Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The UN Human Rights Council has established a panel to examine violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed during the Gaza conflict. It will investigate allegations on all sides. The distinguished South African Mr. Richard Goldstone will head the inquiry. His three colleagues include the retired Irish Army officer Colonel Desmond Travers. The story of the conduct of the conflict is not over, notwithstanding the outcome of the panel of inquiry established by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

On the latter point, the answer is yes. In our meetings with President Assad and others we have urged that influence be brought to bear on the Palestinian groups with a view to moving towards the 1967 borders and the two-state solution. To be fair, the Egyptian Government is working very hard on that front to try to reach a position of reconciliation and unity. It is difficult and painstaking. There has been a series of meetings, but they have not borne fruit to date. Earlier this year we met the Egyptian Foreign Minister in Brussels. We also met the Turkish Foreign Minister and the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority. They gave a good insight and that is the line they are pursuing.

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