Ireland to recognise Palestine statehood before end of May: Foreign minister

Irish Foreign Minsiter and Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin said that his country will recognise the State of Palestine "before the end of the month".

"The specific date is still fluid because we’re still in discussions with some countries in respect of a joint recognition of a Palestinian state," he told the Newstalk radio station.

The leaders of Ireland, Malta, Slovakia and Spain had previously said in a joint statement in March that they were ready to recognise Palestinian statehood.

Last week, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that Ireland, Slovenia and Spain were going to symbolically recognise the State of Palestine on 21 May, with other states potentially following suit.