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

To be honest with the Deputy, as I said, we are all basically agreed on the issues here. Ireland has a consistent position. We used our position on the Security Council to consistently bring the Israeli-Palestinian situation to the table, as well as at the General Assembly in terms of supporting the resolution, for example, on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.

At an EU level, we are endeavouring to create a group of like-minded states that can change the direction within the EU itself. To raise it at a European Council meeting, there has to be a focus and a context. At the Foreign Affairs Council, not yesterday but at the second before last, we met the Palestinian Prime Minister and foreign affairs Minister. The subject matter of that discussion was about whether we can get a proper sustained relationship and association agreement between the Palestinian Authority and the EU. We are working to try to build a significant critical mass within the EU because the EU has changed in its opinion, regrettably. Many countries do not share the perspective we have on this. I met Mr. António Guterres on this last week. Again, there is much pessimism abroad in terms of endeavouring to resolve this, not least because of the composition of the new Israeli Government-----

See this speech in context