Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I have already made my points about Ireland having a strong position within the European Union in tying any trade agreement between Israel and the EU firmly in the political context and particularly linking it to the creation of a two-state solution and the peace settlement. There have been talks under the Annapolis process between the leaders of the Palestinian Authority and the outgoing Israeli Prime Minister. Those talks offered hope if one talked to both sides, although others in the region were far more sceptical about the outcome. Nonetheless, there is a process in place and there is commitment on both sides to reaching agreement. Where that remains the position there is merit in arguments advanced by other states that there is a need to continue the dialogue and create a framework that ultimately would be facilitative of the outcome we all desire and to which Deputy Timmins alluded in terms of a political settlement.

Given the result of yesterday's US presidential election, one of the key issues for the European Union in its relationship with the US is to ensure the Middle East becomes an immediate and key priority of the new Administration. There is always a danger that with other priorities it could get relegated and it might only become a priority in the second or third year of the presidency. It is imperative that the Middle East becomes an immediate priority of the new Administration and that it is attended to. With that type of commitment allied to a stronger EU engagement we could push the process to a position where it might be possible to get the settlement we all desire.

See this speech in context