Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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27. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports Palestine’s application to join the International Criminal Court; and if he is concerned by Israel withholding customs revenues that it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Government. [2640/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Palestine deposited its instrument of accession to the Rome Statute with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, acting in his capacity as depository, on 2 January, and the Secretary-General has informed states parties that the Rome Statute will enter into force in respect of Palestine on 1 April 2015, in accordance with Article 126(2) of the Statute. Ireland is, of course, a very strong supporter of the International Criminal Court and has always supported and encouraged universal adherence to the Rome Statute.

The main consideration for any state in acceding to the Statute should be a willingness to subject its own actions to the jurisdiction of the ICC. Israel has on a number of occasions withheld customs revenues collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, in order to demonstrate displeasure with actions of the Palestinian government and to exert pressure on it. This policy is unjustified and in breach of agreements, and is counterproductive. It is in no-one’s interest, including Israel’s, if the Palestinian administration is destabilised and unable to pay its own officials, including in the security services.