Óráid
Opening statement by the Tánaiste in Dáil Éireann on Gaza
Le: Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha; Micheál Martin
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Le: Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha; Micheál Martin
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Check against delivery
I welcome the opportunity to address the situation in Gaza, which remains an issue of profound concern for this government, this House and the people of Ireland.
It is now over twelve months since this House adopted a Motion in the aftermath of the attacks perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist groups against Israel on 7 October 2023.
We unreservedly condemned these brutal attacks, which indiscriminately and systematically targeted civilians, resulting in over 1,200 deaths. We called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
We called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to meet the urgent needs of all civilians in Gaza.
We underlined that Israel must act within international law, stressing the universal applicability of international law, including international humanitarian law.
These priorities have been - and remain - central to the government’s approach. Our leadership and work with likeminded partners placed these issues at the centre of the EU and UN agenda.
Ceann Comhairle,
In the twelve months since, the horror and despair has deepened. An agreement on a ceasefire and hostage release deal has not been achieved. There have been over 43,000 more deaths in Gaza alone, where the level of destruction and human suffering is truly horrific and completely unacceptable and Israel’s war on Gaza is beyond any moral compass. We are witnessing the collective punishment of an entire population and the destruction of the entirety of Gaza.
I repeat – an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a surge of humanitarian assistance into Gaza must remain the urgent focus of the international community.
While our discussions today are focused on Gaza, we continue to face the risk of even wider regional escalation, which would have devastating consequences for the region as a whole.
This is a trajectory that is deeply troubling and must be reversed.
Given the gravity of the issue under discussion today, I want to be clear that the government will continue to pursue policies and initiatives that have a real and meaningful impact on the realities faced by the Palestinian people, and take full account of the overall political and legal landscape.
Effective leadership on foreign policy issues means bringing others with us and ensuring that our actions have a relevance beyond the domestic sphere. I stand over the government record in this regard.
Our principled position of tireless advocacy and considered actions is appreciated by Palestine, and by our likeminded partners in Europe and in the region. The clear message from my extensive engagement with international partners, who have expressly welcomed the approach of the government, is that we sustain it.
Ceann Comhairle,
These efforts are continuing as we speak.
As this House is aware, steps being taken by the Israeli parliament against UNRWA could bring about the collapse of the entire humanitarian response in Gaza, which rests on UNRWA’s infrastructure.
The government is working within the EU, as well as with a core group of likeminded states at the United Nations, to explore all possible political and legal avenues to protect the role played by UNRWA.
This is consistent with the government’s steadfast support for UNRWA in the face of continuing and systemic attacks from the Israeli government. This political support was further underscored by the immediate provision of an additional €20 million of support for UNRWA earlier this year, announced in the presence of Commissioner-General Lazzarini during his visit to Dublin in February.
This leadership at a critical juncture had a material impact on the approach of other donors, including the European Union.
Ceann Comhairle,
Ireland’s recognition of the State of Palestine was a deeply significant moment in our bilateral relations with Palestine and a clear signal to the rest of the world of Ireland’s solidarity at a time of immense despair for the Palestinian people.
I have already set out the government’s approach in detail to this House in May. What I wish to underline at this point is that the timing and context of this decision was carefully calibrated with other partners to build momentum behind the Arab Peace Plan and implementation of the two-State solution.
This momentum has continued in recent months, including through the launch of the “Global Alliance for Implementation of the Two-State Solution” during UN High Level Week this September. This will include several follow-up meetings at senior official level, the first of which took place last week.
Let me stress, our decision to recognise the State of Palestine was a national prerogative, fulfilling a commitment in the Programme for Government. However, the government’s decision was taken to ensure a strategic approach and a meaningful impact on the international landscape.
Ceann Comhairle,
There has been a renewed focus on the Occupied Territories Bill over recent weeks and I welcomed the opportunity to brief the Dáil Select Committee on Foreign Affairs on the government’s approach on Tuesday.
As I have stated, the Advisory Opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice has changed the legal context for the Bill. What has not changed is the EU’s exclusive competence in the field of trade for all its member states – including Ireland. It is against this background that the Taoiseach asked the Attorney General to provide updated advice in relation to this Bill.
