Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence Helen McEntee has called for the European Commission to bring forward proposals to ban trade with the illegal settlements in the occupied territories.
Ms McEntee is in Brussels for the Foreign Affairs Council on Trade, where ministers from across the EU are discussing economic security.
In a statement this afternoon, Ms McEntee said Ireland has joined nine other EU member states in calling for the European Commission to bring forward proposals to ban trade with illegal settlements.
She said: "Europe cannot continue to defend a rules-based international order while permitting trade with illegal settlements.
"Today at the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), Ireland joined nine Member States in calling on the European Commission to bring forward proposals to ban trade with illegal settlements.
"Illegal settlements are a breach of international law. Europe's trade policy must be consistent with its legal and moral obligations."
Europe cannot continue to defend a rules-based international order while permitting trade with illegal settlements.
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) May 22, 2026
Today at the FAC (Trade), Ireland joined 9 Member States in calling on the European Commission to bring forward proposals to ban trade with illegal settlements.
Speaking ahead of the discussions, Ms McEntee again criticised the actions of the Israeli government for the treatment of Irish citizens on the Global Sumud Flotilla.
She said Europe needed to respond, so she and other European colleagues would be bringing the matter of prohibiting the importation of goods from the occupied territories back to the European Commission.
Ms McEntee said: "We saw this week the actions of the Israeli government, and in particular an Israeli minister, against Irish but also European and international citizens, who had been illegally detained in international waters.
"This is just one of a number of actions we've seen in recent months and indeed years.
"I believe Europe now needs to act and needs to respond, so today with other colleagues I will be calling for the commission to put forward proposals that would ban importation of trade from the illegal settlements.
"I think it's time that we take action at a European level, and it's time we respond to these constant breaches of international law."
Ms McEntee also confirmed today that the 14 Irish citizens who were detained by the Israeli government had arrived in Istanbul.
In a post on social media, she said: "Pleased to report that our flotilla citizens are safe in Istanbul and are recovering.
"I assure their loved ones that officials from our embassy in will continue to provide appropriate consular assistance and support."
Call for services to be included in Occupied Territories Bill
Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, the Dutch government has agreed to impose a ban on imports of goods produced in settlements in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said the ban is meant to prevent "any contribution through economic activities by the Netherlands to the unlawful occupation".
The previous Dutch government last year said it was planning the ban, which is now expected to take effect in the second half of the year.
Back home, Opposition parties have continued their call for services to be included in the Government's Occupied Territories Bill.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday that he did not think including services in the legislation was "implementable or viable".
He was speaking after Ms McEntee had said the bill would be progressing in the coming weeks.
Speaking today, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described the Taoiseach's comments as "unacceptable and counterproductive".
"The whole purpose of the bill is to deliver a sanction against Israel that has real teeth.
"Nearly 70% of trade between Ireland and the occupied territories is in services.
"So, the Government failing to include services in the legislation is to knowingly blunt the sanction," she said.
She also called for legal advice provided to the Government, ruling out the inclusion of services to be published immediately.
Social Democrats Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Senator Patricia Stephenson said the Government "must not introduce a half-measure".
She said the Government "blaming legal issues" for excluding services from the bill did not "stand up to scrutiny".
Ms Stephenson said adherence with international law requires a ban on services, not just goods.
In 2014, the Government correctly banned the trade of goods and services with Crimea.
"This coalition has created a double standard by inventing reasons not to do the same in the case of the occupied territories."
"The inclusion of a ban on services is what gives this legislation teeth. Having delayed the passage of this bill for so long, the Government must not introduce a half-measure," she added.
Additional reporting: Reuters
