Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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24. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent engagement that he has had on Palestine. [48908/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Middle East Peace Process, as well as the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, remain key priorities for Ireland and continue to be a significant focus of my engagement.

I welcomed the opportunity to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as with my counterpart, Foreign Minister Riad Malki, during their recent visit to Dublin on 17-18 September. Their visit immediately preceded High Level Week at the United Nations General Assembly and an important focus of our discussions was on how Ireland and the international community could support efforts to resume credible negotiations aimed at achieving a just and lasting two-State solution.

We also discussed the worrying situation on the ground and I was pleased to announce an additional €2 million in funding to UNRWA, bringing our total contribution for this year to €8 million. President Abbas and his delegation also met with President Higgins and with An Taoiseach.

At EU level, EU Ministers communicated clear messages of concern at the recent EU-Israel Association Council, and reaffirmed the EU’s long-standing position on the Middle East Peace Process, its commitment to a two-State solution and the urgent need for a political horizon and a path towards relaunching a peace process.

Ireland was represented by Minister of State Byrne, who expressed Ireland’s alarm at the deteriorating situation on the ground and stressed the urgent need for renewed political dialogue. He also called on Israel to comply with international law, halt settlement expansion, and ensure space for civil Palestinian society.

The Middle East Peace Process also remains a key priority for Ireland during our term on the UN Security Council. Ireland engages actively in monthly Security Council meetings on the situation in the Middle East, which focus on the Palestinian question. Most recently, on 28 September, Ireland expressed concern regarding the recent increase in violence and incursions by the Israeli Security Forces in the West Bank, which has resulted in further loss of life and injuries to Palestinians.