Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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115. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on Ireland’s participation in the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57160/25]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of his engagement to date with the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority (PA); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57025/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 125 together.

Ireland is a longstanding supporter of the Palestinian Authority and this Government is committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority, both politically and financially.

This is why, at UN High Level Week in September, Ireland joined the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority, a coalition established in response to the urgent and unprecedented financial crisis confronting the Palestinian Authority. The immediate purpose of the Coalition is to stabilise the Palestinian Authority’s finances and preserve its ability to govern, provide essential services, and maintain security, all of which are indispensable to regional stability and to preserving the two-State solution.

There is strong consensus at EU and international level that Israel must release revenues withheld from the Palestinian Authority. The estimated USD$2 billion deficit in Palestinian Authority financing is driven largely by Israel’s action in Gaza and the West Bank and Israel’s continued withholding of Palestinian Authority tax receipts, which are now estimated to be close to USD$3 billion. Israel has not transferred any of the tax revenue to the Palestinian Authority since April 2025.

In June 2024, the European Council stressed that actions weakening the Palestinian Authority must stop and called on Israel to release withheld clearance revenues and to take the necessary measures to ensure that correspondent banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks remain in place. In its statement at the EU-Israel Association Council in February, the EU also stressed the importance of the full implementation and updating of the Paris Protocol, including regarding full, timely, predictable and transparent transfer of tax and customs revenues. I also discussed the urgency of this issue with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in the margins of the Munich Security Conference in February.

At the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg yesterday, I reiterated the importance of European Union support for the Palestinian Authority and its key role in the governance of a future Palestinian State. I also welcomed the establishment by the Commission President of a dedicated Palestine Donor Group.

Ireland welcomed the EU’s payments to the Palestinian Authority of €172 million in 2025 and continues to call for additional emergency funding for the Palestinian Authority at least equal to the EU’s vital €400 million in additional support in 2024.

Along with the Foreign Ministers of the Emergency Coalition, I have called for Israel to immediately release all Palestinian clearance revenues and cease any measures that obstruct or weaken the Palestinian Authority or risk its collapse.

My officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recently met with members of the Coalition, as well as with the Palestinian Minister for Finance and Minister for Planning. The meeting was an opportunity to better understand the specific financing needs of the Palestinian Authority. The Coalition presents an opportunity for contributing states to turn political support for the PA into tangible action, while also maintaining pressure on Israel to release all withheld tax revenue.

Ireland has provided over €101 million in support of the people of Palestine since January 2023. This includes €58 million to UNRWA of which €20 million was provided in February 2025. Over €89 million of Ireland’s support has been provided since October 2023. Over €35 million has been provided as far in 2025 for the people of Palestine, including an additional €6 million announced last week to support our UN partners as they prepare to ramp up aid supplies following the ceasefire.