Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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58. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland supports the UN resolution calling for a referendum to decide the fate of the western Sahara area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18233/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland supports the United Nations Security Council Resolution 690 (1991) which established a United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

Ireland, and our EU partners, categorise Western Sahara as a non-self-governing Territory. Ireland has consistently supported the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara but has not at any time taken a position on the future of the Territory, so long as it is decided through a genuine exercise of self-determination. We therefore, fully supporting the holding of a referendum to this end.

Ireland strongly supports the continuing engagement of the United Nations (the MINURSO mission) in the search for a political solution, and looks forward to the appointment of a new UNSG Personal Envoy for Western Sahara.