Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
127. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be attending the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 15 October 2012; if he expects the issue of a ban on Israeli goods to be discussed; his views on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42613/12]
View answer132. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will personally attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 15 October; if he will be pushing strongly for a common EU policy on excluding Israeli settlement products from the EU market; if he will demonstrate leadership by implementing an individual member state ban on settlement produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42902/12]
View answer133. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be attending the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on the 15 October 2012; if the Israeli Palestinian conflict will be discussed; the proposals, if any, he intends pursuing regarding an EU policy on excluding Israeli settlement products from the EU market; his views on a unilateral approach by him in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43039/12]
View answer134. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on trade with Israel of products from disputed territories such as the illegal settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43426/12]
View answer136. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with his European Union colleagues in relation to a National ban or EU ban on imports of settlement products from occupied Palestinian territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43437/12]
View answer137. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans in respect of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43481/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 132 to 134, inclusive, 136 and 137 together.
I shall attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 15 October. I made the Government’s position on the Middle East Peace Process abundantly clear when I addressed the UN General Assembly on 28 September and will do so once again should the item be reached at the Foreign Affairs Council. I would expect the focus of any such discussion to be on the Palestinian intention to seek observer state status at the UN.
I have answered many questions on the issue of settlement products and the situation has not changed. Notwithstanding the EU’s view on the illegality of Israel’s settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, there is, in my view, no prospect of securing agreement on the banning of products produced in the settlements. I am aware that Deputies have received many representations on this issue, and as stated in reply to an earlier question, I intend to write to all Deputies very shortly setting out in more detail the position in relation to settlement products.
