2. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the correspondence she has received from representatives of the American Government, whether the Administration or members of Congress, in regard to the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50478/26]

At the outset, I want to acknowledge the work and commitment of Deputies and Senators to this objective of this Bill, which is to change the behaviour of the Israeli government in Gaza and in the West Bank.

I have not received any correspondence in 2026 from representatives of the US administration or members of the US Congress on the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026. I am aware, however, that a number of members of Congress have expressed reservations about the legislation. The matter has also been raised in contacts with representatives of the US State Department.

Our Embassy in Washington DC is continuously engaged with American interlocutors, including Administration officials and members of Congress, to ensure that Ireland’s foreign policy, including on the Middle East, is well known and understood.

We value the contributions of international partners as part of a robust and inclusive debate. The Government’s position, and indeed that of the EU and a majority of UN members is clear: settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the realisation of a two-State solution.

Consistent with the position of the EU, Ireland has been clear in underlining that policies and measures that distinguish between the state of Israel and Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law, do not constitute a boycott of the state of Israel. The Irish Government does not support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) approach with respect to Israel

We are united across this House by a desire to take action in response to actions by the current Israeli government that breach human rights and unilateral actions that undermine the viability of the two State solution.

The Government approved the text of the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 on 26 May. The Bill was published on 29 May and introduced in Dáil Éireann on 10 June. It is the Government’s intention that the legislation completes the parliamentary approval process by the summer recess and I am working to achieve that outcome.