Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

107. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the A Programme for A Partnership Government commitment to recognise the state of Palestine has not been honoured to date. [48051/18]

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

The Programme for Government states that Ireland will “honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict." Successive Governments have seen recognition coming in the context of an overall peace agreement. We have discussed here in the Oireachtas on a number of occasions the question of whether the formal recognition of Palestine, in advance of its full achievement on the ground, would be a helpful step in advancing a resolution of the Israel- Palestine conflict. I have also regularly discussed it with EU partners and with leaders in the region, including with President Abbas during his visit to Ireland in September.

One of the many factors bearing on this question is the importance of assessing whether recognition now would positively affect the peace process or merely be viewed as a symbolic gesture, swiftly overtaken and surpassed by events on the ground.

Unilateral recognition by Ireland will also undoubtedly affect Ireland’s ongoing influence on the Middle East Peace Process at EU and international level, and it is imperative that it does not diminish Ireland’s impact as a peace interlocutor without delivering a commensurate benefit for the Palestinian people.

However, in the context of widespread frustration at the lack of political progress towards an agreement, and not least in light of the views expressed by the Dáil and the Seanad in 2014, I have stated that I will be ready to recommend immediate recognition of the State of Palestine to the Government if and when I believe it would be helpful in achieving our objective of a free and sovereign Palestinian state, or advancing the peace process to achieve it. I have not yet concluded that it would be helpful at this time, but situations change, and I keep this matter under continuous and active review.

Ireland remains fully committed to the resolution of the Middle East conflict, through an agreed settlement which includes the establishment of a sovereign State of Palestine recognised by all, living side by side in peace with the State of Israel, bringing to an end to the occupation that began in 1967. All of my actions on this issue are taken in pursuit of that objective.