asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Palestinian Liberation Organisation has formally or informally applied to have an ambassador or diplomatically recognised person resident in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - PLO-Ireland Relations.
7.
The answer is no. Discussions are however ongoing on the appointment of a Palestinian official who would not have diplomatic status to the Palestinian information office in Dublin, which is a private office. The question of the appointment by the PLO of an ambassador or other diplomatically recognised person does not arise as Ireland has not recognised the State of Palestine and cannot therefore enter into diplomatic relations with it.
I thank the Taoiseach for that reply. Can he tell the House if this request he has had will be taken on its own merit or will it be discussed and considered in conjunction with other interests in that region?
On its own merit.
In relation to what the Taoiseach said earlier, would he agree that the comments by the Minister, Deputy Collins, that he would look into the setting up of this office gives it an official status — though not diplomatically official — that it would not otherwise have and that it would allow this office to be opened on that basis with a person being named by President Arafat, as ambassador and that not allowing the opening of an Israeli Embassy here would be seen as not friendly by the Israeli Government and would certainly not appear to be applying an even-handed approach to the Middle East?
I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government wish to be even-handed because it is only from a position of even-handedness that we could help Euro-Arab dialogue and make a contribution to the peaceful settlement of this tragic and ongoing situation in the Middle East. I would just like to reiterate that there is no question of the named person being awarded diplomatic status. What is intended and what we are discussing is that this lady be appointed to the existing information office.
This person has been named by Mr. Arafat. She will be here and outside this country she will be referred to as the diplomat in Dublin. Will the Taoiseach agree that this will give offence to the Israeli Government? They are not being allowed to open an office here.
This is repetition.
Will the Taoiseach review the position in the light of what I have said?
That danger is there but we will have to make it clear to our friends, the Israelis, what the exact position is and reassure them on that aspect.
It would be simple to allow them to open an office.