Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 May 2018
44. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and particularly the recent killing of Palestinian persons will be raised at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23022/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra45. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and particularly the recent killing of Palestinian persons has been raised by Ireland at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23023/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 45 together.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 31 on 15 May on this topic, and also to my address to a Topical Issues debate on 9 May and my more detailed statement during Statements on Palestine on 15 May, all dealing specifically with this issue.
A central element of my response in those contributions was to call for an independent and transparent investigation of the events in Gaza. At my instruction, Ireland last week co-sponsored a motion at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, calling for a Special Session of the Council to discuss these events. At that Special Session on 18 May Ireland supported a resolution which inter-alia provided for the establishment of an independent Commission of Inquiry into what happened and why. Ireland does not currently sit on the Council and so did not have a vote. The resolution was adopted and the Commission will now be established.
I have also requested that the events in Gaza be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council on 28 May.
