Gorman
Government set to remove blockage to Occupied Territories Bill
