Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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10. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide an update on the incident in southern Lebanon where Irish peacekeepers came under fire from the Israel Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29866/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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36. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the contact that has been made with the Israeli Government after Irish peacekeepers in southern Lebanon having most recently came under fire from the Israel Defence Forces, IDF, at the end of May, which followed on from attacks by the IDF on Irish diplomats; how the Israeli Government has sanctioned the IDF soldiers involved in firing live ammunition at Irish citizens; and the security guarantees for Irish peacekeepers and diplomats he has demanded from the Israeli Government. [31306/25]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline UNIFIL’s engagement with the Israeli authorities on the recent shooting incident involving Irish peacekeeping troops in southern Lebanon; the response that has been received on any engagement with UNIFIL with the Israeli authorities on this recent incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31160/25]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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This question is on the shots fired at our peacekeeping soldiers in Lebanon. Will the Tánaiste provide a comment on this?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 36 and 39 together.

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this question. Our peacekeepers in Lebanon are part of an international UN-mandated force under the command of UNIFIL. They are part of Ireland's long and proud history of peacekeeping, and I know from my recent visit to our troops in UNIFIL that they are making a really important contribution in a very challenging environment. They are acting as the international community's eyes and ears on the ground. I want to take this opportunity, joining with Deputy Smith and everybody in the House, to state again our thanks to our personnel for the valuable service they carry out in support of international peace and security in the region. I reaffirm once again that their safety and security is a matter of the highest priority for me as Minister for Defence and for the Irish Government. I also thank their families for the sacrifices they make.

To address the incident referred to, while the Irish patrol was not directly targeted by the Israel Defense Forces in the incident on 29 May, the firing of ammunition in the vicinity of an Irish patrol is considered extraordinarily reckless. Such actions are completely unacceptable in terms of the safety of our peacekeepers in the execution of their mandated duties. In my view, it was simply an attempt to intimidate our peacekeepers. We saw an attempt to intimidate our diplomats relatively recently and now we have seen an attempt to intimidate our peacekeepers.

The incident in Yaroun was unconscionable, and I categorically condemn any endangerment of our peacekeepers. On hearing of this development, I immediately directed that my officials convey a formal demarche to both the United Nations and the Israeli mission to the UN in New York to express my deep concern regarding the unacceptable nature of the incident and the actions of the Israel Defense Forces. In this regard, our permanent representative to the United Nations in New York made contact with the Under Secretary General for Peace Operations at the UN, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, on 30 May, immediately after the incident. The deep and well-founded concerns of the Irish Government in relation to the incident were clearly and frankly conveyed to the UN.

Also on my instruction, our permanent mission to the UN expressed our grave concerns and anger directly to the permanent mission of Israel to the United Nations and, through them, to the Israeli Government. Ireland has also requested that UNIFIL formally raise these concerns as a matter of urgency with the appropriate Israeli authorities. Should any further incident of this nature occur, we will continue to do so without hesitation.

I reassure the House that I remain in regular contact with the Chief of Staff with regard to the deployment of our personnel in UNIFIL. The Department is also regularly kept apprised of all developments in those areas where Defence Forces personnel are deployed. There are robust force protection measures in place to support the security and safety of all personnel, and these measures are continually reviewed and enhanced as necessary to address any emerging threat.

We have to be clear about what is going on here. It is a constant attempt to undermine peacekeeping by the Israel Defense Forces. Then they come out with whataboutery and state they will look into matters and issue apologies. It misses the point. There needs to be accountability in relation to those who fired these shots, which were clearly an absolute breach of everybody's basic understanding of international laws and rules in relation to peacekeeping. Sadly, it is not an isolated incident because when our permanent representatives to Palestine were visiting a refugee camp, as diplomats during their duties, we saw a similar incident when shots were fired in their direction. This is a pattern of intimidation by the Israeli Government and the Israel Defense Forces.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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I thank the Tánaiste and I welcome the swift and stern diplomatic response we had to this incident through the United Nations. As the Tánaiste has said, this is a pattern of behaviour. There is no sense this pattern will stop. We are lucky there were no injuries or loss of life but if, God forbid, we see further instances such as this or an escalation, what is open to us as a State in terms of escalating actions against Israel? Will we continue to demarche through the United Nations? We know that legislatively we have the occupied Palestinian territories Bill coming through the foreign affairs committee and we will debate it there but what else can be done? We had a delegation from the Palestinian Authority meet the foreign affairs committee to discuss issues such as planning and water services. Senior operations people gave an absolutely stark vista of Gaza, the West Bank and everywhere in terms of Palestine and Israel's actions. This pattern we are witnessing in terms of peacekeepers is just one of a host of aggressive actions by Israel against Palestinians and peacekeeping.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Smith. I believe that when the representatives of Palestine met the foreign affairs committee and addressed the matter, they referred to Ireland and possibly Algeria as two of the most supportive countries of their actions. Perhaps that is not articulated enough in the House. This country, the Government and the Oireachtas are doing everything we possibly can, and we will continue to do everything we possibly can, to support the people of Palestine, support international law and support human rights. It was good to hear that recognised by Palestinians at the foreign affairs committee as recently as this week.

Yes, we will continue to demarche but it is well beyond time for real practical actions against the Israeli Government. This is why Ireland has called for the association agreement review. We have a Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday week. What I would say today in the House is that I hope and expect the European Commission on that occasion to bring forward a list of options on what actions Europe can and should take on Israel's clear breach of our association agreement. It is my view, the view of Deputy Smith and the view of most Members of the House that the agreement should be suspended as Israel is clearly in breach of the human rights clauses, which are not just there for padding. It is clearly in breach of the human rights clauses. In the absence of that decision, which would require unanimity of the European Union, the very least we should expect is that the European Commission present to the Foreign Affairs Council options as to immediate measures and sanctions that can be taken. There has to be cause and effect between the breach of an agreement and action being taken by Europe.

