Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On goods from settlement areas, I do not think there is a realistic prospect of agreement on an EU-wide ban on settlement products. It is for that reason that I have concentrated our efforts on securing a labelling regime, and we are making progress on that at EU level. I hope it will be possible to agree a Europe-wide labelling arrangement. I am in discussions with other Departments about how such a labelling regime would operate in practice in Ireland.

The Deputy raised the issue of Gaza. We have continued to keep an international focus on the continuing problems of Gaza. While there was some easing of the blockade in recent years, it is far too little to allow the Gaza Strip to resume normal life. Economic activity remains almost moribund, leaving the population dependent on humanitarian assistance and smuggling controlled by militant groups.

We have made it clear, both to Israel and internationally, that the continuing restrictions in Gaza have no security justification and are unjust and counterproductive. I was glad to see some further easing of restrictions at the end of last year following the brief, but intensive, exchange of firing in November. These related to practical issues such as fishing limits and access to farmland near the border fence. They were small but important steps and they need to be developed and extended further. It is disappointing that some of these have been reversed after recent rocket firing from Gaza.

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