Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent trip to the Middle East; the meetings that he attended; the issues that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1464/18]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent visit to the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1500/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 145 together.

Last week I undertook a four-day working visit to the Middle East, where I met with my counterparts as well as a range of other contacts in Cairo, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramallah and Gaza.

In Cairo, I discussed with Foreign Minister Shoukry issues including our bilateral relationship, enhancing our trade, human rights, the Middle East Peace Process, and other regional issues. I also met with the Secretary General of the Arab League, Mr. Aboul Gheit, to discuss the Middle East Peace Process and regional conflicts including Syria and Yemen. Finally, I met with the President of Egypt’s National Council for Women, and with leaders in the business community.

In my second trip to Israel and Palestine as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I met with key representatives of the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as well as leaders of other Israeli political parties, and partners in international and non-governmental organisations. In all of these meetings I conveyed the importance the Irish people attach to the resolution of the Middle East Peace Process, something that has been a priority for me personally since I took office.

In my meetings with the Israeli authorities, I expressed Ireland’s concerns about the impact of the continuing occupation, including settlement construction and the effects on minors who are detained. I had a frank discussion with Prime Minister Netanyahu about the prospects for returning to negotiations between the parties, and how Ireland and the EU can play a constructive role in the MEPP. I set out the urgent need to break the downward spiral of the situation in Gaza, which is clearly unsustainable, and talked about ways in which it could be alleviated. I put on record my view that to bar individuals from Israel, on the basis that they hold views critical of the Government's policies, is not the way to deal with criticism.

I also had the opportunity to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Foreign Minister Malki, with whom I discussed the challenges facing the Palestinian people, and the prospects for reinvigorating the effort towards peace in the Middle East. They set out their thinking on ways to prepare for a Palestinian State. I also heard about work to restore the Palestinian Authority to its role in Gaza, giving Palestinians a unified Government, an effort that I encouraged and supported.

In Gaza, I met with Palestinian Authority officials, officials from UNRWA and the OHCHR, as well as representatives of civil society organisations. I saw at first hand the effects of the blockade, and the effects that this is having on young people's prospects and hopes, leading to a dangerous sense of despair. I reaffirmed Ireland's commitment to working to end this situation.