Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank him for entering the Chamber during the recess. That was a very good debate, which reflected favourably on the House in the media, as did his presence here. It was a good day.

On the issue of recognition, he says that most states have recognised Palestine. I gather that 135 states have done so, with the major exception being states of the European Union. When the EU reflects on why it is so unpopular among its citizens and why there are motions of censure on the Commission before the European Parliament this week, it might reflect on the tradition in European countries of going out and colonising other countries. It is a tradition that Ireland does not share.

Last night I was reading the account by the former Secretary General Noel Dorr, in the Frank Aiken biography, of the independent foreign policy Ireland pursued in New York in the 1950s and 60s. It is extremely well written, as the Minister can imagine. We have to bring that dimension to this debate. As Senator Mac Conghail has said, the two-state solution is disappearing before our very eyes and Europe is sitting on its hands. In a crucial stage of the Northern Ireland peace process, David Trimble said, "I jumped; now you must jump." Ireland has to jump now. What is taking place is illegal under international law, as Senator Power and others have stated, and the settlements are destroying the possibility of peace. There are also ramifications for the rest of the region and the problem of ISIS. It feeds ISIS when Europe is seen to be unfair in its dealings with Israel and Palestine. The Minister has said he is open to recognising the Palestinian state, but that it is the view of the great majority of European partners that this is not the time to do it. How long more should we wait? As a neutral country without any tradition of colonising others, we should stand aside from Europe if the other member states insist on their present policies. They are consigning the Palestinian people to increasing misery, and if they are not conscious of this it is about time they took a trip with Senator Mac Conghail to see what is going on. They cannot hide from this any more.

I welcome the Minister's statement on the €29 million that has been given in Syria. He and his Department have a proud record in foreign aid. On Ukraine, is there some possibility that diplomatic links might be made through our contacts with Russia, particularly with regard to Shannon, Aeroflot and so on? Mr. Putin is not the most popular man on the world stage but we do need to bring him into this as well. I appreciate the broad thrust of the Minister's support for Ukraine, but can somebody exercise diplomatic persuasion with the Soviet Union?

Senator Norris normally speaks on these issues and is a distinguished member of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, but he is indisposed today.

I commend the attendance of the Irish ambassador at the Cenotaph in London and the Minister's interest in reopening the Northern Ireland talks under US Senator Gary Hart. One of the items raised this week was diplomatic immunity. As the Minister knows, there have been two cases, one this week involving the United Arab Emirates embassy, in which €80,000 was awarded to three people, and one last year in which the Labour Court awarded staff at the Nigerian embassy a similar large amount.

There are protocols on diplomatic immunity, but we need to define them. One appreciates freedom of speech and the necessity of maintaining diplomatic relations, but these breaches detract from Ireland's reputation as well. I gather that Ireland's obligations relate to the Vienna Convention, and we respect diplomats. However, we also have to respect the staff who work in such venues. They were badly treated and that reflects badly on this country.

I thank the Minister for coming here and wish him every success in his post.