Dear Taoiseach Micheál Martin,
We, the undersigned, members of the legal profession and academy, are writing to express our deep concern at the Irish Government’s continued failure to take the necessary steps to comply with its international legal obligations in relation to the crisis in Palestine.
The daily atrocities in Gaza carry an appalling human toll and are being perpetrated by Israel in overt defiance of fundamental rules of international law and human rights. Palestinian, Israeli and international civil society organisations, as well as the United Nations, have extensively documented these egregious breaches, variously amounting to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
The extreme gravity of the situation is reflected in both the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court currently being seised of the matter.
While we commend the Irish Government’s support for and engagement with relevant international institutions, particularly international courts and United Nations bodies, including UNRWA, we consider that Ireland has fallen considerably short in meeting its own specific obligations under international law in the face of these persistent and indeed escalating abuses in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, Ireland has a duty set out in Common Article 1 “to respect and ensure respect” for those treaties “in all circumstances”. As a State party to the 1948 Genocide Convention, Ireland also has an obligation “to prevent and to punish” the crime of genocide – what has been described as “the crime of crimes”.
The State must take all reasonable legal, diplomatic and economic steps to achieve the cessation of such serious violations, accountability for those responsible, reparations for victims and compliance by Israel with international law.
In its Advisory Opinion of July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to be unlawful and held that it must be ended “as rapidly as possible”. All States are obliged to neither recognise this presence as lawful nor to “render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation” created by Israel’s illegal presence.
The United Nations General Assembly, by an overwhelming majority, adopted a resolution in September 2024 setting out how to give effect to the Advisory Opinion, as mandated by the Court. It called on States to ensure that their nationals, companies or governmental bodies do not recognise or provide aid or assistance to the unlawful situation, to cease the importation of products from unlawful Israeli settlements and to implement sanctions against both natural and legal persons engaging in the maintenance of Israel’s unlawful presence in Palestine.
Ireland co-sponsored and voted in favour of the resolution which quite specifically called on States to take steps “to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. As Tánaiste, you stated that “We must not shy away from the need to ensure compliance with international law. The occupation must be brought to an end”. Yet little discernible progress has been made by Ireland in fulfilling its legal obligations.
Successive Irish governments have delayed and prevaricated on what is known as the Occupied Territories Bill. We do not consider there to be any insurmountable legal obstacles, in either Irish, European or international law, preventing the adoption of legislation prohibiting the import of goods and services produced in the unlawful Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
We consider this is the absolute minimum required from the State to comply with its international legal obligations and the holdings of the International Court of Justice. Anything less would be an abrogation of Ireland’s long-standing commitment to international law and human rights.
We call on the Irish Government to act urgently to adopt the necessary domestic legislation to give effect to its international obligations arising as a result of Israel’s unlawful presence in Palestine and the continued commission of severe breaches of international law. Any existing legal advice on proposed legislation should be published in full.
We remind the Irish government that its obligations under international law, including those elaborated by the ICJ, require that it acts to ensure that international organisations of which it is a member, such as the European Union, do not render aid or assistance to the unlawful actions of Israel. Ireland must press with an even greater urgency to ensure that the EU-Israel Association Agreement is reviewed and necessary action taken based on its own terms and in light of relevant ICJ rulings.
We demand that the Irish government review and report on existing trade and economic relations with Israel, including the issuing of bonds by the Central Bank, to ensure that these do not contribute to recognising, aiding or assisting the unlawful situation created by the continued presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Finally, we call on Ireland to provide enhanced support to relevant international institutions, in particular those facing attacks and sanctions, such as the International Criminal Court and UNRWA.
