Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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192. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether he or his predecessor, in recent discussions with Mahmoud Abbas, raised the issue of when the next Palestinian Authority election might take place, in view of the fact that Mr Abbas has ruled without elections since 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18712/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland engages regularly with the Palestinian Authority on a range of issues, including at political level.

I met with President Abbas in September of last year in New York in my capacity as Taoiseach during the United Nations High Level week. I also spoke with President Abbas by telephone in December 2024, and in May 2024 following Ireland’s recognition of the state of Palestine.

The ongoing situation in Gaza and developments in the West Bank have been a focus of recent discussions, in particular efforts to bring hostilities to an immediate end. Ireland also remains focused on efforts to implement the two-State solution and is actively working with EU and other partners in the region and beyond to create an enabling environment for a revitalised Palestinian Authority. This includes regular discussions on democratic and political renewal. The importance of intra-Palestinian reconciliation and democratic legitimacy, including elections, was discussed during the meeting between my predecessor, then Tánaiste Micheál Martin, when he met with President Abbas during his visit to the oPt in September 2023.

More recently, I attended the first EU-Palestine High Level Dialogue in Luxembourg on 14 April. The Dialogue provided an opportunity for the EU to engage directly with Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and to emphasise the importance that the EU and its Member States attach to the relationship with Palestine. It was also an opportunity to express support for the Palestinian Authority and the broader reform agenda agreed by the two sides. In my intervention, I welcomed the programme of reform being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority and commended the progress made to date in what is an extremely challenging environment.

Ireland will continue to maintain channels of communication with the Palestinian Authority, including through our mission in Ramallah and the Palestinian Embassy in Dublin.