Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)

I genuinely and sincerely thank Deputy Crowe for tabling this very timely Topical Issue. Even though it is a late hour, it is the most appropriate opportunity to talk about a key aspect of a vicious and bloody conflict that has seized the Irish and global body politic for quite some time, particularly since the horrific events of 7 October, followed by the brutal and unacceptable response of the Israeli Government.

The latest statistics are even worse than the Deputy laid out. The humanitarian situation worsens daily with more than 57,000 reportedly killed and more than 134,000 - probably 135,000 by the time I sit down - injured.

After a total Israeli blockade from 2 March to 27 May, and only a trickle of aid in the last few weeks, my Government colleagues and I share the UN’s concerns that Israel’s new model for delivering aid into Gaza through private contractors, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, is not in accordance with humanitarian principles.

Ireland stands ready and is more than standing ready. Ireland has acted, both in the form of our Government but also more collectively in this Parliament, not just to show our solidarity with the people of Palestine in Gaza, but also Jerusalem and the West Bank, which perhaps does not get the mention it deserves at times. Ireland has provided over €88 million in support to the people of Palestine since January 2023. In 2025, we have provided €22 million so far and a further €4 million will be provided this month. Our support this year includes €20 million in core funding to UNRWA, which brings Ireland’s support to UNRWA to €58 million since the beginning of 2023. I continue to urge our partners to increase their support to UNRWA and I welcome the EU’s payment of €52 million to UNRWA in June. I encourage the rapid payment of the balance of the EU’s 2025 funding, amounting to €30 million. Despite the expulsion of many international aid workers, there are still over 3,000 local staff working for UNRWA on the ground and providing vital humanitarian aid.

To respond to the Deputy’s specific questions and for the interest of the House, when he talks about the commitment in the programme for Government to work with partners, the Tánaiste met the Prime Minister of Qatar just last week and the Taoiseach has been in constant engagement with regional partners. The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and I have attended countless meetings at EU, UN and multilateral levels to work with partners, including to see if we can partner with the United Arab Emirates to get an element of humanitarian surge. On the first day that humanitarian aid was let back into Gaza, just 91 trucks were let in and, of those, 60 came from the UAE. Ireland has had two trucks of aid stuck in Jordan for over 70 days at this point.

When I talk about aid, it is important to break down what we are talking about. We are talking about tarpaulin and ground sheets. We are not talking about anything advanced. It is simply a bit of shelter, food and medicine - the basic elements.

In relation to building a coalition, when Ireland proposed over a year ago the review of the EU-Israel association agreement by reviewing Article 2, based on human rights abuses, only two EU member states backed that, those being, Ireland and Spain. At the meeting I attended six weeks ago, that number was up to 19 member states and the review subsequently and obviously found vicious human rights abuses. Equally, regarding the coalition to build towards a two-state solution, there was to be a large conference co-organised by the French and the Saudis in New York at the start of last month. Unfortunately, the escalation of violence involving the Iranians led to its suspension. Consistently at an EU level, however, Ireland puts the case about why, over a year ago, Norway, Spain and Ireland recognised the State of Palestine and why we are encouraging and working with other EU partner member states to do likewise this year.

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