Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for outlining the issues. I support the ongoing work of our Defence Forces in peacekeeping throughout the world. They are a credit to the country and we are all very proud of them.

With regard to the human rights element to which the Minister alluded, what is Ireland's view on the proposed third country arrangements between the EU and Libya? I have been critical of the arrangement with Turkey but the idea of sending refugees back to Libya is absolutely crazy. With regard to Afghanistan, an EU memo on the forced resettlement of people back to that country was leaked. In my view this would be in breach of the Geneva Convention and I note 16 other third country arrangements are in preparation. The Minister has said previously, in response to questions from me in the Dáil, that in broad terms the Government supports these arrangements, which I consider to be a mistake. What is Ireland's view on this proposed arrangement and future arrangements?

I am very interested to hear about our ongoing effort to win a seat on the UN Security Council. Deputy Grealish and I met the Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, at the beginning of January, and many Arab countries are very well disposed towards us. Peacekeeping was mentioned specifically by the Secretary General in an extensive meeting, which was also attended by the Ceann Comhairle and members of the Minister's party. It is interesting there is goodwill towards us. Will the Minister tell us how it is going at present?

The Minister knows my views on the Middle East peace process. Has the Department relayed officially the absolute displeasure and concern of the Irish Government and the Dáil at the heightened measure of building on Palestinian lands? In recent weeks 6,000 additional homes were announced. A vote in the Knesset, which will be taken to court in Israel, would retrospectively legalise illegal settlements in the Palestinian occupied territories. I firmly believe, and I know it is in the programme for Government and has been included in the programmes of successive Governments, that a two-state solution is absolutely the way forward. Most of us agree with this. My concern is there will be nothing left to recognise if this is allowed to continue.

We also had the discussions yesterday between President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, from which the indications were that for the US Administration, the two-state solution effectively is not that important and everything relates to Israel. In no way, shape or form have I ever tried to antagonise or am antagonising the Israelis. I fully respect Israel and we have full diplomatic ties with Israel but it is about time Ireland got off the fence and moved to recognise officially the state of Palestine as part of a two-state solution. It is in the programme for Government. The Dáil and Seanad passed a motion in 2014.

I, and most of my Opposition colleagues, tabled a motion last June which is based on the 2014 motion with which the Minister's party agreed. I would like to get an update on that. I do not want the House to divide on such an issue. It is about time this country made a stand and said that what is occurring in the Palestinian territories is simply wrong. There is no other way of putting it.