The programme for Government makes a commitment to recognise the state of Palestine. Yesterday, decades of international consensus on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute were summarily dumped by US President, Donald Trump, and Benjamin Netanyahu. The consequences of this are potentially disastrous for the entire region. When will the Government make good its commitment? When will it formally recognise the state of Palestine?

The Government is disappointed with the reports of a shift in policy from the US, though it is not yet clear what it will mean in practice. The Government's position remains the same. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, has been trying to get a Middle East peace process under way with initiatives by both France and Sweden. Recognition could be helpful but it would only be decided in the context of ongoing work in the Middle East peace process. That will determine when recognition should occur but the Government is absolutely committed to a two-state process as a solution to the issues in Palestine.

This has been agreed by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Government had better get its skates on.