Occupied territories Bill services
Deputy O'Gorman pressed the Taoiseach on excluding services from the occupied territories Bill and the legal advice behind that decision. The Taoiseach insisted the exclusion was not central, described the Bill’s effect as largely symbolic, and said the Minister was considering services while the legal basis was narrow.
The question of the exclusion of services from the Government's occupied territories Bill lite has been a central issue of debate in this House and in public since it was announced in the programme for Government. In response to questions from me and others, the Taoiseach regularly cited legal advice that he had received for the exclusion of services. In a recent response to questions in the House, the Tánaiste confirmed that he is only now seeking the advice of the Attorney General on the question of excluding services. The Government asks the Opposition to set aside Senator Frances Black's Bill, a Bill that is so close to completion, and get behind its own draft, which would take months to pass. How can we take the Government's commitment to this legislation seriously when it was only after pressure in the Dáil that the Tánaiste agreed to seek the Attorney General's advice on the issue of services, which is the central legal and political issue about this legislation?
Comment on this
Deputy O'Gorman asked a question so he should have the good manners to listen to the answer. It is not central.
Comment on this
If it is included or extra, the Deputy should not make it central because, fundamentally, the impact of the Bill will be symbolic. About €600,000 worth of goods alone in the past six years-----
Comment on this
That is why services should be in it.
Comment on this
The Deputy is not going to listen. I am saying that the figure for goods over the past six years was €600,000. The Minister is examining that aspect of it in terms of services. The Deputy knows as well that the legal ground here is extremely narrow anyway. I read the entirety of the Attorney General's opinion about this and it did not change fundamentally from the opinions of previous Attorneys General about trade competency being the exclusive competency of the EU. It was the arrival of the ICJ's advisory opinion that was key to revisiting this. Senator Black has been very co-operative. She and her advisers realised that the Bill as drafted by her would not have passed muster. Deputy O'Gorman must know that himself if he is honest.