Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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126. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in light of statements from Israel’s Heritage Minister that the dropping of a nuclear bomb on Gaza was ‘one of the possibilities’ with regard to Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza, whether or not it is the position of the Irish Government that the state of Israel possesses nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53464/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I stated at the time of Minister Eliyahu’s remarks, comments of this nature are deeply concerning and unhelpful. I note that they have been dismissed by the Israeli Government.

Achieving a world free from nuclear weapons is a long-standing priority for Ireland. Israel has consistently refused either to confirm or to deny that it possesses nuclear weapons.

Ireland takes full opportunity at the multilateral and bilateral levels to call on Israel and all outstanding countries to accede to relevant treaties including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Ireland believes that all states have a legitimate stake and interest in the pursuit of nuclear disarmament and we discuss this with all states on that basis. Ireland and Israel are among over 40 participating states in the Creating an Environment for Nuclear Disarmament (CEND) initiative. Ireland also continues to strongly support UN efforts towards the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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127. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to the reprimand of the Irish ambassador to Israel in response to a social media post by An Taoiseach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53477/23]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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128. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in light of an announced rebuke of the Irish ambassador, if his Government has reconsidered the actions of the Deputy Head of Mission of the Israeli mission in Ireland, who levelled accusations against the Irish Government of funding Hamas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53478/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together.

The Government was surprised by the Israeli reaction. This was made clear by our Ambassador in Tel Aviv during her meeting with the Israeli Foreign Ministry on 27 November.

Ambassador McGuinness presented the Foreign Ministry with the full statements issued by the Taoiseach and I, following the release of Emily Hand. These referenced the traumatic experience endured by Emily and her family, reiterated thanks to international partners who had facilitated the release and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The meeting also afforded Ambassador McGuinness an opportunity to convey Ireland’s position on a range of issues, including the importance of fully respecting International Humanitarian Law and getting desperately-needed humanitarian supplies to civilians in Gaza; that the truce which was in place should become a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire; and that the international community must focus on a pathway to deliver a two-state solution which can allow the people of Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security.

In relation to the comments made by an Israeli Embassy official on social media, I understand that they were deleted and a clarification was issued by the Embassy noting that the comments did not represent the position of the Embassy or the Government of Israel.

It is essential that we maintain open channels of communication through Embassies and Ambassadors during times of conflict.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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129. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken in response to the forced displacement of Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank; the increased funding announced for illegal Israeli settlement construction and expansion in the West Bank, described by the High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Policy as a breach of international humanitarian law; the increased funding to ‘search and destroy’ European Union-funded projects in the West Bank; the funding for arming illegal settlements in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53479/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We are deeply concerned about the situation in the West Bank and there is an urgent need for all parties to cease all unilateral measures that impede peace, including illegal settlement activity.

In February of this year, the UN Security Council underlined that Israeli settlement activities are dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-State solution based on the 1967 lines. Within the context of the current crisis since the brutal Hamas attacks on October 7th, we have also seen a sharp rise in settler violence and the displacement of Palestinian communities. Settler violence and the displacement of Palestinian communities are unacceptable and must end.

Ireland has consistently condemned the practice of illegal settlement activity and highlighted our concern over its impact on Palestinian communities and on the viability of a two-state solution. In this regard, I also condemn recent announcements of additional funding for illegal settlements. Such funding will only add to tensions in an already febrile atmosphere and travels further down a path that jeopardises the viability of a two-state solution, which we believe remains the best solution to guarantee the peace and security of both Israeli and Palestinian people.

At EU level, I intend to discuss with like-minded EU Member States potential actions that the EU can take in relation to the situation in the West Bank. For example, I note President Biden's comments on the willingness of the US to consider targeted travel bans against violent settlers who are actively involved in displacing Palestinian communities.

Ireland will also continue to work to influence the EU’s collective stance, building on the central pillars of a clear position on the illegality of Israeli settlements in the West Bank under international law and the EU’s ongoing concern over the rise of extreme settler violence.

Recent events in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory have raised serious questions of compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law. The Government has made clear that we fully support impartial and independent investigations into any and all breaches of IHL and other relevant branches of international law by the appropriate authorities – including the International Criminal Court which has an investigation under way into events in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory since March 2021.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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130. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to President of the European Commission burdening NGOs with bureaucracy in an attempt to stem aid to Palestine, in the spirit of an announced cessation of aid to Palestinian rebuked by Ireland and other member states, and despite a recent review having concluded that existing safeguards ‘work well’ and that ‘no evidence has been found to date that money has been diverted for unintended purposes’; and so as to ensure parity of treatment with regard to aid to Palestine and trade with Israel, in line with statements of the Taoiseach, the actions he has taken to limit trade with Israel in a comparative manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53480/23]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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131. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his efforts to secure the release of Palestinian people interned by Israel in administrative detention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53481/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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At the end of September 2023, the Israel Prison Service was holding 1,310 Palestinians, including children, in administrative detention. Since the Hamas attack on October 7, I understand that has increased to more than 2,000.

Ireland has called on the Israeli authorities to end the practice of administrative detention completely.

We have also repeatedly highlighted the applicability of international human rights standards and international humanitarian law in respect of detainees, in particular obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Detainees must have the right to be informed of the charges underlying any detention, have access to legal assistance, and receive a fair trial.

At the UN Human Rights Council, most recently in July of this year, Ireland has called on the Israeli authorities, in accordance with their obligations under Article 9 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to refrain from conducting arbitrary arrests and to follow the acceptable procedure established by law regarding arrest and detention. Ireland also made a recommendation to Israel regarding the treatment of detainees during the most recent Universal Periodic Review of Israel at the Human Rights Council in 2018, expressing concern at Israel’s extensive use of administrative detention in particular.