Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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30. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade by whom Ireland will be represented at the emergency ministerial meeting of the Hague Group on 15 and 16 July 2025 in Colombia, to address Israel's international law violations; his plans for Ireland to join the Hague Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38300/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Both I and my officials interact with a wide variety of international partners on the Middle East which remains a major priority for this Government.

Ireland’s engagement is guided by our longstanding and principled position, notably respect for international law, respect for the equal right to self-determination, peace, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and unwavering support for the two-State solution.

While Ireland is not a member of the group referred to by the Deputy, this Government is committed to working with partners around the world in service of these objectives. Ireland will be represented at official level at the meeting in Bogotá on 15-16 July.

At the EU level, the situation in Israel and Palestine remains a standing agenda item on the Foreign Affairs Council each month. The next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council will take place on 15 July, the same day as the meeting in Bogotá.

Ireland has been centrally involved in work of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution which was founded at UN High Level Week last year and has met several times since then.

Across all its bilateral and multilateral engagement, Ireland has consistently underlined the need for all parties to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law.

Ireland is a steadfast supporter of the International Criminal Court, as well as the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute.

My overarching priority is to contribute to a coordinated and consolidated effort by the international community as a whole to support a return to a ceasefire and hostage release agreement and the surge of humanitarian access into Gaza this would make possible; to safeguard the two-State solution; to work towards the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza in accordance with UN Security Council 2735 and to uphold the equal right to self-determination, peace, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike.