Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his recent trip to Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan; and if his Department have plans to formally recognise the state of Palestine. [8447/15]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Minister's visit to the Middle East last week, in particular the fact he visited Gaza and saw at first hand the conditions there, something which the Israeli Government and the Egyptian Government have denied to other Members of the Oireachtas and Irish MEPs. I tabled this question to get a brief report on the Minister's visit and on the discussions he had. I specifically want to know if he will detail his plans for formal recognition of the Palestinian state by this Government. As he knows, both Houses of the Oireachtas passed motions last year calling on the Government to do just that. I hope this will form part of his discussions.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Crowe was correct when he said that I had the opportunity to visit Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territory from 15 to 19 February. What was striking overall was that increasing instability, in particular arising from the conflict in Syria, is casting a dark shadow over the entire region.

In Lebanon, I had the opportunity to meet the UNIFIL force commander, Major General Luciano Portolano, and Irish troops serving with UNIFIL. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, it was not possible for my visit to Jordan to go ahead.

The primary purpose of my visit to Israel and the Palestinian territory was to personally assess the situation on the ground in the context of the Middle East peace process. I met a range of interlocutors, including the Foreign Minister of Israel, Mr. Liberman, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and Palestinian Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah, and Pierre Krahenbuhl, the Commissioner General of the UN Relief and Works Agency. I did not meet Hamas in Gaza. I also met UN agencies and civil society groups to develop a better understanding of the issues faced on all sides. I also had a telephone conversation with the leader of Israel’s Labour Party, Isaac Herzog, who has strong links with Ireland.

In Gaza, I was struck by the desperation of the humanitarian situation for so many people on the ground. In my subsequent meeting with Foreign Minister Liberman, I stressed the need to make further progress in lifting the blockade to meet humanitarian need and as an enabler of social and economic progress. I also raised with Minister Liberman my concerns about settlements and the threat that their continued expansion poses to the viability of a two-state solution. In the West Bank, I saw at first hand the impact of settlements, including on the daily life of Palestinians. I also met Israelis living near the border with Gaza who continue to live in fear of attacks from Hamas.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the fact the Minister visited Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon and that he laid a wreath to remember Irish peacekeepers who have died while on duty. I also welcome the fact that he met key political figures in Israel and Palestine. His announcement of more funding to UNRWA is strongly supported, and I have another parliamentary question on that issue. I hope the Minister can encourage other international partners to urgently donate to stem UNRWA's funding shortage.

My key question relates to the timeline for recognition of the state of Palestine. I think we all accept that the possibility of a two-state solution is dying. The people in Gaza cannot wait, which the Minister will know from the conditions there, nor can the people living behind the wall in Jerusalem. Does the Minister have a timescale, bearing in mind that both Houses of the Oireachtas voted in favour of this action?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I want to see the political process put back on track. In all of those meetings, the emphasis was placed on ensuring there were talks leading towards a two-state solution. The Deputy will be aware that elections are taking place in Israel currently. I hope we will see elections to the Palestinian Authority in the very near future.

I refer to what the Deputy said in regard to formal recognition of the state of Palestine. Members will be aware that the motion passed by the Dáil in December called on the Government to do everything it can at the international level to help secure an inclusive and viable peace process and two-state solution in order to bring about the positive conditions to end conflict in the area. The earlier Seanad motion in October used almost the same wording.

As Minister, everything I do on this issue is about ensuring that Ireland's actions will make a positive contribution towards that goal. In this regard, I had a very good discussion with the EU High Representative Mogherini in Dublin last month and again in a telephone call from the ground in Israel last week. As mentioned in my response to the Dáil motion, it is considered that it would be impractical and possibly counter-productive to attempt new initiatives while the Israeli elections are ongoing. I have consistently argued for a fundamental review of EU policy and I have assured the EU High Representative of my support and that of the Irish people.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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When does the Minister think the right time will be? That is the key question. It is inevitable that we are moving towards that path. I spoke to EU High Representative Mogherini about this and she said she did not believe anything would happen until after the elections. However, it is clear that the conditions are getting worse and that the possibility of a two-state solution is disappearing before our eyes.

People are looking for action. The action by the Irish Government should include recognition of the Palestinian state. It will not bring about Palestinian freedom but it will signal our support for those people who are oppressed.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I do not disagree with what Deputy Crowe said but I emphasise that my whole approach will be guided by a concern to ensure that the actions of Ireland will make a positive contribution to the achievement of a Palestinian state. We continue to stress, as successive Government have for some time, that a two-state solution is the only solution for the region that will bring about stability and peace. I emphasised this point in the context of our meeting with President Abbas. Our discussions were focused entirely on issues affecting the peace process. These included the settlements, the situation in Gaza, the possible role for the European Union in ensuring efforts to further internationalise the issue, including through the United Nations Security Council, and efforts to encourage further recognition for the Palestinian state.

It is clear there are very real and serious issues here, which I saw on the ground in Gaza where the situation was unacceptable. There was acknowledgement on the part of President Abbas and others of the Irish contribution towards the relief of the unacceptable humanitarian crisis there. I am closely monitoring the situation to ensure Ireland continues to play a positive and active role in this regard.