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

I thank the Deputy for the question. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland completed its term on the UN Security Council at the end of 2022. During the term, the Middle East peace process was a key priority for Ireland. The United Nations Security Council discusses the situation monthly, and Ireland used these opportunities to underscore the importance we attach to the effort to secure a just and lasting peace. While there is significant divergence of policy on this file among the Security Council members, Ireland nevertheless spoke with a consistent voice for our principled position on the issue. In particular, we emphasised the importance of adherence to international law and international humanitarian law. Ireland advocated for the international community to help create the circumstances where the parties could return to a peace process.

Throughout our term, Ireland supported a range of initiatives aimed at furthering progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For instance, in June last year, Ireland co-chaired a meeting of the UN Security Council’s informal expert group on women, peace, and security, which discussed for the first time the situation of women in the occupied Palestinian territory. Following the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, Ireland organised an informal meeting at the UN Security Council on the protection of journalists. Our engagement at the council also focused on illegal settlement expansion. In December, our last month on the council, Ireland repeated our call to Israel to immediately cease all settlement activity, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2334. Ireland also highlighted that 2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians living in the West Bank since the United Nations began recording fatalities in 2005. We led a joint press statement with a number of other council members, noting this tragic milestone and called for timely, transparent, and independent investigations into all civilian casualties.

Although Ireland is no longer a member of the Security Council, the Middle East peace process will remain a priority for us at the United Nations more broadly. I met the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres,while I was in New York last week and confirmed to him Ireland's commitment to uphold international law and to continue to support a negotiated solution.

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