Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
215. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government's position on the Paris protocol; her views on the changes that should be sought to the arrangements governing economic relations between Palestine and Isreal to further the economic sovereignty of the state of Palestine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45072/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra216. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her position on the withholding of billions of clearing revenues/tax funds by the Israeli government from the Palestinian Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45073/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together.
Ireland is extremely concerned about attempts to suffocate the Palestinian economy and I continue to call upon Israel to release withheld Palestinian tax clearance revenues to the Palestinian Authority. I have also called on Israel to take all necessary measures to ensure that correspondent banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks remain in place.[]
Ireland is actively working with the EU and other partners in the region and beyond to create an enabling environment for the Palestinian Authority. Tánaiste Simon Harris, in his then capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, attended the first ever EU-Palestine High Level Dialogue in Luxembourg in April 2025. The Dialogue provided an opportunity for the EU to engage directly with Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.
I was pleased to attend the inaugural meeting of the Palestine Donor Group last November in Brussels where I had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Mustafa and Palestinian Minister for Finance and Planning Estephan Salameh. At that meeting, I highlighted Ireland’s concerns about Israel’s attempts to suffocate the Palestinian economy and 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. Ireland has been clear that the progress the Palestinian Authority has made on reforms is being continually undermined by Israel.
The Taoiseach met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. I also met with my Palestinian counterpart, Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian, at the Munich Security Council in February and heard first-hand the serious impact that Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues is having on the Palestinian economy.[]
On 8 April, I announced that Ireland will provide an additional financial contribution of €3 million to the Palestinian Authority for the continued provision of essential public services. This payment is being made via the EU PEGASE instrument and is part of Ireland’s contribution as a member of the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority.
The Government is committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority, both politically and financially. Political and economic security in the West Bank is central to its stability and to the security of the wider region, as well as being an essential component to the viability of the two-State solution. Ireland has provided over €122 million in support to the people of Palestine since January 2023 and over €19 million so far this year.
