Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline Ireland's role in supporting the Dutch-led initiative, now backed by a majority of EU member states, to initiate a formal review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement; and to state whether the Government will advocate for trade measures should Israel continue to impede the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. [27434/25]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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124. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade notwithstanding any letters, speeches or communications expressing support for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, whether the Government has brought any formal proposals to meetings of any EU institutions equivalent to those formally tabled by the Dutch government, or formally requested such proposals be included as an agenda item at meetings of any EU institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27527/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 124 together.

Following the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 May, the EU High Representative announced that the EU will conduct a review of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

This is an important decision, reflecting the grave concerns held by Member States regarding the situation in Gaza.

The EU remains steadfast in its calls for the release of all hostages by Hamas and the urgent resumption of negotiations.

However, we are now seeing agreement from a clear majority of Member States on the need to exert more effective influence on Israel to reverse course, to halt its military operations and to cease its obstruction of lifesaving aid.

As you will be aware, Ireland and Spain had already called for this step in February 2024. Ireland raised it on numerous occasions since, including at various meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council as well as directly with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Since the request was first raised by Ireland, the situation has become immeasurably worse, with catastrophic consequences for the civilian population and a real risk of famine.

It is my view that if Israel is deemed to be in breach of its obligations, such a finding must be followed by concrete action.

This is a position that I reiterated very clearly, alongside my counterparts from Spain, Slovenia and Luxembourg, in a joint letter to the High Representative in advance of the 20 May Foreign Affairs Council.

We underlined the need for the review to be undertaken urgently and that, based on this work, the High Representative should, working with the Commission as a whole, bring forward concrete proposals for appropriate measures.

As both I and the Taoiseach made clear in the Dáil on 21 May, it is also our view that the operation of the Association Agreement should be suspended pending the outcome of a review of Israel’s compliance.