Gino Kenny
Question:46. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his meeting with President Abbas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40268/18]
View answerThursday, 4 October 2018
Questions (46)
Written answers
I was delighted to welcome President Abbas to Ireland last month, following on from my invitation to him when I visited Ramallah in January. His visit came ten years after his last visit in 2008 and gave us a valuable opportunity to discuss a number of issues relating to the Middle East Peace Process and our bilateral relations with Palestine.
After the official welcome at the Dublin airport on 22 September, President Abbas and his delegation proceeded to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet with President Higgins. Following this the Taoiseach and I held a substantive and useful meeting with President Abbas at Farmleigh. I also hosted a working dinner for the President and his delegation that evening. Our discussions were enhanced by the presence of other senior Palestinian leaders, including Saeb Erekat, Chief Negotiator and Secretary General of the PLO; Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ziad Abu-Amr; Foreign Minister Riad Malki; and others.
Our discussions covered a range of issues, opening with Ireland’s ongoing support for the Palestinian people, including practical support in the form of bilateral assistance. We discussed the Middle East Peace Process, both in terms of the issues arising from the occupation, and the international environment and prospects for any political initiative. We shared concerns about increasing illegal settlements and discussed the threatened demolition of the village of Khan Al Ahmar in particular. We also spoke about the situation in Gaza and the prospects for Palestinian reconciliation.
We discussed the funding crisis facing UNRWA and I was able to take the opportunity to reaffirm Ireland’s support for UNRWA with the announcement of an additional €1 million in Irish Aid funding, bringing Ireland’s total funding to UNRWA to €7 million this year, the highest it has ever been. I underlined the Government’s strong support for the Agency and the essential work it is carrying out under difficult conditions.
During the meeting with the Taoiseach, the issue of human rights in Palestine was raised, in particular in relation to the Christian minority, women and LGBT persons in Palestine.
President Abbas and his colleagues expressed their strong hope that Ireland would soon recognise the State of Palestine. I explained the Government’s position, our consistent support for the achievement of a fully sovereign Palestinian state, and my continuing assessment of whether and when formal recognition by Ireland could be most helpful.
In giving consideration to what more we could do to support the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority in the current deteriorating situation, I also raised the idea of Ireland hosting an informal meeting of a small number of Arab and European Ministers with Palestinian representatives, to reflect privately on how to advance the cause of peace. We are working to develop this concept, in consultation with partners, over the coming weeks.