Ireland's parliament has voted in legislation banning imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
This makes Ireland the first EU member state to implement such a ban; however, Spain notably started applying restrictions on imports from Israeli settlements in October 2025.
The Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) bill passed its Final Stage in the Dáil on Tuesday without a recorded division.
The bill intends to ensure Irish compliance with its "international legal obligation", as identified by the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion of 19 July 2024. This specifically includes "taking steps to prevent trade relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; and for that purpose to prohibit the importation of goods originating in certain Israeli settlements."
The bill statedly prohibits importation of certain goods originating from Israeli settlements, but does not apply to the importation of goods of a non-commercial nature that form part of someone's personal baggage and are intended for his or her personal consumption.
Parliament seeks definition of 'illegal settlement'
The principal debate on Tuesday concerned amendments seeking to include a statutory definition of an "illegal settlement."
Deputies including Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire argued that placing the definition directly in the legislation would provide greater legal certainty and avoid ambiguity.
He suggested including the following: "'Illegal settlement' means any residential area, outpost, or economic zone established, supported, protected or otherwise administered by the State of Israel, in violation of international law, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (including East Jerusalem) that was brought under Israeli administration since June 1967."
The Government, represented by Minister of State Neale Richmond, opposed the amendments, arguing that the bill's title already makes clear that it applies only to Israeli settlements and Ireland should not create its own unique legal definition of settlements.
The Government argued that enforcement should rely on the existing EU-Israel technical arrangement, particularly the established system of postal codes identifying settlement products.
Left-wing parliament members call for stronger action against settlements
Several left-wing deputies, including Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Sinn Féin), Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit–Solidarity), and Paul Murphy (People Before Profit–Solidarity), said the bill does not go far enough.
Barrett, for example, argued that restricting imports from settlements alone was insufficient, and called for much broader economic sanctions against Israel.
Murphy similarly said Ireland should move beyond settlement goods and adopt wider sanctions, including measures affecting broader commercial relations with Israel. He also advocated stronger action at EU level.
It is worth noting that the principal dissent was not over the bill itself, but rather over its scope and drafting.
The bill will go to the Seanad (the upper house of parliament) for debate next week, with the debate to conclude before the summer recess.