Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 5 together.

A comprehensive settlement in the Middle East is more urgently needed now than at any time over the past 60 years. During my visit last week, I held discussions with political leaders in Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon. I outlined the role which the Government is playing, directly and in co-operation with our EU partners, to promote a lasting and just peace in the region. I found broad agreement that there can be no unilateral or military solutions and that the opportunity must be taken now to revive a credible political process. At its heart must be a negotiated, viable two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

I had a detailed discussion with Foreign Minister Livni on the need to build on the meeting in December between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas and to deliver in full on the commitments made. I urged the Israeli Government to seize the opportunity offered by the US Secretary of State's plans to open trilateral talks in Jerusalem and by the determination of the EU to ensure the international Quartet becomes more actively engaged, on a sustained basis.

I raised the Government's strong concerns regarding the expansion of settlements, the proposed construction of the E1 corridor east of Jerusalem, the construction of the security barrier on Palestinian land, house demolitions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and the effects of security measures on the Palestinian population. I stressed that Israel had an obligation to act in accordance with international law, and the requirements of the road map and argued strongly that settlement expansion and other measures increasingly threaten to undermine the viability of a two-state solution.

Furthermore, I suggested that if Israel wished to strengthen the position of President Abbas, it was in its own interests to demonstrate readiness to act on his concerns for the welfare of his people. I also asked that the total amount of tax and customs revenues which Israel has withheld from the Palestinian Authority be transferred as soon as possible.

During my visit to Bethlehem, I announced a 27% increase in funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for its services to Palestinian refugees. This will amount to €11.4 million over the next three years. It will involve a further significant increase in the Government's assistance to the Palestinians in 2007, which increased by 40% last year to €6.4 million.

I had very positive discussions in Ramallah with President Mahmoud Abbas and emphasised the Government's strong support for his efforts to negotiate the early formation of a national unity government.

In Cairo I met with the Foreign Minister and other Cabinet Ministers, and with the Secretary General of the Arab League. I travelled to Beirut for a meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. I emphasised the Government's strong support for the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, as underlined at the international conference in Paris, at which Ireland pledged a further €2 million in humanitarian assistance. I also visited the members of the Defence Forces serving with great distinction in the strengthened UNIFIL force in southern Lebanon.

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