Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I support the motion, which "urges the Government to redouble Ireland's efforts to bring peace to Iraq and Palestine", as I am sure every Member of the House does. Regardless of whether our efforts are being redoubled, trebled or quadrupled, we need to consider the practical steps we can take and the real impact we can make at international level to try to improve the problems in Iraq and Palestine.

Some Senators attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on European Affairs earlier today. A motion was agreed by the committee following a constructive and lengthy discussion on Israel and Palestine. It is interesting that similar motions are being considered by a committee and the Seanad in the aftermath of the vote which took place in the Knesset last night. We should not underestimate the political significance of the vote and the success of the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Sharon, in getting his proposal adopted.

When we have debated the Middle Eastern situation over the past few months, most people have focused on the fact that the road map solution agreed by the Quartet was the only show in town and the political way forward. We then began to doubt whether the road map could or would be implemented. Unfortunately, it has not made the progress for which we hoped. I hope that what happened last night in the Knesset is a very positive step forward. When one talks about the politics of the Middle East, everyone's motives can be questioned and people can wonder what exactly the Israeli Prime Minister is up to and whether he is sincere in his public pronouncements about the withdrawal of the settlements and the removal of some of the enclaves built. Last night, the Israeli Parliament voted to take a major step in that regard. I noted one interesting comment from the Israeli justice Minister, Yosef Lapid, who heads one of the centrist parties. He said that, while there was a great degree of debate on the political intrigue that went on in parliament, what was decided that day would be remembered in 100 years, so significant was it. I hope that it proves to be as significant as he said and a major step forward. Unfortunately, many steps must still be taken.

Senator Mooney spoke of the meeting he, Deputy Carey and I had last week with a representative of Israeli public opinion. I expect that it was a minority point of view. The argument was made to us that sanctions should be considered against Israel while human rights violations and the building of the so-called "peace wall" continue. My personal view of sanctions is that we should tread carefully. One can consider the example of South Africa, where sanctions obviously worked very well. However, in more recent times there were sanctions against Iraq which cannot be deemed to have been successful. When one adopts a policy of sanction and penalty, one may be breaking down the prospect of dialogue. In this country we can sadly claim to be experts on this. A policy of non-dialogue and refusing to engage and negotiate has not worked. The path to peace in the Middle East and turning that road map into a reality involves dialogue, co-operation and debate. I have doubts about the sanctions route, which might simply result in people hardening their positions. The road map is the way forward and if we want to see that solution enacted as agreed by the Quartet, we must encourage people to walk with us — I hope Members will excuse the pun. Sanctions might not be helpful in that regard.

I absolutely object to the "peace wall" project. There is no doubt that rather than bringing peace, it is causing more difficulty and distress and ravaging entire communities. At hearings of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and its human rights sub-committee over the past six months, we have had witnesses able to portray in the gravest detail what effect the "peace wall" project is having on the ground and how it is dividing communities economically, socially and politically. It is bringing great despair. It has been condemned by the entire international community and the message must be sent out from the Oireachtas to the Israeli authorities that the "peace wall"— or separation wall — project must stop and that meaningful, real negotiations must commence.

This House, the Oireachtas, the Government and its predecessors have always taken a very balanced and open approach to the Middle East, and to Israel and Palestine in particular. We were one of the first countries to recognise the right of the Palestinian people to have their own safe and secure state. Equally, we have always supported the right of Israel to have its people live in security and peace. That has been the policy of the Irish Government and it must continue. We must try to ensure that the European Union, the only forum where the Minister can have a direct impact, drives forward the road map solution.

I would also like to mention the situation in Iraq and I agree with what Senator Mooney said. We can dwell for ever on what should not have happened and how or why the invasion occurred. We could do the same regarding the atrocities committed by Saddam Hussein. We could dwell for ever on the mass graves now being found in Iraq, the direct result of his regime. However, that will not solve the problems. The people of the country are living in dangerous, depressing and fearful times. The killing goes on daily, and we must ask in this country what we can do to help them. I say to the Minister that we must ensure that the United Nations takes a more direct, hands-on role. In the run-up to the invasion, the cry coming from our Government, most of its European counterparts, and the international community was that nothing should happen without UN sanction or approval. That is not how the game played out. However, the United Nations is the best prospect for progress in Iraq.

The elections are scheduled to take place in January, and there is, probably with good reason, a great deal of doubt about whether they can go ahead. However, it must be the aspiration of the interim administration in Iraq and the international community that there be free and fair elections. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Annan, thinks that the elections can take place, but I understand the level of assistance afforded by the United Nations through election monitoring and preparation is quite minimal. There are obviously very good reasons Mr. Annan and his officials are not very inclined to pour hundreds of people into Iraq to help in the preparation and conduct of the Iraqi election. However, if we want the United Nations to play a major role in the reconstruction of that country, as is proper, we should start with our involvement in the elections. It will be the Iraqi people's first opportunity in generations to have some say in building their own country and conducting their own affairs. That is in everyone's interest. If one is a democrat, whether in Iraq or Europe, it is surely in one's interest to promote democracy and elections. A properly run, free and fair election in January would be a major step forward.

There are obviously great challenges. A tiny minority in Iraq is hell bent on trying to ensure that chaos continues and that murder, mayhem, kidnapping and looting are the daily diet of the Iraqi people. As I said, and as I believe Senator Mooney expressed more articulately, we can talk for ever about why the invasion should not have happened, but it did. We must now debate where we go from here and the best people to plan the future of Iraq are the Iraqis themselves. Their first opportunity will be by way of a free and fair election. I ask the Minister to try to ensure through international dialogue that the United Nations maximises its role in those elections and adds a veneer of confidence and international repute to them.