Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the figure is a lot higher than 500,000 and I agree with the Deputy that they are illegal. That is not just my view; it is also the view of the UN. The settlements are totally unacceptable and are counterproductive in the context of a lasting peace settlement. They also make the politics for the Palestinian leadership all the more difficult in terms of convincing people that negotiation actually works. That is why the settlements are so counterproductive. I have been to the area and seen the settlements we are talking about in east Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank. I will be there again in a few weeks' time. I do not propose to change the Irish position right now. I want to go to the Middle East again in the second week of January. I will have a meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister and high-level political meetings with the Palestinian side as well. When I have made that visit, we can then review the political approach that Ireland has been taking.

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