Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the stance of the US administration in relation to Hamas to date. [6967/06]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to respond, and his views on the Government's position and that of the European Union, in relation to the recent statement from Hamas that a commitment to ultimate withdrawal behind the 1967 borders on the part of Israel would be a basis for peace talks with Israel and would include [i]de facto[/i] as well as [i]de jure[/i] recognition of Israel. [6985/06]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the statement made by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, following the Palestinian parliamentary elections, to NATO Defence Ministers including a number of EU Defence Ministers that contacts with Hamas are out of the question; and his views on whether such a statement is conducive to peace-building efforts. [6965/06]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the stance of Israeli officials in relation to Hamas to date. [6968/06]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the 30 January 2006 meeting of EU Foreign Ministers following the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7109/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the Middle-East peace talks following the recent elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6817/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 67, 92, 100, 146 and 147 together.

The Government, and our partners in the EU, welcomed the professional conduct of the Palestinian legislative elections, which were held on 25 January. It is a tribute to President Mahmoud Abbas, and to the Palestinian people, that the process was seen to be both free and fair, and that the voters turned out in such large numbers. Hamas gained an overall majority of seats in the new Palestinian Legislative Council, which met for the first time on 18 February. We now await the formation of a government.

In the aftermath of the elections, the international community has adopted a united approach in setting out the basic principles which must be respected by all parties to the Middle East peace process. A lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli — Palestinian conflict can only be found through a negotiated, mutually-satisfactory two-state solution. The principles and steps set out clearly in the quartet roadmap continue to provide the only available framework for such a settlement.

The meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, which I attended on 30 January, reviewed developments in the peace process in the light of the election results. The Council issued a clear message that violence and terror are incompatible with the democratic process. It urged Hamas and all other factions to renounce violence, to recognise Israel's right to exist, and to disarm. The Council also urged the Legislative Council to support the formation of a government committed to a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict, based on existing agreements and on the terms of the roadmap. Later the same day, the members of the quartet — the US, UN, EU and Russia — agreed that all members of a future Palestinian government must be committed to non-violence, to recognition of Israel, and to acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including those of the roadmap. The quartet also stated that it was inevitable that future assistance to a new government would be reviewed by donors against that government's commitment to these basic principles.

The Government and our partners in the EU will continue to work closely with President Mahmoud Abbas and to monitor the situation carefully, including the range of statements emanating from different quarters. We will not prejudge the outcome of the discussions now taking place on the formation of a new government. We need to examine carefully, in co-operation with our international partners, how best to encourage Hamas to take the vital steps so clearly set out by the international community, while adhering to our fundamental principles.

I recognise fully the very real sense of concern in Israel at the victory of Hamas in the elections and the prospect of a government led by Hamas. The Israeli Government, at its meeting on 19 February, set out a number of measures which it intends to implement once a Palestinian government has been formed. I welcome its stated intention to await the formation of that government, which is not expected for several more weeks.

The EU is determined to maintain its strong support for those Israeli and Palestinian political leaders with the courage to take the difficult decisions necessary for a negotiated settlement, leading to the creation of a democratic and viable Palestinian state, living in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours. I and my colleagues in the General Affairs and External Relations Council will review developments further when we meet in Brussels on Monday next, 27 February.