Government 'completely gutting' OTB, Boyd-Barrett says

Opposition parties are criticizing the Irish government, accusing it of "completely gutting" the Occupied Territories Bill by excluding services from the import ban. People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett stated that the bill, now officially titled the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill, will have its second stage debate in the Dáil this week.

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completely gutting

Boyd Barrett argued that excluding services, which constitute a significant portion of economic exchange, undermines the bill's impact. He believes the government is merely creating an "impression" of imposing sanctions. He also noted that the upcoming debate will be limited in time, suggesting the government is rushing the process. The bill has faced delays due to legal and political disagreements regarding its scope and economic implications for Ireland.

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trying to convey to Irish people the impression

Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman acknowledged that the government may have waited too long for the attorney general's legal opinion on the initial bill. He maintains that both goods and services should be included, stating he is unaware of any legal impediments to doing so. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the Occupied Territories Bill as a "symbolic act," citing the minimal trade volume between Ireland and the occupied territories. He suggested that suspending the EU's Trade Association Agreement with Israel would have a more substantial financial effect.

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guillotined