Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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15. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagements with the Israeli government; if he has raised the illegal trafficking of arms through Ireland bound for Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39048/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Engagement with my counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Most recently, I met with then Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on 16 November 2023, during my visit to the region. During this visit, I reiterated Ireland’s condemnation of the terror attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October and underlined the need for the unconditional release of all hostages. I also underlined my concern over the catastrophic situation in Gaza and reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire, an issue upon which Ireland demonstrated early and clear leadership at EU and international level.

Current Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, engaged with EU Foreign Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council in January of this year, enabling a further full and frank exchange on the situation in Gaza, during which I underlined Ireland’s concern at potential breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza, notably with regard to the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.

Regarding the reports of civil aircraft flights and the alleged carriage of munitions of war, these relate to a number of civil air flights. It is appropriate that the Department of Transport continue to examine the issue with the air carriers concerned, as they have confirmed they are doing.