The persistent violations of human rights, repeated atrocities and denial of the self-determination of the Palestinian people require concerted efforts by all States at the domestic, regional and international level. Without urgent and meaningful action, Ireland will continue to fail to meet its own obligations under international law.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Shane Darcy, Irish Centre for Human Rights, School of Law, University of Galway
Professor Conor O’Mahony, School of Law, University College Cork
Professor Siobhán Wills, Director of the Transitional Justice Institute, Ulster University
Eilis Barry, Chief Executive, FLAC
Professor Colin Murray, Newcastle University
Professor Luke Moffett, Queen’s University Belfast
Emma Slattery, Barrister
Professor Donncha O’Connell, School of Law, University of Galway
Professor Michelle Farrell, School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool
Dr Andrew Forde, Dublin City University
Ivana Bacik TD
Colm O’Dwyer SC
Dr Róisín Mulgrew, Irish Centre for Human Rights
Professor Aoife O’Donoghue, Queen’s University Belfast
Professor Ray Murphy, Irish Centre for Human Rights, School of Law, University of Galway
Susie Kiely, Country Director, Irish Rule of Law International
Professor Aoife Daly, University College Cork
Dr Daragh Murray, Queen Mary University of London
Professor Femi Amao, School of Law, University College Cork
Dr David Keane, Associate Professor in Law, DCU
Dr Pearce Clancy, University of Galway
Dr Rhiannon Bandiera, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Dr John Reynolds, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Gearóid Ó Cuinn, (Director) Global Legal Action Network
Dr Alice Panepinto (Queen’s University Belfast)
Dr Marisa McVey (Queen’s University Belfast)
Ruairi De Burca, Solicitor
Dr Shivaun Quinlivan (University of Galway)
Dr Jocelyn Bosse (Queen’s University Belfast)
Dr. James Gallen, Dublin City University
Dr Maeve O’Rourke, Irish Centre for Human Rights, School of Law, University of Galway
Dr Alanna O’Malley (Leiden University)
Dr Bríd Ní Ghráinne, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Dr Peter Doran, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Queens University Belfast
Dr Noelle Higgins, Maynooth University
Aonghus Kelly, International Lawyer
Wendy Lyon, Solicitor
Dr Eoin Daly, University of Galway
Sinéad Mercier, Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin
Dr Paul Bradfield, Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway
Prof.(Adj.) Gráinne McMorrow SC, School of Law University of Galway, International Human Rights Expert Advisor to COE/ Venice Commission
Dr Liam Thornton, School of Law, University College Dublin
Dr Ciara Smyth, Irish Centre for Human Rights
Dr. Suzanne Egan, Associate Professor, School of Law, University College Dublin
Dr Alan Greene, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham
Dr Amy Strecker, Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin
Dr Edel Hughes, Irish Centre for Human Rights, School of Law, University of Galway
Professor Colin Harvey, Queen’s University Belfast
Professor Emeritus Phil Scraton, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast
Dr Jamie McLoughlin, Sutherland School of Law, UCD
Dr Elizabeth Agnew (Queen’s University Belfast)
Ruth Tracey, Solicitor
Dr Anthony Cullen, School of Law, Middlesex University, London
Dr Janine Silga, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University
Christopher Bowes, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, FLAC
Stephen Coppinger, Solicitor
Dr Emma McEvoy, Dublin City University
Leesha O’Driscoll S.C.
Prof Louise Mallinder, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast
Professor Lucy-Ann Buckley, University of Limerick
Sarah Henry, Solicitor
Seán Egan BL
Dr. Alan Cusack, University of Limerick
Karen Quinlivan, Barrister
Dr Fiona Donson, University College Cork
Jane O’Sullivan, Solicitor, Community Law & Mediation
Professor Aisling Swaine, Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin
Professor Tom Daly, Melbourne Law School
Darragh Mackin, Phoenix Law
Dr Sonya Cotton, Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin
Céile Varley BL
Oisín Vince Coulter BL
Olwen Gately, Solicitor
Ciarán Mulholland, Solicitor, Mulholland Law
Evelyn Larney, Solicitor
Patricia Conlan, Dr. iur. Universität Tübingen
Dr Alan D.P. Brady, Barrister and School of Law, Trinity College Dublin
Mary Keane BL
Elizabeth Mitrow, Solicitor
Cathal Malone BL
Professor Catherine O’Rourke, Durham Law School, Durham University
Michael Madden, Solicitor
Tara Maguire, Bar Library, Belfast
James MacGuill SC, Solicitor, Dundalk
Gary Daly, Solicitor
Professor Vinodh Jaichand, Walter Sisulu University
Alice Harrison BL, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Dr. Joanne McVeigh BL
Declan Higgins BL
Dr Gerard Kelly, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast
Gerry Liston, Solicitor / Global Legal Action Network
Ellen O’Callaghan BL
Declan Owens, Solicitor
Sheila Finn BL
Damien Sheridan, Sheridan Fitzgerald Solicitors LLP
Séamus Hempenstall, Solicitor
Caroline Murphy BL
Elaine Finneran BL
Kevin Winters, Consultant, KRW Law
John P Shaw, Solicitor
Prof. William Schabas, Middlesex University London
Donal O Muircheartaigh BL
Dara Robinson SC, Solicitor
Sarah-Jane Hillery BL
Marie Flynn BL
Grace Tierney BL
Dr Anita Ferrara, Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway
Maeve Delargy, Solicitor
Gráinne Quinn BL
Dr Stefano Angeleri, School of Law, University of Limerick
Maeve MacCabe BL
Dr Illan Wall, School of Law, University of Galway
Julie Maher BL
Ruairí McDermott, Solicitor
Mairead Enright, University of Birmingham
Dominic McInerney, Solicitor
Prof Padraic Kenna, School of Law, University of Galway
Laura Steen, Solicitor
Colin Smith SC
Eoghan McMahon, Solicitor
William Martin-Smith BL
Professor Roja Fazaeli, Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway
Frances Hamilton, Solicitor
Gavin Booth, Solicitor, Phoenix Law
Dr Samantha Morgan-Williams, School of Law, University College Cork.
