Ireland is moving forward with plans to recognise Palestinian statehood in the coming weeks and will vote in favour of its membership of the United Nations on Friday, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said.
Mr Martin told Green Party TDs and Senators on Wednesday evening that the UN General Assembly will consider Palestinian membership of the body this Friday with Ireland due to vote in favour.
Irish officials expect this vote to be carried by a significant margin, Mr Martin said, and while Government sources said a large margin in favour would send a strong message.
The Tánaiste is also understood to have outlined how the Government is working with like-minded countries such as Spain in order to be in a position to recognise a Palestinian state in the coming weeks.
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Sources in Dublin indicated no firm date had been agreed with other European countries for a planned move to recognise Palestinian statehood, but agreed that May 21st was a possibility following reports that it was being considered.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, said that “Ireland and Spain’s work continues together on recognising the State of Palestine” in the wake of his call with Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister of Spain, earlier this week.
“The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Sanchez reaffirmed the wish for both Spain and Ireland to recognise Palestine, agreeing that formal recognition is an important part of acknowledging that a two-state solution is the only way to bring about peace and stability in the region, with a State of Palestine and the State of Israel living side-by-side in peace and security.”
A spokesman for the Tánaiste said that discussions on recognition were ongoing with a number of like-minded European countries.
“Ireland’s focus will continue to be on ensuring a decision on recognition has a positive impact on the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, based on a two-state solution, and supports progress towards comprehensive regional peace, based on the principles of the Arab Peace Plan,” he said.
Mr Martin’s briefing for the Greens’ parliamentary party on Wednesday ruffled some feathers in Fianna Fáil due to his decision not to hold weekly meetings of his own TDs and Senators. In the meeting, he is understood to have spoken of his frustration at the heavy-handed restrictions Israel is putting on humanitarian aid into Gaza, saying Ireland is putting pressure at international levels on this issue.
Elsewhere, at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, Taoiseach Simon Harris promised that action would be taken “very soon” to resolve the numerous tents pitched alongside the Grand Canal in Dublin.
The Fine Gael leader said as issues arise, like what has happened alongside the city canal in recent days, they will be dealt with.
The meeting also discussed the RTÉ reports published this week, Mr Harris’s plan for a Dublin city taskforce and personal security of Oireachtas members.
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