Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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146. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of his Department’s consideration of the recommendations and conclusions from a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22871/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I value the role Amnesty International and other civil society organisations play in relation to the Middle East. The Amnesty International report shines a clear spotlight on the illegal and unacceptable treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeli state.

Ireland’s position on these matters is – and will continue to be – based on international law including international human rights law, Israel’s obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention as the occupying power in the occupied Palestinian territory, and on the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. Ireland has been consistently forthright in expressing concern regarding the unequal treatment of Palestinians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.  

Ireland will continue to raise our concerns regarding discriminatory practices towards the Palestinian people, as outlined in the Amnesty and other reports, on a regular basis directly with the Israeli authorities, including during visits to the region, as well as at EU and UN level. Ireland has been proactive in consistently highlighting these issues at the UN Security Council. At the most recent meeting of the Council on the Middle East on 25 April, Ireland expressed our particular concern at the recent escalation in tensions in East Jerusalem. 

As I have stated previously, Ireland’s priority is to try to find a way to change the reality on the ground. Ireland will use the recommendations and conclusions of the Amnesty International report to influence the approach that we take towards trying to protect and encourage a peace process that can deliver a two-state solution, which is the Government's priority.