Peter Corrigan, Solicitor, Phoenix Law
Orla Crowe, Solicitor
Dr Aoife McMahon BL
Fearghal Shiels, Madden & Finucane Solicitors, Belfast
Ruth Barry, Solicitor, Community Law & Mediation
Aisling O’Leary, Solicitor
Lisa Conkey, Solicitor
Dervila McGirr, Solicitor
Dr Cliona Kelly, Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin
Harriet Burgess BL
Angela Becker, Solicitor
Chloë Cass BL, Government of Ireland Scholar, Maynooth University
Prof. Eilionóir Flynn, University of Galway
Joy-Tendai Kangere BL
Cillian Bracken BL
Michelle Manuel-Keefe BL
Dr Catherine O’Sullivan, University College Cork
Mary Heavey, Solicitor, Community Law & Mediation
Karen Berkeley, Solicitor, Berkeley Solicitors
Jessie Caldwell-Kenny, Trainee Solicitor
Eimear Nugent, Solicitor
Dr Cian Ó Concubhair, School of Law & Criminology Maynooth University
Ciaran Ahern TD
Sophie McGlacken, Solicitor
Eoin Craven, Solicitor
Dr Andrea Mulligan BL, School of Law, Trinity College Dublin
Professor Laura Cahillane, University of Limerick
Professor Emerita Caroline Fennell, UCC
Paula Collins, Solicitor
Sean McHale, Irish Rule of Law International
Paul Duffy, Solicitor, Ó Muirigh Solicitors
Caitlín Bunting, Solicitor
Pádraig Ó Muirigh, Director of Ó Muirigh Solicitors
Nichola Harte, Solicitor Harte Coyle Collins
Dan O’Muirigh, Barrister
Ross Galvin, Fenecas Law
Brendan Grehan, Senior Counsel
Andrew McKeown BL
Andrew Moriarty BL
Siobhán Conlon, Solicitor
Deirdre Miller BL
Lara Smyth, Barrister
Dr Beatrice Monciunskaite, DCU
Niall Murphy, Solicitor, KRW Law
Professor Anna Bryson, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast
Katie McAllister, Solicitor, Madden & Finucane
Professor Cheryl Lawther, Queen’s University Belfast
Gráinne Murphy, Barrister
Niamh McKernan, Solicitor
Aoife Murray, Solicitor
Sarah Reavey, Solicitor
Ciaran Toner, Finucane Toner Solicitors
Helena Park, Solicitor
Kate Loughran, Irish Rule of Law International
Paddy Mc Garry, Solicitor
Eugene McKenna, Bar Library, Belfast
Paul McCann Solicitor
Eugene Reavey, Solicitor
Katy Wheeler, Solicitor
Ted Harding SC, Law Library, Dublin
Cliodhna Downey, Solicitor
Anna Ledwith, Trainee Solicitor
Claire Finnegan, Solicitor
Peter Ward SC
Dara Montague, Solicitor
Professor Rory O’Connell, Ulster University
Mary Henderson, Solicitor
Paddy Mac Dermott, Solicitor, Derry
Niamh McDermott, Solicitor
Roisín Bown BL, Bar Library, Belfast
Thomas Obel Hansen, Ulster University
Barra McGrory KC SC
Sara McAnallen, Solicitor, Belfast
David McAvoy BL, Bar Library, Belfast
Patricia Coyle, Solicitor, Harte Coyle Collins, Belfast
Grainne Mulligan, Solicitor
Turlough Montague KC
Nigel Quinn BL
Pearse MacDermott, McCann and McCann Solicitors
Sean Devine, Barrister
D. Hutton KC
Meadbh O Dowd, Harte Coyle Collins
Róise Fitzpatrick, Solicitor, KRW LAW
Laura Goonan, Solicitor
Dearbhla McAllister, Trainee Solicitor
Conor Campbell-Brennan, Phoenix Law
Dr Claire Lougarre, School of Law, Ulster University
Ciaran Shiels, Madden & Finucane Solicitors
Michael O’Higgins SC
Judith McClure, Solicitor
Séamas MacGiollaCheara BL
