Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

7. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the number of times he has met with the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland since he took office. [37514/25]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The slaughter in Gaza is one of the biggest stains on the international community. The killing of 57,700 people in Gaza is a war crime of massive proportions. It is happening in large part because it is underwritten by the West. It is underwritten by the US and many countries in the European Union. The approach of the West to the war in Ukraine and the war in Palestine could not be more different. Ireland’s approach could also not be more different. Is the refusal of visas for the 33 Palestinian children from the GAA Palestine project not an example of this?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy was critical of the decision not to grant the visas.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am critical of that.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Every individual visa application has to be considered on its merit. This country will continue to apply rules in relation to migration and the issuing of visas. The Department of justice will continue to robustly apply rules, particularly when it involves minors and minors travelling without their parents and accompanied by other adults. I will not get into the individual application beyond saying an appeals process is in place. The documentation we require as a State is something we take very seriously.

On 28 May, we marked one year since Ireland announced that it would recognise the State of Palestine. Ireland, together with Spain and Norway, took that decision as an expression of our view that Palestine holds, and should be able to vindicate, the full rights of a state. That made the Palestinian representative a full ambassador in due course. It was a very important moment and the first time we have had an ambassador from Palestine in Ireland. In my capacity as the then Taoiseach, I was delighted to welcome for the first time a Palestinian ambassador to the Taoiseach’s office on 6 June 2024.

Since the announcement of Ireland's decision to recognise Palestine, an exchange of diplomatic notes confirming the establishment of full diplomatic relations was completed on 29 September 2024 and that enabled the Palestinian ambassador to presented her credentials as Palestine's first ambassador to Ireland in December.

Ireland's representative office to the Palestinian Authority maintains close and regular contact with the Palestinian authorities, and senior officials in my Department are also in regular contact with the ambassador and other officials at the embassy of the State of Palestine.

Much of my engagement with the Palestinian authority is at political level with my direct counterparts. I have met and spoken to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Mustafa. I keep in contact with them and other interlocutors of the Palestinian Authority.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I agree there should be rules and checks. Nobody has said that more in this Chamber than me probably in recent years. However, I have also said it needs to be compassionate. That is something the Tánaiste has said too and that there should be a strict system and compassionate response. There are dozens of children unaccompanied coming to this country annually at the moment anyway. That is the state of the situation. Look at the two approaches between Ukraine and Palestine. There are 112,189 people from Ukraine here. They do not need a visa. They are considered, for their temporary situation, to be nearly European citizens in what they can do. I understand that. On the other side, we have 33 Palestinian children from the GAA Palestine project. It is very obvious there is a two-tier approach that is materially different. Those two groups have had a completely different material difference in relation to this. Will the Tánaiste formally ask the Minister for justice to intervene on this and see if visas can be provided for these children?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Many visas have been granted to Palestinian nationals, mostly to family members of Irish citizens and residents. We do try to adopt a compassionate approach. I take the Deputy’s point and his credibility on this in the sense of wanting a rules-based migration system. I do not doubt his bona fides on that. I also do not doubt, nor does the Minister for justice or the Government, the good faith of those in organising these events. I do not doubt it at all for a moment. However, many factors must be considered before a visa can be granted. Unfortunately, not all people will be able to demonstrate that they satisfy the conditions to be granted a visa to come to Ireland. A visa is a very important legal document in our migration system. There was a request for 47 people to travel to Ireland from Palestine and 33 of these were children who were not travelling in the company of their parents. These applications were given very careful consideration. A visa officer has to be satisfied that children are travelling in the company of their parents or an appropriate guardian. Additional documents, such as birth certificates or consent letters, are regularly requested to establish the relationship. An appeals process is under way.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

While the Tánaiste has been stronger than many of his European counterparts in standing up for the people of Palestine, and I grant that is the case, the European Union is still very cold in how it is dealing with Gaza. Ursula von der Leyen strode the world’s stage stating that she would underwrite the IDF’s actions at the start of this process. I believe she distorted the foreign policy of this country and other European countries when she made those statements. She has been defended by members of the Tánaiste’s party. It is interesting that Mairead McGuinness defended Ursula von der Leyen amid the backlash on Gaza.

She said Ursula von der Leyen should be "judged by her record in the round" and is extremely strong in terms of humanitarian aid and she does not doubt her credentials at all of this topic. Does the Minister agree with the former EU Commissioner?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy has randomly picked former EU Commissioner. She must have caught his attention in terms of a potential upcoming electoral contest. I agree with the former Commissioner on many issues and I agree with her that the European Union, through the President of the Commission, has provided a significant level of leadership that other parts of the world have not provided. At a time when other parts of the world walked away from UNWRA, the European Commission, European Union and many member states significantly increased their contribution. We have significantly increased funding at EU level to the Palestinian Authority to help it reform. We are working very closely with Arab nations. Foreign policy is set by member states, through the high representative. The European Commission has taken many positive steps from a humanitarian aid point of view. A lack of European unity on Gaza and a way forward is extraordinarily regrettable. People will look back on this period of history and believe Europe could have done more.