Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2014
113. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised with his EU counterparts the need to recognise the state of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44679/14]
View answerI have addressed in replies to recent Questions and also outlined in some detail, when meeting the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on 11 November, the Government’s position on the possible recognition of Palestine. Since Ireland has not yet decided to recognise Palestine, it would not be appropriate for us to suggest to EU partners that they need to do so.
At the recent Foreign Affairs Council which I attended on 17 November, Ministers did informally exchange views on the question of recognition, and Sweden in particular set out the thinking behind their own recent decision. Many partners, including Ireland, are open in principle to recognition as part of the search for a comprehensive peace in the region, and at a time when it would help achieve that objective. At this time no other partner has decided to follow Sweden’s example.
The Government remains committed to the earliest possible achievement of a sovereign Palestinian state as part of an agreed two-state solution to the conflict and all our policies are constructively designed to advance this goal.
