Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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458. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to reports that the United Nations Commission of Inquiry into rights' abuses by Israel and the Palestinians has now decided that it will investigate apartheid charges against Israel which was described as a manifestation of the occupation; if he condemns the fact that Israel has refused to cooperate with the Commission and has not granted it entry into Israel or access to Palestinian-controlled areas in the West Bank and Gaza; his views on the fact that the UN Human Rights Council and other reputable organisations (details supplied) have issued detailed reports in the past two years which describe a regime of apartheid established by Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55118/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland supported a special session of the Human Rights Council in May 2021 on the escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. At this session, the Council voted to establish a Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland continues to support the work of the Commission of Inquiry, in keeping with our principled position on such Commissions. Ireland is also consistent in underlining the need for the work of all UN representatives to be supported and facilitated.

On 27 October, Ireland participated in an interactive dialogue with the Chair of the Commission of Inquiry at the United Nations General Assembly. In our statement, Ireland expressed concern about high number of recent Palestinian civilian fatalities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and called on Israel to investigate all incidents that led to death or injury.

I have 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 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 taken careful note of the reports to which the Deputy refers. The work of the UN Human Rights Council, as well as that of civil society organisations, constitutes and important input in shaping the approach that we take, which seeks to find a way to change the reality on the ground and to protect and encourage a peace process that can deliver a two-State solution, which is the Government's priority.