Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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397. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which ongoing efforts continue to establish a peace process in the Middle East, with particular reference to the need for a legally recognised centre to investigate complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4192/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have given high priority to the Middle East Peace Process since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2017, and I continue to do so in the current Government in line with the Programme for Government.

Ireland remains ready to support any peace initiative that respects the international parameters for a Two-State Solution and the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and which provide a basis to meet the aspirations of both peoples.

The Middle East Peace Process continues to be regularly discussed in meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, and EU Foreign Ministers have had separate discussions in recent months with both the Israeli and Palestinian Foreign Ministers.

I welcome the decree issued on 15 January by the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas on the holding of Palestinian elections this year, which is a positive development.

The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East (UNSCO) represents the United Nations Secretary-General and leads the UN system in all political and diplomatic efforts related to the peace process, including in the Middle East Quartet. This month UN Secretary General Guterres appointed a new UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr Tor Wennesland.

Mr. Wennesland provided a briefing to the UN Security Council yesterday, at the 'Quarterly Open Debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question'. At this debate, I outlined Ireland’s position on the Middle East Peace Process and called for a renewed role for the Middle East Quartet to re-energise the peace process.

Ireland will continue to work with international partners on this issue including while we are on the UN Security Council.