Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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112. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the bombing of Gaza by Israel and break links with Israel and other autocratic regimes in the area such as Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37744/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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During the recent extended fighting I repeatedly condemned the excessive use of military force by Israel in Gaza, and also stated clearly that both Israel and Hamas were disregarding the effects of their actions on innocent civilians.

I am repeatedly asked, as were my predecessors, to break diplomatic links with Israel. I have explained elsewhere that Irish foreign policy is based above all on the resolution of conflicts by dialogue, and that we do not therefore respond to difficult or even unacceptable situations by expelling the interlocutor, except in very exceptional circumstances.

As the Deputy has recognised in his Question, Ireland would have serious human rights concerns about very many states around the world. Across the broader Middle East region, there are very few states that could be regarded as fully democratic in our terms. A policy of breaking off relations with countries we consider to be autocratic or otherwise deficient in human rights terms would not enhance Ireland’s influence, including in support of human rights.