In July, the UN’s top court issued a landmark advisory opinion that said Israel is unlawfully occupying the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem and is obliged under international law to withdraw its forces and dismantle its settlements as rapidly as possible.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Friday that the Irish and Spanish governments “continue to lead the charge that the European Union should review the association trade agreement between the EU and Israel”, The Irish Times reports.

Mr Harris said: “I welcome the fact that a number of other member states support that position. I continue to advocate for it everywhere I go, including in my meeting with the French president in Paris this week.

“But today in light of the ICJ ruling this summer, I have written to the Attorney General to ask for fresh advice in relation to the broader issue of trade at an EU level, at an Irish level, where the competencies lie, and if anything has changed in relation to previous advice as a result of that ICJ ruling.”