Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 May 2026
39. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which she intends to use Ireland’s EU Presidency to highlight the issue of Palestinian statehood, in addition to humanitarian relief for Gaza, at the relevant Council of Ministers meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38338/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven our own history of conflict and peacebuilding at home, Ireland has a longstanding commitment to a just, sustainable and lasting peace in the Middle East. This will frame our response to crises the Middle East, as in other regions, throughout the tenure of our Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Throughout the Presidency, Ireland will continue to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to international law and to achieving a just and lasting peace where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in two states, Israel and Palestine, in peace, security and dignity within agreed borders based on the 1967 borders. Our recognition of the State of Palestine on 28 May 2024 was a concrete step, taken along with trusted international partners.
Ireland is actively working with the EU and other partners in the region and beyond to create an enabling environment for the Palestinian Authority. At the inaugural meeting of the Palestinian Donor Group in Brussels last November, I called on Israel to release withheld Palestinian tax clearance revenues to the Palestinian Authority and take all necessary measures to ensure that correspondent banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks remain in place. The Government is committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority, both politically and financially. Ireland has provided over €122 million in support to the people of Palestine since January 2023.
On 28 January, Ireland hosted the eighth meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution at Croke Park in Dublin. The event focused on sharing lessons from Ireland’s own experience of peacebuilding in Northern Ireland, and how dialogue, inclusion and strong institutions can help turn conflict into lasting peace.
Ireland will continue to use all the tools at its disposal – political, legal, diplomatic and humanitarian – to support the Palestinian people to achieve self-determination through the two-State solution.
