Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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47. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland supports the current efforts to reconcile the political parties in Palestine and be a voice in ensuring respect for the results of democratic elections when they occur. [53160/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government has for many years consistently supported the objective of Palestinian reconciliation, and worked at EU level to ensure that the EU also recognised the importance and potential of this process. The EU has consistently endorsed reconciliation in successive Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on the conflict.

Differences and sometimes outright conflict between the disparate Palestinian groups, and in particular the two main organisations, Fatah and Hamas, has obviously weakened the position of the Palestinian people in addressing the problems that surround them. Conversely, reconciliation could be an essential step in allowing Palestinians to speak with one voice and to negotiate and to deliver on a peace agreement with Israel which would end the occupation. It could also be crucial to the task, with which we are familiar in relation to our own peace process, of helping bring former militants to support political process to address their grievances.

In saying this I am fully conscious of continuing problems with the positions, methods and aims of Hamas. I am also aware of more moderate signals they have given, including of accepting the lead of President Abbas as negotiating on behalf of the Palestinian people, and in pursuit of his objective of a two state solution. How or whether these divergent impulses can be resolved within Hamas is still to be proven, but the effort is surely one worth making.

Although the contrary is often asserted, it is not the case that the European Union, or for that matter the United States, refused to accept the results of the 2006 Palestinian elections. Both parties recognised as legitimate the Palestinian Government subsequently formed by Hamas, but they also exercised their own right to decide whether or in what form to engage directly with members of Hamas while it remained committed to an armed struggle.

I would be happy to urge support for any Palestinian Government which was committed to the peaceful achievement of a two state solution.