Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which ongoing efforts remain to encourage re-engagement in the peace process in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36550/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland remains active and engaged on the objective of trying to achieve a two state solution in the Middle East; few European countries are as consistently engaged on this issue as we are. There is an urgent need to find ways to end the occupation, and to achieve lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

I have worked continuously to try and maintain the Middle East Peace Process on the international agenda, in particularly at EU level, despite a wave of concurrent crises in the immediate neighbourhood, and have urged for stronger international actions. For example, last week I was in the Gulf, and I took that opportunity to discuss the MEPP with Foreign Ministers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

In Council Conclusions, EU Foreign Ministers have continued to call for the resumption of a political dialogue, which is the only solution to the current situation, and to offer both parties political, economic and security support in the event of a final peace agreement.

Ireland strongly supports the French efforts to rebuild momentum in the Middle East Peace Process, which has been in effective suspension since 2014. I attended the Paris Conference in June to this end, and my Department has engaged in official-level work on the foot of the French initiative. I hope that another conference can take place before the end of the year.

The Middle East Peace Process is a priority foreign policy for the Government, and I will continue to encourage the parties to this conflict to engage with it, and the international community to support it, as it remains the best way to end the occupation and create peace.