Parliamentary Questions

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As part of Sadaka’s political work, we are in contact with members of the Oireachtas who regularly submit Parliamentary Questions (PQs) for oral and written answers. These questions cover a wide range of policy issues ranging from children’s rights to taxation agreements with Israel and feed into our policy work in each of those areas.

Recent Parliamentary Questions

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Question 135: Middle East | 13 February 2024

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of reports a Palestinian-Canadian journalist (details supplied) has been abducted by Israeli authorities in Gaza; if he is aware of reports that journalists are being targeted by Israeli authorities in Gaza; if he has raised the issue with the Government of Israel; if he has raised the issue with the Government of Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Question 134: Middle East | 8 February 2024

Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a US military aircraft (details supplied) was permitted to land and refuel at Shannon airport on 1 February 2024; to clarify the steps that were taken to ensure that this aircraft was not involved in US military operations in support of the Israeli attacks in Gaza; to clarify what steps were taken to check what this aircraft was delivering to Ramstein air base; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Question 25: Cabinet Committees | 30 January 2024

Last week, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel has a case to answer on a charge of genocide. Who is the individual, outside of Israel itself, who has by far the greatest responsibility for funding and arming that Israeli assault? It is the man the Taoiseach intends to hand a bowl of shamrock on 17 March - President Joe Biden. Will his hand tremble when he hands over that bowl? Will he squirm when he poses for that photograph? How does he think that photograph will look to the people of Gaza who have lost sons and daughters to the bombs made in the USA and paid for by the Biden Administration? The Taoiseach will hand over that bowl of shamrock on behalf of the Irish people. To be clear, he will not do it in my name. Does he not realise that there are, at the very least, hundreds of thousands of people living in this State who will be disgusted by his action?

Question 26: Cabinet Committees | 30 January 2024

On the same issue, genocide is the worst crime that a human being, state or regime can commit. It is the unspeakable crime. Joe Biden has armed Israel to the teeth, specifically to support Israel's ability to continue the massacre for which it is now in the dock. Let us be clear that Israel is in the dock for genocide. The court has said there is a plausible case that it is guilty of genocide and, under the Genocide Convention, all signatories are required to do everything in their power to stop a genocide. Would the solidarity action not be to say we are not going to give Joe Biden a bowl of shamrock on our national day to endorse the genocide and massacre he is inflicting on the people of Gaza?

Question 27: Cabinet Committees | 30 January 2024

The Taoiseach has indicated a timeline for when the Government might join and support South Africa in its genocide case against Israel. Is he, like some of his Ministers, supportive of South Africa and of the Government joining its case? Trócaire has also asked that the Government make its own assessment about what is happening in Gaza with regard to genocide and the risk of genocide. We all know of the slaughter going on and we need to apply all the pressure we can.

Question 39: Middle East | 17 January 2024

Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will be supporting South Africa in taking Israel to the International Court of Justice accusing it of crimes of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza; and if Ireland will support the people of Gaza in the International Court of Justice following violations by Israel of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention and international law in relation to Palestinians in Gaza.

Question 45: Diplomatic Representation | 17 January 2024

Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in the history of the State, diplomatic status has even been given to representatives of a political movement (such as the African National Congress or Palestine Liberation Organization), as opposed to the more standard diplomatic status for representatives of a State; and if this has not been granted, if he could explain how relations between the State and the ANC prior to the fall of Apartheid, or relations between the State and the PLO prior to the establishment of the Mission of Palestine in Dublin, were coordinated.

Question 97: Middle East | 12 December 2024

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the President of Israel stating during an RTÉ broadcast that Irish taxpayer monies had been misused in the construction of tunnels by Hamas, in light of a review of funding provided by the European Union to Palestine which found that safeguards work well and that 'no evidence has been found to date that money has been diverted for unintended purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Question 130: Middle East | 5 December 2024

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to President of the European Commission burdening NGOs with bureaucracy in an attempt to stem aid to Palestine, in the spirit of an announced cessation of aid to Palestinian rebuked by Ireland and other member states, and despite a recent review having concluded that existing safeguards ‘work well’ and that ‘no evidence has been found to date that money has been diverted for unintended purposes’; and so as to ensure parity of treatment with regard to aid to Palestine and trade with Israel, in line with statements of the Taoiseach, the actions he has taken to limit trade with Israel in a comparative manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Question 138: Middle East | 5 December 2024

Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs given that the International Criminal Court is engaged in an active investigation of the situation in Palestine, including an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity, and given Ireland's political and financial support for the Court's work, if there are any plans to communicate advisories to Irish citizens and residents who may be serving or volunteering in the Israel Defence Forces on the potential legal consequences and individual criminal liability that could arise under both Irish and international criminal law from their conduct in the course of such service or volunteering; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

We are currently backdating records of Parliamentary Questions.

Question 234: National Treasury Management Agency | 27 June 2023

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Finance if the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund has invested in companies which operate and derive income from the Occupied Palestinian Territories; if such is consistent with the Irish Government policy of distinguishing between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories of the State of Palestine occupied by the State of Israel since 1967; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Question 105: Middle East | 25 May 2023

Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that Ireland played its part in ensuring that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has fully complied with the UN Human Rights Council mandate to compile, publish and regularly update a database of all businesses operating in illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory; if he fears that extensive political pressure may have been brought to bear on the High Commissioner to disregard this mandate, to interpret it in a particular way or to hamper progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Question 103: Middle East | 25 May 2023

Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs with regard to the UN database of companies operating in Israel’s illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, if he is of the opinion that the database is at present achieving the objectives outlined in the Resolution adopted by the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2016; the initiatives that the Government has taken since 2020 to assist the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in making sure that the database has been regularly updated and is fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Question 333: Middle East | 7 March 2023

Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs with regard to his recent statement that Ireland stands ready to support a just and lasting two-state solution based on international law and internationally agreed parameters as the only sustainable prospect that will enable Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace, if Ireland's backing for such an initiative is contingent on other E.U or U.N. member states spearheading such a proposal; if Ireland would be willing to take the leading role in view of our strong position on human rights, international law and the taking of territory by force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.