Written Answers Nos. 74-94
74. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the timeframe for the United States Administration to appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14152/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSuccessive US Administrations have provided immensely valuable support to the peace process over the last three decades. This support continues to be provided by the current US Administration, as well as by our many friends in Congress. The Government strongly appreciates the sustained engagement by the current US Administration, including by the US State Department, in relation to Northern Ireland and we look forward to this continuing into the future. In this regard, the Government has indicated that we would welcome the appointment of a Special Envoy for Northern Ireland by the current Administration, as part of its continuing support for the Peace Process. We have not received a timeframe from the US Administration regarding any possible appointment of a Special Envoy.
The Taoiseach discussed the political process in Northern Ireland with President Trump during their bilateral meeting at the White House on 15 March, and also with key Congressional contacts during his recent visit to Washington, D.C.
I also discussed the matter with Administration representatives in Washington, D.C., during my visit there last month.
Continued support and engagement by the US Administration and Congress will remain an essential support to the efforts by the British and Irish Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, to get the devolved, power-sharing institutions of the Agreement operating again as soon as possible.
76. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to new legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset which may lead to the forcible displacement of thousands of Palestinians from East Jerusalem (details supplied); his views on whether this is a draconian measure that represents an opportunistic and cruel land grab which will forcibly distort the demography of East Jerusalem as an attempt to perpetuate and reinforce the Israeli occupation of Palestine; and if he will contact his Israeli counterpart to protest the passage of this new legislation. [14198/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI share the Deputy’s concern about this recent legislation. Israel has already used other measures in certain cases to revoke residency rights of East Jerusalem Palestinians, quite clearly in order to alter the demographic balance of the occupied area. This is explicitly prohibited in international law, and Israel has no right to do it. The European Union issued a very clear statement on this issue on 9 March, which was as follows:
This week, the Israeli Knesset adopted legislation which empowers the Israeli Minister of Interior to revoke the permanent residency status of persons involved in terrorism, treason or espionage.
The European Union rejects terrorism in all its forms, and the crimes set out in this legislation are very serious. However, the new law could make the residency status of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, a protected population under International Humanitarian Law, even more precarious than it already is today. The new law could be used to further compromise the Palestinian presence in East Jerusalem, which would further undermine the prospects of a two-state solution.
In line with international law, the European Union does not recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967, including East Jerusalem, and does not consider them to be part of Israel’s territory, irrespective of their legal status under domestic Israeli law.
The European Union will closely monitor if and how this new law is applied to Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
I fully endorse and repeat those comments.
78. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the fact that the Spanish Government is continuing to suspend home rule in Catalonia and issues (details supplied) in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14194/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am concerned about the situation in Catalonia and the civic unrest and violence that we saw this weekend and I would join with those calling for calm at this time. I am aware that judicial proceedings are under way and that nine Catalans have been remanded in custody pending trial, and the former President has been detained in Germany on foot of a European arrest warrant. As these are matters before the courts it would not be appropriate for me to comment. The future of Catalonia is a deeply divisive and contested issue. These divisions were reflected in the results of last December’s regional elections, and in the difficulties being encountered in appointing a regional President and Government. In the interim, direct rule remains in effect in accordance with the provisions of the Spanish Constitution.
I hope that it will be possible for regional parliamentarians to reach agreement on the appointment of a regional President so that a regional government can be formed. The resolution of this crisis needs to be within Spain’s constitutional framework and through Spain’s democratic institutions.
It is for all Spaniards – all Catalans and all other Spaniards – to shape their own constitutional, political and administrative arrangements, through their own democratic institutions and laws.
