Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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48.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there has been a response from the EU following the Irish request for the EU-Israeli trade agreement to be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32750/24]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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51.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on any recent engagement his Department has had with the EU regarding Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32753/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 51 together.

Ireland has continuously demonstrated strong leadership within the EU on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We have called consistently for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and increased access to scaled-up aid.

Ireland’s position on the EU-Israel Association Agreement is just one element of our efforts to shape EU policy in the context of the current crisis. In February 2024, then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Sánchez of Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission requesting an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This request was followed up at senior official level with the Cabinet of President von der Leyen on 12 March, at the Foreign Affairs Council on 18 March and by the Taoiseach in a meeting with President von der Leyen on 11 April.

In the Foreign Affairs Councils on 27 May and 24 June, I called for an EU-Israel Association Council to be convened urgently, in order to review Israel’s compliance with Association Agreement. Member States have agreed to hold an Association Council once an agenda has been finalised.

Ireland has also consistently advocated for the EU to take concrete steps to support the two-State solution. Ireland worked closely with European partners on formal recognition of the State of Palestine as an expression of support for peaceful coexistence of two states. Ireland has also supported EU cooperation with regional partners on the Arab Peace Vision as a region-led plan for a ceasefire and reconciliation.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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49.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on any recent engagement there has been between his Department and the Palestinian Authority on Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32751/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is committed to continued close engagement with the Palestinian Authority, including in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

On 28 May, Ireland formally recognised the State of Palestine in an expression of support for the two-State solution in the midst of the conflict. I firmly believe that it is time Palestine takes its full place amongst the nations of the world; that its right to self-determination, self-governance and territorial integrity and sovereignty must now be vindicated. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision and I look forward to a strengthening of our bilateral relations over the coming years. Ireland will continue to maintain open channels of communication with the Palestinian Authority through our mission in Ramallah and the Palestinian mission in Dublin. I had discussed this decision with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Mostafa during a detailed conversation in Brussels on 26 May.

On 28 May, I wrote to Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa to communicate Ireland's decision to recognise Palestine. The Taoiseach also called President Mahmoud Abbas prior to the announcement to communicate the Government's intention. I had previously spoken to Prime Minister Mustafa after his appointment on the situation in the Gaza Strip and Ireland's support for the two-State solution. Ireland will continue to engage directly with the Palestinian Authority through high-level government contacts and our mission in Ramallah.

In the past year, I have visited Palestine twice and met with various representatives of the Palestinian Authority in September and November 2023 to discuss our bilateral relationship and the conflict. As part of my regular engagements with Arab partners, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, I regularly highlight the need for the Palestinian Authority to play a meaningful role in the governance of the Gaza Strip in the future.