Tánaiste meets Prime Minister of Qatar - 2 July 2025

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris has met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, HE Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani.

Prime Minister Al Thani is visiting Ireland to accept the 2024 Tipperary International Peace Award, in recognition of his role in negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel.

The Tánaiste and Prime Minister Al Thani discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the ongoing situation in Gaza and the West Bank, wider regional issues including the situation in Iran, and the bilateral relationship. Both expressed concern regarding ongoing conflicts in the region, and their hope that a renewed ceasefire and hostage release agreement can be reached in Gaza and that the ceasefire between Israel and Iran will be maintained. Prime Minister Al Thani also expanded on Qatar’s role as a mediator in conflicts.

The Tánaiste and the Prime Minister committed to further strengthening of political, economic and people-to-people ties between Ireland and Qatar.

The Tánaiste said: “Today I welcomed Prime Minister Al Thani to Ireland and congratulated him on receiving the 2024 Tipperary International Peace Award, a well-deserved recognition of Qatar’s role as a mediator.

“We had a wide-ranging and positive exchange of views on our bilateral relations, and the conflict in the Middle East, in particular the situation in Gaza and the West Bank and the recent crisis in Iran.

“During our discussions, the Prime Minister set out what he saw as a window of opportunity for progress towards a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. It’s vital that all parties redouble their efforts to seize this opportunity for the sake of the people of Gaza.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. I thanked Qatar for its continuing work to bring about a resumption of the ceasefire agreement. We urgently need to see a cessation of hostilities, the release of all remaining hostages, and the resumption of vitally needed humanitarian aid at scale into and throughout Gaza.

“We also discussed the wider situation in the region, including the recent hostilities between Israel and Iran, and our hope that the ceasefire agreement negotiated by the United States will continue to be honoured. It is my hope that a lasting solution to Iran’s nuclear programme can be found through dialogue and diplomacy.

“We have a significant Irish community in Qatar who are making an important contribution in many areas. I look forward to expanding the connections between our two countries and deepening economic and people-to-people ties.”

ENDS

Press Office

2 July 2025