Chris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on a matter (details supplied) in view of the fact that the roadmap for the accession of Israel to the OECD Convention, adopted by the OECD Council in November 2007, stated that Israel must demonstrate a commitment to pluralist democracy based on the rule of law and the respect of human rights. [21122/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The matter to which the Deputy refers is not a proposal of the Israeli Government. The Bill in question has been sponsored by a group of some twenty members of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. The Israeli Government declined to take this up as a Government Bill. It is understood that this Bill has not had a first reading in the Knesset. Ireland's Embassy in Tel Aviv together with EU partners are aware of the proposed Bill, and will continue to closely monitor developments in this regard, as well as any other threats to the operation of NGOs working on political and human rights issues.

With regard to Israel's accession to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), on the basis of formal opinions and all other relevant technical information, the Secretary-General of the OECD recommended to the OECD Council that Israel be invited to accede to the Organisation. The 31 member countries of the Council of the OECD, including Ireland, accepted that recommendation at its meeting on 10 May.