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

No, I will not. I have explained many times in much detail why I do not believe we can do that. I explained it to Senator Frances Black, who brought the legislation forward and for whom I have much time. I understand what she wants to achieve with the legislation, but, from a legal perspective, I do not believe that we can do what she is asking us to do. My view on the issue is backed up by the Attorney General. I have explained my position on this many times.

It is also important for me to tell this House that I have probably spent more time on the Israeli-Palestinian Middle East peace process than virtually anything else outside of Northern Ireland and British-Irish relations since I became the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Even in the past few weeks, working with the foreign Minister of Luxembourg, we got 25 of the 27 EU member states to agree a stated position regarding annexation at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. We have made it very clear that the EU would regard the extension of Israeli sovereignty over any Palestinian lands as an illegal act under international law. We would have to recognise it as that, and there are consequences that would have to flow as a result. The Government and I, as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, are doing all we can to try to impress on a new Israeli Government, with which we want to have a good relationship, that this would be a real mistake in the context of Israel's relationship with the EU and with the rest of the world. What we want to try to do instead is to encourage a dialogue that can get a peace process discussion back on track. I am of the view that Palestinians and Israelis want to see a peace settlement that is good for both sides in respect of security and nationhood. That is what I will continue to work for if I am privileged to continue to be in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for much longer.

As already stated, we have been responsible for bringing forward resolutions at UN level and multiple initiatives at EU level. I have visited the region many times in the past three years or so. We will continue to try to build relationships with key decision-makers in the Palestinian Authority, in the Israeli Government, in Washington, in Brussels and in countries such as Jordan and Egypt in order to try to find a way forward that protects a two-state solution as a possibility for Palestinians and for Israelis who want that as well.

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