Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, issues like this that arise are monitored constantly by the European Union and are the focus of much attention from the High Representative. To date, Baroness Catherine Ashton has been very active in dealing with a range of difficult situations arising in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Crimea, Ukraine and now, Israel and Gaza. Clearly, this situation cannot be allowed to get out of hand. Members see the reports on a daily basis of the numbers of innocent women and children being killed here, as well as hearing of reports of indiscriminate firing of rockets from areas in Gaza, which is a contributory factor to this matter going the way it has. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has made contact with a number of personnel involved in this. No one wishes to see this happen and, ultimately, they clearly must sit down around a table and work these things out. The solution here has been proposed for a very long time, which is a viable two-state solution that represents the only sustainable basis for a just resolution of the Israeli-Arab conflict. However, it will not be an easy task to get from the current position to that point. When I attend the European Council meeting to be held tomorrow and on Thursday in Brussels, a great deal of attention will be given to this matter. One does not desire a situation in which another conflict gets out of hand with the horrendous maiming and deaths of innocent women and children.

At the three meetings to which I referred, this matter was not discussed in detail because it is discussed as part of the European Council focus. There always is a special section given over to issues that arise in which the High Representative makes her case and gives an up-to-date report on whatever conflict is around at the time, be it in Ukraine, the Crimea or wherever. I hope that sanity can prevail in this regard and it is not a good situation when, as I understand, citizens are being put in situaround buildings that subsequently are blown up. We wish to avoid deaths that are unnecessary - not that any of them are necessary - but this is a situation that requires clear heads, sanity and negotiation to allow people to get on with their lives. The situation that applies in Gaza and Israel now is exceptionally difficult.

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