Paul Lawless
Ceist:123. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the representations he has made within the EU to bring about an end to the blockade of essential aid to Gaza. [27524/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 27 May 2025
Ceisteanna (123)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government has consistently condemned the blockade of essential aid to Gaza and called for the immediate resumption of unimpeded humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza. The humanitarian situation in the Strip is catastrophic with almost no aid allowed in by Israel since 2 March. The limited amount of aid allowed in in recent days is clearly insufficient.
Following the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council last Tuesday, the EU High Representative announced that the EU will conduct a review of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
This is an important decision, reflecting the grave concerns held by Member States regarding the ongoing military operations by Israel and the blockade of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
This is a position that I reiterated very clearly, alongside my counterparts from Spain, Slovenia and Luxembourg, in a joint letter to the High Representative in advance of the Foreign Affairs Council. As the House will be aware, Ireland and Spain first called for this step to be taken in February 2024.
We underlined the need for the review to be undertaken urgently and that, based on this work, the High Representative should, working with the Commission as a whole, bring forward concrete proposals for appropriate measures.
As both the Taoiseach and I made clear in the Dáil last week, it is also our view that the operation of the Association Agreement should be suspended pending the outcome of a review of Israel’s compliance.
On 19 May, Ireland signed up to a joint statement with 23 other donor countries and the EU urging Israel to allow a greater resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially.
In my intervention at the EU-Israel Association Council in February, I also underlined the EU’s call for full and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
Only an immediate end to hostilities and a full, unimpeded resumption of humanitarian aid delivery can prevent a further descent into that grim reality for Gazans.
Question No. 124 answered with Question No. 118.