Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Micheál Martin has expressed his dissatisfaction at the response by member states and the European Commission to the Irish and Spanish request for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in light of Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
"Clearly we anticipated that there would be a significant pushback or resistance," he told reporters on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
"We're not satisfied yet that it's getting the attention that it requires."
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez and then taoiseach Leo Varadkar wrote jointly to the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on 14 February asking her to assess if Israel was in breach of the human rights clause in the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which covers trade and a range of other cooperation.
Mr Martin said he would raise the issue with his counterparts today.
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"Essentially, we're calling for a review by the [European] Commission of the Association Agreement, and particularly the degree to which Israel is fulfilling the mandatory human rights clauses of that agreement," he told RTÉ News.
He said: "What has transpired in Gaza is absolutely unacceptable from a humanitarian point of view.
"We are of the view in Ireland that humanitarian law has been breached and broken time and time again now, and that the level of civilians dying, women and children, is quite shocking.
"It's beyond comprehension that the bombardment of Gaza continues, given the depths of despair and destruction that is going on there," Mr Martin added.
He added opposition to the review of the Association Agreement was coming from a number of member states "who would have reservations about it".
He added: "We anticipated that - but also the modus operandi by which a review would take place has yet to be determined."
Earlier, the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the European Commission still had not responded to the letter sent by Spain and Ireland.
He told RTÉ News: "As far as I know, the Commission has still not answered … the two states who asked for [the review]."
"They didn’t ask for a review of the [EU-Israel] Association Agreement. They asked to analyse if - there is a big if - the behaviour of Israel" could be in breach of the human rights clause of the agreement.
Mr Borrell, who chairs meetings of EU foreign ministers, said he had called for a "political orientation debate" following the Irish and Spanish request.
He had also called for a meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council, which oversees the agreement, to discuss the issue "with our Israelis partners".
He said this proposal had been rejected, and an invitation to the Israeli foreign minister to attend a meeting of EU foreign ministers to discuss the issue, had still not been accepted.
Mr Borrell said the EU’s special envoy for human rights Olof Skoog, and United Nations human rights officials, were also working on the request.
On arrival at the meeting in Luxembourg, Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares Bueno said the Irish and Spanish request remained on the table.
He said that Mr Borrell was analysing the request under the scope of his competence as foreign policy chief - "everything that is not related to trade" - and that he (Mr Albares Bueno) would raise it again at the meeting of foreign ministers today.
"These are very complex matters, and that of course, takes time," he said.
Martin meeting with EU foreign ministers before visit to Rafah crossing
It comes as Mr Martin is in Luxembourg to attend a meeting of EU foreign ministers, before travelling on for a series of engagements in the Middle East.
Ministers will discuss ways of getting air defence systems to Ukraine and how far to extend fresh sanctions against Iran, following its attack on Israel ten days ago.
Following months of delay and prevarication, the US House of Representatives at the weekend finally approved a $60 billion (€56.2bn) military support package for Ukraine.
US officials said the aid should allow for desperately needed ammunition to reach frontline troops within a couple of weeks.
However, Ukraine also needs air defence systems due to Russia's relentless assault on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure which frequently hit residential buildings, then target emergency crews with a second strike.
NATO is consulting with members on the availability of systems. So far, Germany said it will provide a further Patriot air defence system.
EU foreign and defence ministers, who will be joined by their Ukrainian counterparts, will discuss ways of sourcing available air defence systems within Europe and beyond.
Ministers will also aim for agreement on expanding sanctions against Iran.
Discussions will focus on the manufacture of missile and drone systems, although some member states want to go further and designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.
Following the meeting Mr Martin will fly to Cairo for a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, before travelling on to visit the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.
