Ireland to intervene in case against Israel before the end of 2024, says Tánaiste

Micheal Martin: 'We are also committed to supporting and promoting a strict interpretation of the Genocide Convention to ensure the highest level of protection possible for civilians caught up in situations of armed conflict, and to apply the highest standards of conduct on those engaged in conflict.'

Ireland’s declaration of intervention in the International Court of Justice case against Israel will be made before the end of the year, the Tánaiste has confirmed.

South Africa has taken a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing it of a genocide in Gaza with Ireland indicating that it would intervene in the case in March.

Micheál Martin was speaking on a Dáil motion from the Social Democrats, which calls on the Government to recognise that a genocide is taking place in Gaza, where 43,000 people have been killed by Israeli forces since last October.

Mr Martin said that it has always been the Government’s intention to file its declaration after South Africa has filed its memorial in the case, adding that he understands that this was filed last week.

"The Government’s decision to intervene in the South African case was based on detailed and rigorous legal analysis," he said.

We are also committed to supporting and promoting a strict interpretation of the Genocide Convention to ensure the highest level of protection possible for civilians caught up in situations of armed conflict, and to apply the highest standards of conduct on those engaged in conflict.

"At my direction, work is progressing on the preparation of Ireland’s Declaration of Intervention, which it is intended will be filed before the end of this year. In formulating this declaration, Ireland will set out a robust basis for its intervention before the court. It is then a matter for the court to rule on its admissibility.

"Subject to the court’s ruling, Ireland will then make substantive submissions to the court on the proper interpretation of the Genocide Convention."

Mr Martin did, however, say that amendments to the Occupied Territories were "not merely technical". The bill will not be progressed in this Dáil, which will be dissolved on Friday.

"As I set out to the committee on Tuesday, the amendments required are not merely technical in nature. The Government’s analysis is that substantive amendment will be required to most, if not all, of the Bill’s provisions to try to bring it into line with EU law and our own Constitution while prohibiting imports from the Occupied Territories," he said.

The Social Democrats motion, brought by Dublin Central TD Gary Gannon, called on the government to note "that a genocide is being perpetrated before our eyes by Israel in Gaza, and Ireland has a legal and moral duty to do whatever we can to prevent it" and end trade with Israel". 

Mr Gannon said that the Irish people "understand" the suffering of Gaza.

It is our own history of starvation and enforced population decline that gives us a unique moral duty to speak up when we witness such suffering elsewhere. 

"Irish people know the pain, and because of this we are called on to stand with those enduring it now."

Later in the debate, Galway TD Catherine Connolly told the house that Ireland must "lead as a republic" and end trade with Israel and not wait on the "morally corrupt leadership of the EU".