Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 35: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his recent visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories including events he attended and any bilateral discussions held during the visit, including in relation to the Israel/Palestinian conflict; if he will confirm that he attended a recent Israeli Film Festival in Temple Bar, Dublin and that Ireland has ties with both Israel and the Palestinian territories; if he will confirm his policy on Israel and Palestine and that he does not support an artistic boycott of Israel in view of the recently reported decision by Irish band (details supplied) to cancel its concert in Israel following a campaign by boycott campaigners targeted at the band; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24736/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have reported to the House on a number of occasions in relation to my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in January. I would refer the Deputy in particular to my reply to Dáil Question No 101 on 31 January. During the course of my visit in January, I met with a range of political leaders in both Israel and the Palestinian territories, including President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu. My visit enabled me to discuss key political concerns with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority and to reinforce Ireland's excellent bilateral ties with both. Developments in relation to the Middle East peace process have been reviewed regularly by the Foreign Affairs Council and I have contributed actively to these discussions, drawing on the insights gained during my visit.

A major discussion of the Middle East peace process took place at the Foreign Affairs Council this week and important conclusions issued from this. Ireland, with its EU partners, continues to believe strongly that ultimately a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East can come only through a comprehensive, negotiated two state settlement which addresses the Palestinian people's legitimate desire for a viable, contiguous Palestinian state of their own as well as the Israeli people's equally legitimate wish to reside within secure, recognised borders. I believe that such an outcome remains very much in the best interests of both Israel and the Palestinian people and that this week's Foreign Affairs Council discussion and conclusions have contributed in a very positive way to keeping the perspective of a two-State solution both viable and central to current peace efforts.

I have not disguised the serious concerns which Ireland has in this connection about current Israeli Government policies in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. However, in my view political differences of this kind should not prevent us from seeking to develop Ireland's relations with Israel in other spheres. I was happy to attend the opening of the Israeli Film Festival in Dublin last November. I made clear on that occasion that the Government does not support cultural or other boycotts against Israel. Irish artists are free to decide for themselves whether or not to engage with Israel. While the Government is firmly opposed to campaigns which seek to impose a cultural boycott on Israel, it is the right of others to take a contrary view. However, I would regard as unacceptable efforts to harass artists with a view to intimidating them from exercising their freedom of choice in relation to engagement with Israel.