Ireland has formally recognised the State of Palestine in what Taoiseach Simon Harris said was "an act of powerful, political and symbolic value".
The decision means the Government recognises Palestine as a sovereign and independent state, and has agreed to establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah.
Following the decision, the Government will await a formal request from the Palestinian Authority.
At that point, the Government will upgrade the status of the Palestinian Mission in Ireland to that of an embassy.
It will also authorise the appointment of an ambassador from the State of Palestine.
It is widely expected that current head of the Palestinian Mission in Dublin, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, will become ambassador.
A formal ceremony would then be arranged to take place at Áras an Uachtaráin with President Michael D Higgins.
It is likely that Feilim McLaughlin, currently head of mission in Ramallah, will become Irish ambassador to Palestine.
In the Dáil, Dr Abdalmajid received applause as she sat down in the chamber.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil that the formal recognition of the State of Palestine was "an act of powerful, political and symbolic value".
Simon Harris said: "It would not have been right to withhold our recognition, when we were convinced that it was the right thing to do.
"It was not unreasonable to ask: If not now, then when?"
He said he hoped recognition "sends the Palestinian people a message of hope that - in this their darkest hour - Ireland stands with them".
"We have long recognised the state of Israel and its right to exist in peace and security within internationally agreed borders," Mr Harris said.
"Today we say we equally recognise the State of Palestine and its right to exist within internationally agreed borders."
Ireland's 'dream' of Palestinian people 'living in peace'
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affair Micheál Martin told the Dáíl that Ireland has a dream that "this and future generations of Palestinian people will enjoy a peaceful and secure existence, living side-by-side in peace" with Israelis.
"It's my firm belief that in recognising the State of Palestine at this time, the Government is also maximising the impact that this step can make to translate our hopes and aspirations into reality," he said.
He recounted seeing first-hand the challenges which prevent aid getting into Gaza through Rafah.
"Israel has chosen to disregard" appeals not to attack Rafah, he said.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dáil how "a decade ago, we had cross-party support for this (recognising the State of Palestine)".
"It shouldn't have taken us this long to get here. But, of course, it is never too late to do the right thing," she said.
Ms McDonald said the "story of Palestine has been one of colonisation, occupation, apartheid" and "brutal human rights atrocities at the hands of the Israeli state and its ferocious military".
She called on the European Union, UK and United States to stop "arming the Israeli military machine" which she said is carrying out genocide.
Labour TD Aodhán Ó Riordáin said that recognising Palestine is not enough, adding that it was "poignant" to hear the voice of a Palestinian child in the Dáil gallery.
Proceedings temporarily suspended due to protesters
Proceedings were temporarily suspended after protesters began shouting and clapping in the Dáil.
Leas Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly asked for them to desist and then quickly suspended the house.
After proceedings resumed, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns told the Dáil that "nowhere is safe" in Gaza following "eight months of relentless slaughter".
She dismissed "the pathetic excuses" that she said she expects from Israel following its attack on a refugee tent encampment west of Rafah.
Former taoisesach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil that the recognition of Palestine is "an important moment. It is symbolic but also practical".
But he insisted that "recognition of Palestine is not support for Hamas, nor recognition of Hamas in any way".
Ireland 'cannot be intimidated into silence' - Martin
Speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time, the Tánaiste said Ireland cannot be "intimidated into silence".
He said that the fact Israel is talking about economies suffering because they recognise the State of Palestine is an "absurd position".
Mr Martin said: "The very fact that Israel is talking about economies suffering because we dare recognize the state of Palestine, it's an absurd position for Israel.
"But isn't that the reality of the world? That they do have a lot of power when it comes to the tech sector.
"Countries cannot be intimidated. At any cost. They cannot be intimidated in that manner."
"We cannot be intimidated into silence..."
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) May 28, 2024
Tánaiste @MichealMartinTD says the fact Israel is talking about economies suffering because they recognise the state of Palestine is an "absurd position."@rtenews | #rtept pic.twitter.com/xcmL05t1u5
Ireland was the first EU member state to endorse the idea of Palestinian statehood in 1980.
A number of European states have concluded that Palestinian self-determination can no longer wait until the end of a process of negotiations between the parties.
Recent months have seen intensified efforts by Arab partners to chart a way out of the current crisis, resulting in the development of the 'Arab Peace Vision', which prioritises concrete steps to implement a two-state solution, building on the principles of the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002.
The Tánaiste discussed this in Brussels on Sunday at an event featuring European and Arab nations.
Last September, the Tánaiste met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and acknowledged the need to develop a critical mass of European countries that would support the two-state solution.
In the following months, following the Hamas attack of 7 October, there has been a series of diplomatic and political engagements between taoisigh, the tánaiste, and officials leading up to Ireland’s decision on recognition, taken in coordination with Spain and Norway.
Additional reporting Fergal O'Brien
