Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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843. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the hunger strike of a person (details supplied) in detention in Israel; if he will report on any representations on the matter he or his Department has made with the Israeli state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25076/16]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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844. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) who has been administratively detained by the Israeli authorities; if he or his officials have had any contact with the Israeli authorities on this case or the case of other Palestinian prisoners in Israel and the occupied territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25116/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 843 and 844 together.

I am aware of the case of Bilal Kayed, and welcome the news that he has ended his hunger strike, as well as reports that he is due to be released in December. I understand that there are still concerns about Mr. Kayed’s health, and I hope that he makes a full recovery.

Ireland’s diplomatic missions in the area have been monitoring the case. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv has raised the case with officials from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ireland has also discussed the case with the European Union Delegation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which in turn has itself also raised the case with the Israeli authorities.

I have consistently made clear my view that administrative detention (which, if it must exist at all, should only be an exceptional emergency measure) is being used far more widely against Palestinian activists than any other group. If there are genuine security concerns about individuals, they should be charged and tried under the law.

Ireland has conveyed these views to the Israeli authorities both directly and through our interventions at UN level and, at the urging of Ireland and others, in EU Council Conclusions. We will continue to do so.

However I would also urge prisoners not to resort to hunger strikes. There has been a series of hunger strikes in recent years in relation to administrative detention, although in all cases the prison authorities have achieved a successful resolution. I am deeply concerned that, however much one might appreciate the frustration of persons detained without trial, such strikes, if repeated, may eventually end in a tragic outcome, and I have called on all sides to ensure this does not occur.