Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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59. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the reason goods from Israeli settlements are to be labelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24709/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is already contrary to existing EU regulations for labelling of products to be misleading to consumers. Products coming from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian Territory clearly should not be labelled as produce of Israel, since the settlements are not in Israel. There has been a growing demand in a number of EU and other countries for rules or guidelines to make this clear to importers and retailers. A number of countries, such as the UK and Denmark, have responded to queries from consumers or retailers by issuing such guidelines on a national basis.

I believe that many consumers would wish to be able to distinguish between produce from Israel, produce from Palestinians, and produce from settlements. Indeed, there is anecdotal evidence that some consumers may be reluctant to buy entirely legitimate produce from Israel because they cannot at present be confident that it does not include settlement goods.

There is also a broader political dimension to this issue. Israeli settlements in occupied territory are illegal in international law. Products from those settlements are to a large extent produced using land, water, minerals and other resources which properly belong to the Palestinian people, and in many cases have been actively expropriated from them. It is questionable if such products should in fact be admitted to the EU at all.

The EU has identified settlements as a major obstacle to the achievement of peace in the Middle East. Their continuing expansion intrinsically involves the continued seizure of Palestinian land, eviction of families and the destruction of their homes. Ireland considers settlements to be a major driver of the continuing conflict, and the main sticking point among the several core issues still to be resolved.

The EU has expressed these concerns on many occasions, notably in the Conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council in May 2012. The EU and other international voices have also pointed out that the continued expansion of settlements is now close to the point where it would be physically impossible to create a viable Palestinian state on the ground, thus permanently (and intentionally) making impossible a two-state solution to the conflict, something which Ireland has supported for over 30 years.

The EU has made clear its deep concerns about settlements. Earlier this year High Representative Ashton wrote to EU Foreign Ministers stating that she was working with the External Action Service and the European Commission to produce EU-wide guidelines on place of origin labelling for goods from settlements. Along with 12 fellow Foreign Ministers, I replied to the High Representative welcoming and encouraging this move. What is likely to emerge in due course is EU labelling guidelines, identifying settlement products as such, for use where place of origin labelling occurs – be it mandatory (for some products) or voluntary. It is not expected that this will introduce a new mandatory labelling requirement for all goods, unique to settlements.

I believe consumers will welcome this move, and many legitimate Israeli producers may also benefit. In addition, it will send an important political signal that the EU is serious in its concerns about settlements.

Should action at EU level prove impossible for any reason, I will proceed to re-examine the question of labelling at national level.