Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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380. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the rights of Palestinian refugees living in refugee camps across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to return to their homes from which they were forcibly displaced; if he is of the opinion that the biggest obstacle to their return is the Israeli settler-colonial movement that wants to continue to remove the Palestinians from their lands; the new attempts that he intends to make at EU and UN level to ensure that the rights of these refugees, which are firmly based in international humanitarian, human rights, and refugee law are upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51935/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland remains firmly committed to a negotiated two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that ends the occupation that began in 1967, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States, on the basis of international law, including relevant UN Security Council resolutions. A lasting settlement must include the resolution of all permanent status issues. This includes the issue of refugees, which only the parties can resolve through negotiations, with the support of the international community.

The renewed acknowledgement by both Prime Minister Lapid and Palestinian President Abbas, at the United Nations General Assembly in September, of the need to work towards a two-State solution was welcome. I also assured President Abbas, during the course of our meeting in Dublin last September, that Ireland stands ready to support all efforts to help resume credible negotiations aimed at achieving a just and lasting two-State solution. This was an issue that I discussed in a number of my bilateral engagements during UN High Level Week in September, including with my counterparts from Algeria, Qatar, Norway, Egypt and Jordan.

Regrettably, we also continue to witness a situation where Israeli actions on the ground undermine the prospects for progress, including the ongoing threat of evictions and demolitions in Masafer Yatta and the expansion of illegal Israel settlements. Ireland will continue to raise our concerns regarding discriminatory practices towards the Palestinian people on a regular basis directly with the Israeli authorities as well as at EU and UN level.

It is also vital to address the immediate needs of Palestinian refugees. Ireland is a longstanding supporter of the work of UNRWA, which provides vital services, including education, to 5.7 million registered Palestine refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. Last year, Ireland signed an agreement with UNRWA to provide predictable financial support to the Agency, pledging €6 million per annum over three year. During the recent visit to Dublin of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, I was pleased to announce an additional €2 million in funding for UNRWA, bringing our total contribution in 2022 to €8 million.