Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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233. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade considering that Article 18 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states that civilian hospitals may in no circumstances be the object of attack, and considering the attack on Nasser Hospital and other healthcare centres, the actions the Government are taking in diplomatic engagements to ensure compliance with Article 18, to secure the safety of Irish medical personnel and hold accountable those violating this principle through international legal mechanisms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15409/25]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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234. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade considering Article 20 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states that medical personnel must be respected and protected in all circumstances, and taking into account the very difficult position faced by medical and nursing personnel in the Palestinian Nasser Hospital, which was subject to bombardment, the specific diplomatic or legal measures Ireland is pursuing to demand adherence to Article 20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15410/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am deeply concerned by the negative trajectory of the situation on the ground in Palestine, Lebanon and Israel over recent weeks. This remains a central focus of Ireland’s foreign policy and my engagement with my EU and international counterparts.

Regarding the situation in Gaza, the immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing hostilities to an immediate end and for all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal.

It is also central to my engagement with EU partners. I welcome that the HR/VP conveyed a clear message to both Israel and Arab partners during her recent visit to the region. In particular, the call for the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, including the release of all hostages, a permanent end to hostilities and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza was a timely and important message conveyed jointly by the HR/VP and Arab and Islamic partners following their meeting on 23 March.

Compliance with international law is also central to Ireland’s approach at EU and international level. Ireland has both bilaterally and at multilateral level, repeatedly called on Israel to comply with international law, stressing the universal applicability of international law, including international humanitarian law. Under international humanitarian law, Israel must protect civilians in Gaza and ensure that the essential needs of the population there are met. Hospitals and health facilities, medical and humanitarian personnel, must be protected.

There must be accountability for all violations of international law, irrespective of the party, and this includes Hamas and the violations for which it is responsible.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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235. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade considering that Article 55 of the Fourth Geneva Convention requires that an occupying power ensure adequate food and medical supplies for civilians, and given that reports from Gaza describe a near-total blockade of medical aid, the steps Ireland is taking to demand full access for humanitarian and medical aid and support the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for safe medical evacuations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15411/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The scale of humanitarian need in Gaza is enormous, and this has been accentuated by interruptions in the flow of aid and the wider disruption caused by the conflict. Ireland is engaging actively at Ministerial and official level with the EU and with UN partners, focusing on the need to continue to press for unhindered humanitarian access. At the EU-Israel Association Council in February, the Tánaiste expressed grave concern about the catastrophic situation and underlined the EU’s call for full access for humanitarian aid.

Ireland has provided over €84 million in support of the Palestinian people since the beginning of 2023, including €58 million in core support to UNRWA. €72 million of this total support has been provided since October 2023. The most efficient way to support the people of Gaza has been through UNRWA which has been the backbone of the humanitarian response.

With our core funding of €20 million for 2025, UNRWA continues to deliver assistance in accordance with its mandate, including psychological support to over 300,000 children, as well as other health and education interventions. We have also been providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza through other agencies including the World Food Programme and the Red Cross. We have also supplied over 116 tonnes of relief goods through our Rapid Response Initiative.

Government approval was secured in 2024 for Ireland to evacuate up to 30 sick children from Gaza for treatment and care. December saw the arrival of 8 children, and their family members, for treatment in Ireland having been evacuated via Egypt, under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Department of Health and the HSE continue to engage with the World Health Organisation and EU to provide for further missions.

The Government has repeatedly called on Israel to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law. Under international humanitarian law, Israel must protect civilians in Gaza and ensure that the essential needs of the population are met.

We need an urgent end to hostilities and urge all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade considering that a disproportionate number of children have been injured and killed in Gaza due to airstrikes, the specific measures the Government is pursuing to protect injured children and ensure their access to medical care, and push for an immediate halt to actions that result in mass child casualties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15412/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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At the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024, I attended and opened an event hosted by Save the Children in my capacity as Taoiseach. The event was addressed by a number of children from Gaza, who shared shocking and heart-breaking stories of the situation on the ground.

