Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Palestinian head of mission, who is soon to be the Palestinian ambassador to the House. We look forward to working well with her over many years to come.

Our recognition of the State of Palestine today fits three fundamental purposes, and indeed many more. First, it makes clear our view that it is time that Palestine takes its place among the nations of the world and that its right to self-determination, self-government, territorial integrity and sovereignty must now be vindicated. Second, it is an expression of our belief in the equal right to self-determination, peace, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike. The aspirations of both peoples must be afforded equal legitimacy, based on a two-state solution that delivers a just and sustainable peace. Third, it is a reiteration of our fundamental conviction that the only just and sustainable peaceful solution for both Palestinians and Israelis is the implementation of a two-state solution, ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

I thank Deputies for their contributions to this significant debate. There is widespread support for this, not just here in this House, but in general across the Irish nation today, which can see that the Dáil is united on this issue on their behalf. There is general agreement in this House for the recognition of the State of Palestine, which the Government announced last week and formalised earlier today. The recognition of the State of Palestine has been discussed in this House on many occasions in recent years. It has been mandated by the Dáil since 2014. It was included in my own party's election manifesto in advance of the last election, and it was included in the programme for Government in 2020, subject to the discussions in forming the Government at that time.

The recognition of the State of Palestine is a show of solidarity, support and hope for a peaceful future. It is the acknowledgement that the Palestinian people have the right to determine their own destiny. It is a symbol of the bonds of friendship between the two peoples in a time of immense pain and suffering. We in Ireland know what it is like to have such difficulties in a divided country and we have a shared DNA with them when it comes to that particular issue. That is why the people of Ireland have a very clear view on Palestine and Israel and they know who has been suffering the most throughout the years. That is where the hearts and minds of the Irish people are firmly based, and thank God for that.

The Government has worked closely with Norway and Spain over recent months to co-ordinate recognition, standing up for the two-state solution and a future based on peace and security, as well as for the Palestinian people. Now is the right time to take this step and it is extremely positive that we are able to do so with like-minded countries. These countries, like Ireland, have a strong history of a commitment to a two-state solution and to a lasting peace in the Middle East based on security, prosperity and freedom. Some people might have thought this was a difficult time because of the troubles and incessant killing that have taken place over the past seven or eight months. Yet, for us not to proceed with what was in our programme for Government, because of the current violence would have been to take a backseat in light of the violence that is going on there. The Government and the people of Ireland, maybe now more than ever in the middle of this conflict, think that this is actually a more appropriate time to make this statement.

Ireland's most pressing concern remains the horrendous violence being carried out in the Gaza Strip. We have seen in recent days the further devastation caused by the Israeli military actions in Rafah. It is appalling to see the killings of civilians, including children, in a place where they were seeking refuge from imaginable horror. Many Deputies have referred to this during the debate. The debate has focused on the innocent children, the mutilation of bodies, and the destruction and total disregard for human life. It touches the core of every decent person on the planet, and we share that here in Ireland.

We need an immediate ceasefire and an end to the killing, which has been a daily feature for the past seven months. We need the unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Right now, we need a massive increase in the volume of humanitarian aid reaching the people of Gaza safely and unhindered. People in Gaza need water, food, fuel and medicine. They need it urgently and they need it today. We have heard repeatedly from UN agencies and international organisations that this simply is not happening. The situation continues to deteriorate. Israeli strikes continue to kill civilians. The people in Gaza still do not have access to adequate food and water and the UN says that northern Gaza is now experiencing famine. We have seen crossings being closed and aid being disrupted and this must end. Israel must ensure the full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.

Ireland has long supported the Palestinian people via Irish aid. Earlier this year, when the Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, visited to Dublin, the Tánaiste announced €20 million for UNRWA. That agency plays a part that is vital to the region and I am pleased that many donors that suspended their funding have now restored it. I was very pleased personally to attend a meeting of the foreign affairs development committee at EU level recently, where we put pressure on the European Commission itself to restore the funding it had partially suspended. It is important that this must continue, but that is no good if we cannot get unhindered access to deliver humanitarian aid.

We will continue to support civil society, peace-building and education. Ireland is helping to build a future for Palestinians beyond the current conflict, because someday the conflict will end. What happens after the end of the conflict is so important, so we must work on a long-term peace agreement. We will need peace to be sustained when it does eventually come, even though it might not look or feel like it will happen here today. However, the day will come, and I am confident about that.

The Government's recognition of the State of Palestine forms only part of our policy to support the Palestinian people in their hour of most need of help. Nevertheless, it is a significant step. We can see that from the reaction of some other countries to us, Norway and Spain on this matter over the past day or so. Be that as it may, we will take that on the chin and what we are doing is important. This has been Ireland’s long-standing policy and the future of the region includes a Palestinian state based on discussions that happened in 1967.

The current crisis, however, has brought the future of Palestine into the spotlight of international attention. It is positive that the Arab states have come together to present a peace vision. We need proposals and solutions that have buy-in from the region, which is an area where previous initiatives have failed.

This cannot be done in isolation without the support of surrounding countries, without the support of Ireland and various other countries and without the support of the United Nations. It is important to put on record that we were very pleased with the vote at the United Nations in favour of this issue recently. We have been to the fore in advocating for a European Union position and we believe our work is having a positive impact. If we turn the clock back to last summer, if we had raised the issues then that we are raising now, nobody would have listened. We have been consistent and not a lone voice but a strong voice, even though we are a small nation. People are listening and our view is getting traction at EU level, which is very important.

The Government's position remains unchanged, as I keep reiterating. It is a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine that delivers essential security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike. I have no doubt that people in Israel want this to end as well, notwithstanding the views and actions of their government. It is important that they have a general election sooner rather than later, where the people of Israel can express their views on what is going on. That is particularly important.

The recognition of Palestine is not an end in itself. It marks a new chapter in Ireland's relationship with the Palestinian people. I welcome the representative from Palestine to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery for the debate. We are playing our part to strive towards peace in the region. Everybody knows that Ireland has a long history of supporting UN peacekeeping missions. When we eventually get to a peaceful solution, I look forward to Irish soldiers being out there on peacekeeping missions in the decades ahead. Although it does not seem today that peace will come, it will happen. I know that people from the Irish Army will be out there, making sure that peace holds for decades to come. That is what it will take.

See this speech in context