Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

I do not know the answer about the one in Bogotá, but we were to be heavily involved in the one France and Saudi Arabia were organising in the UN. In fact, the Taoiseach was asked to chair one of the working groups. What Ireland has done in support of the two-state solution goes back to Brian Lenihan as Minister. We think of all the great Irish foreign Ministers. Even in the conclusions this week, the non-proliferation treaty is mentioned with regard to Iran. That was Frank Aiken. Two former foreign Ministers who sat here were heavily influential on global politics even to this day, in terms of the two-state solution and the non-proliferation treaty. I am proud that is the heritage of my party. I do not know. I will get an answer for the Deputy on the Bogotá conference, but we were to be involved in the important UN conference.

I turn to the difficulties with treaties. It is easy for one person to make a decision. It is easy for one person to say "Yes" or "No". We are in a democracy, and there are 174 of us here who make decisions. That is a bit more difficult. It is very difficult to make decisions when there are 27 people representing 27 countries around the table. It was 12 when we joined. Overall, those 27 have made really good decisions, not on every occasion, but overall, they have, and Ireland has benefited disproportionately from the decisions they have taken.

On the issue of Israel, as I said to the committee, I strongly urge that Members talk to MPs, Senators or whoever in countries like Germany, Austria or Hungary and ask them why they have these particular positions. I think we all know the answer to that, but it is good to talk to people and engage with them. The problem is not on the Irish side. The Irish side has been really clear from Government level to the Dáil, but we need to talk to our counterparts across the EU at every level. I have done that at ministerial level. I think everybody could, to find out what the reasons are.

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