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Middle East

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Ceisteanna (283)

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

283. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the comments made by the United Nations Special Rapporteur (details supplied) on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 that the illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territory continue to attract international corporate engagement; his further views on whether the involvement of these corporations with the settlements assists them economically to grow and thrive as well as providing a form of political legitimisation against the wishes of the international community; his further views on whether Israel will continue to ignore international law with impunity unless definite action is taken, including the provision of political and financial support to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to fulfil its mandate to annually update and publish the United Nations database of business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to settlements in the Occupied Territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60548/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Ireland’s position on the illegality of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory informs our engagement with the State of Israel across a range of bilateral issues, including trade and economic issues, and will continue to do so. The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, are wholly opposed to Israeli settlements, which are contrary to international law, and are damaging to the prospects of peace.

Ireland distinguishes in all its dealings between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. A whole of Government approach is applied to the policy of differentiation, and my Department also supports other Government Departments by providing guidance and clarification on the policy of differentiation. The Department of Foreign Affairs also ensures that there is information available for the public and companies regarding Ireland's policy on settlements via the Department's website.

It is critical, however, that action against settlements must be both lawful and well-considered, since actions which are not fully thought-through risk ultimately being unwound, thereby undermining the cause they aim to support.

With regard to the United Nations database referred to by the Deputy, the Human Rights Council adopted a Resolution in March 2016, calling 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 terms of the Resolution were very broad, with the associated risk that this could potentially lead to unfair and counter-productive outcomes. The EU Members of the HRC therefore abstained in the vote on the Resolution. Ireland nevertheless fully cooperated with requests for assistance by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Ireland has always sought to protect the independence of the Office of High Commissioner and I note the High Commissioner’s commitment to discharge the mandate of that Resolution in a legally, factually and methodologically sound manner. The Human Rights Council did not specify implications for entities listed in the database or put forward recommendations on how the database be used.

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