Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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6. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if it is the view of the Government that representations by the President of the European Commission regarding the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy in her engagement with war crimes suspect Benjamin Netanyahu and at the most recent meeting of the G7 are consistent with positions agreed by the Government at the Foreign Affairs Council, or that these representations undermine the institutional balance enshrined in the EU Treaties, as set out in Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 19 June 2025. [34695/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that the President of the European Commission spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 15 June by telephone following escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. While the institutional balance enshrined in the EU Treaties envisages that representations by the Commission President regarding the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy are consistent with positions agreed by the Foreign Affairs Council, the President does not require the approval of the Council, or of the Member States, in order to engage with foreign leaders.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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7. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if it is the view of the Government that the engagement by the President of the European Commission in speaking with Benjamin Netanyahu on 15 June 2025 is consistent with the long-standing commitment he reiterated in response to Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 19 June 2025 by the EU and its Member States to avoid non-essential contact with individuals who are subject to an arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC); and if he has sought or received any explanation from the President of the European Commission on her decision to engage with the subject of an ICC arrest warrant. [34696/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The European Union Action Plan on the International Criminal Court, which is a follow-up to Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP, provides that the EU and its Member States should avoid non-essential contact with individuals subject to an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. No definition is provided of what constitutes non-essential contact, which is a judgement to be made on a case-by-case basis in light of the particular prevailing circumstances, including the nature and purpose of the contact. In speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu by telephone on 15 June, the President of the European Commission was responding to the outbreak of military conflict with Iran two days earlier, and the rapidly escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The Israel-Iran conflict is the subject of ongoing political engagement at EU level and will be addressed by EU Leaders at the European Council on 26-27 June.