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

Deputy Crowe knows only too well what the Government's position is on the recognition of Palestine. We have a clear programme for Government commitment that we want to recognise the state of Palestine, but in the context of an agreed solution. The Deputy asked what Ireland is doing. The answer is that we are doing a lot at the UN and EU levels. I have been to Israel and Palestine on three occasions in my first 12 months as a foreign Minister and have met all of the key principals in political leadership on both sides. We will continue to do so. I look forward to travelling to Israel and to Palestine again in the coming months, meeting the new government and outlining the Irish perspective on what we regard as the way forward for a peace process. We are expecting a US intervention in terms of a new peace plan in the coming months, if not weeks. I have spoken at length to the key architects of that peace plan on the US side and we have made very clear what the Irish position is. We want this to work and to be successful but it has to be fair to both sides. Ireland will continue to be vocal on the international stage on these issues.

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