Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if on foot on previous questions, he will outline the current position towards advancing his call for an independent international investigation into events surrounding the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza; if he is working to ensure that a credible investigation will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36102/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In the wake of the events of 31 May, I echoed the call of the President of the UN Security Council on 1 June for a "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards", and I spoke in support of the efforts of Secretary General Ban to establish a panel along these lines. On 2 August the Secretary General announced the setting up of a 4-person Panel of Inquiry led by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, and crucially including members nominated by the Turkish and Israeli Governments, whose participation had been secured by the Secretary General. The Panel commenced work in August, and submitted a procedural report in mid September. In that report, Mr. Palmer stated that the Panel was operating successfully, and the members were working collegially and cooperatively.

The work of the Panel is fourfold:

To receive and review reports of the national investigations being conducted by Israel and Turkey

To request as necessary further information and clarifications from Israel and Turkey,

To examine the facts, circumstances and context of the events, and

To consider and recommend ways to avoid similar incidents in the future.

The Panel is free to decide for itself how it will conduct its business and carry out these tasks. It is likely to be some months yet before the Panel will be in a position to submit a substantive report.

A separate Fact Finding Mission established by the UN Human Rights Council reported on 22 September. I would expect that this report will also be taken into consideration by the Panel of Inquiry.