79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which efforts continue to be made to restore the power-sharing Assembly in Northern Ireland, notwithstanding the issues such as Brexit that have impeded progress in that area; if the attention of the UK authorities has been drawn to the dangers of allowing the internationally accepted agreement arising from the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent discussions to drift and the need to ensure that adequate cognisance is taken of the importance of continued dialogue and commitment to the peace agreements throughout Ireland and the UK and continued recognition of the importance of an international agreement signed and accepted by all parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14199/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the course of many months, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form an Executive. The devolved, power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are the best means for achieving accountable, representative decision-making for all the people of Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, to date, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the formation of an Executive, despite intensive engagement. In light of this, the Government has been working with the British Government to consider means by which we can support the political process, in accordance with the Agreement, in the period ahead. I will be speaking with the Secretary of State again this week and we will meet in early April.
I remain in contact also with the political parties in Northern Ireland, in working to ensure that every avenue is pursued and all possibilities are considered in seeking to secure a return to devolved power-sharing government, as provided for under the Agreement.
The Taoiseach has spoken with Prime Minister May and emphasised the Government’s full commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, and our determination to secure the effective operation of all of its institutions.
As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, both Governments have an obligation to uphold and protect the letter and spirit of that Agreement.
In the context of the UK withdrawal from the EU, the Government is determined to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts is fully protected. The Government appreciates the solidarity and support which has been shown by all of our EU partners in respect of Ireland’s unique issues and concerns, including the protection of the Good Friday Agreement. These concerns are being progressed by the EU through the Article 50 negotiations with the UK.
The Good Friday Agreement remains the indispensable framework for providing stable, inclusive, power-sharing government for all the people of Northern Ireland and for sustaining our interlocking relationships – within Northern Ireland, on the island of Ireland and between the UK and Ireland.
The Government will continue to engage to ensure the protection and support the operation of the Agreement in all its parts.
80. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of persons waiting to have passport applications processed through the Passport Office; the present turnaround time for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14216/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service is currently processing over 70,000 passport applications. These applications are going through the normal checking, processing and security stages. The target turnaround time for applications made via the online passport application service is 10 working days plus postage. The majority of online applications are currently being processed within 5 working days, well ahead of target. The award winning online service currently accommodates adult renewals and passport card applications and it is planned to further extend this service to other categories of renewals by the end of 2018. I would urge applicants wishing to renew their passports, whether residing in Ireland or overseas, to avail of the online passport application service where possible. The average turnaround time for renewal applications submitted through Passport Express is currently 14 working days, one day ahead of the target turnaround time of 15 working days. Other types of application submitted through Passport Express, such as first time applications or applications to replace lost, stolen or damaged passports take longer due to additional security checks.
The Passport Service operates a counter service in both the Dublin and Cork public offices where applicants who need their passport application processed in timeframes shorter than those offered by the Passport Express and online facility can be accommodated in certain circumstances. The counter service is by appointment only. Applicants wishing to make an appointment should visit passportappointments.ie
In recent weeks we had higher than average turnaround times for some categories of application owing to high application volumes and disruption caused by adverse weather conditions and the subsequent closure of the Dublin and Cork passport offices for 2 days. However, as outlined, the turnaround times have considerably reduced and in many cases are now shorter than the published target times.
My Department continues to closely monitor the level of passport demand to ensure that all resources are effectively deployed. Additional measures taken by the Passport Service include the recruitment of additional staff and the use of targeted overtime.
81. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the worsening human rights situation in Bahrain and the fact that the Bahraini Government is going to even more severe lengths to crack down on free speech and increase sectarian discrimination; and if he will explore options with like-minded states to challenge these worrying developments and to bring pressure on the Bahraini Government to respect human rights. [14196/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am keenly aware of the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain, which I have spoken on in this House several times of late. Despite repeatedly stating its commitment to improving its human rights record, the Bahraini Government appears to be targeting those who express disagreement with or criticism of the Government. A number of worrying developments suggest an increasingly restrictive attitude to those opposing or challenging the Government in any way. Statements from the Bahraini Government on its commitment to safeguarding human rights enshrined in the Bahraini Constitution are undermined by many examples of violations of fundamental freedoms, including violations of freedom of opinion and expression. Ireland’s concerns about human rights issues and restrictions of civil liberties in Bahrain are regularly conveyed to the Bahraini authorities, including through the Bahraini Embassy in London and through Ireland’s (non-resident) Ambassador to Bahrain. Last month, officials from my Department met with the Ambassador of Bahrain and Embassy officials in Dublin, and raised Ireland’s concerns about the human rights situation in Bahrain.
