Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

117. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Irish ambassador to Israel was invited to the opening of the American embassy in Jerusalem; if so, if she attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22225/18]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

119. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he relayed the Government's disapproval to the US Administration of its decision to formally open an embassy in Jerusalem in view of the fact that the status of the city is contested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22227/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 119 together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 46 on 17 May on this topic. The Government’s view of the move of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem has been expressed in my statement of 6 December when the decision was announced, in statements at EU level, and in direct contacts with US officials. The US Government is well aware of our view.

Ambassadors of other countries were not invited to the opening of the new Embassy on 14 May, which was purely a US-Israeli event. The Irish Ambassador was among other foreign diplomats invited to an earlier reception at the Israeli Foreign Ministry to mark the occasion. She did not attend.