Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank colleagues, including Deputy Haughey. In my previous capacity as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, I visited Washington and Boston in February when I took the opportunity to see at first-hand the strength and vitality of our relationship, including our very strong and expanding education, research and innovation partnerships. I had a number of engagements in Capitol Hill and with the Biden Administration. Since becoming Taoiseach, I have had engagement with the special envoy, Joe Kennedy, and with Nancy Pelosi who was in Ireland last week and whom I met in Government Buildings. I have also had a bilateral meeting with the US ambassador. I hope to speak to President Biden shortly because it is important we continue to engage and to talk with the US Administration on issues of mutual interest and concern.

In any relationship between two friends, I always think it is very important that you can be honest. In all my engagements with the US Administration now and in future, I will continue to articulate very clearly the Irish position on the need for a cessation of violence, the need for humanitarian aid not just to flow but to have unimpeded access and the need for a two-state solution. I welcome the fact that when my predecessor, on his to visit to Washington and in the Oval Office, articulated his view on the need for a ceasefire, the US President said he agreed. I note there is a lot of diplomatic activity in which the American Administration, including the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is playing a very important and crucial role. Our position is extremely clear. We intent to recognise the state of Palestine. We want to see an immediate ceasefire. We want to see the humanitarian aid get in unimpeded, and we are very clear on the need for a two-state solution. There are different views among Members of the House. Deputy Boyd Barrett had a view. It is always very important to turn up. The relationship between Ireland and the United States is one of the most important relationships we have and it is one I very much value as well.

Regarding Deputy Murphy's comments on protest, peaceful protest has an important role to play and students have engaged in peaceful protests on many occasions. I am not going to comment on the actions or inaction of other countries as regards how they engage with protests but here in Ireland, students have always been willing to articulate their views on important issues and have stood up for humanitarian issues. I expect that will continue but obviously all protest needs to be within the confines of the law and should always be peaceful.

I agree with Deputy Ó Murchú. It is important we continue to be truthful about the Irish position in all our bilateral relationships and with the US that is no different. Members of the Deputy's party went to Washington in March and I am sure they articulated the position, as did the then Taoiseach. We should all continue to speak, insofar as we can, with one voice in expressing the people of Ireland's view on the need for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the most horrific scenes we are seeing in the Middle East. I also note Deputy Ó Murchú's comments on divestment. Work is ongoing on that.

On the state of Palestine, as the Deputy will know, I hosted the Spanish Prime Minister in Government Buildings. I also spoke with him again at the European Council when I engaged with a number of other European counterparts. Spain intends to recognise the state of Palestine, as does Ireland. We are seeing if there is a relatively small number of other countries that might be willing to do so at the same time but Ireland will not wait around forever either. It is important that this country recognises the state of Palestine and I hope to be in a position to update the House in the next few weeks in relation to that.

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