Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 22 together.

Israel, along with Estonia and Slovenia, was formally invited to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development at a meeting of the OECD Council on 10 May 2010. On the basis of formal opinions and all relevant technical information gathered by the appropriate OECD bodies during the accession process which stretched back to 2007, the Secretary General of the OECD recommended to the council that Israel be invited to accede. The 31 member countries of the council, including Ireland, accepted that recommendation at the meeting of 10 May.

An invitation to accede to the OECD is based on the applicant country's compliance with the organisation's rules and practice built up over the past 50 years and does not relate to or imply approval for other actions or policies of the state concerned.

In its statement on the successful conclusion of the accession negotiations with Israel on 10 May, the European Union recalled commitments made by Israel during the accession period, including in regard to the geographical scope of the statistics provided for the OECD, and also restated its position that, in line with international law, the European Union would not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including in respect of Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.

Ireland, in common with a significant number of OECD members, continues to be deeply concerned about several aspects of Israeli policy towards its Palestinian neighbours, including its settlement policy and the blockade of Gaza. I have consistently called on Israel to bring to an end these policies, as have successive Governments in the past. I repeat that call today. On acceding to the OECD, Israel, as well as all other new members, will be subject to vigorous and objective peer review processes across a range of areas, including potentially sensitive ones such as labour standards and issues relating to income inequality and discrimination. We intend to work with partners in ensuring Israel fully complies with all the obligations arising from OECD membership.

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