Officials from my Department also raised ongoing human rights concerns with Bahrain in the context of its Universal Periodic Review, which took place in Geneva in May 2017. In advance of this review, the Irish Mission to the UN in Geneva supported an event by the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, where human rights concerns in the Kingdom were discussed. At the Human Rights Council in Geneva earlier this month, Ireland supported an EU statement under Item 4 (Human Rights situations that require the Council’s attention) which reiterated calls on Bahrain “to maintain its commitments as to the respect of freedom of speech and human rights defenders.” We also made reference to Bahrain in our national Item 4 statement highlighting our grave concerns over the ending of the de facto moratorium on use of the death penalty.
Furthermore, my Department, both here in Dublin and in Geneva, engages with a number of Irish and international NGOs on human rights issues in Bahrain.
My Department will continue to monitor the situation in Bahrain, and will continue to call on the Bahraini Government to make good on their stated commitment to make progress in the area of human rights.
82. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of negotiations, particularly those relating to the Border region of counties Cavan and Monaghan, in view of Brexit and the possible re-introduction of a hard Border. [11047/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the Article 50 negotiations, progress has been made between the EU and UK negotiating teams on parts of the Withdrawal Agreement, including on the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. The UK has agreed that a legally operative version of the ‘backstop’ for the border will be included in the Withdrawal Agreement, in line with paragraph 49 of the Joint Report published last December, and that this will apply unless and until another solution is found. The UK has also agreed that all the issues identified in the EU draft of the Protocol will be addressed to deliver a legally sound solution to the border issue. We have always been clear that our preference is to avoid a hard border through a wider future relationship agreement between the EU and the UK, a view we share with the British Government. We look forward to seeing the UK’s detailed proposals in this regard, and proposals on specific solutions. The importance of avoiding a hard border to people living in all the border counties, including Cavan and Monaghan, cannot be underestimated and the Government is acutely conscious of this. The North South cooperation we enjoy today brings tangible benefits to the daily lives of people in the border region and contributes to economic opportunity and development. It is also a very practical outworking of the peace process which allows for the normalisation of relationships between people across the island, to mutual benefit. It is for these reasons that there cannot be a return to border infrastructure of any kind on this island.
Over the coming weeks, in addition to considering UK proposals on the border, our objective will be to continue to close the remaining gaps to agree the Protocol. In this regard, the EU and UK agreed on an intensive schedule of meetings, which have started earlier this week. We expect that the Withdrawal Agreement should be finalised by October, to allow time for approval.
83. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his visit to China. [14023/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra105. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent visit to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14029/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 105 together.
I visited China from 12-17 March 2018, where I engaged in a wide-ranging St Patrick’s Day programme which incorporated meetings and events with a range of political, business, cultural and Irish community interlocutors.
St. Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to showcase Ireland in China. The main objectives for my visit included further enhancing our bilateral political relations, making solid economic progress on both trade and investment priorities and also connecting with the Irish communities in China celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
The four-city visit began in Hong Kong, and included a meeting with the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Mrs. Carrie Lam. I engaged in meetings with Enterprise Ireland client companies, the Irish Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong representatives of the Irish Funds network, and participated in the launch of Bord Bia’s ‘East meets West’ Cookery competition. Finally, I attended the St Patrick’s Day reception in Hong Kong, where I was joined by Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung and a range of key community, cultural and business contacts.
From Hong Kong, I travelled on to Shenzhen and Shanghai, where I met with a range of Bord Bia, IDA and Enterprise Ireland client companies, undertook media engagements, and attended both an official and Irish community St Patrick’s Day receptions.
