Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I sincerely thank all Senators for their contributions to the debate on the serious situation in the Middle East, which is vital for regional stability and of important strategic interest for the European Union. In particular, I thank Senators Bradford, Mooney, Norris, Minihan and Ryan, and Senator Henry who is in the Chair.

We have an obligation imposed by history and geography and a strong interest as Europeans in promoting peace, stability, democracy and respect for human rights for the people of the Middle East. I assure Senator Ryan our foreign policy is as strong, independent and focused today as it ever was. We believe in the fundamental rules of human rights, justice, equity, fairness, democracy, independence and sovereignty for all peoples. We make our position clear in every fora across the world at which we are represented both politically and diplomatically and that will continue. Ireland's even-handed treatment of all peoples involved in problems throughout the world earned us respect during the past decades.

The House agrees the interrelated problems of the Middle East cannot be addressed through unilateral or military action by any party or the international community. The only way forward is to revive the work of developing a comprehensive plan for peace in the region with the negotiation of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at its core. This will require difficult compromises on all sides and the full involvement of the international community.

The festering of the Palestinian issue continues to generate conflict throughout the region and beyond. The Government agrees it must be addressed with new urgency in view of the terrible crises of recent months. The European Union has a particularly important role to play and we fully support the work it does. The High Representative, Mr. Solana, will be there on behalf of the EU for the next seven days to attempt to make progress as a result of our meetings during the past two days in Luxembourg.

I represented the Government at the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg yesterday. Member states fully agreed we must continue to encourage President Abbas to negotiate the formation of a politically-based national unity government. The European Union is ready to respond to the formation of a government which is truly committed to the negotiation of a two-State solution based on an end to violence. Ireland will argue strongly for a positive EU response and continued EU engagement to support negotiations between President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert based on the essentials of the roadmap and the rights of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples under international law.

We firmly believe that following years of diminishing hope in the region revitalising a credible peace process between Israel and the Palestinians would have an important positive effect on the situation in neighbouring countries. The region has no alternative but to renew negotiations on all tracks with the involvement of all parties on the basis of their acceptance of certain fundamental principles.

I assure Senator Norris we will raise, through our Ambassador in Tel Aviv, the concerns he raised regarding the reported intentions of the Israeli army to destroy clinics and buildings in a village near Hebron. We are aware of the valuable work undertaken by his former partner, an Israeli citizen. It is absolutely clear the dismantling of illegal Israeli outposts must be undertaken urgently and should not be compensated for by the destruction of other properties.

The use of Shannon Airport by the US military is a long-established practice. Ireland has made overflight and landing facilities available to the United States for 50 years, during which these facilities have never been withdrawn or suspended. Dáil Éireann fully approved the Government's decision not to withdraw facilities following an extensive debate on 20 March 2003. The legality of the presence of the multinational force in Iraq is assured by UN Security Council Resolution 1546 of 8 June 2004 and 1637 of 8 November 2005 and by the request of the Iraqi Government.

The Government received specific categorical assurances from the United States authorities, confirmed by the US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, that prisoners have not been transferred through Irish territory not would they be without our permission. No one presented any evidence whatsoever to cast doubt on the validity of these assurances. It has been the Government's consistent position that we will co-operate fully with the investigations of the Council of Europe, where I attended meetings, and the European Parliament into this matter. In this context, Senators will be aware the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, accepted an invitation to address the European Parliament's temporary committee on the matter, which he hopes to take up in late November.

I thank the House for its positive debate and continuous interest in the serious situation in the Middle East region. The Government, along with the full support of the Seanad, is aware of the seriousness of the situation. We will continue to raise it at every opportunity and give all support possible to the people in the region and to the European Union to ensure that with the United Nations we can work to bring peace, stability and security to the region as quickly as possible.