A Programme for Partnership Government contains a commitment to recognising a Palestinian state as part of a lasting settlement to the conflict in the region. As I am sure the Tánaiste is aware, 1,000 Palestinian prisoners are on hunger strikes to protest against inhuman and degrading treatment, torture and medical negligence. Unfortunately, a young Palestinian, Mazan al Maghrebi, has become the first to die on that hunger strike. Can the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade raise this issue with the Israeli authorities and, as a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian people, can we recognise the Palestinian state?

I will certainly pass on the particular case Deputy Crowe has raised to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and ask him to liaise with the Deputy directly.