Human Rights

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022

Tuesday, 29 March 2022

Questions (363, 364)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

363. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether Ireland can genuinely be a credible and effective actor and have international influence by continuing to raise human rights issues with Israel in the context of the treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli Government through measures (details supplied); his further views on whether it is time to be genuinely proactive; the new initiatives that he will undertake; if he will reconsider adopting the legislation to make it an offence to import or sell goods or services originating in an occupied territory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15930/22]

Catherine Connolly

Question:

364. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the opinion of a person (details supplied) that Israel has sunk to such political and moral depths that it is now an apartheid regime and that it is time for the international community to recognise this reality as well; his views on their opinion that the solution would be for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories and the establishment a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel; the steps he intends to take to build an alliance of countries within the European Union to expedite work towards such a solution; if he will take similar urgent action in this instance as has been taken in response to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine which is also a gross violation of international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15931/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 364 together.

I refer the Deputy to the answers given in the responses to questions 15351/22 and 15466/22 on 24 March and to my recent statements on the matter in the Dáil, which address many of the issues raised.

Ireland is a credible actor on this issue, advocating an approach based on international law and our support for a two-State Solution. Ireland will remain active on this issue both bilaterally and in multilateral fora, including within the EU and at the UN.

The Occupied Territories Bill would not be compatible with EU law, and would not be implementable. This is the clear legal advice on this matter. The Government will therefore not be taking it forward.

Ireland has supported legal avenues to differentiate between settlements and Israel, for example by joining a case before the European Courts in 2019 on labelling of certain goods produced in settlements. Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed settlements, and this Government will continue to do so.

Ireland’s priority remains to protect and encourage a peace process that can deliver a two-State Solution, based on international law including international human rights law, and on the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Question No. 364 answered with Question No. 363.