Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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282. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will take tangible action at European Union level to bring forward the adoption of import and export prohibitions towards illegal settlements such as those in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Defence in view of the announcement on 27 October 2021 by Israel that it has given final approval for the building of 1,800 housing units and initial approval for another 1,344 and the earlier announcement that construction tenders for 1,355 housing units in the occupied West Bank are at an advanced stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60547/21]

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 trade and economic issues, and will continue to do so. The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, are wholly opposed to Israeli settlements, which are contrary to international law, and are damaging to the prospects of peace.

Ireland distinguishes in all its dealings between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967 in line with in line with international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Ireland is also active on this matter at EU level. EU law and guidelines on this issue are an important part of the EU contribution to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334.

Ireland has previously raised at EU level the question of whether settlement goods should be excluded from the EU market altogether. However, it is absolutely clear that at present there is no possibility of getting substantial support, still less consensus, for such a proposal.

We have therefore instead focused our advocacy on practical measures to differentiate in EU policies between Israel itself and the illegal settlements. This has resulted in a number of EU measures already, including guidelines on the labelling of settlement goods (so that consumers can identify them and make their own choices in this matter), and exclusion of settlement institutions from EU research funding.

Settlement goods are already excluded from the normal lower tariffs applying to goods from Israel and other countries with which the EU has trade agreements, when they are imported into the EU.

With regard to the announcement on 27 October referred to by the Deputy, during my recent visit to Israel and the oPt, I met with Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid. I conveyed in the strongest terms my concern at this announcement.

On 28 October, Ireland released a statement jointly with eleven other European countries, urging the Israeli Government to reverse this decision and reiterating strong opposition to its policy of settlement expansion across the occupied Palestinian territory. I have raised this issue at the Security Council, as well as with my EU counterparts at the Foreign Affairs Council. With Ireland’s support for the announcement to be discussed at the UN Security Council, the settlement announcement was discussed by the Council on 8 November, at which Ireland highlighted the illegality of the action under international law.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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283. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the comments made by the United Nations Special Rapporteur (details supplied) on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 that the illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territory continue to attract international corporate engagement; his further views on whether the involvement of these corporations with the settlements assists them economically to grow and thrive as well as providing a form of political legitimisation against the wishes of the international community; his further views on whether Israel will continue to ignore international law with impunity unless definite action is taken, including the provision of political and financial support to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to fulfil its mandate to annually update and publish the United Nations database of business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60548/21]

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 trade and economic issues, and will continue to do so. The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, are wholly opposed to Israeli settlements, which are contrary to international law, and are damaging to the prospects of peace.

Ireland distinguishes in all its dealings between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. A whole of Government approach is applied to the policy of differentiation, and my Department also supports other Government Departments by providing guidance and clarification on the policy of differentiation. The Department of Foreign Affairs also ensures that there is information available for the public and companies regarding Ireland's policy on settlements via the Department's website.

It is critical, however, that action against settlements must be both lawful and well-considered, since actions which are not fully thought-through risk ultimately being unwound, thereby undermining the cause they aim to support.

With regard to the United Nations database referred to by the Deputy, the Human Rights Council adopted a Resolution in March 2016, calling upon the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to produce a database of all business enterprises involved in activities relating to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.

The terms of the Resolution were very broad, with the associated risk that this could potentially lead to unfair and counter-productive outcomes. The EU Members of the HRC therefore abstained in the vote on the Resolution. Ireland nevertheless fully cooperated with requests for assistance by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Ireland has always sought to protect the independence of the Office of High Commissioner and I note the High Commissioner’s commitment to discharge the mandate of that Resolution in a legally, factually and methodologically sound manner. The Human Rights Council did not specify implications for entities listed in the database or put forward recommendations on how the database be used.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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284. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 54 of 18 November 2021, his views on whether years of dispossession, confiscation, segregation and disintegration of the Palestinian people coupled with a strategy of surrounding Palestinian communities with thousands of Zionist settlers has ensured that a two-State solution is farther away now than ever (details supplied); his further views on whether the present extent of the occupation reaffirms Zionist claims to all of Palestine and effectively ensures that a two-State solution will only come about if the international community gives immediate recognition to a Palestinian State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60549/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed settlements and will continue to do so. Settlement expansion, demolitions and evictions threaten the viability of a two-state solution.

On my recent visit to the occupied Palestinian territory, I saw the impact that settlements are having on Palestinian communities and on the viability of a future Palestinian State. I am particularly concerned about developments in strategically sensitive areas around East Jerusalem. I know from my own contacts, including from my recent visit, that there remains a body of support among a range of actors in Israel for a two-State solution. I am keen to work constructively with all parties, including those of differing views, in our efforts to underline why the viability of the two-State solution remains important.

Ireland has expressed serious concern in relation to the recent announcements by Israeli authorities of plans for the construction of more than 3,000 settlement units in the West Bank. On 28 October, Ireland joined 11 other European states in issuing a statement urging the Israeli authorities to reverse the decision.

I have been clear that, in recognition of the lack 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.

Recognition by Ireland outside the context of an overall peace agreement would, however, be likely to affect Ireland’s influence on the Israel-Palestine conflict at EU and international level. Timing and context would affect whether such a loss of influence would be matched by a commensurate benefit for the Palestinian people and a positive impact on the peace process and a two-State solution.