Dáil debates

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

4:00 am

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The world is now aware of the incidents that took place in international waters in the Mediterranean. I refer to the attack by Israeli commandos on the flotilla carrying humanitarian and medical aid and food supplies that was heading for Gaza. This incident should never have occurred. However, it did happen in international waters. I have heard the Government's comments in respect of this matter and hold that they can be supported.

It has emerged that three Members of the Oireachtas could have been on board vessels in the flotilla. However, a number of Irish citizens were involved in this incident and their lives were placed in mortal danger. In the words of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, they were kidnapped. In view of the sensitivity and importance of this matter and the political priority which must now be afforded to it, is the Taoiseach aware of the current status and location of the Irish citizens to whom I refer? Are they safe and when will they be returning home? The Minister for Foreign Affairs and his Department have been in contact with the Israeli authorities in respect of this matter. Is the Government satisfied that the Irish citizens to whom I refer are safe and does it know their current location? Are these individuals about to be brought home?

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is extremely unhappy with regard to the situation that has developed. I and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, have already made clear our condemnation of yesterday's attack by Israeli military personnel upon the humanitarian flotilla sailing towards Gaza. These actions, which resulted in at least nine people being killed and approximately 30 being injured, were completely disproportionate and unacceptable. It is clear that the incident took place in international waters. The legal basis for the action of the Israelis is at the very least open to serious question.

Ireland fully supports the many calls which have been made by the international community for the holding of a full, independent and impartial inquiry, preferably under UN auspices, into the events of yesterday and the circumstances surrounding them. Earlier today, the UN Security Council added its voice to calls for a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards.

The Government's immediate priority is to secure consular access to those Irish citizens unjustly detained by Israel and bring about their unconditional release. The Minister for Foreign Affairs met the Israeli ambassador yesterday evening and impressed these points upon him. This morning, Ireland's ambassador in Tel Aviv, met two of those detained, Shane Dillon and Isam Ben Ali. Mr. Dillon is due to be deported back to Ireland today.

The Government has also formally requested that the Israeli Government allow the Irish-owned ship, the MV Rachel Corrie, currently sailing towards Gaza to be allowed to complete its journey unimpeded and to discharge its humanitarian cargo in Gaza. Yesterday's events can be directly attributed to the ongoing and completely unacceptable blockade of Gaza which has been in place for some three years. It is imperative that Israel now takes immediate action to end this blockade and to open up the border crossings into Gaza to normal commercial and humanitarian traffic. International opinion on Gaza is increasingly coming into line with Ireland's long-standing position that the blockade is immoral and counterproductive and should be ended. The European Union yesterday referred to the blockade as "unacceptable and politically counterproductive", while the UN Security Council has stressed that the current situation in Gaza is simply not sustainable. Israel must listen and respond to the clear concerns of the international community on this issue. To do otherwise will only serve to reinforce the position of the extremists on both sides and jeopardise the hope of achieving urgently needed political progress in the region which the current proximity talks represent.

The position is that our ambassador has made consular contact with two of those detained. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of the remainder; we call for the MV Rachel Corrie to be allowed to proceed unimpeded in order to bring its humanitarian cargo to Gaza; and we call on the Israeli Government to respond properly and appropriately to the UN Security Council's statement on this matter.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Taoiseach for his reply and I support his comments. Last April I led a delegation of party members to the West Bank and Gaza where we saw for ourselves the destruction of buildings, streets and towns some five months after the invasion by Israel. We saw the symbol of international investment in Gaza, the American International School, blown to pieces. The school caretaker approached me to say he had found body parts of his son who was looking after the building on the night in question. This is a matter of serious international politics and we do not have time to deal with all the detail here. Suffice to say, I listened to the response from the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, but I have not yet heard any comment from the United States Secretary of State, Ms Clinton, the EU's special envoy to the Middle East, Mr. Tony Blair, or the United States special envoy, Mr. George Mitchell. The fact that nine were killed and 30 injured and that Irish citizens could have been involved in a tragic incident places us in a central position in this matter.

It is important to understand that, as this happened in international waters, as the incident occurred after the commandos attacked and boarded the ship in question. This has been deemed to be an act of outrageous aggression on the high seas and was completely unwarranted and uncalled for. In many ways, it represents the first real test of the Lisbon treaty which the Irish people endorsed so strongly last year. It means, for instance, that Europe is now challenged to offer a comprehensive, co-ordinated and definite response to an international incident within its remit. The European Union recently agreed, without objection, to Israel's admission to the OECD; we now need a European response to the international illegal blockade of Gaza.

I hope the Taoiseach, as the political leader of our country, will see to it that at the meeting of the Heads of Government in June there is a specific time set aside for a discussion on this matter and that there is a specific requirement for a decision by Europe in respect of its obligations and responsibilities under the Lisbon treaty to give a co-ordinated and comprehensive foreign policy response to an international incident that has occurred on our doorsteps. I support that strongly. For my part, I have written to all the Heads of Government of the European People's Party stressing the importance of this matter internationally as well as the sensitivity for us of a situation where Irish citizens have been kidnapped and abducted and whose whereabouts are uncertain.