Yes, we will bring forward the Bill regarding the occupied Palestinian territories. I hope to bring it to the Cabinet next week; or if not next week, then certainly the following week. The Bill will go to the Oireachtas committee this month and it can begin its scrutiny process. We will continue to use every avenue available. The Taoiseach will represent our country at the UN two-state solution conference, which I think is next week.

One of the most practical things we should all be pushing for through our own political groupings in Europe is for a speedy review of the association agreement. There is no reason, in my view, in the wide earthly world why the European Commission should not be presenting options for member states to consider in terms of the breaches that have clearly taken place. That would be real, tangible action that Europe can and should take regarding the Israeli Government.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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That is interesting. Is it the Tánaiste's hope or expectation that the Commission will bring some options to the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday week?

The occupied territories Bill will be coming forward. I am sure the Tánaiste's attention has been drawn to the legal action that has been taken by a transnational group of lawyers against Airbnb due to its operation of services in the occupied territories. Senator Frances Black hosted a briefing in the audiovisual room on Tuesday morning. There was a very strong legal opinion that under the definition of trade we cannot separate goods and services. I am sure the Tánaiste's attention will have been drawn to that in the spirit of wanting to get this Bill right, and he knows our position in terms of including services in it. Again, this is all about bringing tangible sanctions against Israel for its actions. It was not lost on me, the Tánaiste or anyone else who heard it that the Palestinian people see allies all over the world. They mention Ireland and Algeria, and it should not be lost on anyone on either side of the House that our actions here make a difference to the Palestinian people.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It is fair to say that we will be seeing continuity in Israel's pattern of behaviour. It is not surprising for an entity that engages in genocidal action. The shooting at Irish peacekeepers and diplomats was an absolute disgrace. We know the actions we need to take, whether it is the occupied territories Bill and the inclusion of services. I agree with the Tánaiste that the Commission needs to take action regarding the EU-Israel association agreement. All I can say is that it is a disgrace. We also have to find a way to ensure we are not facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds by whatever means possible.

I have two questions. One of them relates to Seán Rooney. We have to do right by peacekeepers and make sure we do everything for them. I know there is a case at this point. The Tánaiste will not be shocked at the question I am going to ask now regarding Michael McNeela, who lost his life in Lebanon in 1989. His mother received the pension but when she died, his father, John, did not. I have spoken to the Tánaiste about it before. It is something that needs to be resolved. Discussions between the Tánaiste's Department and the Department of Social Protection were meant to take place about finding an interim solution, but the legislation needs to change.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Irish peacekeeping troops were fired on. It is not the first time; it has happened through the years with Israeli forces and their proxies in that area. The fact is this is not the first time. Is it true to say that the co-ordinates of the Irish troops are given to the so-called Israel Defense Forces, that the bunkers are not moved, and that they know where the peacekeepers have been for a long time? They know exactly where the troops are. They know exactly what they are doing regarding the attacks on these troops.

One of my colleagues made the point yesterday that the Israeli war bonds are facilitated by the Central Bank. The rounds that were fired at the Irish peacekeepers were possibly paid for by those war bonds. It highlights the challenges we are facing with regard to the conflict in that zone and what we need to do. We need to be more proactive on this issue.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Governor of the Central Bank outlined the legal and practical situation yesterday at the Oireachtas committee. Nobody wants to see anything happening that in any way provides any support, direct or indirect, to the Israeli Government's horrific actions and the genocidal activity. We have to operate within the laws of the land and the laws of Europe, but we continue to work our way through all issues.

Deputy Smith asked whether it was my hope or expectation, which is a fair question. It is certainly my request and the request of a number of European countries. I would think it is a legitimate expectation, but I do not yet know. The people of Ireland and Europe are watching on. They are looking at the European Union - I am a big fan of the European Union; it has been great for our country - as a major peace project. It is one of the most successful peace projects in the world. The majority of EU member states agreed to a review of an agreement, something Spain and Ireland had been seeking for more than three years. There is an onus on the EU now to maintain credibility by ensuring that review is swift and has clear consequences. We should see those actions. We need to see those actions quite quickly.

On the issue of services, as I have said before with regard to the occupied Palestinian territories, I am very supportive of the policy rationale for it. However, I have to get the law right. It is likely that the draft Bill will be for goods, as per the commitment in the programme for Government, but, to be very clear, as I have said to Senator Black, the Oireachtas committee will then scrutinise if it is possible to include services. I have also asked the Attorney General for updated advice regarding that to get advice external to my own Department's legal advice. I expect to receive that shortly.

I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for raising the case of Seán Rooney. I want to see every support possible provided to the Rooney family. We will work our way through all of those issues. I also want to see justice for Seán Rooney and his family. We will continue working in that regard.

I also thank Deputy Ó Murchú for raising the case of Michael McNeela. In fairness, he raised it with me long before anybody else ever did. I thank him for doing that. I heard Michael's father, John, on the radio, and you could not but be moved. I extend my deep sympathies to John on the loss of Michael. There is a legitimate policy question here. One would imagine this affects a very small number of people with very particular tragic circumstances. The engagement between my own Department and other Departments is ongoing. I do not want to say more than that until I make more progress, but I am very sympathetic and supportive to seeing whether action can be taken.