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

I thank all the Deputies who have raised issues in respect of this committee about to be established. Ireland has taken a very consistent approach in terms of the Middle East, believing in a two-state solution.

Deputy McDonald, I think, raised the question. She is not here yet, but I will just make the point that our fundamental view is that Palestinians are entitled to their homeland. It needs to be said, by the way, whether you like it or not, that President Trump played a role in the ceasefire. I read several accounts of what transpired in terms of getting a ceasefire. Our focus must be on copper-fastening and consolidating that ceasefire because any return to a war would be absolutely horrendous in respect of Gaza or the West Bank.

Some time back, I met with an NGO. Mary Robinson spoke to me about it. It is an NGO that is developing the idea of a land-for-all initiative. It is a different approach, but we have to look at approaches that will ensure Palestinian rights within their homeland. How you configure that in the time ahead is something we need fresh thinking on. Everybody talks about the two-state solution, but we have watched for several years-----

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