Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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85. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be speaking at the next EU Council meeting in March 2018 regarding the Israel Palestine conflict. [5699/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Israel Palestine conflict is expected to be on the agenda at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 26 February. This will be a continuation of a discussion at the meeting of the Council on 22 January. At that meeting, I reported to colleagues on my meetings in the region during my visit there in early January. I also addressed what the EU could do to support any balanced peace initiative which might emerge, and also in terms of action on the ground to combat many negative trends, including the deteriorating situation in Gaza.

I have given these issues a high priority in my work since assuming office, both at EU level and elsewhere, as I have reported to the House. I can assure the Deputy therefore that I will continue to contribute actively to Council discussions when this issue is on the agenda, and that I intend to do so at the next Foreign Affairs Council.