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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

Protection for workers refusing settlement goods

Summary

Deputy Duncan Smith seeks support for protecting workers who refuse to handle goods from occupied territories. The Tánaiste supports the principle but will ask the responsible Minister to examine the proposed Bill.

In the spirit of the worker's voice on this, we have seen the action in Italy with workers' solidarity, which has been called for for a couple of weeks. The Labour Party has the Occupying Power (Securities and Handling of Settlement Goods) Bill 2025. Would the Tánaiste support, at least in principle, the idea that workers in this country who refuse to handle, store or provide carriage of settlement goods - I have kept it at goods for this particular Bill - would be protected under the Unfair Dismissals Act from handling goods from occupied territories?

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Simon Harris The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I very much get what the Deputy is endeavouring to do here. I say that in a constructive sense. He is trying to reflect the genuine concerns that people have across our country and the wish that everybody has to play every possible role they can in using every lever at their disposal. I am not against the principle of that at all but I have not truthfully considered or read the Bill in full. It is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Burke. I will ask the Minister to engage with Deputy Smith about the purpose of the Bill.

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