Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), John Brady, has again called for the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill to be progressed without delay.
Deputy Brady’s call comes following updated information received by the PAC confirming that at the end of 2025 the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) continued to hold investments in five companies included in the UN’s database of businesses operating in illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.
The bill, introduced by Deputy Brady, is designed to compel the National Treasury Management Agency to withdraw investments from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund in companies included in the UN database.
Teachta Brady said:
“Updated information provided to the Public Accounts Committee has confirmed that by the end of 2025 the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund continued to hold investments in five companies listed on the UN database of businesses operating in illegal Israeli settlements.
“The value of the investments in 2025 was €6,744,760.
“The correspondence also outlines the 18 individual companies on the UN database over the years that ISIF has invested in since 2020, with a total value of investment of over €76 million.
“This again underlines the urgent need to progress the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill without any further delay.
“In the past, the Government has pulled every lever to obstruct this bill.
“First, they introduced a nine-month timed amendment, during which they did absolutely nothing. Then, at the conclusion of that period, they insisted on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny despite requests for a waiver to allow the bill to proceed more quickly.
“Now that the bill is before committee, it must be progressed without further delay, obstruction or dilution.
“These settlements are illegal under international law.
“There can be no justification for Irish taxpayers’ money being linked in any way to their expansion or maintenance.
“For too long, there has been a clear contradiction between the Government’s words and its actions. While ministers have repeatedly condemned settlement activity, the fact that ISIF continues to hold investments in five companies on the UN database shows that they have failed to act to end State complicity through investment.
“This approach undermines Ireland’s credibility internationally. We cannot condemn Israeli actions while continuing to invest in business entities linked to illegal settlements.
“This bill is not a symbolic gesture. It is a practical and enforceable measure to ensure that Ireland stands firmly on the side of international law, justice and accountability.
“I am calling on all parties to engage positively at committee and ensure this legislation is progressed without further delay.”