Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue because the plight of the Palestinian people has a particular resonance with the Irish people. I do not know why that is but I suspect it has something to do with our history. I am glad the Deputy recognised the Government has been unequivocal in its condemnation of what has happened there.

In December 2009, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, DEFRA, issued technical advice to importers and retailers concerning country of origin labelling for produce grown in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The guidelines, which are voluntary, advise on distinguishing between produce grown by Palestinians and by Israeli settlers. This issue relates essentially to produce grown in the West Bank, rather than Gaza. There are no longer any Israeli settlements in Gaza. In addition, because of the ongoing blockade of Gaza, to which the Government and almost every Member are firmly opposed, virtually no Palestinian produce is being exported from Gaza.

The UK guidelines were formulated in response to pressure from consumers in the UK or from retailers who were themselves responding to consumer pressure. They involved a lengthy consultation process between the relevant UK Government departments, led by DEFRA, in which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office participated to advise on the political context. This was followed by the circulation of draft guidelines and a second round of consultations with retailers, importers, consumers and other interested stakeholders.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and I have discussed this and he has followed the UK consultation process with interest and he took careful note of the issuing of the new guidelines in December. It is important to make clear that there is nothing to stop Irish retailers now from clearly labelling goods to distinguish settlement produce. The example of the UK suggests, however, that many retailers feel more comfortable doing so, or requiring such labelling from their suppliers, when there are clear Government guidelines to follow, to which the Deputy referred.

The Government's position on settlements in the Occupied Territories has been clear and consistent. We consider all the territory occupied by Israel in 1967 to be still occupied territory, we do not recognise any purported annexations of such territory, and we regard all Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory as illegal and contrary to international law. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has repeatedly stated that Israel's failure to comply fully with its commitments under previous international agreements to halt all settlement expansion constitutes a major obstacle to the peace process and the achievement of a negotiated two-state solution. The Irish people have also made clear, most notably regarding the conflict in Gaza a year ago, their deep concern about the issue of Palestine and the continuing encroachments on the rights and lands of the Palestinian people.

Produce from the West Bank, including from settlements, is not and should not be labelled as "Product of Israel" but an identifier of "Produce of the West Bank", or something similar, could well mislead consumers into assuming they were buying goods from Palestinian producers. There is an element of a double edged sword to this. Many Irish consumers might well wish to be aware if they are buying produce originating in illegal settlements. I am, therefore, in favour of consumers being given the information to make this choice, and of similar guidelines issuing here. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is in agreement with this view. Product labelling is not the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs but rather a matter primarily for other Departments. However, the Minister has requested officials in his Department to discuss with the other relevant Departments with a view to following best practice observed in other countries.

See this speech in context