Written answers

Tuesday, 15 May 2018

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Middle East Issues

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be raising concerns regarding the withdrawal of the USA from the Iran nuclear deal at the next EU Council meeting; and if he has spoken to other EU leaders regarding same since the withdrawal. [21060/18]

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the Iran nuclear accord and the wider implications for the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21426/18]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.

I issued the following public statement on 8 May in response to the decision of the United States Government:

“I am greatly disappointed by the US announcement that it is withdrawing from the nuclear agreement with Iran (the JCPOA). Ireland and our EU partners, and a very broad spectrum of international opinion have made clear that we believe the JCPOA was a significant diplomatic achievement, and that all parties to it should implement it in full.

"We share many of the concerns which the US has expressed about other aspects of Iranian policy, but the way to address these is not to move away from the one area where significant positive progress has been made. That remains our view, and I hope that the United States will reconsider this decision.

"I hope that all other parties to the agreement, including Iran but also the EU and others, will continue to implement the agreement. The Middle East, and the world, are safer and more stable with this agreement in operation."

Similar statements were issued by the European Union, and by other partners. In recent days, I have discussed these developments with my French counterpart, during his visit to Dublin.

The possibility and implications of US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement had been discussed at each of the most recent meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, and I have no doubt will be discussed at the next Council on 28 May. Ministers will need to discuss the prospects for continued implementation of the agreement, which all of the other parties to it have said they hope to do. Ireland will fully support that objective.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community continues to take interest in the Israeli-Palestine situation with particular reference to the need for the continued pursuit of peace initiatives and access to support for those homeless as a result of war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21457/18]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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117. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which he and his EU colleagues continue to monitor the situation in Gaza and the West Bank; if meetings have taken place or are likely to take place between the Israeli and Palestinian representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21458/18]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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121. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the situation in Gaza and the West Bank continues to be monitored by international interests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21462/18]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 117 and 121 together.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be a high priority both for the European Union and for me personally. It has been discussed at many recent meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, and EU Ministers discussed the issue with Prime Minister Netanyahu in the margins of the December 2017 Foreign Affairs Council, and with President Abbas in the margin of the January 2018 Council.

At present, prospects for a re-start of negotiations centre on the proposals being developed by the United States. I have engaged with the US Middle East team to encourage this initiative, and to highlight some of the key issues which it will have to address, if it is to be successful. I have encouraged my EU colleagues to take a similar approach. Unfortunately however, the US opening of its Embassy in Jerusalem makes bringing the relevant parties together around a peace initiative more difficult. I have conveyed this view to both US and Israeli interlocutors.

I am also aware of the need to support Palestinians affected by this long-running conflict, not just in Gaza and the West Bank, but throughout the region, where agencies such as UNRWA do vital work. To date in 2018, Ireland has provided €4.25 million for UNRWA’s Programme Budget, which supports services and assistance to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees, including in Gaza.

I have paid particular attention in my work to the problems of Gaza, seeking both to maintain international focus on the issue and to work on solutions to change the dynamic there and to begin to improve conditions. The appalling events of yesterday and recent weeks, which have seen very significant numbers killed or injured along Gaza’s borders, underlines the urgency of these efforts.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict will continue to be a focus of my work, and I hope to visit the region again next month.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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118. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Palestinian prisoners including children held in Israeli prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21459/18]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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120. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of prisoners held in Israeli prisons that are members of groups (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21461/18]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli prison camps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21471/18]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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128. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Israeli citizens detained in Palestinian prison camps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21472/18]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 120, 127 and 128 together.

Issues relating to prisoners, both the judicial system and conditions of detention, feature in many discussions about the Middle East Peace Process, and I have addressed them frequently in the Dáil.

My Department and I have also worked to highlight these issues internationally. For example, as part of the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review of Israel earlier this year, Ireland raised concerns about Israel’s extensive use of administrative detention without formal charge. I also raised concerns about the detention of minors directly with the Israeli authorities when I visited the country in January.

However, my Department does not have the capacity to keep track of the total numbers or categories of prisoners in other jurisdictions, figures which are likely to change from day to day, and which may not be publicly available. I believe Israeli and Palestinian NGOs sometimes provide estimates of such figures in their reports.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which reconstruction or improvement works in Gaza are being hampered by the Israeli authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21460/18]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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All construction work in Gaza is severely hampered by Israeli restrictions on types and quantities of materials that are allowed into the Strip. This includes reconstruction of war damaged buildings, including large numbers of houses, and construction of essential infrastructure, such as badly needed water, sewage and electricity utilities. Even those projects which are approved are subject to delays, and additional costs, due to the restrictions.

In my contacts in the region I have discussed a number of possible projects to improve conditions in Gaza, with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and others. An easing of restrictions imposed by Israel would be essential elements of these. I will continue to take this work forward.

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