Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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135. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline Ireland’s response to Israel breaking the ceasefire and launching new phase of aggression against innocent civilians living in Gaza and in southern Lebanon. [15540/25]

Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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136. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the efforts of his Department to help secure a cessation of violence in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15212/25]

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I raise an issue I raised with the Taoiseach three weeks ago and that was also raised this evening by Deputy Carthy. I am seeking clarification on the occupied territories Bill, the reinstatement of which was included in the programme for Government. In a meeting with the Palestinian ambassador, she asked whether the Bill, when it is reintroduced, will include provisions regarding natural resources. I accept that the Tánaiste does not want to fully disclose that until his meeting with Senator Black but can he add any clarification tonight on the matter?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I would like to reflect on it and come back to him with an informed view after I meet with Senator Black and my team in the Department to decide the best way to advance the commitment in the programme for Government. I acknowledge the Deputy's deep interest in this matter. I am deeply concerned by the negative trajectory of the situation on the ground in Palestine, Lebanon, where I was last week, and Israel over recent weeks. This remains a central focus of Ireland's foreign policy and my engagement with EU and international counterparts.

Regarding the situation in Gaza, the immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing the violence to an end. When we had this conversation in the Dáil approximately six weeks ago, we were talking about a fragile ceasefire and one that was imperfect. That was absolutely the case. However, hostages were being released, the bombardment of citizens had stopped and aid was finally beginning to flow. How different and dark the situation is now, six weeks later. We need to get people back to the table for talks to get the second phase of the ceasefire and the hostage release deal in place.

This matter is central to my engagement with EU partners. I welcome that the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, Kaja Kallas, conveyed a clear message to both Israel and Arab partners during her recent visit to the region. In particular, the call for the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, including the release of all hostages, a permanent end to hostilities and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, was a timely and important message, which was conveyed by Kaja Kallas and Arab and Islamic partners following their meeting on 23 March.

The situation on the ground is deeply shocking. I have condemned the resumption of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the new ground offensive. They have brought fresh suffering - that is too weak a word - to the people of Gaza and have breached the ceasefire. I am deeply concerned about Israel’s decision on 2 March to stop humanitarian aid and electricity supply to Gaza. It is a despicable decision that needs to be reversed. It continues to really worsen the humanitarian crisis. There must be an immediate resumption of humanitarian aid, at scale, to the people of Gaza. Irish taxpayers have sent aid to the region, which is currently in Jordan. It includes enough food and shelter for 6,000 people but we have been unable to get it into Gaza.

On a more positive note, I welcome the recent agreement among Arab countries on a joint plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, which offers a realistic and sustainable path forward. Supporting the implementation of this plan will be a focus of my engagement with EU and international partners. I have met with my Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian counterparts to discuss these issues. To get to that point, we need a ceasefire and for the hostilities to stop.

I remain extremely concerned about the security situation in southern Lebanon and the impact on civilians following the expiry of the ceasefire agreement on 18 February. The recent escalatory actions by Israel in southern Lebanon and Beirut in retaliation for rockets targeting northern Israel raises concern of a potential return to full-scale conflict. The continued presence of both Israeli and Hezbollah ground forces in the area and the exchange of airstrikes and missile attacks leave southern Lebanon very vulnerable to further conflict. I discussed the situation and these concerns with the Lebanese ministers for defence and foreign affairs during my visit to Lebanon last week. I also expressed our continued support, and the support of every Member of this House, for the incredible work and bravery of the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann who are part of the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. I had the absolute honour to meet those 339 women and men of the Defence Forces. I thank them for the work they are doing in building peace in the region.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire for that update. It is very important that we keep the public informed of developments. I welcome his indication that he will meet with Senator Black next Tuesday. I thank him and his Department for the aid already supplied. It is very important that when the occupied territories Bill comes back to the House, provisions regarding resources are included, especially the natural resources that are extracted from the occupied territories. I hope that by taking that step in the right direction, we will see an outcome similar to that of the action taken by the Dunnes Stores workers, with Mary Manning's strike leading to Ireland being the first western country to impose a complete ban on South African goods.

I draw the Tánaiste's attention to a case of family reunification in Dublin Bay North in which a Palestinian family is being taken in but further assistance is being sought. I will give him the details on that.

Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I think I am safe in saying I am the only Member of the Dáil who has completed a tour of duty with UNIFIL. I concur with the Tánaiste's statement of support for the 300-plus men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann who are currently in Camp Shamrock and other areas of southern Lebanon, which is an area with which I am very familiar. The Tánaiste will appreciate why matters relating to peace in the Middle East are of huge interest to me. I have been a proud member of the Defence Forces. I have worn the blue beret and provided the vital service of peacekeeper, alongside my UN colleagues, to the citizens of Lebanon. The Tánaiste can imagine my horror to see Israel carry out, last Friday, its first attack on Beirut since the ceasefire came into force in November that put an end to more than 13 months of conflict with Hezbollah. Another airstrike overnight has claimed the lives of a further four Lebanese citizens, including one woman, and injured seven people. How can we strengthen our support for Lebanon and its Government when the ceasefire is so fragile?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to take the details of the case Deputy Heneghan mentioned and to engage with him directly on it.

I thank Deputy Callaghan for her service in Óglaigh na hÉireann and for her tour of duty. I am glad to have her in my party, on our team and in the Dáil, bringing her experience of having served in Lebanon. Just by visiting, I got a an insight that is not even a fraction of what she would have experienced. That insight is very important when we have these discussions. The wish to be informed is why I wanted to go there last week. We see the devastation in that beautiful, scenic country, with its beautiful people, 4,000 of whom have been killed in the current phase of the conflict, including hundreds of children, with another 1,500 people injured. The Deputy is right that there is a real fragility to the situation. She is also right that what we have seen in recent days is a cause of huge concern.

Here in Ireland and at the European and UN levels, we must call for a de-escalation and full implementation of the ceasefire. We also must support the new Lebanese Government. That new Government has given great cause for hope. Very substantive figures have been appointed to senior posts. I met the ministers for foreign affairs and defence. There is a new President and a new Prime Minister. Finally, a Government is in place.

They need help as well. They have just agreed their new budget. That should hopefully show them a path of reform. It might open up channels with regard to IMF funding and the likes again, because we need to help the Government of Lebanon build up its public services and also build up the Lebanese Armed Forces, LAF. The primary purpose of UNIFIL being there is to support the LAF in protecting the peace, so we need to do everything we practically can to help this new government too.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Are Deputies happy or does Deputy Heneghan wish to respond?

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank the Tánaiste for taking up the case. I will give him the details with regard to that.

Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I would like to ensure that the essential need for humanitarian aid to flow to citizens of Gaza is also met, with all the hostages to be released. I concur with what the Tánaiste said about strengthening our support for Lebanon and its new government, particularly with our Irish soldiers who, as he noted, are serving over there, and about keeping the men and women who are proudly serving our country by protecting Lebanese civilians and keeping them safe and out of harm's way.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On my trip to Lebanon, of course I took the opportunity to raise the case of Private Seán Rooney, a stark reminder of the 48 people who have lost their lives serving with Óglaigh na hÉireann on tours of duty in Lebanon. We think of Seán Rooney and his family and we continue in our quest for justice and truth. I raised that with the defence Minister and the foreign Minister. I handed over a letter on behalf of the Government. All the people involved need to be brought to justice. I accept the separation of powers that exists but still, it is absolutely essential that the Lebanese Government understands our deep frustration and disappointment at the lack of progress, to put it mildly, regarding this case. We expect and want to see progress on it.