Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2004
12 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has sought meetings with Cement Roadstone on its involvement in the building of the wall by Israeli authorities in the West Bank that will lead to the further exclusion and repression of Palestinians. [18862/04]
View answerA subsidiary company of Cement Roadstone Holdings owns a minority shareholding of about one-quarter in the main Israeli cement producer Nesher. The share quota does not give the parent company control over Nesher's operational matters. The Israeli company supplies cement to all of the concrete manufacturers in the country. It does not have a say in the final use of the concrete products. It also has no direct involvement in the construction of the separation barrier. Therefore, it is incorrect to speak of CRH's involvement in the construction of the barrier.
The Government's position on the illegality of the construction is well known. Our submission to the International Court of Justice at the end of January clearly outlined our position. On numerous occasions I have expressed my serious concern about the consequences of the barrier for the Palestinians affected and for the peace process.
