Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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94. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on Ireland's trading relationship with Israel in view of the ongoing abuses of human rights with regard to the Palestinian population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25612/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Government actively seeks to expand and develop trade with Israel, as it does with other trading partners around the world.

Trade with other countries is not an optional activity, nor a reward for good behaviour by other governments. It is the means by which the jobs and livelihoods of the Irish people are supported, and the goods and raw materials which we need are obtained.

The Government does not support a ban on trade with Israel, and this has been the position of every Irish Government.

Ireland is strongly critical of some policies of the Israeli Government, in relation to the occupation exercised over the Palestinian people, and we make those criticisms clearly and directly to the Israeli authorities, and in discussions in the EU and other relevant international fora. We do the same in relation to other countries.

There are very many countries around the world with which we have serious human rights concerns, many of them at least as strong as we do with Israel. We do not seek to prevent trade with those countries, except in very rare circumstances in accordance with decisions at EU or UN level. If we did so, the list of countries with whom Ireland could trade might be a short one.

Merchandise trade with Israel in 2016 amounted to over €1.5 billion, of which over €1.4 billion were Irish exports to Israel.