Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2010
10 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in his view, Israel does not fulfill the condition for OECD membership laid down by the OECD Council in 2007 requiring a commitment to pluralist democracy based on the rule of law and the respect of human rights; and if he will therefore use the Irish vote to block Israeli membership [20980/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra22 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent admission of Israel to the OECD; and the position taken by him thereon [20928/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 22 together.
Israel, along with Estonia and Slovenia, was formally invited to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development at a meeting of the OECD Council on 10 May 2010. On the basis of formal opinions and all relevant technical information gathered by the appropriate OECD bodies during the accession process which stretched back to 2007, the Secretary General of the OECD recommended to the council that Israel be invited to accede. The 31 member countries of the council, including Ireland, accepted that recommendation at the meeting of 10 May.
An invitation to accede to the OECD is based on the applicant country's compliance with the organisation's rules and practice built up over the past 50 years and does not relate to or imply approval for other actions or policies of the state concerned.
In its statement on the successful conclusion of the accession negotiations with Israel on 10 May, the European Union recalled commitments made by Israel during the accession period, including in regard to the geographical scope of the statistics provided for the OECD, and also restated its position that, in line with international law, the European Union would not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including in respect of Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.
Ireland, in common with a significant number of OECD members, continues to be deeply concerned about several aspects of Israeli policy towards its Palestinian neighbours, including its settlement policy and the blockade of Gaza. I have consistently called on Israel to bring to an end these policies, as have successive Governments in the past. I repeat that call today. On acceding to the OECD, Israel, as well as all other new members, will be subject to vigorous and objective peer review processes across a range of areas, including potentially sensitive ones such as labour standards and issues relating to income inequality and discrimination. We intend to work with partners in ensuring Israel fully complies with all the obligations arising from OECD membership.
I have welcomed the Minister's stance on Israel in the past, but on this occasion I express my disappointment which will undoubtedly be shared by other supporters of Palestine. Given his statement to The New York Times on 5 March that the “medieval siege conditions” being imposed on Gaza are unacceptable, how could he agree or assent to Israel’s membership of an organisation which is supposed to be committed to fundamental values, including a pluralist society based on the rule of law and respect for human rights? How does his acceptance of Israel’s membership of the OECD square with the view he expressed in the Dáil that the effective isolation of Gaza constituted “collective punishment” and was illegal under international humanitarian law? It beggars belief that a country that has been censored internationally to such a degree and consistently ignored that censorship should become part of the OECD. Why should less stringent criteria apply in respect of membership of that organisation than is the case in regard to Israel’s membership of or trade agreements with other international organisations?
My position remains that the Gaza blockade is unacceptable and represents a fundamental breach of international human rights and norms. I have always been clear in that regard. Ireland has always maintained a significant interest in and commitment to Middle East issues, particularly efforts to effect a resolution of the conflict there. There are several routes one could take to highlight and focus on these issues. Some NGO campaigners have argued for a complete boycott and divestment policy and so on. However, such a policy would reduce one's influence over the various interlocutors in the Middle East conflict and could undermine one's credibility in addressing the issues involved with all the stakeholders. There is a balance to be struck in one's approach to the matter. I would like to say more, but the Leas-Cheann Comhairle has indicated that my time is up. It is difficult to address the points raised within a short timeframe.
I have no difficulty in accepting the sincerity of the Minister's position on Gaza. However, reports in the Israeli press suggest Ireland, with Switzerland and Norway, initially had reservations about voting for the acceptance of Israel into the OECD but that in the end, like what happened in respect of the United States-India nuclear non-proliferation agreement, they caved in. The Secretary General of the OECD has said all of this is justified and will contribute to a more pluralist and open OECD. I take him to mean that when it comes to moral issues or issues of occupation such as how one handles the question of what is produced in the settlement of the Occupied Territories on the West Bank, the OECD will always look the other way and take the short-term economic argument as opposed to the politically moral one.
The invitation to Israel, Slovenia and Estonia was given back in 2007, at which stage Ireland did not oppose it. This is entirely incomparable to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty agreement with India.
It is my understanding a reservation was entered early on.
I have outlined my position. Moreover, I have written to every Deputy setting out our position on boycotts. We have argued that there is a balance to be struck in these matters. In regard to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty mentioned by the Deputy, Ireland is cheering the Middle East resolution because of the acceptance by all concerned of our bona fides. These are issues we must weigh up in terms of influencing events.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
