Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Much has happened following Sinn Féin's Private Members' motion which called on the Government to recognise the state of Palestine and which was passed unopposed in the Dáil on 10 December 2014. Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu has since been re-elected as Prime Minister of Israel. He has overseen the illegal blockade and mediaeval siege of Gaza, the building of an apartheid wall in Palestine, the construction of more illegal colonial settlements in east Jerusalem and on the West Bank and the wholesale destruction of Gaza during a brutal 50-day bombardment in 2014 and an eight-day bombardment in 2012 in which collectively nearly 2,500 Palestinians were killed and over 10,000 injured. During the course of the election campaign Mr. Netanyahu clearly stated he would never recognise the state of Palestine and peace negotiations have gone nowhere. Ireland needs to swiftly put itself on the right side of history and join the vast majority of countries, 136, that have recognised the state of Palestine.

We know that consensus will not be reached at European level and that Palestinians cannot wait for it. Sweden has recognised this and its new government took that step. It took years at EU level to introduce the labelling of settlement goods. The Irish people have shown huge solidarity with and support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. Tens of thousands of people across the island have taken part in demonstrations in support of the Palestinian people. Will the Government recognise the state of Palestine before its term ends? It is a simple question.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Deputy Seán Crowe mentioned Sinn Féin's Private Members' motion of 10 December 2014 which called on the Government to officially recognise the state of Palestine. It was passed unopposed by the House. Not one Member of the Oireachtas - a similar motion was passed by the Seanad - voted against either motion, yet the Government has refused to act on a motion passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas. As I said at the time, while some people were spinning in saying the motion was non-binding, I do not see how a Government could not support it and its effects in the future. It is not only a challenge to us, as Opposition Members, but also a challenge to the Government to live up to what is contained in it. Sadly, the Government has not done so and we are back again on the eve of the end of the Government, having seen no movement, despite the fact that it is over one year since the motion was passed. In my speech at the time I also mentioned that only down the road in the Mansion House, nearly 100 years ago, An Chéad Dáil met. The Irish State was founded that morning and it called on all free nations of the world to recognise it. The Palestinian people in their call to this Parliament and others around the world are echoing the call made by the Irish people in An Chéad Dáil on 21 January 1919. It is a very simple step which could be taken today. I hope the Minister of State will do this in his respone, to officially recognise the state of Palestine and send a message to these beleaguered people.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The achievement of a sovereign Palestinian state, recognised not just by Ireland but by everyone, including Israel, has been a major foreign policy objective of the Government since it took office. It is something we seek to achieve in reality, not just in words, and all of the Government's actions in relation to the Middle East conflict are directed to that end. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, has repeatedly stressed at the Foreign Affairs Council the need to retain an EU focus on the issue of Palestine, notwithstanding the many other crises in the Middle East region and elsewhere. Only a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state existing alongside and in peace with Israel, can satisfy the needs of both peoples for security and prosperity.

Last year the Seanad and the Dáil passed motions which called on the Government to recognise Palestine and help to achieve a two-state solution. The Government did not oppose, or seek to amend, the motions that were calling for something towards which we were already working. There were similar motions in other European parliaments, prompted by the decision of Sweden in October to recognise Palestine. In Ireland, as in most countries, the recognition of sovereign states is a matter for decision by the Government. The views of the Oireachtas are, of course, a very important factor in that consideration. However, it remains for the Government and, in the first instance, the Minister to consider if this would be an appropriate step and, if so, when it might be best to take it.

With other Ministers, the Minister spoke in the Dáil debate last December, setting out in detail the Government's view on the issue. He stated clearly that, while successive Governments had always seen recognition as part of an overall peace agreement, he would have no difficulty with early recognition by Ireland if he felt it could be helpful to the situation, that is, to the effort to reach such a peace agreement. The statements made in that debate also set out, in more detail than I can do so today, the many and various factors which might be weighed in making that consideration. All of us know that recognition by Ireland would not of itself bring a Palestinian state into being. However, we need to consider not just the positive symbolic significance recognition might have for Palestinians but also the effect it might have on the Israeli side, where we seek to influence and persuade. We must also consider how it might affect Ireland's influence and voice on the issue both in the region and in international discussions, particularly at EU level, and any impact it might have on Ireland's ability to continue our work on the ground. There are potential downsides to be considered, as well as gains.

