Written answers

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Foreign Conflicts

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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660. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise with the Israeli ambassador the case of a person (details supplied) who, for unexplained security reasons, was refused a visa to enter Israel, from where the person planned to travel to Dublin in order to attend, as an invited speaker, a conference organised by SIPTU on 28 March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14740/15]

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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661. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the case a person (details supplied) whose sole activity is in helping traumatised and injured children and women in Gaza but who was prevented from entering Israel, from where that person planned to travel to Dublin to attend, as an invited speaker, a SIPTU conference on 28 March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14741/15]

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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662. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that it is acceptable that an aid worker invited to Ireland to speak on human rights and aid issues would be prevented from so doing by a state which cites unspecified security reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14742/15]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 660 to 662, inclusive, together.

Ireland and our EU partners have consistently called for the opening of Gaza to normal movement of both people and goods. As people can only leave Gaza through either Israel or Egypt, it is important that those countries allow transit through their territory to reach other destinations, to the greatest extent possible.

It is regrettable therefore if the person in question was unable to exit Gaza in order to attend a meeting in Ireland. I cannot comment on the ‘unspecified security reasons’ cited for the refusal in this case, and the Israeli authorities have never been willing to elaborate on such security assessments.

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