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

I thank Dr. Barghouthi and all who came before the committee for the comprehensive and compelling presentation on the serious difficulties, and, unfortunately, deteriorating situation, facing the Palestinian people. In one of his opening sentences, Dr. Barghouthi referred to the lack of peace, the lack of freedom and the lack of independence. Those are three basic requirements for people to live in peace and in decent civility, and unfortunately, that is lacking there at the present time.

I understand that Dr. Barghouthi met President Higgins and he also met the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney. There is a European Union Foreign Affairs Council on 11 December. We will convey to Deputy Coveney in advance of that meeting the concerns of this committee following Dr. Barghouthi's presentation, and, indeed, the ongoing contact we have with different advocates in regard to the Palestine difficulties, and we will ask him to raise this matter again at the Foreign Affairs Council. We will continue to do that.

I thank Dr. Barghouthi for his strong and comprehensive statement and the exchange and answers to the questions raised here.