The new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence, Helen McEntee, has said the Occupied Territories Bill will be one of the very first things she will raise with her departmental officials when she meets them later.
Speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time last night, she said: "We have made a very clear commitment that we will pass it. It's just gone through scrutiny, through the Joint Oireachtas Committee.
"They have made recommendations and we need to take those onboard."
Asked if she will ensure that the legislation will be passed before the end of the year, as called for by five Opposition parties earlier this week, Ms McEntee replied: "Well, what I'm committed to is passing it."
Ms McEntee said she wanted to thank outgoing Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe for his work in Government, saying: "He worked extremely hard and has gained a huge amount of respect - not just at home but on the European stage, and the international stage."
She indicated that the new Minister for Finance Simon Harris intends to continue in the same vein as Mr Donohoe: "Simon was very clear - we haven't gotten to where we are today, economically, by accident.
"It has been because of those prudent decisions, by being careful and by...having a surplus."
It is expected MrHarris will be introducing himself to EU Finance Ministers later today, after having made contact with key domestic stakeholders in the Central Bank and the National Treasury Management Agency.
Ms McEntee contended that the changes in Fine Gael Cabinet ministers will not destabilise the Coalition or lead to any delays: "Tomorrow, we will get on with the business that we've been elected to - and that's exactly what we'll do."
She said that she was "extremely proud" to become Minister for Foreign Affairs, saying that her experience of being a Minister of State in the department for three years during Brexit would help.
"I know how important it is for Ireland to have strong relationships, to build those relationships - particularly at a time when we have so much geopolitical uncertainty," she added.
Ms McEntee said there would be continuity between her work and that which had been undertaken by Mr Harris when he was Minister for Foreign Affairs: "What's really important here is that we continue with the business of government. So I'm not going in [there] to turn what's been happening on its head."
Minister McEntee will meet with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Defence, before travelling to Brussels to attend the Foreign Affairs Council, where she will meet with her new EU colleagues.
In the Foreign Affairs briefing, she's expected to receive comprehensive updates on Ireland's preparations for the upcoming EU Presidency, including strategic priorities, interdepartmental coordination, and planned stakeholder engagements.
She will also be updated on the Occupied Territories Bill, as well as current trade developments.
At the Department of Defence, the Minister will receive detailed security and intelligence briefings.
