Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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356. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the Government will honour its commitment in the Programme for Government to recognise the state of Palestine. [29065/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question no. 61 answered on 11 May 2021. 

I have been clear in my engagement with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority of the commitment of this Government to advancing a Two-State solution, in line with the agreed parameters for a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Programme for Government states that the Government will “Honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a Two-State solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”. 

As I have stated previously, in the absence of progress towards a Two-State solution, I would be prepared to recommend to the Government early recognition by Ireland of a State of Palestine, if and when it might be helpful, and this is a matter which I discuss with EU colleagues.