Written Answers Nos. 49 to 68
56. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of publicly-funded contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) by his Department in each of the past ten years; the cost of each contract; and the purpose for which each contract was awarded. [18662/24]
View answerI can confirm that my Department does not have any contracts with the company referred to by the Deputy.
59. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the $61 billion in aid for Ukraine recently approved by the United States Congress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20583/24]
View answerIreland, alongside our EU and international partners, including the United States, has stood firmly in support of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine represents an attack on the international rules-based order, which is the foundation of our collective peace and security. Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also in defence of the values and freedoms integral to the European Union and central to the UN Charter.
The recent escalations in Russian attacks and the increased pressures that Ukrainian troops are facing amid shortages of military materiel, particularly air defence, are grounds for significant concern. In this context, it is imperative that we continue to maintain strong transatlantic support for Ukraine.
The recent agreement reached by the U.S. Congress on funding for Ukraine is a very positive step and will greatly assist Ukraine's continued efforts to defend its territory, sovereignty and people. This support, alongside the sustainable funding for Ukraine recently agreed by EU leaders via the Ukraine Facility and the Ukraine Assistance Fund, sends an important message both to Ukraine and Russia that we will not waver in our support.
The EU and the US must continue to work together, along with other international partners, to maintain pressure on Russia and to support Ukraine, via the provision of humanitarian, stabilisation and military assistance, the effective implementation of robust sanctions, and support for Ukraine's EU perspective. Ireland has consistently stressed the essential need for continued support to Ukraine in all engagements with the US Administration and with Congress, and will continue to do so, both through my own direct contacts, and through our Ambassador and Embassy in Washington D.C.
60. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any recent discussions with the British government in relation to the Dublin/Monaghan bombings in 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20773/24]
View answer75. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagement with the British Government on issues relating to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings ahead of the 50th anniversary this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20618/24]
View answer110. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the secretary of state for Northern Ireland and with the British foreign secretary in relation to the need for the British government to cooperate fully in a comprehensive investigation in to the Dublin/Monaghan bombings of 1974; if there has been any response from the British authorities to the motions passed unanimously by Dáil Éireann in 2008, 2011 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20832/24]
View answer117. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there have been any recent responses from the British government into the need for full cooperation and comprehensive investigations in to atrocities including the Dublin/Monaghan bombings of 1974 and the Belturbet bombing of 1972; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20833/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 75, 110 and 117 together.
The implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings continues to be a priority, in fulfilment of the Programme for a Partnership Government. The continuing absence of a substantive response from the British government on these motions is a matter of concern and is an issue I consistently raise with UK Ministers.
Most recently at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 29 April in London and on 18 April at a meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Dublin, I raised the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I reminded him that this year marks the 50th anniversary of those attacks, which saw the single largest loss of life of the Troubles. I emphasised the need for a considered response with a view to ensuring access by an independent, international judicial figure to original documents relating to the case.
Both the report of the Barron Inquiry and the McEntee Commission of Inquiry referred to being limited by their lack of access to original intelligence and security documents in the possession of the British Government. While I recognise that all governments have a duty to protect their national security, I find it difficult to understand that this would extend to preventing the provision of documents to an independent international figure after the passage of five decades.
I am conscious that the work of the Operation Denton investigation is very relevant to a number of cases North and South, including the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. I recently met with lead investigator, Sir Iain Livingston, to hear about his work and that of the Denton team. It is to be hoped that the anticipated report of the Operation Denton investigation will contribute to the long process of justice, truth and acknowledgement for the victims and survivors.
Last year I attended and spoke at, a very moving and powerful memorial in Dublin on 17 May hosted by Justice for the Forgotten remembering those that lost their lives in the attacks and to meet with the families of those killed and injured. I met with victims and survivors including Maeve Taylor, the oldest living survivor of the bombing who turned 96 in December. Maeve along with her three daughters was caught up in the bombings in Talbot St. The family were in Talbot St shopping for a white cardigan for her daughter Lisa’s communion the next day.
Justice for the Forgotten is an organisation which supports families affected by the Dublin and Monaghan bombs, and is funded by my Department's Reconciliation Fund. This year as we prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the appalling attacks of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, I am acutely aware that families have waited too long for answers. As we approach the anniversary, those families are in my thoughts. I plan to attend the commemoration events in Dublin, being organised by Justice for the Forgotten. I was pleased to be invited to be interviewed recently by Barry Lennon of RTÉ for a podcast marking the 50th anniversary of the bombings.
