Foreign Policy

Tuesday, 7 October 2025

Questions (13)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 30 September 2025, whether the Government has any issue recognising the state of Lebanon, considering the participation of a proscribed organisation in its Government, or whether the policy determining that Ireland will not permit foreign governments to facilitate the participation of proscribed organisations in their governments it recognises applies exclusively to a prospective Palestinian state. [53349/25]

View answer

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ireland established diplomatic relations with Lebanon in December 1974. Insofar as my officials can establish, the current government of Lebanon has no members who are also members of a proscribed terrorist organisation. There are ministers nominated by the political wing of Hezbollah, as there have been in a number of Lebanese governments.

In July 2013, the EU's Council of Ministers designated the military wing of Hezbollah under the EU sanctions regime to combat terrorism. The political wing of Hezbollah was not designated. The European Union (EU) position has not changed since then, although some Member States have taken a different view at national level.

The Government’s position with regard to the governance of Palestine, including future governance of Gaza, has been clearly set out in a number of recent PQ responses to questions tabled by the Deputy.

A key pillar of Ireland’s foreign policy is our strong commitment to international law and our promotion of respect for international law. Ireland has consistently condemned terrorist acts, regardless of who commits them.