As the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is aware, a resolution on the question of Palestine's nationhood is being debated at the United Nations General Assembly. When the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade was appointed, he said he would lead the charge in recognising Palestine's full statehood. When the late Brian Lenihan was Minister for Foreign Affairs, he supported the request of the Palestinian people for statehood on behalf of the Irish people. It is disappointing that the United States has apparently decided to veto the Palestinian bid. It is even more disappointing that the Tánaiste appears to be supporting President Obama's stance on the issue. He is saying there should be re-engagement between Palestine and Israel. I ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, to outline clearly why the Tánaiste has changed his thinking.

It is like the change in the thinking of the Deputy and his party leader.

What is the Government's position on this matter?

The Government's position has been stated. It supports an independent, sovereign Palestinian state. That view was reiterated by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in the United States as recently as yesterday. The Tánaiste is due to address the United Nations General Assembly on Monday when he will set out a comprehensive statement on Ireland's position on this and other matters, including international peace and the Irish initiative on hunger. Negotiations are ongoing on foot of Palestine's application for recognition. As I said, Ireland supports the position that there should be a Palestinian state. We are working in concert with our European colleagues to try to find unanimity in achieving this objective.

Will we be voting in favour of recognising a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly? It seems it would be inconsistent, in the light of this country's history, if we were to fail to do so.

Hear, hear.

When we were seeking international recognition of the Republic, certain people refused to recognise it. I remind the Minister of the strong words of his party's presidential candidate, my former constituency colleague, Mr. Michael D. Higgins, on this matter.

At least the Labour Party has a candidate.

I do not doubt that Mr. Higgins would be able to advise his party colleagues on the need to take a strong and independent stance on the issue.

He loves you, too.

I seek clarification on whether Ireland will vote in favour of the United Nations General Assembly resolution that the statehood of Palestine be recognised. A "Yes" or a "No" would be a helpful response.

I join the Deputy in supporting Michael D. Higgins who has——

I thought the Labour Party had cut him adrift.

——a principled position on this and many other issues.

That is unusual for the Labour Party.

Mr. Higgins has a long-standing tradition in the areas of human rights and international policy. He has informed my party's opinion on these matters for many years. It is from a related position that the Tánaiste, representing Ireland, is at the forefront in seeking to have agreement across all nations on the long-awaited international recognition of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine. It is too early to say what the outcome of that process will be. I understand from New York that there is an expectation that a position acceptable to all will emerge. I hope that will happen in the next day or two.

It seems the Government does not have a position.