The straight answer to the Deputy's question is that I have asked my political director to make contact with the Israeli ambassador and his team in respect of this killing. I was deeply concerned to learn of the death of a seven-year-old boy, Rayyan Suleiman, during Israel Defense Forces operations in the occupied West Bank last Thursday, 29 September. I extend my deepest sympathies to his family. I echo the comments of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Tor Wennesland, in which he ca…

What I said to the Israeli ambassador is the same thing we have been saying internationally to Israel in multiple forums, including the UN Human Rights Council, UN Security Council and EU meetings. We expect Israel to conduct independent investigations when killings occur, whether of journalists, children or anybody else. An occupying power in an occupied territory has international obligations. One of the reasons I have been so outspoken about the approach of the Israeli Government towards NGOs their closure and t…

That is what we are doing and saying.

I disagree with the Deputy on the justification for Palestinian violence, which he seemed to suggest should not be criticised. There is violence on both sides of this conflict. I am, and continue to be, very critical of the approach of the Israeli Government to the Palestinians. I will also strongly criticise radical factions within Palestinian society that are also responsible for violence. We need a peace process, and we are moving further and further away from a viable peace process as a result of the decisions …

However, we will be clear about our view of international law and the obligations on the Israeli Government towards Palestinian people-----

-----in the lands it occupies.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. Given that the questions are paired, will I have a bit of extra time?

I just wanted to know that before I started. This is a slightly longer answer but I would like to give quite a lot of detail to the House on this particular issue.

This is an important and current issue. I believe we currently have a window of opportunity for a much-needed reset in EU-UK relations. I welcome the positive statements from the new UK Government about its desire to find a negotiated settlement on the protocol on Northern Ireland. We now need to see those sentiments turned into constructive engagement between the UK and the European Union. We need political will focused on finding jointly agreed solutions to issues of genuine concern to people and business in Nort…

Sometimes, in moments of opportunity like this, less is more in terms of what is said publicly. We are trying to rebuild a relationship of some trust, which has been largely absent for quite some time. Certainly, the conversations I have had with the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and his deputy, Steve Baker, have been warm. There is a genuine effort on the British side to try to rebuild and reconstruct relationships with Ireland, which is good. That is clearly under instruction from the Prime Minister…

I will address the matter of the legislation when I come back in.

I thought I had double the time, that is all.

I will pick up where I left off last time on the legislation. Of course it would be helpful if the legislation was formally frozen but I am not sure that ask is on the table because we are trying to make progress without creating barriers or raising things we cannot agree on. The legislation is there in the background. We know that and are not particularly happy about it but it is best ignored for now. It is not moving quickly and there is no chance that it will be passed by the end of the year. It has been through…

Do I not have double the time rather than just two minutes each time?

If they are the rules, we will have to work within them. I thought I had twice the time to answer each question if two Deputies were asking. Deputy Brady's questions were pretty important.

I am not complaining. I am just saying these are important issues.

I will come back to the matter for the Deputy. There is another question on the topic later.

Are we on the next question?

I also express my condolences and those of the Government and this House to the Mason family. I spoke to Rory's father yesterday, an incredibly dignified individual who is clearly very proud of his son's courage and principles and is also trying to deal with an extraordinary family tragedy. He asked for some space and privacy for the family. We should all respect that while at the same time expressing our sympathies to Rory's brother, sister, parents and those around them. Since Russia commenced its unjustified and…

EU member states also co-ordinated to summon Russian ambassadors in capitals following the announcement by President Putin of his intention to illegally annex the territories we have been referring to. At my instruction, the Russian ambassador was summoned by my Department on 3 October. He was informed that Ireland categorically condemns the declaration by the Russian Federation on 30 September illegally annexing part of the territory of Ukraine. It was emphasised to him that this decision has no basis in law and t…