LAST UPDATE | 2 Apr

FOUR SENATORS TODAY will seek to introduce an arms embargo on Israel through a bill blocking the exportation and transit of weapons through Ireland to the country.

Independent senators Alice-Mary Higgins, Eileen Flynn, Lynn Ruane and Frances Black will bring the Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024 to the Seanad, which calls for “restrictions” on any weapons shipments through Ireland to Israel.

The four senators propose to provide inspection powers to the relevant authorities and justify the restrictions by citing a provisional findings by the International Court of Justice that rule that countries must prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.

The flow of weapons to Israel is leading to escalating violence and destruction in Gaza, the bill states, and if Ireland is “committed” to de-escalation and disarmament, it must enact the embargo.

Independent senators Eileen Flynn (L) and Lynn Ruane are among those leading the bill. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien would be given the permission to appoint officers to conduct inspections of aircraft leaving to travel through the country’s airspace under the act. He would also be required to report back on the officers’ work every three months. 

Higgins, Flynn, Ruane and Black are seeking to implement the bill as soon as it is agreed. It is currently being discussed in the Seanad will be brought to the Dáil in later stages.

Higgins, speaking to a pro-Palestine protest outside the Dáil this afternoon, said the legislation will aim to particularly target the granting of exemptions to planes carrying munitions which fly in Irish airspace.

Airlines must seek permission from the Minister for Transport to carry munitions into Irish airspace and be granted an exemption under Irish law.

Higgins told the crowd that this practice is facilitating the delivery of weapons to Israel. She hopes that the legislation will pressure the Department to carry out and grant more inspections.

In August 2024, then-Taoiseach Simon Harris said no consent was sought for an arms shipment to Israel that flew through Irish airspace that month. The aircraft was a cargo plane, which landed in Israel and reportedly had munitions on board.

As reports of flights continued, the state began to engage with the airline company. Then-integration minister and government leader Roderic O’Gorman told reporters that Ireland needed to take “strong action” if flyovers continued.