Each year, as I see families gather in Talbot St and in Monaghan, I am reminded of the intergenerational trauma an atrocity such as these bombings has on families and on wider society. I want to pay tribute to all the victims and survivors of the bombings, for their strength, dignity and commitment to finding truth and justice. The Government has and will continue to seek the full facts of the events of 17 May 1974.
61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been in contact with the German government about the suppression of the Irish language and other forms of censorship in relation to protests in Germany against genocide and Israel’s actions in Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20912/24]
View answerThe incident relates to a camp established, with authorisation, by the Palästina-Protest group on 9 April in front of the Bundestag building in Berlin. The slogan of the camp was "Occupy against Occupation". The police issued instructions that, in accordance with local laws, only German and English were to be spoken at the protest camp. This was to allow the police to understand what was being said, as the use of certain phrases is prohibited. There was also provision for Arabic to be used at particular times. If any other language, including Irish, was to be used, the police had to be notified in advance so that an interpreter could be present.
As a democratic European country, there are domestic administrative and legal avenues in Germany open to those living there, to raise any concerns they may have about German law or policing decisions and actions.
Ireland's Ambassador to Germany met representatives of the group of Irish citizens concerned on 2 May. The Ambassador set out the Irish Government's position on the Israel-Gaza conflict and outlined the consular role of the Embassy, in line with the Consular Charter.
I would add that the Irish position regarding the current horrendous conflict in Gaza is strong and very clear. We are in regular contact with Germany on the issue and I have had numerous exchanges with Foreign Minister Baerbock, including in January during my visit to Berlin.
I would add that during that visit, I met with members of the Irish community, including those that speak and promote the learning of the Irish language in Germany.
62. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent engagements with the British government. [20777/24]
View answerThe relationship between Ireland and Britain is deeply important, and my engagement with British counterparts is rooted in our joint stewardship of the Good Friday Agreement, our strong people-to-people links, and our significant strategic and economic interconnections.
I met with Foreign Secretary David Cameron in London in December following his appointment to the role. Our meeting focused primarily on the importance of the bilateral relationship and matters relating to Northern Ireland. We also shared perspectives on a range of critical foreign policy issues. Our discussion on the conflict in Gaza and its wider implications for the Middle East was particularly important, as we had both recently visited the region. We also discussed the international community's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
I meet regularly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris, including most recently when the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference was held in London on 29 April. This was a constructive meeting. In addition to matters relating to Northern Ireland, we reflected on ongoing and possible cooperation in areas of mutual interest to include energy, research and innovation and education.
The Strand Three Institutions of the Good Friday Agreement provide a structure for regular engagement with the British Government to promote the totality of relationships across these islands. Now with the welcome restoration of all three Strands of the Good Friday Agreement, I look forward to focusing on issues of mutual concern to people across these islands. On that note, I very much look forward to the next British-Irish Council Summit, which will be held in the Isle of Man in June and which will focus on harnessing the potential of renewable energy.
63. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any recent discussions with the British government in relation to the terms of reference for the UK Omagh bombing inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20772/24]
View answerI have discussed the matter of the UK Government's Statutory Inquiry with the Secretary of State on a number of occasions, most recently at the British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference in London on 29 April.
The UK Government’s establishment of an Inquiry into the preventability of the Omagh bombing last year was a welcome step. The publication of the Terms of Reference of the Inquiry by the Secretary of State in February marked the formal start of the Inquiry's business.
The Government is committed to engaging with the Inquiry. The needs of the victims of that unspeakable attack will be at the heart of any action that the government takes. I am determined to ensure that, at the end of the UK Inquiry, there is nothing unanswered in this jurisdiction. It is the Government’s view that we should fully cooperate.
Officials from my Department and the Department of Justice had some engagement with the Inquiry team before the Terms of Reference were published and are now in ongoing contact. Finalisation of the Terms of Reference is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
The Inquiry Team have now formally confirmed details for their Preliminary Hearing which are due to take place on 30 July 2024 at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh.
Last year, Minister McEntee and I met with family members of some Omagh bombing victims. It was important that we heard from the families affected and gain an understanding of how the Government can assist them in their search for truth. What happened at Omagh was an unspeakable and brutal act of cruelty. The terrorists who carried it out had simply no sense of humanity and they displayed a complete and shocking disregard for life itself.