Séamus McIlroy BL
Joseph D McVeigh Solicitor KRW Law
Lisa Killilea, Solicitor
Sarah O’Dowd, Solicitor
Joan Keena, Solicitor
Louise Rowell, Solicitor
Karan Ahluwalia, Solicitor, FLAC
John O’Hare KC
Nicholas McMurry, Griffith College
Miska Hanahoe BL
Ruth Heavey, Solicitor
Declan Lohan BL
Turlough O’Donnell SC
Nicola Kerr BL
Dr Amina Adanan, Lecturer in Law, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Aislinn Coll, Solicitor
Ian J. Foley, Partner Solicitor, MGRKM LLP
Ronan Murphy, Berwick Solicitors
Rosemary Connolly Solicitor
Deirdre Tuohy, Solicitor
Michael O’ Connor SC
Breege McCaffrey, Solicitor
Victoria Oluwatobi Isa Daniel , School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Lorna O’Dwyer, Solicitor
Patrick MacLynn, Solicitor
Luke O’Higgins, Barrister
Dr Rachel Widdis (Trinity College Dublin)
Ciarán Lawlor BL
Maeve Rooney, Solicitor
Justine Schoenfeld-Quinn BL
Rioghnach Kavanagh BL, Bar of Northern Ireland
Cathal Mullan, Harte Coyle Collins
Emily Geaney, solicitor
Niamh Hill, Solicitor
Barry R. Lysaght, Solicitor
Dr Conor Crummey, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Emer Terris-Smyth BL
Michael Cusack, Solicitor
Ruth Mc Donagh, Solicitor
Sinead Geraghty, Solicitor
Michael Duffy SC
Leona Askin BL
Brian M Geraghty, Solicitor
Orla Dunne, Solicitor
Miranda Egan Langley BL
Clodagh Coughlan, Solicitor
Michael Quinlan, Solicitor
David Heraghty KC
Aisling Flynn, Senior Legal Counsel
Eimear O’Donoghue, Solicitor
Daniel McLaughlin, Solicitor
Martin Mallon, Solicitor
Kealinn Ross, Solicitor
Paul Fitzsimons, Solicitor
Mark Bassett BL
Dr Lauren Kierans, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Aoife Coghlan, Lawyer (formerly BL)
Carol Sinnott, Solicitor
Karen Connolly, Solicitor, Belfast
Deirdre Mooney, Solicitor
Brendan O’Connor, D. M. O’Connor & Co
Úna Boyd, Solicitor
Conor Padraig Moylan, Solicitor, Madden and Finucane Solicitors
Hannah O’Neill, Solicitor
Professor Emeritus Paddy Hillyard, QUB
Leigh Brosnan BL (Dublin)
Prof. Fergus Ryan, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Marion Meehan, Solicitor
Ian Knight, Solicitor
John Kenny BL
Dr Laura Donnellan, University of Limerick
Gemma Feeney, Solicitor
Lorna Cahill, Solicitor
Audrey Huggard, Solicitor
Pól Ó Murchú, Solicitor (retd)
Rachel McCrossan, Barrister
Stiobhaird Mac an tSagairt BL
Niamh Nic Conmara, Solicitor
Rebecca Coyle, Solicitor
Karl Gill, Solicitor
Elaine Oonan, Solicitor
Ronan Lavery KC
Dan Johnson, Solicitor
Cliona Quillinan, Solicitor
Ronan McCourt, McCourt & Maguire Solicitors
Karl Mallon, Solicitor, Mallon & Mallon
Danica Kinane, Solicitor
Dr Gillian Kane, Ulster University School of Law
Sean Doherty, Barrister
Rebecca Matthews, Solicitor
James O’Rourke, Solicitor
Louise Butler, Solicitor
Maryrose Dillon, Solicitor
Dr. Chris McDermott, Technological University of the Shannon
Lauren Fegan, Solicitor
Dr Sara Benedi Lahuerta, UCD, Sutherland School of Law
Brenda O’Gara, Solicitor
Catherine Finn, Solicitor
Louise Harrison, Solicitor
Jack Gibson, Solicitor
Damien Ryan BL
Ronan O Carroll BL
