Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he, through the EU and UN, can positively influence matters in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17807/19]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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132. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and the international community can continue to exert pressure to bring about an amicable peace process in the Israel-Palestine conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17810/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 132 together.

Since I was appointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, almost two years ago, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza, has been a very high priority for me personally.

Ireland has consistently taken action at both EU and UN level to ensure that the international community retains a focus on the Israel-Palestine issue, in parallel to our engagement on other conflicts and crises across the Middle East region, and elsewhere. Our attention is focused both on specific issues and events in Gaza and the West Bank, and the broader objective of a resolution of the conflict and an end to the Israeli occupation, something which is essential for the long term future of the Palestinian territory, and indeed also for Israel.

At EU level, issues relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict are regularly discussed at both Ministerial and official level. The unacceptable situation in Gaza was specifically discussed at the May 2018 meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.

The same issues are also discussed regularly at UN level, at the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Human Rights Council. At the most recent session of the Human Rights Council in March 2019, Ireland co-sponsored four draft resolutions pertaining to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which were adopted by vote.

Ireland continues to support action on the ground by providing humanitarian assistance and working on specific projects to improve the situation of Palestinians, particularly in Gaza. In 2018, Ireland significantly increased our contribution to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), by some €3.5 million, bringing our total funding in 2018 to €9 million. In 2019, our increased support to the Palestinian people will include the expansion of the programme of scholarships for Palestinian students, and the delivery of solar power in Gaza to help to alleviate the critical shortage of power.

The situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory will remain high on my agenda and I am committed to do everything I can to make a positive contribution to support credible efforts to resume negotiations and to advance the Middle East Peace Process. It is for this reason that I recently hosted a Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in February to discuss the present state of affairs. I will continue to press for strong EU engagement notwithstanding other problems in the region; on encouraging and seeking to influence the US initiative; and on exploring practical ideas to improve conditions on the ground, especially in Gaza.