Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 April 2023
27. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the recognition of the state of Palestine will take place; and his views on the failure to do so during the 32nd Dáil (details supplied). [19632/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government states that the Government will “honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a two-State solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”. In the absence of progress towards a two-State solution, I would be prepared to recommend to the Government recognition by Ireland of a State of Palestine, if and when it might be helpful, and this is a matter which I discuss regularly with EU colleagues. The timing and context of any such decision would affect whether the resulting loss of influence would be matched by a commensurate benefit for the Palestinian people and a positive impact on the peace process and a two-State solution. My judgement at present is that this is not currently the case.