Finally, I visited Beijing, where I had a number of political meetings, including with Foreign Minister Wang Yi. We discussed a wide range of domestic and regional political and economic developments, as well as bilateral and international issues. On 15 March, I was delighted to be present at the launch of the direct flight between Dublin and Beijing, which will be operated by Hainan Airlines from June 2018 and will have a transformative effect on our relations. I participated in a range of events to promote trade and investment between Ireland and China, with a particular focus on the aviation, agri-food, financial services, education and ICT sectors. In addition, I witnessed the Greening of the Great Wall of China and attended the annual St Patrick’s Day Reception which included the attendance of official, media and business contacts, as well as members of the Irish community.
The range and scale of events in China to mark St. Patrick’s Day is very impressive and I was very happy with the level of engagement by Chinese authorities. My visit for Saint Patrick’s Day provided me an important opportunity to pursue Ireland’s interests in a major world power and the second largest global economy.
84. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the assertion by an organisation (details supplied) that Libya is not ready to hold free and fair elections; if this is a cause for concern in view of the EU's policy of aiding Libyan authorities to intercept migrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14210/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland fully supports the UN Special Representative, Ghassan Salamé’s, Action Plan for Libya, including efforts to form a functioning government under the framework of the Libyan Political Agreement. Holding elections is a key element of the Action Plan, and must be a priority for resolving Libya’s political fragmentation. There have been some positive signs on voter registration, with 2.5 million Libyans now eligible to vote, and, notably, a strong participation rate by women. I hope that this can be translated into a high turnout in the elections. However, I understand the concerns of those who caution that holding elections precipitately may complicate, rather than expedite, a lasting political solution to Libya’s governance crisis. Indeed, the UN Special Representative is conscious that there is much work to be done to lay the ground for credible elections, as he expressed in his briefing to the UN Security Council last week. Specifically, there are significant logistical challenges to holding elections in a country where armed groups control large swathes of territory, and where serious security threats persist. In addition, there are a number of constitutional and legislative measures that need to be resolved. Finally, there must be a commitment by all parties to accept the outcome of the elections.
As I have stated previously in the House, I am deeply troubled by the abuses perpetrated against migrants in Libya. My EU colleagues and I have raised these concerns on a number of occasions at the Foreign Affairs Council, as did the Taoiseach at the European Council in October. I call on the Libyan Government, and all parties, including those with de facto control of territory, to take steps to eliminate ill-treatment of migrants, and to facilitate access to detention centres by UN agencies and other humanitarian organisations.
Libya needs a functioning coastguard in order to rescue people in danger at sea. It is unacceptable that, on being rescued, migrants would be placed in inhumane conditions. The EU provides training, including in international humanitarian law, human rights and gender issues, to Libyan authorities. The EU is also working with the African Union and the UN to save and protect the lives of migrants and refugees in Libya, accelerating assisted voluntary returns to countries of origin, and the resettlement of those in need of international protection. The success of this cooperation is dependent on a Libyan government with effective, united and accountable institutions.
In sum, a functioning and stable government for all Libyans is crucial to addressing the many challenges the country faces, including ongoing efforts to improve the situation of migrants and refugees, and to ensure accountability for their ill treatment. Free, inclusive and credible elections would be an important step in this direction. I call on the Libyan Government, and all parties to the conflict, to guarantee the freedoms of assembly, association and speech, in order to foster an environment in which the democratic will of the Libyan people can be freely expressed. I am conscious that this will be a considerable test for Libya, and indeed the international community, and will require a spirit of compromise and good will on all sides. However, if successful, this would represent an important milestone in Libya’s transition towards an inclusive, democratic and peaceful future.
87. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on Ireland's response to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on the database of all business enterprises in the occupied Palestinian territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11048/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHuman Rights Council Resolution 31/36, adopted in March 2016, called upon the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to produce a database of all business enterprises involved in activities relating to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian Territory. The EU and its member States, including Ireland, had concerns about this resolution, both because of the burden it would place on the resources of the OHCHR, and because the terms of the resolution were drawn in such broad language as to potentially include businesses with only tenuous or inadvertent connections with settlements. Despite these reservations, Ireland of course assured the OHCHR that we would cooperate fully with any request for assistance in the task they had been assigned. The OHCHR subsequently wrote to all UN Member States seeking any information relevant to the compilation of this database. In the case of Ireland the name of one company, which had been reported to have such connections with settlements, was included by the OHCHR in this request. The Government does not collect or maintain any information of its own in relation to such activities in settlements, and the communication from OHCHR gave no details of the reported activities of this company. Ireland’s response to the OHCHR therefore stated that the Irish authorities did not possess any additional information in relation to that case, or the nature of any allegations against this company.
The OHCHR is understood to be in the process of communicating with companies thus identified in this initial exercise, and may issue further information when this is complete.
The Government is committed to the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and has recently published its National Plan on Business and Human Rights 2017-2020. The implementation of this plan is a priority for the Government over the coming years, with the objective of promoting responsible business practice at home and abroad.
88. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent report that Israel is responsible for a 2007 air strike on a Syrian nuclear reactor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14032/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere was never any real doubt that the 2007 airstrike on a target in Syria was carried out by Israel, and the recent declassification in Israel of information relating to it has only confirmed what was already known. My concerns about Syria are focused on the consequences of the appalling violence into which the country has descended in recent years. Any use of military force is something which Ireland would always see as a last resort. However, in view of the Syrian Government’s evident and heinous willingness now to use conventional and even chemical weapons indiscriminately against its own civilian population, it is not a matter of regret that the Syrian Government’s attempt to develop a nuclear programme was brought to an end some years earlier.
89. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the involvement of his Department's officials in planning the commemorations for the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement; and if an all party group is being established to discuss same. [9651/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA programme of events is underway, at home and abroad, to highlight this important anniversary and to mark the achievement of the Agreement, which continues to be the cornerstone of our commitment to peace and reconciliation. My Department continues to engage with other Government Departments and, both here on the island of Ireland and through our overseas Embassy network, with a range of individuals, groups and institutions, who are considering and planning conferences, seminars, cultural responses, acts of commemoration and other initiatives to mark the 20th anniversary. The Government’s programme will include a production called A Further Shore, which uses poetry, images and music to reflect on the troubled journey towards peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. This production will take place in London on 5th April and Belfast on 9th April. Events to mark the people’s vote for the Agreement on the 22nd May are also under development. An all-island schools competition is also underway, in co-operation with the Department of Education, and a prizegiving ceremony will take place for the winners of this completion in Dublin in May.
Further events, organised or supported through our Mission network, are currently planned for Abuja, Boston, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Brussels, Kosovo, Warsaw, Beijing, Tokyo, Geneva and Tel Aviv.
While I do not propose to establish a dedicated all party group for the purposes of marking this anniversary, I would be happy to continue to consult and engage with all political parties and other interested stakeholders and have asked my officials to do likewise.
The events marking this important anniversary will provide an opportunity to reflect on the peace process, past and present; to remember the loss of life during the years of conflict; and to look back at all that has happened on the journey of peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland.
This journey is of course an ongoing one, and the continued imperative to work to realise the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement will form an essential part of the Government’s approach to the 20th anniversary.
90. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to advocate at the EU Foreign Affairs Council for the need for EU members to work together with a view to working towards a resolution to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14203/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am extremely concerned about the current situation in Yemen, which is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The war is now ongoing for more than three years, and has had devastating consequences for civilians, with allegations of violations of human rights, international humanitarian law, and significant loss of life. Ireland has provided over €11 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen since 2015, and we are committed to maintaining support. In 2017, Irish funding of over €5 million was allocated to the UN’s Yemen Humanitarian Pooled Fund (YHPF), which supports NGOs and UN agencies, including UNICEF, which have the best capacity to deliver services on the ground. Furthermore, the EU is the largest humanitarian donor to Yemen and has provided over €170 million in aid since the conflict began, to which Ireland contributes via the EU Development Budget. At the Foreign Affairs Council in December last year, I urged stronger EU action on humanitarian access in Yemen, and I will continue to raise these concerns with all appropriate interlocutors whenever opportunities arise.
Ireland has also worked in the UN system to address our grave concerns about human rights in Yemen. At the Human Rights Council in September 2017, Ireland was part of a small core group of countries that drove forward the adoption by consensus of a Resolution on Yemen. The resolution established a group of international experts to examine the facts in relation to violations of human rights and humanitarian law on the ground. This group will report back to the Human Rights Council, as an important step towards accountability in Yemen.
My predecessor, Minister Flanagan, raised concerns about the conduct of the war in Yemen and the humanitarian impact with Ministerial counterparts in Saudi Arabia and UAE on a number of occasions. More recently, officials from my Department met with the Saudi Embassy in Dublin late last year, and passed on my strong concerns in relation to humanitarian access. There have also been EU contacts with Saudi Arabia on this issue.
I believe that only way to bring about a long-term sustainable improvement in the situation for the Yemeni people is through a negotiated end to this conflict. Ireland welcomes the recent announcement of Martin Griffiths as the new Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Yemen and fully supports the efforts of UN Special Envoy and his team, who are working towards a peace agreement.
I would like to assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to take every appropriate opportunity to urge stronger international action and will press for a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Yemen, as well as respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, and improved humanitarian access.
93. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed the issue of the continued incarceration of a person (details supplied) in an Israeli prison and the recent ruling against an open trial with his counterparts across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14031/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply earlier today to Question No 50 in relation to this case, to which I would add the following: This case and its recent conclusion have not been specifically discussed at Ministerial level meetings in the EU. However, EU Missions in Palestine, including Ireland’s, have cooperated closely in following and reporting on the progress of the case. Irish or other EU representatives arranged to be present at almost all of the hearings in relation to the case. The ruling against an open trial was indeed a matter of concern, although in the event it was almost immediately superseded by the conclusion of the case following an apparent plea bargain agreement.
There are of course often grounds for a case involving a minor to be held in private. But in this case the observers to be excluded would have been there largely with the consent and in support of the family.
It would be unacceptable if the operation of military justice under an occupation regime were to exclude outside observers who are welcomed by the defendants and their families. The presence of EU and other observers at such proceedings has provided at least some degree of independent scrutiny of proceedings.
94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will review all trade between Ireland and Israel in view of continued illegal Israeli settlements, breaches of international law and ongoing violations of the rights of Palestinian children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14219/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has consistently strongly opposed expansion of Israeli settlements, breaches of international law, and human rights violations, and argued for stronger international action on these matters. The specific question of applying a trade ban to exert pressure on Israel over these questions has been raised very frequently in the Oireachtas, and successive Governments and Ministers for Foreign Affairs have made it clear that they do not consider such actions would be feasible, effective, or productive, and we therefore do not support them. Ireland exists in a trading union, and our external trade frontiers and rules are those of the European Union. There is no support whatever at EU level for trade sanctions on Israel.
It is also worth recalling that the great majority of our trade with Israel is Irish goods and services sold to Israel, and that the impact of such a ban would therefore be felt almost entirely in Ireland.
Ireland has pressed for and been instrumental in the adoption by the EU of a number of measures to differentiate between EU relations with Israel and the illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian Territory. These have included excluding settlement goods from lower tariff rates, guidelines on labelling settlement goods, advice to business and citizens about investing in settlements, and rules that prevent EU research grants from being spent in settlements. We continue to examine the scope for further such measures.
