Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I set out in response to previous Parliamentary Questions, most recently Question No. 131 of 18 April 2024, Ireland intends to file a Declaration of Intervention in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice only after South Africa has filed its Memorial.

On 5 April, the ICJ made an Order setting time-limits for the filing of written pleadings by the parties in this case. It fixed 28 October 2024 for South Africa to file its Memorial, and 28 July 2025 for Israel to file its Counter-Memorial. It remains our intention to seek to intervene in this case under Article 63 of the Statute of the ICJ after South Africa has filed its Memorial, which we now know will be towards the end of 2024.

By making a declaration of intervention under Article 63 of the ICJ Statute states do not ‘join’ one side or another in the case; rather, they submit a statement that sets out their interpretation of one or more provisions of whatever Convention is at issue before the Court. This Declaration of Intervention must then be deemed admissible by the Court. Waiting until South Africa has filed its Memorial will ensure that we have a good understanding of what provisions of the Genocide Convention South Africa intends to rely on, which we can then in turn address, making it more likely that the Court will deem our intervention admissible.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I stated in Dáil Éireann on 9 April, it is my intention to bring a formal proposal on recognition to Government following the completion of discussions with international partners.

These discussions are ongoing. The manner in which Ireland and likeminded partners could support regional efforts to return to a political pathway towards a sustainable and peaceful resolution of this conflict and a two-state solution was a central focus of my meetings with Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Jordan during my most recent visit to the region in April.

At a recent meeting convened in Riyadh by Saudi Arabia and Norway, which was attended by Ireland as well as several European and regional partners, the importance of taking concrete steps towards the realisation of a Palestinian State in the context of the two-State solution was emphasised.

This is a perspective that I have also shared in detail will all EU partners, including most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council in April. I also remain in frequent contact with key likeminded partners and most recently spoke with my Spanish counterpart on 1 May.

It is clear from these engagements, that both our European and regional partners support the need for early, credible and irreversible steps to implement a two-State solution. In this regard, it remains my firm view – and the view of our partners – that recognition is a step that should be carefully calibrated to best advance the peace process. I will be remaining in frequent contact with key partners on this issue in the coming period.