Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this extremely timely and important debate. Before I speak to the motion, I commend the Deputies present who made their maiden speeches, particularly Deputy Gibney, with whom I share a constituency. I thank the Deputies for the heartfelt issues and genuine concerns raised by all Deputies. Regardless of whether they agree with the Government or what they think of it, we should all be able to join together in absolute condemnation of the violence and suffering in the Middle East.

The priority the Irish public affords this issue has come through crystal clear in this debate. In that regard, I am proud of the role that Ireland's humanitarian and development assistance plays in making a real difference on the ground in Palestine. I assure Deputies that this will remain a key priority for me as the newly appointed Minister of State with responsibility for this area in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

As has been highlighted during the debate and in the countermotion tabled by the Government, we are at a particularly fragile and critical moment for this particular conflict. Like all others in this House, I welcome the agreement reached on the ceasefire and hostage release deal that has already led to the release of hostages. The immediate focus of the international community must be on the successful implementation of all phases of this agreement. It is also vital that we have a clear vision of how to forge a pathway between the so-called day after in Gaza and a sustainable peace based on the two-state solution.

Support for the two-state solution and for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination lay at the heart of Ireland's recognition of Palestine in May of last year. I assure this House that it will remain at the heart of this Government's approach. Supporting the immediate humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people and working with the Palestinian Authority to support its efforts to reform and build its institutional capacity are key pillars of the Government's response.

The hostage release and ceasefire deal has led to a much needed increase in the volume of critical humanitarian assistance entering Gaza.

However, the scale of need remains absolutely enormous. The heinous and barbaric death toll has exceeded more than 47,000 people and the level of destruction from the conflict is so severe that the majority of people in Gaza require significant assistance in multiple areas. I am appalled by the destruction we have seen and I join with everyone in the condemnation of it.

Overall, Ireland has provided more than €51 million in support of the Palestinian people since October 2023. This includes €38 million in core support to UNRWA, as well as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Food Programme and others. Our humanitarian response is not only about funding but is also about the direct delivery of practical supports and solution. In Ireland's rapid response initiative, 116 tonnes of relief supplies have been provided. Ireland has also provided three pallets of medical blood to the EU civil protection mechanism for the Egyptian health authorities. We have assisted in the medical evacuation of people from Gaza and we have sent officials and aid workers from Ireland to work directly in co-ordinating the response on the ground. In addition, funding has been provided to Irish NGOs, Plan International and Oxfam through the humanitarian acute crisis scheme.

This, however, is not just about words but it is about actual tangible action that is responding to the absolute horrific unfolding crisis that we see in Gaza. Ireland is playing its part, is delivering and can and absolutely will do more. We are aware, however, that in the context of what is happening on the ground, for so many, that it is simply not enough, such is the scale of the atrocity.

As the Tánaiste set out, against the backdrop of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, we are seeing a long overdue scaling up of humanitarian aid entering Gaza, yet, at the same time, the Israeli legislation on UNRWA has entered into force. This will have far-reaching consequences for UNRWA's operations in the West Bank including East Jerusalem and in Gaza.

I want to reiterate the Government's deep concern at these actions by the Israeli Government and to underline that Ireland has been a long- standing supporter of UNRWA. We will continue to support its life saving mandate as well as building the capacity of the Palestinian state to respond. The Government is also working to build consensus at EU and at international level to support the implementation of a negotiated two-state solution and a lasting peace process. The two-state solution is the only just and sustainable peaceful solution for both Palestinians and Israelis. The Government has also intensified Ireland's international engagement with our involvement in the important work of the new global alliance for the implementation of the two-state solution, which was launched during the UN High-level meeting in New York. We are committed to using all of the tools at our disposal, political, legal, diplomatic and humanitarian, to respond to the conflict and to work towards achieving these aims.

It is important that we have taken the opportunity to reflect that the Government's overarching approach, which is clearly reflected in the countermotion tabled by the Government. I will, however, take a moment to return to the specific issue addressed in the Sinn Féin motion. I regret that in approaching this issue it focused solely on the domestic landscape while neglecting the very clear role that Ireland has played in shaping the international legal landscape. Ireland strongly supported the request by the General Assembly for this advisory opinion in December 2022 and subsequently made submissions and shared its legal analysis in written and oral submissions to the court. Our core objective in making submissions was to encourage the court to clarify the rights of the Palestinian people in international law. The ICJ's advisory opinion did just that. The court's principal conclusion was that Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territories was unlawful and that it must be brought to an end as rapidly as possible. The court also identified a range of legal obligations for all states arising from that situation. These include a duty not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the illegal situation created by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory. While the ICJ's advisory opinion is not in itself legally binding, it represents an authoritative statement of applicable international law which is binding on all states and international organisations. For this reason, Ireland co-sponsored and voted in favour of the General Assembly resolution giving practical effect to the findings of the advisory opinion in September of last year.

The programme for Government is clear in its commitment to progressing legislation to bolster its influence in the occupied Palestinian territories. We make no apology for progressing this in a measured and rigorous fashion.

A number of points have been made by Opposition Members, as they are entitled to do, and I would like to respond to them. I am going to respond to Deputy Gogarty first because it was the final contribution and it was relatively fair and constructive. Like him, I also welcomed the re-election of my friend and colleague, Senator Frances Black, to the Upper House. We sat together in the Upper House and on the Brexit committee and we have worked together on a number of issues. I absolutely stick by the actuality of what the Government's position is, rather than what the claims of what that position that have been made across the Chamber and, indeed, in the media. The clear concerns of the Government as outlined in respect of this legislation remain. The Government has identified those and has identified that very serious work needs to occur to make this legislation legal, enforceable and actionable. We have to be quite clear that we want to operate in an environment that is upheld to be legal. It is not just about making the point, which is well made and which I empathise and do not disagree with, but we have to ensure that what is passed from a legislative point of view actually stands up to the rigours of European and international law. That is a clear point to debate that I would like to underline in the interest of being constructive rather than combative over what is overall an horrific issue.

In parallel, I assure with the House that the Government will also continue to press for action at EU level in light of the advisory opinion. For all of these reasons, the Government does not support the motion tabled by Sinn Féin and instead commends its countermotion to the House.

In closing, I want to express my heartfelt hope that all phases of the ceasefire and hostage release deal will be fully and successfully implemented for the sake of ordinary Israeli and Palestinian people alike, those who we hold closest in our minds through all of these discussions. It is vital, however, that compliance with international law lies at the heart of all of our responses and it is also my very firm hope that the voice of the international community will be heard in its clear support for the two-state solution. I assure the House that Ireland will remain firm and vocal on these issues.

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