Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

47. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the US Government’s decision to stop providing funding to the United Nations agency for Palestine refugees (details supplied); and his plans to further increase support to the UNRWA. [40110/18]

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

I deeply regret the US decision to cease funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). I made my views clear in my public statementon 1 September and reiterated them during my speech before the UN General Assembly last week, where I stated that I greatly regretted recent cuts to UNRWA’s funding by the US, and called on those in power to reconsider the consequence of their decisions. I believe that this move is dangerous and will only have a negative effect on the Middle East region. I have also explicitly expressed my concern in direct contacts with the US administration.

I met with UNRWA’s Commissioner General, Pierre Krähenbühl in January, and saw for myself the services provided by UNRWA both in the West Bank and in Gaza. I am very conscious of how essential the Agency’s work is, in terms of delivering core services, especially in education and health. These services are often delivered in the most challenging of circumstances, especially in Gaza.

The services that UNRWA provides are necessary, and will remain necessary, until a durable solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict can be negotiated that meets the needs of both parties and resolves all final status issues.

I was delighted to use the opportunity of the visit by President Abbas to Ireland last month to reaffirm Ireland’s support for UNRWA, including by announcing an additional €1 million in Irish Aid funding, bringing Ireland’s total funding to UNRWA to €7 million this year, an increase of €1.5m on 2017, and the highest it has ever been.

We are far from alone in our support for UNRWA. At a Ministerial meeting in New York last week to discuss UNRWA, I was gratified by the strong political support for the Agency, its mandate and staff, and the critical services it provides to Palestine refugees. An additional US$122 million for UNRWA was pledged at the New York meeting. This included an additional €40 million from the European Commission, bringing its overall contribution to UNRWA's activities in 2018 to €146 million. In fact for the three years 2016, 2017 and 2018, the total contribution to UNRWA of the EU and its Member States combined has reached approximately €1.2 billion.

Ireland, together with our EU partners, will continue our assistance to the Palestinian people, including our support to UNRWA's services, while we will also continue our efforts to reach a two-state solution to the conflict.