Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Trade policy, including with regard to EU engagement, is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

On the broader issue of EU leverage, as I have previously stated, the most credible and effective approach is for Ireland to continue to work to influence the EU’s collective position in a realistic manner. The central pillars of the EU position remain valid, including the clear EU position that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law and the EU’s ongoing concern regarding the rising level of extreme settler violence.

All agreements between the State of Israel and the EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territory occupied by Israel in 1967. Ireland is consistently vocal in ensuring the application of this policy across all sectors of cooperation.

Furthermore, I welcome that discussions underway at EU level on potential sanctions against violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank who are attacking and displacing Palestinian communities. The US has already taken such action and I urged EU partners to rapidly advance these proposals at the Foreign Affairs Council last Monday.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have been engaging intensively with EU, regional and international partners since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. I have conveyed the urgent need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and a significant increase in humanitarian access and supplies into Gaza. Ireland’s diplomatic efforts are focused on these two core objectives.

I attended several meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council since the Hamas attacks on 7th October. I have consistently emphasised that a purely military approach was unworkable and called on my EU counterparts to push for a humanitarian ceasefire.

On Monday, I attended the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU in Brussels, which was attended by the Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian and Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministers and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States. I stated Ireland’s key priorities and reiterated that the EU must be robust in underlining that international law applies in all conflicts, to all parties; state actors and non-state actors alike.

Additionally, I raised my concern with the Israeli Foreign Minister of with the campaign of de-legitimisation and disinformation against UN bodies and international organisations. I also seperately organised a meeting of likeminded EU Foreign Ministers on 21 January to discuss current efforts to secure a ceasefire and reinvigorate the peace process.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since the start of this crisis my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of those Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave.

The Government, through our Embassies in the region, has consistently sought clearance for all Irish citizens who wish to exit Gaza to do so. We continue to advocate with the authorities in relation to a small number of citizens who have not yet been permitted to leave and we stand ready to assist other Irish citizens and accompanying dependents wishing to exit Gaza.

The authorities have made clear that the focus for facilitated departures from Gaza is for foreign and dual nationals, and immediate dependents accompanying them.

To date, 57 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted to exit Gaza. Dependents have included the spouses and minor children of Irish citizens, along with dependent parents accompanying an Irish citizen, where they met the visa eligibility requirements set by the Department of Justice. Let me assure you, Deputy, that we are giving very close consideration to these matters, given the gravity of the situation in Gaza.

In line with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter, the remit of my Department is to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad. This has been our focus since the crisis began.

The population of Gaza is 2.3 million people. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire and many of those living in Gaza are seeking to leave. In recent weeks, my Department has received many enquiries regarding the situation of individuals, including people with ties to Ireland or already holding a visa for Ireland.

Any decision on clearance for these individuals to leave Gaza will be made by the relevant local authorities. The issuance of visas to non-nationals wishing to enter Ireland is a matter for the Department of Justice. Holders of valid Irish visas who receive clearance to exit Gaza from the local authorities may make arrangements to travel to Ireland.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s support to Palestinian people, including development funding and the response to the war in Gaza amounted to €36 million in 2023. Of this, €20 million was provided in assistance in response to the suffering caused by the conflict in Gaza. This €20 million in assistance included:

* €10 million in additional core funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides essential services to 5.7 million Palestine refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

* €4.44 million to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs’ (UN OCHA) Occupied Palestinian Territories Humanitarian Fund, which channels resources to key humanitarian partners on the ground based on needs.

* €2.6 million to the World Food Programme (WFP). WFP is a critical part of the response, addressing the basic food and nutritional needs of the population.

* €1 million to the World Health Organisation to help the organisation deliver an emergency health response to protect health needs and reduce mortality and morbidity.

* €2 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for use by the Palestine Red Crescent and Egyptian Red Crescent. The IFRC Secretariat launched a Federation-wide response plan to address needs including health, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter and in-kind assistance.

* 50 tonnes of humanitarian supplies, which included tents which were distributed in Gaza this month through Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative.

* Costs for an Irish Rapid Response member's deployment with UNICEF.

We continue to follow developments closely and stand ready to provide further vital assistance.