Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 41: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether there will be discussions between Israel and Palestine; when these will take place; and if there will be a time frame put on the outcome. [27383/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Direct negotiations between the two sides are the only way to achieve a comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East. The issues are complex and difficult, but they are not insoluble and an agreement is there to be had, if there is the political will on both sides. The United States, under President Obama, with the support of the European Union and the Quartet, has worked over a long period to try to bring about the beginning of talks between the parties. However, apart from a brief and abortive beginning in September 2010, their efforts have been frustrated.

Last week the Quartet issued an important statement setting out a timetable for renewed talks. This calls for a preparatory meeting between the two sides to take place within one month to agree to a timetable of not later than the end of 2012 to reach an agreement. The parties will be expected to come forward within three months with comprehensive proposals on the initial issues of security and borders and to deal substantially with these within six months. Other issues would be addressed as progress allowed. This is a challenging timetable, but there is no reason it cannot be achieved if the parties genuinely wish to reach an agreement and are prepared to take the risks required. In particular, Israel must be encouraged to see that its own best interests are not served by maintaining the short-term advantages of the status quo and the occupation.

I very much hope we can convince the parties to engage on this basis. It is particularly important that they create the right conditions for success by refraining from provocative actions, including further settlement expansion. In this context, I condemn last week's announcement of 1,000 new dwellings being constructed in the east Jerusalem settlement of Gilo. Ireland, both nationally and in the European Union, will do everything it can to support the relaunching of substantive peace talks.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Tánaiste for his response and congratulate him on his contribution at the UN General Assembly on 26 September. There had been some speculation in the media on that occasion that he would perhaps depart from his speech on Ireland's traditional position in terms of the Middle East conflict. I commend him for the position he took. All parties in the House will be supportive of the work on which he will engage in the future.

The Tánaiste quoted appropriately Martin Luther King in terms of the "fierce urgency of now". In fairness, this is reflected in the response of the Quartet and the timescale set out. Given the impediments and particular problems with Mr. Netanyahu, will the Tánaiste indicate whether he and his EU colleagues will engage collectively or bilaterally on the matter and whether it is envisaged that he or other EU foreign Ministers will meet Mr. Netanyahu directly to try to address the awful problem of the continued settlement expansion because therein lies the greatest difficulty?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for his support of the statement which I made on behalf of the country at the United Nations last week. I also thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn, among other Deputies, for expressing support for that position.

I am very conscious that the position I outlined at the UN General Assembly is a national one. As Deputy Ó Fearghaíl indicated, this country has had a long-standing policy of supporting Palestinian statehood. The resolution of the problem in the Middle East will only come about following discussions.

The Quartet statement provides a timetable within which discussions would get under way within a month and then a period within which the issues of borders and security would be addressed, and it sets a definite date by which negotiations should be completed by the end of 2012.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the European Union, has been engaged with both sides in seeking to bring that forward. There will be a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union next week and I expect that the issue will be discussed further at that stage.

I intend to visit the Middle East at some stage. I have not yet set exact dates for it but I will co-ordinate with Baroness Ashton about that so that the position of the European Union and its Foreign Ministers can be co-ordinated in the efforts that we make.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome that response.

An active approach is required in this instance. Given the trade relations between Israel and many EU member states, bilateral connectivity between the Governments of EU states and the Israeli Government could be helpful to bring all parties to the table as a matter of urgency.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I agree with that. There is ongoing bilateral contact between European Union states and our own. I have spoken directly with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr. Lieberman, about the issue and I intend to do that again. When we are in a position to diary it, in particular, I intend to co-ordinate this with Baroness Ashton, to schedule a visit to the Middle East and to make our own direct involvement in the issue in order to help and facilitate moving talks forward.