Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will increase the State's overall assistance to the Palestinian Authority in view of the decision by others to withdraw funding and to prevent the further impoverishment of Palestinian people. [19644/06]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations that he has made to his EU member state counterparts to convince the Council to take concrete steps to persuade the Israeli authorities to genuinely renounce violence, recognise Palestine's right to exist and accept previous agreements and obligations to bring about a just and lasting peace. [19646/06]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to persuade the Israeli authorities to genuinely renounce violence, recognise Palestine's right to exist and accept previous agreements and obligations to bring about a just and lasting peace. [19645/06]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the latest representations made on behalf of the Government to the Israeli Government regarding the building of the security wall; his views on whether it is unacceptable that the wall encroaches into the West Bank taking in Israeli settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19739/06]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the decision of the EU to withdraw funding from the Palestinian National Authority is hypocritical in view of the continuation of preferential trading with Israel. [19643/06]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions being taken by his Department to ensure that the vision of two viable states of Israel and Palestine is being progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19536/06]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of peace talks in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19554/06]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the issue of the withholding of tax revenues due to the Palestinian Authority by Israel with his Israeli counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19537/06]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to the expansion of settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank; the threat of unilateral action in this regard outside of the framework of the roadmap for peace; the statements which have been made in recent times by either the Government or the European Union in relation to such illegality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19804/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 79, 101, 110, 125, 131, 145, 155 and 217 together.

I refer to the replies to Priority Questions Numbers 55 and 59.

The Government has been consistently active in promoting a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli — Palestinian conflict. Together with our EU partners, we remain convinced that the only way forward is through negotiations between the parties, based on the principles outlined in the Quartet Roadmap and leading to a mutually acceptable and viable two-State solution. Within the Union we strongly advocate policy positions stemming from this basic approach.

I share the concerns which have been expressed about the increasingly difficult situation facing the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza. The EU has been the strongest supporter of the Palestinian people internationally. It is also the largest donor to Palestine, providing an average of €500 million annually in humanitarian assistance and in support of Palestinian institutions and civil society. Since the Palestinian elections in January, the EU and the international Quartet have made it clear that the new Hamas Government of the Palestinian Authority must commit to the peace process. It must renounce violence, recognise Israel's right to exist and adhere to agreements already negotiated by the Authority and the PLO.

In February, the Council approved the urgent disbursement by the Commission of €121 million in humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians. In early April, the Commission temporarily suspended direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority. The EU is reviewing its assistance against the Government's commitment to the principles set out by the Council and the Quartet.

There is full agreement among the Member States that it would be unreasonable to expect the EU to continue its capacity-building support for the Hamas Government irrespective of its willingness to respect the basic rules of the peace process. However, the Government believes that the Palestinian people should not have to face the prospect of a humanitarian crisis because of the reluctance of their Government to meet its responsibilities. The EU is committed to continuing necessary assistance to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian population, and Ireland has argued strongly for the widest possible definition of these basic needs.

On 15 May, following the Quartet meeting on 9 May, the Council undertook the work of developing a temporary international mechanism to channel assistance directly to the Palestinian people. The Council stated that, as a matter of priority, the mechanism will aim to provide for basic needs, including health services. The political and technical aspects of the development of the mechanism are being pursued urgently. It will be essential that all international donors cooperate to ensure the effectiveness of the new temporary structures.

The EU has already called on the Israeli Government to resume the transfer of withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues, which are essential in averting a crisis in the Occupied Territories. I hope that a decision to resume the transfers can be taken without delay, if possible through the new international mechanism. Equally, it is important that both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority take concrete steps to implement their obligations under the Agreement on Movement and Access, which was brokered by the US and the EU in November 2005 and which provides for the movement of people and goods between Gaza and the outside world. I do not accept that there is any inconsistency between the EU's approach to the provision of assistance to the Palestinian people and the issue of preferential trading arrangements with Israel, which are identical to those accorded to Palestine.

I have given a commitment that the Government will maintain the level of Ireland's bilateral assistance to the Palestinians, which amounted to over €4 million in 2005. In February, following the Palestinian elections, the Government allocated €1.5 million in humanitarian assistance through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). I expect to make further allocations in the near future.

The current difficulties in the peace process emphasise the importance of sustained engagement by the European Union, on the basis of a clear and balanced message to the parties. Israel and the Palestinian Authority must face up their obligations under the Quartet Roadmap, and under international law. The EU has consistently urged the Israeli Government to cease all activities in the Occupied Territories, including settlement building, the construction of the separation barrier on occupied land and the demolition of Palestinian homes, which are contrary to international law and which threaten to make any solution based on the co-existence of two viable States physically impossible.