Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have consistently made clear, including in my address to the UN General Assembly last week, that the Government opposes Israel's illegal settlement of occupied Palestinian territory and that we want an immediate halt to such activity. This policy is stated at every opportunity, both directly with the Israeli authorities, in international fora and in discussions at EU level. The illegal Israeli settlements are a key driver of the unresolved Arab-Israeli conflict.

The expansion of settlements inherently involves the seizure of Palestinian lands, destruction of homes and eviction of families, and the exclusion of farmers from their fields. The network of checkpoints and closed roads that bedevil the lives of Palestinians in the occupied territories exists primarily not to ensure the security of Israel, but the security of the settlements. Violence by settlers against Palestinians is increasing and is largely ignored by the military authorities. The whole settlement enterprise sends a clear message that there is one law for Israelis and another for Palestinians.

The settlements also constitute, and are intended to constitute, an obstacle to the achievement of a comprehensive peace. If the settlements had not been put in place, the way to a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab world would now be clear and that such an agreement would be readily achievable. I am firmly of the view that a reinstatement of the settlement construction freeze, which ended last September, would be a major confidence building measure that could enable direct negotiations to resume.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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President Obama is a very good friend of Ireland. This country has very warm and close relations with the United States which we will continue. President Obama will state his country's position on international issues at the UN, just as I stated Ireland's position on this issue. In respect of the expansion of the settlements, I said in reply to an earlier question that we strongly condemn the decision to go ahead with the 1,000 household settlement plan in Gilo in East Jerusalem. I agree with the Deputy that coming directly after the quartet statement, it was not a very good signal on whether progress can be made.

I remind the Deputy that the quartet statement is an agreed one between all the members, namely, the United States, Russia, the European Union and the UN, and it sets down a timetable. It also sets down very clearly that provocative and pre-emptive actions should not be engaged in, and I agree with that. My colleagues in the European Union, High Representative Ms Catherine Ashton and I will focus on how we can make that quartet statement become a reality, get negotiations going and try to get a settlement.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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On several occasions since I came into office, I have spoken to the Israeli ambassador and representatives of the Israeli Government. I have also spoken to its Foreign Minister Mr. Lieberman. He and I were to have met at the UN General Assembly but there were changes on the Israeli side to that arrangement and the meeting did not take place. It is fair to say the Israeli Government is in no doubt as to where Ireland stands on this issue and on the continued expansion of the settlements. We will continue to use every opportunity to repeat and reinforce that.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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The Tánaiste has adopted a strategy of working within a European consensus in regard to the Israeli-Palestinian question. He must be aware that the inconsistency of the international community in implementing UN resolutions in regard to illegal settlements and the profoundly provocative actions by the Israeli state will cause a big problem in the context of the Arab spring and Egypt. I have no doubt Syria will move towards democracy in the near future. What will happen is that more assertive representatives of the Arab people in those countries will emerge and they will not tolerate the continued approach of the international community. This is urgent.

What will be the European consensus in addressing this question and in ensuring the Israelis cease constructing illegal settlements, comply with UN resolutions and immediately engage in an honourable settlement with the Palestinian people to stabilise the situation in that critical fault line in terms of global conflict?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I refer to my approach to this issue in the European Union context. There are domestic and political considerations which influence the way the United State responds to this issue and the way it engages with it, and I think Deputy Wallace referred to this. Therefore, the European Union has a particular role to play in seeking to make progress. There is a framework around the quartet statement which the US, Russia, the UN and the European Union developed and put forward. The approach I will take is to encourage European Union colleagues and High Representative Ms Ashton to take that forward. I will play whatever role I can on behalf of this country - a country with a long-standing record on this issue - in the EU Foreign Affairs Council and with European Union colleagues to support European Union efforts on this issue and to try to make progress towards talks.