Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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98. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagements with the Government of Saudi Arabia and its representatives since taking office. [45358/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In September, both Foreign Minister Prince Faisal and I attended an event en marge of the UN General Assembly in New York, though we did not have the opportunity for a substantive bilateral exchange.

I hope to have such a meeting in advance of or at COP 28 in Dubai in December.

Our Embassy in Riyadh is active in representing our views to the Saudi Government, maintaining contact with the Irish community, and promoting Irish economic activity in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf area.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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99. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagements with the Government of Israel and its representatives since 7 October 2023. [45359/23]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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100. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagements with Palestinian diplomats since 7 October 2023. [45360/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.

I spoke with the Ambassador of Israel and conveyed my sympathies on behalf of the Government and people of Ireland for the horrific attack by Hamas. On 8 October, I wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to express our deep condolences. I visited Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and Jordan just one month ago. It is scarcely imaginable how the lives of so many people that I met during that visit will be irrevocably scarred by this violence.

I spoke to Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki on 9 October. Minister Malki updated me on the situation on the ground, including in the West Bank, and regional efforts to diffuse the conflict. I underlined my deep shock at the scenes witnessed, underlining the importance of international efforts to address the conflict and the need to chart a way towards a future in which these events cannot be repeated. Minister Malki and I agreed on the grave risk of regional escalation that early de-escalation is essential to avoid a catastrophic situation developing. I also spoke to Secretary General of Fatah, Jibril Rajoub, on 12 October.

Senior officials in my Department are in ongoing contact with the Israeli and Palestinian Ambassadors in Dublin.