Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his position in relation to Israel at various international organisation levels including the OECD, his stance in our voting position, imposition of vetos and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30939/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Like every other country, Israel is entitled to play a full and active part within the UN and other international organisations. This is perhaps especially important to acknowledge in Israel's case, as for many decades Israel has been excluded from some organisations, or from regional groups within UN organisations, due to the denial in some quarters of its legitimacy and right to exist.

Ireland has and will have no part in a policy of exclusion on such grounds. The Government's policy in relation to the admission of Israel to organisations of which we are already a member will be decided on the basis of the rules, purpose and remit of each organisation. We have been and continue to be highly critical of many aspects of Israeli policy, above all connected with the ongoing occupation of Palestinian lands. But the Government does not consider attempts to block Israeli membership of international organisations as a useful means of exerting pressure on Israel to change these policies. Such action would not increase Ireland's influence either on Israel or among our other partners in these organisations.

As I have said before, the list of countries around the world with which we might have serious concerns on political or human rights issues is a long one, and is not confined to Israel. I believe instead that cooperation in international organisations can go much deeper than relations with the government of the day, and can encourage or sustain more open and tolerant thinking at deeper levels and over a longer period.

I have on a number of occasions explained in the House the Government's position on Israel's accession to the OECD. Israel was invited to begin accession negotiations along with four other states as part of a balanced compromise expansion package agreed by the existing members. When Israel was judged to meet the basically economic criteria of the OECD, it was invited (along with Slovenia) to join the organisation. Ireland supported this decision, and the question of a veto did not arise.

In international organisations which allow a veto to members, or which operate by consensus, the use of a national veto should be considered only as an absolute last resort, not simply as a means of making your argument more emphatically. If member States did not observe that discipline, all such organisations would immediately grind to a halt. Ireland attaches a very high priority to the working of the international multilateral system, and works hard to ensure such organisations can function effectively.