I 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.