Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct that the programme for Government states that the Government will honour its commitment to recognise the state of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe that doing so will progress efforts to reach a two-state solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory. We are working with like-minded states in the European Union on this issue . The objective is that any such decision would be taken at the optimal time to have the best impact. The context has always been to try to move towards a two-state solution and to get a proper negotiation process in place. It was interesting talking to Prime Minister Shtayyeh and the foreign minister, Mr. al-Maliki, of the Palestinian Authority last Monday. They are committed to the two-state solution. They do not want to abandon that. We must have that within our horizon in any moves or decisions we make and we must do it when it is will have the most impact.

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