Dáil debates

Thursday, 4 October 2018

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Middle East Peace Process

10:30 am

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the course of action the Government will take in the coming months if there is no progress in regard to the Middle East peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40419/18]

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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What course of action does the Tánaiste and the Government intend to pursue over the coming months if there is no progress in regard to the Middle East peace process?

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. I know he has a personal interest in this issue, as do I. There are several parallel strands of activity in regard to the Middle East peace process which inform Government policy on the Middle East generally.

On the political front, over the past year the US Administration has been actively exploring the possibility of relaunching the process to reach a comprehensive peace agreement, which is welcome. I have met and spoken to the US team on a number of occasions, including in the United Nations last week, to encourage its work and to underline the key parameters for an agreement which the European Union has long espoused.

I have been clear in my conversations with the United States that a peace plan can only work if it engages Palestinian support, as well as Israeli support. In this regard, I have also urged President Abbas to keep an open mind on the US plans, despite justifiable Palestinian frustration at cuts in US funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, and other Palestinian programmes and at the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. These are decisions that I have criticised on many occasions, including last week.

Ireland and the EU are also working on the ground to address the negative impacts of the occupation and to keep open the physical space necessary for a two-state solution, which I believe to be the only basis for a solution. The Government has committed in the programme for Government to recognising the state of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement to the conflict. I have made clear, including during the visit of President Abbas, that I have an open mind on this question. I am very mindful of the situation on the ground and I will be ready to look again at recognition if progress is not being made towards a comprehensive peace agreement.

It is important to sustain the hope of the Palestinian people in the face of their natural frustration with the lack of a political process to move things forward. To this end, I am also working with the Palestinian Authority to explore the idea of bringing a small number of European and Arab ministers to Dublin to consider next steps in terms of a political conversation. We are also keeping open the dialogue with the Israeli Government. I met the outgoing Israeli ambassador this week. We hope to develop the proposal on a meeting of European and Arab ministers in consultation with partners in the coming days.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste will be aware that there has been no progress. It is fair to say that the situation in Gaza is deteriorating and that, as stated by the Tánaiste, it is untenable. I am sure he will agree that, with the ongoing expansion of the illegal settlements, the demolition of the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar, the national state law enacted by the Knesset and the US Administration's decisions to cease funding, relocate its embassy to Jerusalem and close the PLO office in Washington, it is all going in the one direction. The Tánaiste mentioned that he met President Abbas during the week and conveyed to him his willingness to recognise the state of Palestine, which is welcome. This is the position of Fianna Fáil also. It is important to note that the Spanish foreign minister also raised the possibility of an initiative to get the EU to recognise the state of Palestine and to move forward the peace process.

On the Tánaiste's reference to plans to host a meeting in Ireland to restart the peace process, will he be a little more definitive on whether that is a concept without a timeline or an actual plan? Given the recent actions of the US Administration, which we all find objectionable and about which we have all voiced concerns, does the Tánaiste believe that it can be considered an honest broker in the peace talks? I am sure he is aware that the Palestinians have no faith in the US Administration.

Photo of Pat GallagherPat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We must adhere to time limits.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Should we not concentrate our efforts on an EU initiative rather than putting all our faith in the Americans in terms of delivery?

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy has asked a number of questions to which I will try to give direct answers. As I said, many Members of this House are interested in this issue. I ask that they contact me with any thoughts and initiatives they may have in this area because anything done in this area impacts on our ability to be in some way influential. I do not want to overstate how influential Ireland might be. We are a relatively small player but we speak to all of the key partners. We have a good relationship with the Palestinian leadership and, I think, a reasonably good relationship with the Israeli Government. I have made it my business to get to know some of the key decision-makers on the US side as well. We are trying to move matters in the right direction. My stated position in regard to the kind of outcome that I believe is necessary is pretty clear. I do not believe there will be a deal done on a peace process in the Middle East without the US being central to it but I believe that other countries need to be involved to reassure the Palestinians that they have friends around the table given the deterioration of the relationship between the Palestinian Authority and the US over the past 12 months in particular.

We have had detailed discussions with the Palestinian Authority and a number of EU and Arab countries in regard to the meeting that we are planning for Dublin, which we are hoping to hold in late November. We will need to pick a date that ensures maximum attendance.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste has visited Palestine a number of times and he will be aware that I was there recently. During my engagement with non-governmental organisations and the Palestinians the word that came up constantly was "impunity". They believe the Americans and the Israelis continue to act with impunity. We need to keep that to the forefront of our minds. They have no faith in any process which may be offered.

The Minister is aware of that also. Does he have any timeframe in mind to formally recognise the state of Palestine? Are we going to have an initiative by him to do this formally? Can I tie him down in that regard?

On the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill, is it still the position of the Minister that he is opposed to it? It is to be brought back to the Seanad in late November. The Minister knows my party's position on it. It is something that made an impact when it was passed on Second Stage in the Seanad. Has the Minister reconsidered his approach to it?

10:40 am

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In our consideration of the particular Bill we have since spoken to the European Commission which has confirmed my concerns, on which I hope Fianna Fáil will reflect. I do not believe any responsible party in the Dáil or the Seanad should supporting legislation that we know is not legally sound. I am as passionate as anyone in this House about the need to create pressure and a political environment that can help to encourage a peace process to develop. However, I am not in the business of supporting legislation that I know is unimplementable and not legally sound and will create a legal problem with the European Commission, as both the Deputy and I are aware.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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There are different legal opinions on it.

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The official position of the European Commission is clear. One can find a lawyer somewhere who will give an alternative view. The Deputy is aware of what it is like to be in government. The official positions of the Attorney General and the European Commission are clear. We should not be advancing legislation, albeit for understandable political reasons, when we know that is not legally sound. There are other ways by which we can move the political debate forward, of which we are pursuing a number.