Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 February 2010
135 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made in the recommendations of the Goldstone report on Gaza; and his response to the statements made so far following publication of the report. [7162/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra151 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Goldstone report on the conduct of the Gaza war. [7142/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 151 together.
As I have reported to the House on previous occasions, I consider the Goldstone Report to be a serious and important contribution to efforts to determine the truth of allegations about events in Gaza a year ago, to establish accountability for them, and to seek to prevent a recurrence of such alleged infringements of international law. I have commended Judge Goldstone and his colleagues, including retired Defence Forces Colonel Desmond Travers, for their work.
The UN General Assembly in October adopted a Resolution, supported by Ireland, which called on the parties to the conflict to report within three months on their implementation of the Resolution, and particularly the requirement to establish independent and transparent enquiries into allegations relating to the conduct of their forces during the conflict. UN Secretary General Ban has at the end of last week sent to the General Assembly the reports he has received from Israel and the Palestinian Authority. SG Ban has noted that the reports do not provide enough information to be clear yet if the General Assembly Resolution has been complied with, or is in the process of being complied with. It is also reported that the Hamas movement has forwarded a report to the UN, although the status of this document is unclear.
It should be noted that, in a separate development to the Goldstone Report, Israel has also recently paid compensation of $10.5 million to the UN for damage to UN property, notably UNRWA facilities, caused by Israeli forces during the conflict.
The process of following up on the Resolution is ongoing. Following the Secretary General's report, it is now for the UN to decide what is the next step. This may take place at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which originally commissioned the Goldstone Report, although it may be more likely that the General Assembly, which passed the Resolution, will consider this first.
