Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this very important issue. Like her, I too welcome the fact that today Ireland will recognise the State of Palestine. It is a significant moment, an historic moment and an important moment to recognise that you cannot have a two-state solution without recognising two states.

Also, I hope to create a positive momentum towards more countries now recognising the State of Palestine. I know that there are others actively considering it and today I repeat my calls to them to join us through their national processes in the coming weeks.

I am very much aware that we recognise the State of Palestine today against a backdrop that is almost unimaginable and is utterly unconscionable in terms of the humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding in Gaza, in Rafah and the region. Children are being starved and hunger is being used as a weapon of war. This country has been calling for an immediate and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for many, many months. We are now seeing children starving and children going to bed not knowing if they will wake up. What we are also now seeing is a new, despicable trend where every now and then, amid the backdrop of death, maiming, injury and pain, an event of particular horror takes place and then the Israeli Prime Minister emerges and apologises for what he terms a "tragic mistake". April's "tragic mistake" was the bombing of aid workers providing food to starving Gazans. May's "tragic mistake" was the bombing of displaced children, parents and families who had fled to a designated safe zone in truly appalling scenes. Imagine taking one's children to somewhere that one believes they will be somewhat safe only to have that very place of refuge bombed and then to have the apology for a "tragic mistake". The question the world must now ask itself, including Ireland, Europe and the United States, is what June's "tragic mistake" will be and much more importantly, what are we going to do to stop it?

As I have consistently said, including at the April meeting of the European Council, there is an onus on every country and on the European Union to use every lever at its disposal to help bring about a ceasefire. It is not enough to just condemn, to find it repugnant or to be repulsed. There is a need for action and that is why I warmly welcome the decision of the Belgian Presidency yesterday, belatedly, to convene a meeting on the EU-Israel association agreement. This country - and there is a political consensus here on this - and Spain have been calling, since March, for the association agreement, which is effectively a trade benefit agreement, to be reviewed. Contained within that are human rights clauses but such clauses are not there for padding. They are not there to make the agreement longer or because they are nice to have. They are there and they have meaning and that meaning must be adhered to as well.

Everyone needs to look at all levers at our disposal. I have answered previously the question in relation to the occupied territories and I will share more information in relation to that with the Deputy. The way to address this issue is through, at an EU-level, the association agreement and the review of that.

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