Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the comments of Sir John Holmes, UN Under Secretary General for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator, expressed to the Security Council on 26 February 2008 (details supplied); the action he has taken in view of the comments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38459/08]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there have been recent developments in the case of a person (details supplied); if he will call on Hamas to arrange an immediate Red Cross visitation to the person as required under international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38456/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether a monitoring group should be established to review compliance with the human rights clauses in the existing co-operation agreement between the EU and Israel and that such a group should report before the end of the current French Presidency of the EU and make recommendations on the basis of its findings. [38373/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the economic and human siege of Gaza constitutes collective punishment on the part of Israel; and the proposals he has to end this situation. [38374/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to upgrade the relationship between Ireland and the Palestinian Authority; and if so, what these steps involve. [38324/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the EU decision in June 2008 to upgrade relations with Israel despite Israel's failure to fulfil its obligations under EU-Israel partnership agreements as evidenced by a report published in March 2008 by a group of non-governmental organisations (details supplied); and if he will use the earliest opportunity to press the EU to reverse its decision of June 2008. [38323/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 119, 127, 143, 145 and 149 together.

I have already set out the very difficult situation in the Gaza Strip in my earlier reply to a priority question. The Government agrees with those who state that the effective isolation of Gaza constitutes collective punishment and is illegal under international humanitarian law.

There is also a political dimension to the problems in Gaza and, in this regard, the Government strongly supports efforts being made by Egypt, on behalf of the Arab League, to work with all Palestinian factions to bring about reconciliation. I understand that a meeting is to take place in Cairo on 9 November between the different factions. Egypt is also making efforts to broker a deal which would secure the release by Hamas of the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, in return for the release of prisoners by Israel.

Positive developments in these efforts would no doubt significantly contribute to an end to all violence in and from the occupied territories and facilitate a lifting of restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, both in Gaza and in the West Bank. The EU will give every possible support to the process. It has already stated that it is ready to resume the border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing-point in the event of agreement between Israel, the Palestinians and Egypt. In the meantime, I would urge Hamas to ensure the humane treatment of Gilad Shalit, and to permit access by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Government will continue to work with our partners to strengthen the political role of the European Union in the promotion of a negotiated two-state solution. The agreement at the EU-Israel Association Council on 16 June to upgrade relations with Israel was placed firmly in this context. Discussions with Israel on the precise elements of the upgrading are only just beginning and will continue in the months ahead. They are likely to include intensified political and human rights discussions. In particular, it is hoped to establish in the near future an EU-Israel sub-committee on human rights, which would complement the work of existing bodies such as the Association Council, the Association Committee and the EU-Israel Sub-Committee on Political Dialogue and Co-operation, in monitoring implementation of the EU-Israel Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement.

The Government believes that the peace process must remain at the heart of the European Union's relations with Israel and the Palestinians. Ireland strongly hopes that the Interim Association Agreement between the EU and Palestine Liberation Organisation, which entered into force on 1 July 1997, can be implemented as soon as possible. Its objective is to create a free-trade area between the European Union and the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and to establish a comprehensive framework for political, trade, economic and financial co-operation. Together with our European Union partners, we have urged Israel to facilitate its implementation and to join a trilateral dialogue with the EU and the Palestinian Authority. We would very much hope to see moves towards negotiation of a full association agreement as soon as conditions permit. We already enjoy excellent bilateral relations with the Palestinian Authority and look forward to these developing in the period ahead.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I compliment Sir John Holmes on the very stark presentation he gave to the Security Council. I believe we all support what he said. In areas of conflict we often talk about confidence-building measures. In the Middle East the only solution is the two-state solution, the return of the refugees, a return to the pre-1967 borders and the demolition of the settlements that have been created since March 2001. That settlement must be pushed because there will never be peace until agreement is reached on those matters. It is not possible to build up to it. In this case we must start at the top and work back.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Is it not the case that deepening the agreement and facilitating its extension without having insisted on a monitoring mechanism to report within a defined period of time on breaches of human rights conventions represented a capitulation to continuing Israeli aggression in Gaza?

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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On 1 September the EU decided that meetings with Russia about a new partnership agreement would be postponed, which I welcome. Should the same approach not be implemented if the Minister believes, as he has said, that there is collective punishment in Gaza at the moment? The EU-Israel Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement should be suspended as a means of making progress and forcing Israel to respond.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have already made my points about Ireland having a strong position within the European Union in tying any trade agreement between Israel and the EU firmly in the political context and particularly linking it to the creation of a two-state solution and the peace settlement. There have been talks under the Annapolis process between the leaders of the Palestinian Authority and the outgoing Israeli Prime Minister. Those talks offered hope if one talked to both sides, although others in the region were far more sceptical about the outcome. Nonetheless, there is a process in place and there is commitment on both sides to reaching agreement. Where that remains the position there is merit in arguments advanced by other states that there is a need to continue the dialogue and create a framework that ultimately would be facilitative of the outcome we all desire and to which Deputy Timmins alluded in terms of a political settlement.

Given the result of yesterday's US presidential election, one of the key issues for the European Union in its relationship with the US is to ensure the Middle East becomes an immediate and key priority of the new Administration. There is always a danger that with other priorities it could get relegated and it might only become a priority in the second or third year of the presidency. It is imperative that the Middle East becomes an immediate priority of the new Administration and that it is attended to. With that type of commitment allied to a stronger EU engagement we could push the process to a position where it might be possible to get the settlement we all desire.