Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland considers Western Sahara to be a non-self-governing territory. Ireland, as I have said, supports the right of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We do not have a view on the outcome of the court's decision, be it independence, integration, autonomy or some other legal or constitutional framework, as long as it is decided in what must be a genuine exercise in self-determination.

We have taken careful note of the court's decision of last December which upheld the validity of the EU's association agreement with Morocco. It stipulated that it does not apply to the territory of Western Sahara. Ireland, as the Deputy will be aware, has a long-standing position in support of the right of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

These are complex issues and a resolution will take some time. For example, the agreement on agricultural products was negotiated and agreed in the agriculture working group at the Agriculture Council. That was within the framework of the EU-Morocco association agreement that entered into force some 17 years ago. It was ratified by all EU member states, including Ireland. I wish to assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to express an interest in this area and, ultimately, the issue will be a matter for the people of Western Sahara.

See this speech in context