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From:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, today (15 September) welcomed the commencement of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Act.

The Act, signed into law by President Connolly on 23 July 2026, fulfils the Government's commitment to prohibit the importation of goods originating in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. From today, the importation of such goods is an offence under section 14 of the Customs Act 2015.

Minister McEntee said: “Today marks the full delivery of a key commitment in the Programme for Government. Ireland, as the first EU country to announce its intention to introduce such measures, can be proud to have led the way on this issue, along with Spain.

“I was pleased to sign the orders to commence this important piece of legislation.

“More and more countries are taking similar action. Last week’s announcement by the UK, France, Canada and others is further evidence of the growing international support in relation to action on Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law.

“The situation across the West Bank continues to deteriorate, with unprecedented levels of settlement activity, including the tender for the E1 settlement, and waves of extreme settler violence taking place in an atmosphere of impunity. It is essential that the EU takes concrete action in response to this appalling situation.

“Ireland continues to call for an EU-wide prohibition on trade with Israeli settlements. I urge the European Commission to bring forward proposals in this regard, on the basis of the EU's Common Commercial Policy. This is important both in maintaining the viability of the two-State solution and in ensuring compliance with international law.”

In its Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) identified a range of obligations arising for states, including a duty of distinguishing in dealings with Israel between its own territory and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Among other things, the ICJ considered that this encompassed an obligation:

On 26 May 2026 the Government approved the text of the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods), which prohibits importation of goods from the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Bill passed all stages in the Oireachtas on 15 July and was signed into law by President Connolly on 23 July.

The 2026 Act prohibits the importation of goods originating in postal codes corresponding to Israeli settlements, proscribed by order of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.