I can assure the Deputy that the plight of children in Gaza and across Palestine remains a key priority for me and for my Department, including in light of the resumed Israeli airstrikes and ground operation, which have brought fresh suffering to the people of Gaza and have breached the ceasefire.

The immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing hostilities to an immediate end and for all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, including the release of remaining hostages and the resumption of much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.

A further pillar of the Government’s response is our support to the immediate humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people, as well as working with the Palestinian Authority to support its efforts to reform and build its institutional capacity. Ireland has provided over €84 million in support of the Palestinian people since the beginning of 2023, including €58 million in core support to UNRWA. €72 million of this total support has been provided since October 2023. The most efficient way to support the people of Gaza has been through UNRWA which has been the backbone of the humanitarian response.

With our core funding of €20 million for 2025, UNRWA continues to deliver assistance in accordance with its mandate, including psychological support to over 300,000 children, as well as other health and education interventions. We have also been providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza through other agencies including the World Food Programme and the Red Cross. In addition, we have supplied over 116 tonnes of relief goods through our Rapid Response Initiative.

Our response also includes practical supports and solutions. Government approval was secured in 2024 for Ireland to evacuate up to 30 sick children from Gaza for treatment and care. December saw the arrival of 8 children, and their family members, for treatment in Ireland having been evacuated via Egypt, under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Department of Health and the HSE continue to engage with the World Health Organisation and EU to provide for further missions.

Compliance with international law is also central to Ireland’s approach at EU and international level. Ireland has both bilaterally and at multilateral level, repeatedly called on Israel to comply with international law, stressing the universal applicability of international law, including international humanitarian law. All parties must respect international humanitarian law at all times. Hospitals and health facilities, medical and humanitarian personnel, must be protected.

On 6 January, Ireland filed a Declaration of Intervention at the International Court of Justice in South Africa’s case against Israel under the Genocide Convention. A Declaration of Intervention was also filed in The Gambia’s case against Myanmar on 20 December 2024. The purpose of both interventions is for Ireland to set out the factors it considers relevant in assessing whether a State has properly fulfilled its obligations under the Convention. The situation of children and young adults was a key focus of both interventions.

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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237. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to confirm that his Department are in contact with Irish medical professionals and other volunteers in Gaza; how often this contact is made; the measures in place to ensure the safety of these citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15413/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides assistance to Irish citizens overseas in line with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter.

Through our Embassies in the region, my Department is in contact with many of the humanitarian and medical workers in Gaza. In most cases, their parent organisation provides arrangements for their security and rotation from Gaza. However, the Department stands ready to provide consular assistance if requested.

My Department has been providing consular assistance and advice to Irish citizens and their immediate families in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict in 2023. In this period, my Department has assisted the departure of 120 Irish citizens and dependents of Irish citizens from Gaza.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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238. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recourse open to Ireland should a review of Israel's human rights obligations under the EU Israel Association Agreement not be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15467/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The EU-Israel Association Agreement provides that the relations between the parties will be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which constitute an 'essential element' of that Agreement.

In principle, if the EU and its Member States formed a view that there is a serious and persistent violation of the requirement to respect human rights as an essential element of the Association Agreement and that the situation is one of special urgency, it could seek to rely on Article 79 to suspend the agreement in whole or in part.

In doing so, there is a requirement to prioritise those measures which least disturb the functioning of the agreement. A Council Decision would be required to suspend an Association Agreement, with unanimity likely to be the applicable voting rule.

In November 2024, then High Representative, Josep Borrell, updated the Council on a legal assessment of Israel’s respect of human rights and international law. Against this background, Foreign Ministers discussed the proposal of the High Representative to suspend the political dialogue between the EU and Israel under the Association Agreement. This proposal did not achieve political consensus.

Ireland will continue to advocate for a meaningful interpretation of Israel’s human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I welcome that at the EU-Israel Association Council in February, the European Union clearly recalled Article 2 of the Association Agreement at the outset of its statement.

Furthermore, the EU-Israel Association Agreement must, in the Government’s view, be interpreted and applied in accordance with the obligations of the EU and its Member States under international law. These obligations have been clarified by the International Court of Justice in its recent advisory opinion on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.