Written Answers Nos. 361-380
361. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the members of the Bathing Waters Expert Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24528/21]
View answerThe current membership of the Bathing Water Expert Group (BWEG) includes representatives of the following organisations:
- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Chair)
- Health Service Executive
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Coastwatch
- An Taisce
- Irish Water
- Water Safety Ireland
- Local Authorities (represented by Galway County Council and Dublin City Council)
In consultation with the BWEG, I may also nominate any other professional, scientific or representative experts deemed necessary or appropriate for inclusion from time to time.
362. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of claims that were made against Irish Water and its insurers for damages in 2019 and 2020 in County Cork and nationwide; the number of these cases that are outstanding; the number of cases that were settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24530/21]
View answerThe information requested is not available in my Department. Irish Water is responsible for its own arrangements in relation to insurance cover and handling claims for damages relating to its functions and activities. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
363. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take within his power to work with approved housing bodies and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council to ensure that the remaining tenants in a location (details supplied) are not forced into homeless services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24645/21]
View answerAs housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area.
It is a matter for Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to determine the most appropriate response to the need for social housing supports in their area and to make the necessary application (which could include programmes involving approved housing bodies) to my Department for consideration.
Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have advised my Department that they are endeavoring to work with the tenants at St. Helen's Court to assist them in finding alternative accommodation.
364. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the upcoming Land Development Agency Bill 2021 will be revised at committee stage to prioritise traditional council housing and to ensure that the affordable housing is defined in relation to incomes and not in relation to market prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24646/21]
View answer365. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the upcoming Land Development Agency Bill 2021 will be revised at committee stage to prioritise traditional council housing and to ensure that the affordable housing is defined in relation to incomes and not in relation to market prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24647/21]
View answer366. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the upcoming Land Development Agency Bill 2021 will be revised at committee stage to prioritise traditional council housing and to ensure that the affordable housing is defined in relation to incomes and not in relation to market prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24649/21]
View answer367. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the upcoming Land Development Agency Bill 2021 will be revised at committee stage to prioritise traditional council housing and to ensure that the affordable housing is defined in relation to incomes and not in relation to market prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24651/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 364, 365, 366 and 367 together.
The Land Development Agency Bill 2021 was recently published and has concluded Second Stage in Dáil Éireann.
Section 14 of the Bill specifically provides for the LDA to deliver services to local authorities including to deliver social and affordable housing on local authority lands. The majority of such lands will remain in local authority ownership post LDA development and it is expected that there will be significant levels of local authority housing delivered by the LDA on such lands.
Part 9 of the Bill sets out provisions in relation to the delivery of affordable housing on relevant public lands. This Part provides the broad framework for the assessment of the overall percentage to be set, taking account of demand for housing in the area, and local authority housing strategies. In addition, any affordable housing provided by the LDA will align with the provisions set out in the recently approved Affordable Housing Bill 2021. There will be an opportunity to discuss all aspects of the LDA Bill in further detail at Committee Stage.
368. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the terms under which the national monument at 14 to 17 Moore Street, Dublin 1 was purchased and any related costs and conditions. [24711/21]
View answer369. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the terms under which 18 Moore Street, Dublin 1 in part was purchased, the facade of which has been identified in a conservation report under a Ministerial Consent Application as a 19th century structure. [24712/21]
View answer370. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a leasehold interest on 14, 15, 16 or 17 Moore Street, Dublin 1; and if so, if any of these leaseholds are granted in perpetuity. [24713/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 369 and 370 together.
In a legal transaction and conveyancing managed by the Chief State Solicitors Office the freehold ownership of these buildings was acquired by the State from the previous owner in 2015. This acquisition and conveyance of freehold title was not subject to any encumbrance, leasehold interest or title burden. No lease of any description has been entered into in the meantime.
371. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on C-Tap as outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24698/21]
View answerMy Department continues to support global efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the €50 million in Irish Aid funding to global health in 2021, €5 million is channeled to direct support to COVID-19 vaccination, including through COVAX. COVAX has secured options on 3.56 billion doses of vaccines and is beginning to deliver results, with over 54 million COVID-19 vaccines delivered to 121 participants countries.
The sharing of technology on vaccines, and also diagnostics and treatment, is an important part of a broader suite of responses to COVID-19. This issue touches on the work of a number of different Government Departments.
Ireland has consistently championed collaborative responses to the pandemic, with a focus on ensuring that the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable are served by our collective effort. Ireland has shown support for sharing COVID-19 related knowledge and research outputs in a number of ways. This includes engagement in the National Open Research Forum, and the granting of non-exclusive royalty-free licenses through Knowledge Transfer Ireland. It also includes Science Foundation Ireland’s alignment with Plan S, an initiative to ensure publicly funded research is openly available, immediately, without embargo for the betterment of societal needs.
Officials in my Department continue to work with counterparts in other Departments, including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to give consideration to whether Ireland will join the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP).
372. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when an emergency passport application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23668/21]
View answerThe Passport Service scaled up to more normal operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
Passport Online will continue to be the priority given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an online application is up to four times as fast as a paper application. In addition, the use of Passport Online can facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult does not require the signature of a witness.
Passport Online can be accessed by first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
The Passport Service has a great deal of experience in dealing with peaks in demand, and we are confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that the Passport Online applications on hand can be cleared in six to eight weeks.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has inquired, the Passport Service issued correspondence to the applicant’s mother on 6 May 2021 regarding the passport application.
373. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the date on which the Passport Office will reopen at full capacity; the date on which the passport backlog is expected to be cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23837/21]
View answer387. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to expedite the passport backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24246/21]
View answer398. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current wait time for a new passport application; the amount of outstanding applications and renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24413/21]
View answer411. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when passport applications received by the Passport Office prior to Covid-19 restrictions are due to be processed; when the Passport Office is due to reopen to the public under the roadmap for reopening society and business; the estimated date for the reopening of passport applications online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24679/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 373, 387, 398 and 411 together.
