Larry Donnelly

What do we do?

Look, I think Ireland has been a leader.

I think it's led in many respects in terms of recognizing the state of Palestine and using its big platform on the world stage to advocate for attitudinal change.

We see, for instance, that attitudes are shifting on this in the United States.

But what I do think is unwise is to put ourselves in vulnerable positions.

And what I would say to you is that passing the Occupied Territories Bill will trigger –

Laws in the United States that could have detrimental consequences for the economy of Ireland and for the people of Ireland.

These are so-called anti-BDS laws that exist at federal and state level.

And what they do is they make it difficult for companies who adhere in the event that that company enacts a law boycotting Israel.

And these could entail, for instance, very serious financial reporting requirements, in some instances penalties.

And I say this in a world where, look, the competitive market for foreign direct investment is out there.

We have benefited enormously from

from foreign direct investment.

At the same time, we know how dependent the exchequer is, including all the social programs and everything else, are on a relatively small number of multinationals.

Now, I would never say there's going to be a flight.

They're here for lots of good reasons.

They're here for hard-headed business reasons.

But if we pass the occupied territories bill, we are getting into uncharted waters because when these laws, if they do kick in, and I hope they don't, okay, but if they do kick in with vigor, then pressure could be brought to bear

And if it is, if it is, okay, that could mean the repatriation of a small number of jobs.

If that happens, who is going to go out and explain to these people who are out of work, who can't pay mortgages, that we have gone down this road for what is symbolic legislation, which again – and I say this in an overarching context in which we do –