Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether Ireland will raise at European level the decision of the Israeli authorities to obstruct and place a five year travel ban on the Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62741/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the decision of the Israeli authorities to place a five year travel ban on the Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Palestine. This ban follows on from a previous case of members of a European Parliament delegation being refused access to Israel in February 2025.

At that time, my officials raised this matter with the EU Delegation in Tel Aviv and were advised that delegation members were refused entry to Israel under the ‘Law for the Prevention of Harm to the State of Israel through Boycotts.’ Parliamentarians from other countries have been refused entry to Israel under the same law. I regret that the travel of the delegation was not facilitated and reiterate that diplomatic and political contacts are essential at this critical time in the region.

Members of the European Parliament are directly elected representatives of the citizens of the EU, and it is essential that democratic institutions are seen to reflect citizens’ concerns. This includes carrying out official travel on fact-finding missions or other visits which contribute to shaping the European Parliament’s external relations. MEPs as well as Parliament officials should therefore, where possible, be facilitated in undertaking such travel.