Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

First of all, as regards Gaza, the latest information I have from our embassy is that a ceasefire is expected to be announced shortly. The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is there at the moment and I understand it is expected that a ceasefire will be announced shortly. Clearly, that would be really welcome.

Deputy Crowe mentioned the number of people who have been killed. There is a need for a definite assessment of that but it is not an issue of numbers. The killing of any people in these circumstances is just wrong and that is what we want to see ended. I have also said that Israel does have a right to protect the safety of its own people. Rocket attacks into Israel should not be happening. They should end. That said, however, the way in which Israel has responded to the situation is disproportionate. That also has to end. Some kind of a ground offensive by Israel in Gaza would be horrific and would lead to major consequences.

I heard what Deputy Crowe said about an Irish passport holder who is in a position to give us some first-hand information about the situation on the ground. We would certainly be interested to hear that and we will listen to it.

On the issue of settlement products, this has arisen from the conclusions which were reached at the Foreign Affairs Council in May when a strong statement was made by the European Union in respect of the settlements and the degree to which the continuation of settlements will render a two-state solution impossible. During that discussion I raised the possibility of a ban being put at EU level on products from the settlements, as a way for the EU to enforce the position it has taken on the issue of settlements. I have asked for an update to be done at the Foreign Affairs Council on the May conclusions. That will then give us an opportunity to examine what steps can be taken at EU level to apply some pressure. Of course, events, particularly in relation to Gaza, have overtaken it in the meantime.

The other issue I referred to was the question that has been raised both by Senator Norris and Deputy Crowe. It is about the vote at the UN. Members of the committee will recall that last year there was a lot of discussion prior to the General Assembly in 2011 of Palestine seeking full membership of the United Nations and applying to the Security Council for that. In the event, what was advanced was the idea of observer status. It is similar to the status of the Holy See at the UN. We support the Palestinian application for observer status. Obviously, I will have to see the final text of whatever resolution is actually voted upon, but I have already indicated that we are favourably disposed to voting in favour of that resolution.

At the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday, there was a discussion by some members states who had previously been opposed to the resolution. They indicated that they would be willing to agree a common EU position of abstaining on it - in other words, that they would move from voting "No" to abstaining, provided there was a common EU agreement on such a position. I indicated that we were not disposed towards that. Ireland's position, as already indicated, was that we were favourably disposed to the motion and to voting in favour of it. I am certainly not convinced of the value of a common position which would simply be a common position to abstain. There are issues around the EU's credibility which arise in that context.