Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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844. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the IDA plans to appoint a business development consultant to establish a presence in Israel; if his views or that of his Department were sought in advance of this announcement; his views on whether it is appropriate to promote and advance Ireland’s trade with Israel (details supplied); his views on the conclusions of a recent report by Israel’s largest human rights group that the Israeli Government perpetuates the supremacy of one group of persons over another and therefore that Ireland could end up supporting an apartheid regime of occupation; if he will consult his colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18464/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s position on the illegality of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory informs our engagement with the State of Israel across a range of bilateral issues, including our trade, and will continue to do so. Ireland distinguishes between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. This position is common across all Government Departments and policy coherence is ensured through coordination at official level.

IDA Ireland is an autonomous Statutory Agency which operates in accordance with the Industrial Development Acts 1986 - 2019 and under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who is best placed to comment on the Agency’s activities and decisions and is also responsible for trade. In this regard, I refer the Deputy to recent replies by the Tánaiste on the matter.

In respect of the concerns raised in relation to the rights of Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory, I would underline that Ireland consistently raises human rights issues in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory at the highest international levels, including most recently at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Ireland is committed to accountability. We will continue to speak out against actions which are in breach of international law.