In terms of timing, clearly some events in the last year would have weighed on consideration as regards when might be the right moment for a decision to be made on recognition. They include the lengthy election and coalition-building process in Israel in the first half of the year and the continuing debate in the European Union on Middle East policy. More recently, the upsurge of violence in Jerusalem and elsewhere has to be considered. I do not for one moment suggest we can only act in the Middle East when the situation is calm, but a move now, just when violence has dramatically increased, could well be misread as a signal by either side or both sides. When the action under consideration is a symbolic gesture, timing is everything. The audience on which we are seeking to impact is in the region, not here. During that period also the Minister has visited Israel and the Palestinian territory. He has discussed the recognition question with some EU colleagues and the Palestinian Foreign Minister. It is also worth noting that no further EU partner has followed Sweden and recognised Palestine. The Minister is continuing to consider the question of early recognition by Ireland of the state of Palestine.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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That is an appalling answer to what we are seeking. I do not see how the Minister of State can ignore the democratic will of this House. He says the final decision rests with the Minister, but the Minister's colleagues in both Houses have called for the recognition of Palestine. The Minister of State says the timing is not right, but when will it be right for the Palestinian people? It is a fair question, but does the Minister of State have an answer to it?

We were also told that the timing was wrong for the labelling of settlement goods. Eventually, however, after waiting for years, the matter has been recognised.

The Minister of State is concerned about the impact this might have on Israel. What about the impact it might have on Palestinians, who at the moment are under the heel of the Israeli defence forces, including those Palestinians who are under siege in Gaza and those Palestinians who are being tortured in terrible conditions in prisons across the Occupied Territories?

I want to see the Minister of State deliver a positive message. We have repeatedly asked the Government. The Minister of State has said there is no recognition, but what is the Government waiting for? Sweden has recognised, which has led to a reflection in all the EU states on the issue. The situation has got considerably worse in Palestine - any fool would accept that. The Israeli Government continues to flout international human rights law with impunity. Recognition of Palestine along the 1967 lines is the logical step now for all states committed to an equitable two-state solution.

If we truly want a lasting and sustainable peace in this region, we need to work swiftly to recognise the state of Palestine. That is what we are asking for. Pushing it off for another six months, two years or five years would mean Ireland playing no real role in trying to bring about a lasting peace in the region.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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This is no reflection on the Minister of State, who is here to do a job, but it is a pity the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is not here. The original script the Minister of State was forced to read here was one of the most crawling speeches I have heard in this House. It seems to lay the blame for on inaction on us. He said that we seek to achieve in reality, not just in words. When we tabled the motion in this House and in the Seanad we understood it was not empty words; we were looking for action from the Government on foot of a motion passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Minister of State asked if this was an appropriate step. It is always appropriate for an independent state to recognise another independent state, especially given that more than 70% of the UN countries have already done so. Not one person voted against those motions in these Houses. It is deplorable that no action has been taken. Even the recent action to deal with the issue of settlement goods was taken on foot of the EU and not by the Government despite a motion and calls from this side of the House and by me, not under this Government but under the previous one, for this State to take actions. It has not done so because it always seems to want to wait until some other country takes action. In this case Deputy Crowe has mentioned the other countries that have taken action. They had the will to stand up against the Israelis and what they have done in that region for many years. I reiterate not only the content of the motion to which I have referred but also the call to immediately suspend the EU trade agreements, to expel the ambassador, to boycott settlement goods, and also to encourage Irish companies to disinvest from Israel and to impose the sanctions required. Those are the actions, not words, required.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I remind Deputies Crowe and Ó Snodaigh that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and his Government colleagues are willing to move on early recognition of Palestine if it is concluded that it can be helpful and the time is right. The Minister made this very clear in last year's Dáil debate, when he outlined the factors that would guide that consideration. The Minister is continuing to consider the question carefully and I would be happy to advise him of the arguments advanced by the Deputies here today.

There is no disrespect for the views of the Oireachtas. The motions moved last year are clearly important factors to be considered, but this remains a decision for the Government, based on its assessment of the pros and cons of the issue and its timing.