Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
33. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts his Department are making to ensure the ICJ meet to assess the accountability of Israel in relation to the preliminary ruling issued in the South African case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14800/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra47. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, following the lodging of a Declaration of Intervention by Ireland in the case of South Africa v Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice, it is his intention that Ireland would submit written observations or seek an oral hearing from the court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15169/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 47 together.
I announced on 27 March that Ireland will intervene in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice. We intend to make our intervention under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court. This Article allows states that are parties to a convention (in this case, the Genocide Convention) to intervene in a case where the construction of that convention is in question in a case before the Court.
Ireland has not yet filed a Declaration of Intervention. We will do this after South Africa has filed its Memorial, setting out its written legal arguments, with the Court. This will take a number of months.
In the meantime, I continue to follow this case closely, including the most recent order for additional provisional measures delivered by the Court on 28 March. I welcome in particular the measure requiring Israel to ensure the unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance. This is a recognition by the Court of the dire situation unfolding in Gaza. The Court has given Israel a month to report on its implementation of its order.
