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Middle East

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Questions (621, 622, 623, 628, 629)

Chris Andrews

Question:

621. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he engaged with other European Union member states to issue a collective statement denouncing the designation of the six Palestinian NGOs as terror originations and to call on the Israeli Minister of Defence to rescind the designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63110/21]

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Chris Andrews

Question:

622. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures that are being carried out to protect the European Union funding of the six Palestinian human rights NGOs that were recently designated as terror groups by Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63111/21]

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Chris Andrews

Question:

623. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps the Government is taking to protect the funding of Palestinian human rights organisations from European Commission precautionary measures and to revoke the measures put in place by Israel on the three NGOs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63112/21]

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Chris Andrews

Question:

628. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if concerns have been raised, in view of the fact that Ireland has invested in human rights groups in Palestine regarding the suspension of funding to groups (details supplied) on the basis of a 74 page document of evidence from May 2021 which was widely condemned by European Union member states as not being substantiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63240/21]

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Chris Andrews

Question:

629. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures Ireland is carrying out to ensure the European Commission pushes back against precautionary measures towards the funding of Palestinian human rights groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63241/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 621, 622, 623, 628 and 629 together.

The Middle East Peace Process remains a priority issue for Ireland, including in the context of our current membership of the UN Security Council. I am seriously concerned by the designation of six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist entities by the Israeli Ministry for Defense and I underlined this position to the Israeli Government in person when I visited the region in November 2021. I have recently spoken on this issue in detail  on 30 November in statements in Dáil Éireann on Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.

We will continue to work closely with our partners on our response to these designations, including in the EU. Ireland is a consistent voice in the EU on the Middle East Peace Process and we work to utilise our influence at all levels. Ensuring that there is space for civil society organisations is a key part of our foreign policy globally and I recognise the particular importance of prioritising this in the context of the occupied Palestinian territory.

Question No. 622 answered with Question No. 621.
Question No. 623 answered with Question No. 621.
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