As has been done in relation to a number of historical inquiries, this State will continue to cooperate fully. A number of measures are available to provide for cooperation, and mechanisms have been put in place in recent years, including primary legislation which includes provisions for Garda cooperation with statutory inquiries in the UK.
64. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for a report on any recent discussions he has had with the British government in relation to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20771/24]
View answer104. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for a report on his recent meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20768/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 104 together.
As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, the two Governments have a shared duty to realise the vision and commitments of the Agreement that provide the overarching framework for deepening peace, political stability and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
The UK Legacy Act does not, in my view, advance those shared goals. It is a unilateral approach that moves away from what the two Governments and most parties in Northern Ireland had previously agreed.
I met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Heaton Harris at the recent meeting of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London on 29 April, as well as in Dublin on 18 April. At both meetings, we had wide-ranging discussions in relation to legacy issues. We had a phone call on 1 May, the day the institution established under the Legacy Act commenced operations.
In the course of these meetings I made clear the Government’s ongoing fundamental concerns in relation to the Act. The British Government are under no illusions about our firm conviction that closing down of inquests and investigations from 1 May is a profoundly retrograde step which will damage reconciliation.
I am keenly aware that the 1 May was a profoundly difficult day for victims and families. In my call with the Secretary of State that day, I drew attention to the media and public focus on the impact of the legislation on individuals.
The Government’s overarching concerns regarding the Act, including the fundamental question of its compliance with the European Convention of Human Rights, are now the subject of an inter-state case, and it is right that the European Court of Human Rights now be allowed to follow the processes required.
I also took the opportunity in these recent engagements with the British Government to raise a number of individual cases that are well known to this House, including that of Pat Finucane, Seán Browne and the Dublin Monaghan bombings. We discussed the Omagh Inquiry which will begin its work in the months ahead. The Government is fully committed to assisting the Inquiry, as it has done in relation to a number of historical inquiries. We want to ensure that there is nothing unanswered in our jurisdiction at the end of the UK inquiry.
Another focus of my recent engagements with the British Government in respect of Northern Ireland has of course been the very positive developments around the restoration of the Assembly and Executive. This Government is committed to doing everything possible to support them as they take forward the important work ahead. I was delighted to take part in the first North South Ministerial Council plenary meeting last month. With all of the institutions of the Agreement now back in place, we have the right conditions to make the most of the many opportunities for cooperation and deepening relationships and understanding across these islands.
Looking forward, there are many other important issues on which we will continue to work closely with the British Government. Our relationship is too broad, too deep, too important, ever to be defined by a single issue. That said, the issue of the legacy of the Troubles is a fundamental one. I will continue to press for an approach to legacy that is victim-centred and human rights compliant. I believe that delivering such an approach, in partnership, is essential to any reconciled future on this island.
65. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with European partners regarding the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. [20779/24]
View answer73. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the situation in Sudan; the engagement he has had with his European counterparts in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20587/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 73 together.
Over one year since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, the main parties to the violence are no closer to a negotiated solution. Fighting continues between military factions: the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict is having devastating humanitarian, human rights, and regional security consequences.
Both parties are significantly impeding humanitarian access, in addition to destroying health and food infrastructure. They are also responsible for large-scale attacks on civilians, including sexual violence, and ethnically-targeted killings.
The official death toll stands at 14,000, but is likely to be much higher. Almost 8 million people have been displaced from their homes, and 20 million people are facing acute levels of food insecurity. On 12 April, international humanitarian partners issued a Famine Prevention Plan for Sudan.
In response to the crisis, Ireland has increased its humanitarian support to the people of Sudan, and stepped up diplomatic engagement.
In 2023, we provided a total of €10.3 million in assistance to Sudan, and to address the impact of the conflict in neighbouring countries. Last month, at the international conference for Sudan in Paris, I announced that, in 2024, Ireland will contribute at least €12.3 million to respond to the crisis. This is in addition to our funding to multilateral agencies, such as the World Food Programme and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, which are also increasing their assistance to Sudan.
A ceasefire is desperately needed, however, to end this man-made catastrophe.
Ireland has advocated for the adoption of EU sanctions targeted at those attacking civilians and denying access to humanitarian assistance. We have also championed the creation of a UN Fact-Finding Mission to collect evidence of violations of international law. As co-chair at the United Nations of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, we have strongly advocated for monitoring of the food security situation by the UN Security Council.
In EU discussions and at the UN, Ireland has consistently emphasised the need to put civilians and civil society, rather than military factions, at the centre of any political solution in Sudan. In line with this, we are supporting partners to bolster the capacity of Sudanese civil society to work together to bring an end the conflict and design a return to democratic transition.
