John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that briefing following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. To start, I concur with the Minister's sentiments on Dr. Saeb Erekat, the general secretary of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation. I expressed my condolences yesterday in the Chamber and I do so again. Dr. Erekat was certainly instrumental in bringing forward peaceful solutions, in trying to address the serious issues facing the Palestinian people, and in driving forward prospects of a two-state solution. I offer my condolences and those of my party to his family, to his colleagues in the PLO and in the Palestinian Embassy in Ireland, and to the Palestinian people.

On the issue of the Middle East one certainly would not be surprised with the approach. The UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, Michael Lynk, has said:

No country creates civilian settlements in occupied territory unless it has annexationist designs in mind, which is why the international community has designated the practice of settler-implantation as a war crime. The political purpose of the Israeli settlement enterprise has always been to establish sovereign facts-on-the-ground and to obstruct Palestinian self-determination.

Mr. Lynk also said that, "While Israel may have shelved its plans for thede jureannexation of the settlements in August, it is continuing with its de factoannexation of the Palestinian territory through this unrelenting settlement growth."

Up to 2017 there were 620,000 Israeli citizens residing illegally in approximately 200 illegal settlements in Palestine, in the West Bank. I welcome the Minister's comments criticising plans to expand the illegal settlements. Approval was given for an additional 5,000 units. We also see illegal measures being carried out by Israel. Only last week we saw 70 structures illegally demolished in the northern Jordan Valley. I put it to the Minister that annexation, as they call it, not only remains on the table, is actually happening as we speak. My words and the words of the UN special rapporteur graphically highlight that.

While I welcome the Minister's comments, words come easily and without action they exist in a vacuum. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, was one of 11 European Union leaders to sign a letter in May asking what measures could be taken at EU level if the annexation did go ahead. We know that de factoannexation is happening but does the Minister agree it is happening as we speak?

What measures were outlined in response to the Minister and the other EU foreign affairs ministers that could be taken, and which I believe should be taken immediately, to deal with the aggression being carried out by the Israeli state? What measures were outlined in response?

The silence from the Irish Government has been deafening with regard to taking real actions and real measures. I am at a loss, as are many people, as to what is the strategy of the Irish Government and of Europe to deal with the illegal actions carried out by the Israeli state. Will the Minister outline some of the responses?

Some of the actions that have been taken by the Government have included the shelving of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. The Government has also ignored the express will of the last Dáil when it passed unanimously the motion that the Government should officially recognise the state of Palestine. These measures should be taken immediately. I ask the Minister to outline the Government's strategy and approach, and the EU strategy.

Sanctions are imposed on Russia because of the annexation in Crimea. We have seen sanctions imposed on Belarus, and rightly so. We see sanctions imposed very quickly in other areas but there seems to be a kick-love approach to Israel. I am at a loss, and more importantly, the Palestinian people are at a loss, as to why that softly softly approach is taken. I would appreciate the Minister addressing those points.

What are the Minister's views, and those of the Council, on the situation in Syria and the penalising of ordinary Syrian civilians? The placing of measures, sanctions and embargoes is having a dire impact on ordinary Syrian civilians. We have seen the illegal occupation of eastern Syria by the Americans and the US President, Donald Trump, who is now on his way out of the White House, stated quite clearly that the US mission in Syria solely focused on protecting the oil fields. Is that an approach the Minister and the Foreign Affairs Council would support? While protecting the oil fields it is an illegal act, and also deprives the Syrian people of what is rightfully their natural resource. Will the Minister comment on that also?

I will now turn to Turkey. I welcome the ceasefire agreed between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. The Minister mentioned both countries and the horrific war going on there in recent months, but he failed to mention Turkey's role in that, which is frightening and which needs to be highlighted more. We had a briefing from representatives from Armenia and we invited representatives from Azerbaijan. We also invited the Turkish Ambassador in to speak to us. As far as I am aware we got nothing back in relation to that. We know all the evidence there with regard to the illegal use of munitions, including cluster munitions, in civilian areas.

The Turkish involvement in the conflict should not be regarded in isolation. We see the Turks trying to flex their muscles in places such as Libya, and we also see what is going on in the eastern Mediterranean. Again, the silence from Europe has been deafening. Potential sanctions of Turkey for its actions in the eastern Mediterranean have been shelved. I would like the Minister's view on this. The examination of the matter has been kicked to touch until December. I would like the Minister to comment on President Erdoan's comments last week. He said now is the time for a two-state solution in Cyprus. We are aware that Turkey illegally occupied northern Cyprus. Does the Minister agree with the Turkish approach? It is absolutely scandalous that it should be put forward as a solution or proposal.

There was no comment on the developing major catastrophe in Ethiopia. The conflict started over the past week or two. I am aware that the area in question, the Tigray region, has been an area of potential conflict over many years. Over 600,000 people in the area are affected and dependent on food relief. It is an area of major concern. I would like the Minister's views on it. What measures are being examined to arrive at a peaceful solution?

My last point relates to the Irish position on the Security Council, particularly in the context of human rights. We note what is happening to human rights defenders from Colombia to Saudi Arabia. Even in India, we have heard about the imprisonment of Fr. Swamy for standing up for human rights. The Minister outlined the three principles underlining our approach to the Security Council - peace building, strengthening conflict prevention, and ensuring accountability. These need to be key components in protecting human rights defenders. In Colombia, where there is supposed to be a peace process, human rights defenders are being shot down on the street. Women in Saudi Arabia are being imprisoned. People such as Fr. Swamy are being imprisoned in India. It is very concerning. I would appreciate it if the Minister would outline what approach will be taken by us when we take our position on the UN Security Council.