Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

On the question of what poverty or reduction targets will be involved in the strategy, we welcome the promotion of greater social inclusion, including a target to measure progress in reducing poverty in Ireland and in a number of other member states. I voiced certain concerns about the indicator proposed by the European Commission. We have all agreed that further work needs to be done and this is happening at present. We are working on that.

I do not have any details on what is the issue regarding the trade agreement with Colombia. As the Deputy will be aware, the question of competence in this area for the conducting of the finalisation of trade agreements lies with the Commission in many of these matters. I will ask the Department to revert to the Deputy as to what is the situation in that regard.

On the question of international inquires and how that will be done, we have to concentrate on obtaining the release of citizens, the people who have been held, and to see if we can arrange for an international inquiry. It is certainly what we are pressing for and what we want to see happen. In terms of under what guise we would like this to happen, our preference remains that it would be under UN auspices but we have to wait and see what the formal response to the presidential statement of the Security Council by Israel will be. The initial reaction seems to be predictable but it needs to be further considered and pressure needs to continue to be brought to bear on Israel that this is an issue that will affect its standing internationally should it take a certain course of action.

On the question of Israel's accession to the OECD, it has always been Ireland's view that to try to influence issues and to be seen as a country that can in some way make a constructive contribution to the resolution of this problem, and to avoid issues of boycott etc., we would try to engage with people. Obviously, they cannot act with impunity, they have to take the consequences for the actions which have emerged here. They must take on those responsibilities. What the relationship with Israel will be in the future, based on its response to this particular action, is something that will have to be discussed collectively and carefully and considered in fora such as the EU and the UN in the future. We need to focus on what the short-term objective is in terms of free passage, safety of individuals and the establishment of an inquiry. The wider impact that this will have on relations with Israel in the international area will have to be considered very carefully based on how it responds to these issues.

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