We have also advocated successfully for donors to take a flexible approach to funding local civilian groups which are providing critical food aid and protection in areas which international humanitarian responders cannot reach.
We will continue to engage closely with our European and international partners to address the suffering of the Sudanese people, and to find ways to promote an end to the conflict.
66. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the recent comments by President of France that Europe faces an existential threat from Russian aggression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20582/24]
View answerAs I have said since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this represents a threat not just to Ukraine, but to the peace and security of all of Europe. The European Union was founded on the principle of cooperation amongst states and with the aim of avoiding future conflicts.
As Russia continues to directly attack a neighbouring country, undermine regional stability, violate international law and norms, and weaponise food and energy supplies, it threatens the foundations upon which Europe was built, as well as blatantly violating the UN Charter. In that context, President Macron's view that this represents an existential threat to Europe is one that I would share.
In his recent address, President Macron called for a more geopolitical and prosperous Europe. He also argued that Europe has successfully coped with the multitude of unprecedented crises it has faced by asserting its solidarity and unity, as well as exercising its ability to make decisions based on its own interests. The strength of the European Union rests in our ability to act together with common purpose to amplify our political influence on the global stage. This unity is something we have demonstrated since February 2022 as we have stood steadfast in defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Ireland strongly supports EU enlargement as a mechanism to consolidate peace, stability and democracy across our European continent. This is why we have consistently supported the European aspirations of the populations of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the countries of the Western Balkans. EU membership is a cornerstone of Europe's wider collective security. Ireland will continue to engage at EU level to ensure a robust and united EU response that sends a clear message of solidarity and support to Ukraine.
67. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent meeting at the EU Foreign Minister's meeting in Luxembourg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20588/24]
View answer81. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20577/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 81 together.
Discussions at EU level on foreign policy issues continue to be focused on the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, but the most recent Council also offered an important opportunity to address the situation in Sudan.
The Union continues to face a grave security threat from Russia, and its escalation of war against Ukraine has necessitated intensive discussion at EU level. We have taken important but complex decisions to advance Ukrainian EU accession, establish new predictable and sustainable financing mechanisms, and implement new sanctions.
It is apparent that Ukraine’s most urgent needs are for its defence, and this was the basis of the exchanges at the most recent FAC meeting in Luxembourg. Our discussion on Ukraine was held in an expanded format, of EU Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers, in order to reflect the need for coordinated approaches on this. We were briefed by the Ukrainian Foreign and Defence Ministers who provided profoundly concerning descriptions of Russia’s relentless attacks, in particular on critical infrastructure. I highlighted our own contributions to EU military assistance efforts, including to demining, and training by the EU Military Assistance Mission.
We also discussed the situation in the Middle East, where I underlined the need for the EU to act to implement the European Council’s call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and facilitation of humanitarian relief. In the wake of the publication of the Colonna report, I urged my fellow Ministers to release any suspended funding for UNRWA and I reiterated our request for the EU to carry out a review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
During the Sudan discussion I highlighted our pledge of €12.3 million this year to Sudan, but underlined the vital nature of reaching a political solution, a civilian-led peace process and humanitarian access.
68. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on the progress that has been made to date to intervene in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice; to detail the work that needs to be undertaken before a declaration is filed; the timeframe within which a declaration will be filed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20902/24]
View answerAs I have set out in response to previous Parliamentary Questions, and most recently earlier today in response to a question from Deputy Carthy, Ireland intends to file a Declaration of Intervention in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice after South Africa has filed its Memorial.
On 5 April, the ICJ made an Order setting time-limits for the filing of written pleadings by the parties in this case. It fixed 28 October 2024 for South Africa to file its Memorial, and 28 July 2025 for Israel to file its Counter-Memorial. It remains our intention to seek to intervene in this case under Article 63 of the Statute of the ICJ after South Africa has filed its Memorial, which we now know will be towards the end of 2024.
By making a declaration of intervention under Article 63 of the ICJ Statute states do not ‘join’ one side or another in the case; rather, they submit a statement that sets out their interpretation of one or more provisions of whatever Convention is at issue before the Court. This Declaration of Intervention must then be deemed admissible by the Court. Waiting until South Africa has filed its Memorial will ensure that we have a good understanding of what provisions of the Genocide Convention South Africa intends to rely on, which we can then in turn address, making it more likely that the Court will deem our intervention admissible.
