Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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101. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions in which he is involved at European level regarding the growing movement towards recognition of Palestinian statehood; if Irish policy is developing in this regard towards offering recognition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44955/14]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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102. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to seek Cabinet approval to begin the process of offering Irish recognition of Palestine as a nation State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45050/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply today to Priority Question No. 40 on the same topic, which was as follows:

Ireland has worked for many years, under successive governments, to achieve a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, involving the realisation of a sovereign Palestinian state. We have therefore always looked forward to being able to recognise a state of Palestine, in reality and not just as a symbolic gesture.

Successive governments and Ministers for Foreign Affairs have considered that a state of Palestine, and Ireland’s recognition of it, should come about as part of a comprehensive peace settlement in the Middle East. All our actions remain geared to that ultimate goal.

Sweden’s recent decision to recognise Palestine has brought this issue to the fore within the EU. In a number of Member States, including Ireland, there have been strong parliamentary expressions of support for recognition – in most cases as an element of an overall solution.

The Foreign Affairs Council which I attended last week began a discussion among EU partners about the question of recognition, which will continue over time.

Clearly if there is no prospect of substantive peace talks resuming in the near future, then we will need to take close account of that in evaluating how we can advance our overall goal.

Our position is not set in stone. Against the background of a deteriorating situation on the ground, I will continue to consider any option, including early recognition of Palestine, which may advance the prospects for peace and help ensure that the two-state solution still has a chance of being realised.

Finally, the question of international recognition of Palestine, while important, is not a magic wand to resolve the conflict. Over 130 countries have already formally recognised Palestine, but the conflict continues. Only a comprehensive peace agreement will end the occupation and allow the full establishment of a Palestinian state in reality, as well as in theory. That is the consistent goal of everything the Government is doing on this issue.