Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Palestine and the horrific humanitarian catastrophe that continues to unfold. I acknowledge that her welcome for the fact that this is a proud day for Ireland in recognising the State of Palestine. I also recognise that this is very much something on which the people have led. I very much hear that as I go around the country as I meet people. People I have met have respectfully, forcefully and passionately put forward their view that Ireland must act. Not to be disagreeable, but the only point on which I slightly disagree with the Deputy is when she says it has taken too long. It has always been the position of this Government, previous Governments and many governments across the EU and in other parts of the world that the recognition of a two-state solution would come as part of a peace process.

What we have actually done is change the order. In many ways, we are recognising the State of Palestine at a time a comprehensive, sustainable, just peace settlement looks to be further away than ever. We are doing so because we have to keep that destination alive because others are literally seeking to bomb it into oblivion. My sense from my engagement with people in the region, counterparts in the region and those at an EU level, is that the actions that Ireland, Spain and Norway have taken today will have a positive effect that will go beyond just our own recognition. For example, more EU member states are considering doing the same. A number have publicly indicated their wish to do the same in the weeks ahead. Is it possible that we can get to a point during the course of this year that a majority of member states of the European Union will recognise the State of Palestine, or that a majority of prime ministers and presidents at the European Council will recognise the existence of the State of Palestine? What will that do for positive momentum and change in policy and approach?

Ireland, by any objective standard, has been extraordinarily proactive on this. I pay tribute to the Tánaiste, our diplomats, my own Department, my predecessor, and so many others who have done much work in this area, such as by supporting the work of the ICJ when others somewhat seek to undermine it; by providing additional funding in a practical way to help the work and investigations; by increasing humanitarian aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, when others sought to distance themselves from them. These are all practical measures that we have taken.

When it comes to the occupied territories Bill, the clear legal advice to the Government is, and consistently has been, that this legislation would not be compatible with EU law.

Therefore, the way we need to advance this is at European level. The decision yesterday of the Belgian Presidency on a meeting on the Israel-EU association agreement is significant; I genuinely believe it is significant. The practical measures that we now intend to take are to continue at every single forum because, ultimately, the result of success or not for everybody in the world is a cessation of violence, and anything that does not bring that about will prove to have been ineffective.

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