Judy Walsh, University College Dublin
Cormac Gilroy, Solicitor
Josh Hilliard, Solicitor
Laura Cawley, Solicitor
Dr Conall Mallory (Queen’s University Belfast)
Katie Nolan, Solicitor
Tríona Connell, Solicitor
Tom Healy, Solicitor
Doireann O’Mahony BL
Gareth Doran, Solicitor
Aoife Quinn, Solicitor
Deirdre Shanahan, Solicitor
Philip Flaherty, Solicitor
Laura Gallagher, Solicitor
Erika Hayes, Solicitor, Mercy Law
Eithne Lynch, Solicitor
Dawn Carney BL
Prof. Eimear Spain, University of Limerick
Deirdre Mc Mahon, Solicitor
Teresa Doherty, Barrister (Retd)
Micheál Mulvey, Solicitor
Dr James Mehigan, University of Canterbury
Kate Fleming, Solicitor
Ciarán Doherty BL
Ursula Connolly, School of Law, University of Galway
Dr Megan Coghlan, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Albert Llussà, Daly Lynch Crowe & Morris Solicitors LLP
Michelle Drury, Irish Rule of Law International
Maura Kavanagh, Solicitor
Professor Jennifer Schweppe, University of Limerick
Dr Maria Murphy, Maynooth University
Harry Robinson, Phoenix Law
Dr Joe Garrihy, School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University
Carolann Minnock, Solicitor
Sinead Marmion, Solicitor, Phoenix Law Belfast
Maria McCloskey, Irish Rule of Law International
Professor Cathryn Costello, Sutherland School of Law, UCD
Sophie-Anna McClintock, Solicitor, Phoenix Law
Hannah Leen, Solicitor
Dr Niamh Keady-Tabbal, Maynooth University
Roisin Smyth, Solicitor
Elizabeth Keyes, Solicitor
Erin Murphy Allen, Solicitor
Mariah Donnelly, Solicitor
Clodagh Reid, Solicitor
Sarah Courtney, Solicitor
Michelle Heffernan, Solicitor
Amy Harrington, Solicitor
Jane Rigby, Solicitor
Ellen Walsh, Trainee Solicitor
Matt Rickard, Solicitor, Rennick Solicitors
Nicole Cotter, BL
Aisling Fitzsimons, Solicitor
Ana Milward, Solicitor
Patrick Daly, Solicitor
Moya Conway, Solicitor
Katie Tyrrell, Solicitor
Eamonn Dornan, Barrister
Ciara O’Rourke, Solicitor
Daniel Hackett, Solicitor
Cian Fenton, Solicitor
Leanne Hill, Solicitor
Romy Higgins, Trainee Solicitor
Rebecca Sorensen, Solicitor
Eoin O Connor, Solicitor
Zainib K Bari, Solicitor
Sinead Loughran, Solicitor
Michelle Mehigan, Solicitor
Jodie MacNamee, Solicitor
Ciara McIntyre O’Shaughnessy, Solicitor
Laoise Kelleher, Solicitor
Laura Ryan, Solicitor
Niamh Cotter, Solicitor
Michael Clements, Solicitor
Lisa Quigley, Solicitor
Alice McKenna, Solicitor
Donal Campbell, Solicitor
Aoife McTaggart, Solicitor
Rachel O’Toole, Solicitor
Janet Tarrant, Solicitor
Bridget Howard, Solicitor
Mather Al Dughaishi, Solicitor
Eamonn O’Donnell BL
Lisa Magill BL
Prof. Kieran McEvoy Queens University Belfast
Martin J Wolfe KC
Conor Murphy, Solicitor
Niamh Crotty, Solicitor
Niamh Shanahan, Solicitor
Samantha Madden BL
Rachel Jones, Solicitor
Joe Noonan, Solicitor.
James McCormack, Solicitor
Eamonn Carroll, Solicitor
Claire McCarthy, Solicitor
John Finucane, Solicitor
Aoife Garvey, Solicitor
Janet Tarrant Solicitor
Louise Beirne BL
Róise Ní Mhaonaigh, Kings Inns
Paddy Mallon, Solicitor, Mallon & Mallon
Ruth Cormican, Solicitor
Robert McTernaghan BL
Jimmy Glynn, Solicitor
