519. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise with the Israeli ambassador to Ireland the issue of safety for Irish volunteers working in the West Bank, given the increasing reports of settler intimidation and threats towards international volunteers and human rights observers, for example, volunteers working with the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme, some of whom are Irish and were praised in recent weeks at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade; the steps he will take to ensure the safety of such humanitarian volunteers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45854/15]

524. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of reports of settler intimidation and threats towards international volunteers and human rights observers (details supplied); if he will give a commitment to raise this issue with the Israeli ambassador; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46140/15]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 524 together.

The issue of violence by groups of Israeli settlers has been a matter of growing concern for some time now. This applies not just to certain highly publicized attacks, but to ongoing and endemic violence against Palestinians and their property, including the so-called ‘price tag’ attacks. By any standards, some of these activities amount to terrorism.

It should be made clear, however, that only a small proportion of settlers have been implicated or involved in these attacks.

Ireland has increasingly stressed the problem of settler violence as a key issue on which the EU needs to focus attention in its consideration of policy on the Middle East, and the issue has been addressed in Council Conclusions on several occasions.

We have also raised the issue directly with the Israeli authorities, most recently in senior level diplomatic consultations conducted by my Department in November.

I would be very concerned if the role of impartial humanitarian actors were not properly respected. However, my Department has not received any reports relating to threats by settlers against Irish or other international volunteers.