As Europe sharpens sanctions on Israel and the Dáil returns to debate the Occupied Territories Bill, the political and emotional stakes have never been higher. At the heart of the argument lies not just goods traded from Israeli settlements, but the more complex question of services — the banking, tourism, technology and logistics networks that underpin the settlement economy and tie Ireland’s consumers and companies into the conflict in ways that are often invisible. For campaigners, excluding services from the draft bill strips it of real impact; for business leaders, represented by IBEC, expanding the law to cover services could expose Irish firms to huge compliance burdens and potential trade retaliation from allies like the United States.
But the debate in Ireland is not only technical. It is profoundly moral. The finding of a UN Commission of Inquiry that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide has intensified public outrage and compassion, fuelling calls for Ireland to take a principled stand regardless of economic cost. Across Irish society, there is deep anger at the scale of suffering in the Palestinian territories, and a strong belief that trade policy must reflect conscience as well as commerce. At the same time, there is unease about how a ban on services might work in practice - from airlines and booking platforms carrying tourists into settlements, to financial and insurance services, to tech companies with offices straddling disputed land.
In today’s podcast, Ciara Doherty is joined by Newstalk’s business editor Joe Lynam to explain exactly what the Occupied Territories Bill would do, why services were excluded from the government’s revised bill, how much trade is actually at stake, and what the practical consequences would be if Ireland pressed ahead with a wider ban. Together they explore why the US is so opposed, why IBEC has urged caution, and why so many ordinary Irish people believe that standing with Palestine is worth the price.
Send us your thoughts — should Ireland expand the bill to include services, or focus on goods alone? Email newstalkdaily@newstalk.com.
