Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to Israel increasing the size and scope of its illegal occupation of Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4881/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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We are closely monitoring the situation in Syria as it continues to evolve, including developments concerning the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

Like all of Syria's neighbouring states, Israel needs to act responsibly and refrain from actions and statements that jeopardise a just transition in Syria. Any breaches of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement are concerning. UN Peacekeepers should be free to fulfil their mandate, with no other military force present in the buffer zones.

The territorial integrity of Syria must be preserved and international law must be observed. The future of Syria is the sole responsibility of the Syrian people.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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67. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagements with his European counterparts regarding the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4882/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to repeated breaches by Israel of the ceasefire in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4883/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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76. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his engagements regarding the required withdrawal of Israeli military forces from southern Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4892/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 68 and 76 together.

I remain concerned by the volatile security situation in southern Lebanon, particularly in light of the expiration of the initial ceasefire agreement and recent violence along the border.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are continuing ground operations in southern Lebanon, including in UNIFIL's Area of Operation (AO). The IDF has also continued to fly drones over Beirut and to conduct airstrikes in Lebanon. For its part, Hezbollah continues to operate south of the Litani river and in other parts of Lebanon. It has also offered cash incentives to internally displaced people to return to the border towns while the IDF are still present, effectively inciting violent clashes. I call on all sides to uphold the terms of the ceasefire agreement. All violations threaten the positive but fragile political developments in Lebanon.

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) play a vital role in upholding the terms of the ceasefire agreement and the LAF is continuing with its deployment to the South. We of course strongly support the work of UNIFIL and welcome that UNIFIL will continue to play an important role in peacekeeping in Lebanon. Any deliberate targeting of UNIFIL personnel or installations is a violation of international humanitarian law.

I remain in regular contact with my EU counterparts on the situation Lebanon, including in relation to the ceasefire agreement. At the January Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) ministers discussed the situation in Lebanon, including the prospect of having have an EU-Lebanon Association Council in 2025. Also last month the EU adopted a €60 million package under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to support the LAF in its deployment. My officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs are daily engaged with international partners on all aspects of the situation in Lebanon.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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70. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of a leaked internal European Union document (details supplied) outlining Israeli war crimes in Gaza; if he has discussed such with his European counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4885/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government does not comment on leaked documents.

In the current context, the situation in Israel and Palestine remains a standing agenda point on the Foreign Affairs Council, enabling me to exchange with my EU counterparts on this key priority on a monthly basis.

Ireland has consistently called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and humanitarian access at scale to Gaza. At January’s Foreign Affairs Council, I welcomed the ceasefire and hostage release deal and the release of hostages to date, and underlined to my EU counterparts the need to focus on urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza while also taking a longer-term perspective that prioritises the two-State solution, including addressing threats to its viability.

Engagement at EU level has encompassed the request from Ireland and Spain that the Commission undertake an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential element of the relationship, and to propose appropriate measures for the consideration of Member States. In this context, Ireland also repeatedly called for an EU-Israel Association Council to be convened urgently, calling for such a meeting to be used as an opportunity to signal that relations with Israel cannot be ‘business as usual’ where we see Israeli actions clearly at odds with EU policy, human rights and international law.

At the December 2024 Foreign Affairs Council, the EU High Representative announced that she proposed to hold an Association Council with Israel as soon as possible. The upcoming EU Israel Association Council meeting, now expected to take place in the margins of the February Foreign Affairs Council, is an opportunity to engage on the full range of issues covered by the Association Agreement. The Government has been unwavering in seeking for the meaningful interpretation of the EU Israel Association Agreement as being binding in respect of human rights.

I also continue to reiterate Ireland’s call for an urgent review of EU laws and policies to ensure they are compliant with the July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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71. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagements he has had with international partners with regard to the illegal trafficking of arms through sovereign Irish airspace in support of Israel’s genocide in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4886/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport.

In considering any application for such an exemption in respect of munitions of war, the Department of Transport consults with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice on applications to determine if there are foreign policy or security considerations to take into account.

In 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025, no applications have been received or exemptions granted for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to a point in Israel.

The Department of Transport has been undertaking a detailed examination of allegations made in the media concerning the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft through sovereign Irish airspace without the appropriate exemptions. The Department of Transport is giving consideration to the appropriate next steps.