Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he, directly or through the aegis of the European Union or United Nations, will bring the necessary pressure to bear on the relevant authorities in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank with a view to ensuring the early resolution of issues relating to access for building materials in respect of the reconstruction of demolished buildings in Gaza through the use of the financial aid provided by the EU and UN, such works to the undertaken under the supervision of the EU or UN with the objective of the strict observance of international human rights criteria including the establishment of normal family and legal visitation rights for detained prisoners or kidnapped persons; if this will include restrictions or sanctions in respect of illegal settlements on the West Bank or other matters of international concern; if he will ensure that the international community can have ready access and a supervisory role in respect of all such matters while ensuring that the situation is not abused by persons seeking to promote strife or terrorism as recognised by the international community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31385/09]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a current legal action requiring the EU to uphold the human rights conditions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31743/09]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in the case of a person (details supplied) being held captive by Hamas; and if reported attempts to mediate by EU members in this dispute have been successful. [31744/09]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on reports of the most recent house expansion programme in Israel; his further views on the consequences of this renewed expansion for the peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31730/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 45, 49 and 55 together.

The priority for the EU and the international community in the Middle East right now must be to continue to encourage Israelis and Palestinians to engage in a viable peace process with the vision of a settlement which will result in two sovereign States, Israel and Palestine, co-existing side by side in peace and security. The EU fully supports and is actively cooperating with the current US-led mediation efforts aimed at achieving a settlement freeze and resumption of negotiations. I very much welcome President Obama's tripartite meeting with President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu held en marge of the UN General Assembly on 22 September aimed at giving renewed impetus to the current efforts to bring about a resumption of negotiations. In addition, the EU is also considering what specific measures it can take to buttress and support a solution, when and if an agreement is finally reached. I feel strongly that it is only through the establishment of a viable independent Palestinian State that the root causes of the conflict can be adequately addressed and I will ensure that the Government will contribute in whatever way it can to help achieve this goal.

In relation to Israeli settlement expansion, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 784 of 16 September, in which I addressed this issue in detail. My views on this subject are well known: I consider continued Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be not only unlawful but an obstacle to peace and a serious impediment to the two-State solution.

It is clear that the situation in Gaza remains very serious. On the humanitarian level, insufficient amounts of aid are reaching the people of the territory. Recent reports have painted a bleak picture of life in Gaza, with critical shortages of basic supplies and an increasing sense of despair amongst its people. Israel also continues to largely refuse the entry of raw materials into Gaza, preventing any substantial progress being made towards the reconstruction that is so badly needed following the Israeli military offensive in December 2008 and January 2009. This status quo is simply not sustainable and I am concerned about the potential for a further deterioration in the situation in Gaza and the spectre of a possible resumption of large scale violence.

Fundamentally, the situation can only be reversed by an immediate and unconditional reopening of the territory's crossing points without restrictions on the normal movement of persons and goods. This is a point that I and other EU colleagues have made repeatedly to the Israeli authorities. As I have stated many times, we consider the continued blockade of Gaza by Israel to be both morally unacceptable and politically mistaken. It serves not only to radicalise the people of the territory, but also inflames tensions across the Occupied Palestinian Territories and indeed the Arab world. It also undermines moderates on both sides while strengthening the hands of extremists. The blockade of the territory has persisted for too long and must be brought to an end. I will continue to press this point in any contacts I have with the Israeli authorities. While the immediate focus on securing progress towards the resumption of peace negotiations is understandable and appropriate, we simply cannot afford to neglect the situation in Gaza and the effect it has on both its people and the wider peace process.

Unfortunately, Israel seems no closer to relaxing its strict blockade of Gaza now than it was a year ago. The Israeli Government justifies this state of affairs with reference not merely to security concerns but also to the continued captivity in Gaza of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Palestinian militants in June 2006. I have repeatedly condemned the kidnapping of Corporal Shalit and I would once again appeal for his release and his return to his family in Israel. I understand that efforts are currently ongoing behind the scenes, brokered by Egypt along with the assistance of others in the international community, to reach a deal between Israel and Hamas on a prisoner exchange that would allow for Corporal Shalit's overdue release. Ireland, together with the EU, firmly supports these efforts. However, we need to be clear that his captivity is not the responsibility of the people of Gaza and it is completely unacceptable to punish them collectively on account of it.

With regard to the EU-Israel Association Agreement, I am aware of the legal action that the Deputy refers to, namely proceedings initiated against the EU by the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza concerning the human rights provisions of the Agreement. Officials from my Department have been monitoring this development closely. I certainly believe that respect for human rights should be the bedrock for the EU's relations with Israel and indeed with the rest of our neighbours. Currently, the EU raises human rights concerns with Israel through a variety of channels, including diplomatic demarches on the ground and directly in meetings with Israeli interlocutors. I am satisfied to note that agreement has been reached with Israel to replace the informal working group on human rights that operates under the EU-Israel Association Agreement with a fully-fledged subcommittee on human rights that will examine, inter alia, fundamental freedoms, the rights and protection of minorities and the fight against racism and xenophobia. This strengthening of the human rights dialogue between the EU and Israel will provide the EU with an additional channel through which to convey our views to Israel on crucial human rights issues.