Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I must apologise, as I was delayed at an earlier meeting. I am sorry that I missed the presentation.

On the honest broker about whom Councillor Patrick Costello spoke, the European Union has been a generous donor in the rebuilding of Gaza on a number of occasions. Does Ms Minch sense a willingness on the part of the European Union from her interaction with the Commission to move on and be as forthcoming on the political side? A number of weeks ago the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, told us he believed the European Union had to take a more proactive role in the Middle East peace process. Has there been any indication from the new High Commissioner and the External Action Service that they will take a more proactive approach?

With regard to the ban on settlement products, am I correct that only a small number of countries, perhaps northern European countries, have a ban on such products? Is there any indication that the European Union has a regulatory framework in place for a ban on such products should it decide to activate it? I remember that number of years ago the former President, Mrs. Mary Robinson, and the former US President, Mr. Jimmy Carter, at an event in the capital city spoke about the need to have in place a realistic ban on products from the settlements.

In view of the massive expansion of settlements that has taken place - one of the largest acquisitions of territory took place on 1 September or 1 October last - how viable is a two state solution based on the 1967 borders?