Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland has worked for many years under successive Governments to achieve a two state solution to the Middle East conflict involving the realisation of a sovereign Palestinian state. We have always looked forward, therefore, to being in a position to recognise a state of Palestine in reality and not just as a symbolic gesture.

Successive Governments and Ministers for Foreign Affairs have considered that a state of Palestine and Ireland's recognition of it should come about as part of a comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East. All our actions remain geared to that ultimate goal and objective.

I do not have a closed mind on this issue. Sweden's recent decision to recognise Palestine has brought the issue to the fore within the European Union. In a number of member states, including Ireland, there have been strong parliamentary expressions of support for recognition, in most cases as an element of an overall solution. The Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended in Brussels last week, began a discussion among EU partners about the question of recognition. This discussion will continue over time. Clearly, if there is no prospect of substantive peace talks resuming in the near future, we will need to take close account of this in evaluating how we can advance our overall goal.

Our position is not set in stone. Against the background of a deteriorating situation on the ground, I will continue to consider any option, including early recognition of Palestine, which may advance the prospects for peace and help ensure the two state solution still has a chance of being realised.

As Deputies will agree, the question of international recognition of Palestine, while important, is not by any means a magic wand to resolve the conflict. More than 130 countries have formally recognised Palestine but the conflict continues. Only a comprehensive peace agreement will end the occupation and allow the full establishment of a Palestinian state in reality as well as in theory. That is the consistent goal of everything the Government is doing on this important issue.

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