In light of the new context provided by the Advisory Opinion, the government has decided to progress the Bill and to prepare amendments. As I set out to the Committee on Tuesday, the amendments required are not merely technical in nature. The government’s analysis is that substantive amendment will be required to most, if not all, of the Bill’s provisions to try to bring it into line with EU law and our own Constitution while prohibiting imports from the Occupied Territories.
What I want to emphasise in particular here today is that the ICJ Advisory Opinion did not somehow drop from the sky.
The government strongly supported the request by the General Assembly for this Advisory Opinion in December 2022. The government contributed actively to the proceedings through its written submission in July 2023 and the oral submission made by the Attorney General to the Court in February of this year.
Ireland’s core objective in making submissions in this case was to encourage the Court to clarify the rights of the Palestinian people in international law and the Opinion of the Court largely confirmed the government’s own legal analysis.
Far from using the issue as a domestic political football, the changed legal context that has given rise to further consideration of the Occupied Territories Bill has emerged from a process supported and shaped by the contributions of this government.
Ceann Comhairle,
As I have made clear on this issue repeatedly, the government intends to file a Declaration of Intervention in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice. The House will recall that it has always been the government’s intention to file this Declaration after South Africa has filed its Memorial in the case. We understand that South Africa filed its Memorial last week. Israel has until 28 July 2025 to file its Counter-Memorial.
As the government has made clear on previous occasions, the purpose of interventions by a State in cases such as these is to argue for its interpretation of the Convention in question. The government’s decision to intervene in the South African case was based on detailed and rigorous legal analysis. Ireland is a strong supporter of the work of the Court, and is deeply committed to international law and accountability.
We are also committed to supporting and promoting a strict interpretation of the Genocide Convention to ensure the highest level of protection possible for civilians caught up in situations of armed conflict, and to apply the highest standards of conduct on those engaged in conflict.
At my direction, work is progressing on the preparation of Ireland’s Declaration of Intervention, which it is intended will be filed before the end of this year. In formulating this Declaration, Ireland will set out a robust basis for its intervention before the Court. It is then a matter for the Court to rule on its admissibility.
Subject to the Court’s ruling, Ireland will then make substantive submissions to the Court on the proper interpretation of the Genocide Convention.
This is precisely the same approach followed in our Intervention in the case of Ukraine v. Russia. In that instance, provisional measures were ordered by the Court in March 2022. Ukraine filed its Memorial in July 2022.
Ireland made its Declaration of Intervention in September 2022. In both cases, Ireland has made timely Interventions consistent with the ICJ’s rules. We have done so in a considered manner, having regard to the gravity of the facts at issue in each case and a detailed assessment of the applicable legal standards.
This is not only to ensure the success of our arguments, but also to maintain Ireland’s well-earned reputation as a serious and respected voice in support of the international legal order.
The government has been extremely concerned at the conduct of both parties to this conflict, and has consistently stressed that both must respect international law, including international humanitarian law. The government has insisted that both Israel and Hamas be held accountable for violations of IHL committed. All parties to armed conflict – states and non-states alike – have obligations under international law. Any actions contrary to these obligations are unacceptable.
The government position on other issues raised in this Motion has also been set out clearly on the record of this House and the
As the government has said on previous occasions, there are no military exports from Ireland to Israel.
In terms of dual-use licences, Ireland regulates the export of dual-use items fully in line with our international obligations, including the EU’s Dual Use Regulation and the EU’s Common Position.
The government has also repeatedly set out the clear policies and procedures that pertain to overflights of sovereign airspace.
On the question of sanctions, as this House is aware Ireland does not impose unilateral domestic sanctions. Ireland rather applies sanctions that are adopted by the United Nations Security Council or by the European Union. This is another area where the government has been particularly active.
I welcome that successive rounds of EU sanctions have been adopted against violent Israeli settlers this year and that further sanctions are under consideration. We will continue to actively press for such responses at EU level.
The government will not oppose the Motion.
Let me assure you all that both I and my officials will continue to play a lead role at EU and international level, through our political engagement and diplomatic efforts, through our unwavering support for the United Nations and commitment to international law, through our financial support to the Palestinian people, through our commitment to the UNIFIL Mission in Lebanon and through our consular support to our citizens on the ground.
This government fully stands over the approach that it has taken and continues to take in relation to the situation in Gaza, Palestine and the wider region.