Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has condemned the execution by firing squad of two Palestinians (details supplied) by the Hamas regime in Gaza; and if he condemns this return to the death penalty. [20943/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland and its EU partners oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, and make this position clear to all relevant authorities, including the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian law still provides for the death penalty in certain circumstances, but no execution may be carried out without the agreement of the President. The withholding by President Abbas of his agreement to carry out executions has therefore resulted in a de facto moratorium on executions, pending its hoped-for final abolition.

The execution of the two individuals concerned by the Hamas authorities in Gaza on 15 April was thus without basis in Palestinian law. The EU representatives to the Palestinian Authority condemned the executions in a statement issued by the local Spanish Presidency. Regrettably, I have to report that there is information that three more prisoners, who had been sentenced to death for murder, were executed in Gaza on Tuesday morning. There are also unconfirmed reports that there may have been earlier executions by Hamas which have not come to light.