Weapons manufacturer linked to Gaza genocide lobbied Deptartment of Finance on 'unintended impact' of economic sanctions

An Ireland-based weapons manufacturer implicated in the Gaza genocide lobbied the Department of Finance this summer about economic sanctions during the period the Occupied Territories Bill was passed and signed into law. 

The then US ambassador to Ireland warned government of "unforeseen consequences” of the legislation in late 2024. Honeywell International Inc lobbied about what it called the “unintended impact” of sanctions. 

An Al Jazeera investigation traced a weapon fragment from a June 2024 Israeli strike on the UN-run al-Sardi school in Nuseirat to a Honeywell-made guidance component. At least 40 people were killed.

‘Between two and five in-person meetings in Dublin’

Honeywell International Inc – based at the Waterford IDA industrial estate – approached international finance head at the Department of Finance Paul Ryan to discuss sanctions and possible exemptions. 

According to the lobbying return, filed by Honeywell lobbyist Shradha Bhatnagar and covering the period 1 May to 31 August, the company is seeking an exemption for items sourced from a supplier of "critical components."  

Honeywell held between two and five in-person meetings in Dublin to raise the issue and press officials on the urgency of a case the company has lodged.   

Honeywell International Inc has been a registered lobbyist since May 2024 but this is the first time it has lobbied on a specific matter. Its six previous returns were all nil. 

An independent military analyst told Al Jazeera Honeywell has supplied parts to the Israeli Air Force since 2000. 

IDA Ireland officials attended the opening of Honeywell's Dublin office at Windmill Lane last October and the company has received grant money from IDA Ireland.

The Department of Finance and Honeywell International Inc have been contacted for comment.