Sinn Féin Chief Whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD has said there can be no more excuses from government not to pass the Occupied Territories Bill that would ban the import of goods and services produced in illegal settlements, including in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 
 
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said:
 
“The Government have said that there are no impediments for this bill to be passed. However, they refused to recall the Dáil this week to progress this vital legislation. The government have now presented a draft schedule for the Dáil next week and the Occupied Territories Bill is not slated to be progressed”. 
 
We do not believe that the government are serious about this legislation. We wrote to the Taoiseach last week proposing a Dáil recall this week. He didn’t take this opportunity.
 
Sinn Féin have this afternoon, offered to give up our two hours of Private Members time next week to facilitate this bill going through all stages and to be passed into legislation. We will do whatever we can to make this happen.
 
There is no excuse for this vital legislation not to be passed before the Dáil dissolves next week. This is the very least that we can do in solidarity with the beleaguered Palestinian people, particularly after the shocking legislation passed in the Israeli parliament to ban the vital support provided to Palestinian refugees through UNRWA. It is decision time now for the government.”
 
ENDS