Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans, and the international engagement there has been, on the issue of the Middle East, particularly on the genocide in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37592/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Middle East region is experiencing a period of significant instability with multiple crises, many of which are interrelated. The appalling and deteriorating situation in Gaza and the situation in the West Bank remains a central focus of my engagement with my EU and other international counterparts.

Ireland has consistently condemned the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza. The Israeli response has been utterly disproportionate. The current volume and pace of aid deliveries into Gaza under Israel’s partial easing of its blockade remains critically insufficient to meet the needs of Gaza’s entire population, which is facing high levels of acute food insecurity. I share the concerns of UN and other credible international actors that the ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’ is not operating in accordance with humanitarian principles.

I continue to urge all parties to do everything possible to support efforts underway to reach agreement on a new ceasefire and hostage release deal. I commend the role of the mediators, Egypt, Qatar and the United States, in their efforts to secure progress.

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.

Ireland, the EU and international partners have been clear that there can be no forced displacement of the civilian population in Gaza, nor occupation of the Strip by Israel.

Ireland has consistently condemned Hamas for its attack on Israel and for the taking of hostages, and called for their unconditional release.

At the EU level, the situation in Gaza and in the West Bank was at the centre of discussions at the June Foreign Affairs Council. I welcome that the review of Israel’s compliance with its obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement has been finalised. Ireland and Spain first called for this step in February 2024. I have been clear with my EU counterparts that we now need to see options for follow-up actions. I also recently joined nine other EU Ministers in writing to High Representative Kallas to call for the EU to undertake a detailed review of its compliance with the July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice. Ireland has been calling for this work for some time and will continue to seek action.

In recent weeks, I also had a number of calls with Ministers in the region on issues of concern, including my counterparts from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the UAE.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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37. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will establish an interdepartmental committee to investigate the need to end Ireland’s reliance on goods and services purchased from Israel and find alternative suppliers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35766/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There are currently no plans to establish an interdepartmental committee along the lines suggested in the question.