Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 679: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the possibility of resumption of Middle East talks between Israel and Palestine; if he will report on his discussions with his EU counterparts in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1849/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The United States has been actively engaged in an effort to persuade the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to re-enter negotiations aimed at reaching a final status agreement within a finite timescale. Progress has been slow and difficult, but this effort has injected new life into a peace process which had been stalled. The US efforts are being conducted by Secretary of State Clinton and by the President's Special Envoy Senator George Mitchell, in whose abilities and commitment we in Ireland have great confidence. Senator Mitchell is due to return to the region this week for further discussions on how to encourage a resumption of peace negotiations.

Ireland and its EU partners have been working in support of this goal. The resolution of the many problems facing Israel and Palestine can only come through an ending of the occupation and the achievement of a two-state solution. That is the objective of the political process. Bilaterally and through the EU, we have encouraged both sides and the key regional partners to seize the opportunity which now exists, and which may not recur for a long time if it is missed.

This complex set of issues is the subject of very frequent discussion among EU Foreign Ministers. At the Foreign Affairs Council in December, the Council adopted substantial Conclusions setting out in some detail the EU's views on the key issues.