Written answers

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Middle East Issues

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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613. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to raise at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council the need for the international community to honour commitments made at a pledging conference to upgrade the infrastructure of Gaza, and to build new homes in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29631/15]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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614. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to raise again at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council the need for the European Union to pursue with Israel and Egypt the need to lift the blockade of Gaza, which is preventing the transport of products and materials needed for the rebuilding of essential infrastructure and homes in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29632/15]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 614 together.

The discussion on the MEPP begun at the Foreign Affairs Council in May, which I expect will continue at the July Council next week, is considering the broad spectrum of the EU’s engagement on the issue, of which Gaza is one part. In the longer perspective, Ireland has consistently acted to keep in front of the Council the need to remember the specific problems of Gaza, and will continue to do so. The heart of the EU position on the question is that the blockade of Gaza is unjustified and counterproductive, and should be lifted. There is of course no issue with Israel continuing to prevent the movement of weapons into the territory.

The position in relation to Egypt is somewhat different, in that it is an escalation of violent incidents and instability in the area of northern Sinai which has forced the Egyptian authorities to close or restrict the operation of the Rafah crossing point for long periods.

I note reports that Israel in May substantially increased the rate of movement of cement into Gaza, which is very welcome. I hope that further measures of this nature will follow. I fully agree that the pace of reconstruction needs to pick up, and that this requires increased funding and construction supplies.

At the International Gaza Reconstruction Conference, which I attended last October, I pledged a further €2.5 million towards both urgent immediate needs as well as long term recovery efforts. €1 million of this has been provided to UNRWA’s Gaza Emergency Appeal. A further €500,000 will be provided to UN partners this year with the remaining €1 million of the pledge to be disbursed in 2016.

I am aware of reports that much of the funding pledged for Gaza at the Cairo conference has yet to materialise, and I certainly urge all countries to fulfil their pledges. However, I have no information on the extent to which those countries may have signalled at the conference a broad timescale for payment, as Ireland did, and which we are fulfilling. I recall also that many countries linked their pledges to a firm demand for political progress to prevent any future recurrence of the conflict – progress which has also not yet been achieved. I have no basis therefore to raise the non-fulfilment of any specific pledge at the Foreign Affairs Council.

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