Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We know the dreadfulness of the situation there. The third anniversary of the start of the Syrian Civil War was marked recently. It has been estimated that 200,000 people have been killed and millions of people have been scattered into refugee camps. There is a huge argument for the EU and the West as a whole to develop the need for dialogue and inclusivity. Even though Ireland is a small state, the Government can play a part in that process. The killing of civilians needs to stop and a real peace process needs to be put in place.

In general terms, I do not think the Government grasps the international importance of our own peace process. There are many imperfections and unfulfilled issues in that process, but it has brought the conflict to an end. The current political or other difficulties on this island are not going to end up in violence. The Government has a moral authority to speak to others on these matters. I am pleased that the Taoiseach has raised the expansion of Israeli settlements and other threats to the Middle East peace process. I actively encourage him to grasp the success we have had here and speak to others with that voice. For example, Martin McGuinness is currently in Colombia trying to help people there to develop dialogue and other main principles of peace-making.

I would like to look at what is happening in the Middle East. First of all, the talks are not going anywhere at all. The negotiation is not between equals. It is between the big power that is the Israeli Government and the small David that is the Palestinian Territories. Some 26 Palestinian prisoners were supposed to be released by the Israeli Government at the weekend, but that has not yet happened. The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Abbas, has said he will leave the talks if these releases do not go ahead. At the start of the year, the Israeli Government announced the construction of 1,400 illegal housing units on Palestinian territory, which was deeply provocative. I have been there a number of times and I have seen these settlements. The word "settlement" might give the impression that these units are like something one might have seen in the so-called Wild West, but they are not like that at all. These huge modern skyscrapers are more like tourist conglomerates than anything else.

Israel's export trade to the EU is worth billions of euro each year. This gives us some leverage. I have consistently raised the Jerusalem report, which makes the argument that this leverage should be used.

There are clear breaches of international law and this goes on without any sanction or reprimand. We should use both our influence and moral authority within the European Union to move forward these matters.

I also wish to raise an issue that is entirely within the Government's authority. The Government recognises the diplomatic mission of the State of Palestine, but it does not it does not get the same privileges or status afforded to other diplomatic missions here. Why would it be treated differently given the ceangail between the people of this State and Palestine going back over a long period? I ask the Government to upgrade the status of the Palestinian mission here to that of an embassy and to sign an agreement to afford it the rights and privileges it deserves under the 1961 Vienna Convention. That would be a major gesture to the people in the Palestinian Territories and the Palestinian Authority, and would mark out where the Government, the people of the State and the people of this island stand on the matter. I believe that would get the support of all political parties in the Oireachtas and the support of the vast majority of the Teachtaí Dála and Seanadóirí. I ask that we upgrade the status of the Palestinian mission to that of an embassy and sign it up under the 1961 Vienna Convention so that it has the rights and privileges it deserves.

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