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I remind the Deputy that we will have a debate on this matter later.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Are there are any actions the Government proposes to take here at home in so far as relations with Israel are concerned? Is it the Taoiseach's intention actively to seek the support of his colleague Prime Ministers at the June meeting for a definite co-ordinated response from Europe, as is our entitlement and our responsibility in facing a very serious international incident that occurred on the high seas, which directly impacted upon a number of Irish citizens and could have had the most tragic consequences for families in this country?

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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We do not have to wait for a European Council meeting to have this matter resolved. We are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of our citizens who are being detained by Israel. We call on Israel to respect its international obligations under the Vienna Convention. We want to ensure full consular access by Irish Embassy officials to those detained - that is still not available to us and we are calling for it to be done immediately.

Israel does not have a leg to stand on in terms of denying us access to our citizens or denying their immediate and unconditional release. We have a situation where those citizens have been brought to Gaza by Israeli authorities who are asking them to sign papers agreeing to their deportation. They are entitled to be released unconditionally and immediately. We are also calling for absolute restraint to be shown in respect of the Irish-owned vessel, the MV Rachel Corrie, so that it can complete its journey peacefully and discharge its humanitarian cargo in Gaza upon arrival. We are also calling for the immediate establishment of a full independent and international inquiry into yesterday's events, preferably under UN auspices. That is our position, and international opinion must continue to impress upon Israel that these actions must be taken if justice is to be seen to be done in this case.

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Taoiseach has said, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs has set out, the Government has made a very strong statement on this matter, and the Labour Party supports that strong position. We specifically support the demand for the safe passage of the MV Rachel Corrie, the unconditional release of those detained and the establishment of a full independent and international inquiry into the killings that took place on the flotilla. One of the issues that has become clear over the years is that the Government of Israel seems to be very often immune to strong international calls, demands by the United Nations and United Nations resolutions. The blockade of Gaza itself is not legal but there seems to be an attitude on the part of the Government of Israel when issues like this arise that it will simply weather the storm and ignore international opinion.

What actions has the Government considered in the event of the Government of Israel ignoring the calls the Taoiseach has rightly made in respect of the safe passage of the MV Rachel Corrie, the unconditional release of those who have been detained and the establishment of a full independent and international inquiry? Has the Government given any thought to what action will need to be taken if the Government of Israel does not comply with those calls made by the Government and the governments of other countries? Has the Taoiseach given any consideration, for example, to withdrawing of the Irish ambassador from Israel for consultation, a course of action I understand is being considered by other European countries? Has the Government been in contact with any of the other members states, in particular the High Representative on Foreign Affairs of the European Union with regard to action being taken on a co-ordinated basis by the European Union in the event that the Government of Israel persists in the course of action it appears to be taking and of it ignoring the call made on it by the Irish Government, a call supported right across the political spectrum in this country and by the Governments of other countries and the EU?

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The first obligation of the Government is to ensure Irish citizens engaged in participating in the flotilla are released from detention and are not being subjected to deportation but are allowed unconditionally to return to this country. We believe the presence of our diplomatic personnel in Israel provides us with better prospects of this happening sooner rather than later. I make the point that any harm caused to any of our citizens will have the most serious consequences.

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I am glad to hear that response from the Taoiseach. The Labour Party will support the Government in communicating that to the Government of Israel in the strongest possible terms. The Israeli ambassador was called in. Perhaps the Taoiseach will inform the House of the message that was given to the Israeli ambassador, the response given by the ambassador and if any response has been given by the Israeli Government to the position taken by the Irish Government and other European Union states.

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Reportage on this matter accurately reflects the discussion which the Minister for Foreign Affairs had with the ambassador of Israel to Ireland. We set out our position and the ambassador set out his position. The Minister further made known our opposition in a subsequent briefing with the press. I have indicated in previous replies the points amplified by the Minister to the ambassador in regard to the safety of our citizens, their immediate and unconditional release, the need for the Israeli Government to respect its international obligations under the Vienna convention in this respect, Ireland's support of the call for a full independent and international inquiry into yesterday's events, preferably under UN auspices and our condemnation of the actions by the military as completely unacceptable and disproportionate and stemming directly from the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza, which the Minister and Government have repeatedly urged should be ended.

The position is as I stated yesterday. I state this on behalf of a Government that has been, in the wider context of trying to resolve this issue in the Middle East, acknowledging the right for peaceful co-existence for the State of Israel and for the establishment of a viable Palestinian State. It is hugely important that international law is respected in this situation. International law is not in this situation being respected. The idea that one could board the vessel in international waters on the basis of being in compliance with international law owing to such being an act of self defence is not supported by the facts.

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is important that the international legal requirements of the situation are respected. What the Minister and I are concentrating on, and what the people of Ireland will expect us to concentrate on in this instance, is representing our citizens unambiguously and forcefully based on the situation in which they now find themselves. I believe that Israel would be best advised, in the interests of standing and of resolving this aspect of the matter, to immediately arrange for their unconditional release and to accede to an international inquiry given the seriousness of the outcome of what has happened there.