Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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28. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail contacts with the Israeli embassy in relation to the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 and over flights to Israel carrying military equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40659/24]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any interaction with officials of Israel's government in the last year; and, if so, to recall those interactions. [40632/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 35 together.

Engagement with third-country counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Regarding my engagement with the Israeli government in the past year, 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.

Engagement between my Department and the Embassy of Israel is routinely carried out at senior official level. In the immediate aftermath of the terror attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023, I spoke with the Ambassador of Israel to Ireland, Dana Erlich, underlining Ireland’s condemnation of the attack and expressing my condolences to the people of Israel, including the Israeli community based here in Ireland. I subsequently met with the Ambassador in the context of my meeting with families and representatives of the Israeli hostages, including the family of Emily Hand, on 14 November 2023. I also met with the Ambassador on 1 March of this year, providing an opportunity to convey key priorities and concerns, including the need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and scaling up humanitarian assistance. Ambassador Dana Erlich was recalled by the Israeli government for consultations in May 2024.

Regarding the Occupied Territories Bill, the Government’s legal advice is that this Bill is not compatible with EU law, as the EU has exclusive competence for external trade. The Government’s approach has not changed since the matter was considered by the Oireachtas in 2018 and 2019 and it has not been the focus of any recent engagement with my Israeli counterparts or the Embassy of Israel.

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 continues to examine the issue with the air carriers concerned, as they have confirmed they are doing.