The Passport Service scaled up to more normal operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
Passport Online will continue to be the priority given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an online application is four times as fast as a paper application. In addition, the use of Passport Online can facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult does not require the signature of a witness.
Passport Online can be accessed by first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
At present, there are approximately 99,000 Passport Online applications in the system. About 50% of these applications are domestic. The Passport Service has a great deal of experience in dealing with peaks in demand, and we are confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that any Passport Online backlog can be cleared in six to eight weeks.
The Passport Service plans to resume processing of paper based applications such as Foreign Birth Registration, Passport Express and Northern Ireland Passport Express once online applications have been processed.
The re-opening of the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork to the public is kept under regular review, with due consideration being given to public health protection measures.
374. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken at EU level to improve engagement with like-minded member states on European Commission files and to clearly reflect Ireland's concerns on such files at an earlier stage in the legislative process particularly in a post-Brexit era; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1431/21]
View answerNow that the UK has departed the European Union, it is particularly important that Ireland continues to foster its already close relationships with other like-minded Member States, and to enhance collaboration on key priority policies at EU level. Ministers and officials at home and in our European Missions, including staff posted to the Permanent Representation in Brussels, closely monitor files and policy proposals as they progress through Council of the EU Working Groups, raising Irish priorities, identifying likely shared concerns and leading dialogue with like-minded Member States throughout the legislative process. The objective is to ensure that EU legislation and policy reflects Irish interests as far as possible. Ireland works closely with like-minded Member States, as appropriate, across a range of different areas including climate action, the Single Market, digital policy, Rule of Law, EU budgetary issues, trade policy, development and human rights matters. Post-Brexit, Ireland is actively building alliances across the EU with like-minded Member States with which we share common goals and interests. We are a member of several informal groups which meet periodically to share analysis of emerging policy trends.
The Government has already initiated a France Strategy and a Germany Strategy aimed at deepening our bilateral relations with those key EU partners, and in the coming weeks I intend to seek Cabinet approval for a Nordic Strategy which will set out an ambitious plan for closer relations and engagement with this important and dynamic region which includes three of our closest allies in the European Union.
The Government is committed to maintaining a diplomatic Mission in every EU Member State which is an important resource to enable Ireland to work closely and build alliances with like-minded partners on EU policy development.
375. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of funding his Department is providing to climate adaptation and mitigation activities in some of the least developed countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1434/21]
View answerIreland has shown strong leadership in international climate finance, principally through my Department's Official Development Assistance programme, more widely known as Irish Aid. In 2019, Ireland spent over €93 million on international climate action. The Department of Foreign Affairs provided the largest proportion of this, spending over €71 million on climate action. The 2019 figure represents an increase of approximately 17% in climate finance as compared to 2018, which signals Ireland’s policy commitment to addressing climate change. Figures for 2020 will be available in the coming months.
In the 2020 Programme for Government Ireland has committed to at least doubling the percentage of Official Development Assistance spent on climate finance by 2030. The Department of Foreign Affairs is leading a process, along with the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, to develop a cross-Departmental Climate Finance Strategy to guide this increase in funding, with a view to publication later this year.
The focus of much of Ireland’s international climate expenditure is on vulnerable people living at the front line of climate change in developing countries. This is where finance is most needed – where communities are coping with drought, floods, crop failure and loss of natural resources. Ninety nine per cent of Ireland’s international climate finance is dedicated to adaptation efforts, much of which has mitigation co-benefits.
In 2019, we established the Ireland Trust Fund for Building Resilience in Small Island Developing States administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), targeted directly at building climate change and disaster resilience in all of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) which are members of the ADB. Ireland is a long-standing contributor to the Least Developed Countries Fund, which supports national adaptation efforts to cope with the effects of climate change. Ireland endorsed the Principles for Locally-Led Adaptation at the Climate Adaptation Summit in January 2021, and is an early contributor to the new Least Developed Countries Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR) initiative which aims to increase the amount of adaptation funding that reaches local communities at the frontline of climate change impacts.
376. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the possibility of allowing national parliamentary input in recipient countries on the use of the ODA budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1435/21]
View answerPromoting national ownership is one of the key principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, which underpin my Department's approach to development cooperation through the Irish Aid programme.
National Parliaments have an important role in the agreement and scrutiny of national development programmes and associated poverty reduction strategies. Irish Aid programmes in partner countries are designed within the framework of national development programmes, in partnership with national authorities. In partner countries, Irish Embassies work with Parliamentarians, among others, to ensure national programmes supported by Irish Aid are reaching the most marginalised in society.
The 2020 OECD DAC (Development Assistance Committee) Peer Review of Ireland found that ‘a long-lasting commitment to engaging in partnerships is the trademark of Irelands’ development co-operation”. One of the areas assessed by the OECD in that Peer Review was Ireland's delivery on Aid Effectiveness principles.
My Department, through the Irish Aid programme, continues to promote the principle of partnerships with local Parliaments in developing countries, including through support for the strengthening of legislatures' to scrutinise national development efforts, and to be more effective in fulfilling their mandates.
In addition, Irish Aid works to build Parliamentary capacity for oversight of budgets and other issues. For example, Ireland recently provided support for the establishment of the African European Parliamentarians Initiative (AEPI), a coordinated Parliamentary support group focused on development issues, and which includes Ireland. This is intended to foster collaborative action across regional parliamentary networks in areas such as capacity building, transparency and accountability, peace and security, and global health.
377. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the progress of the Get Brexit Ready campaign of his Department. [43549/20]
View answerThe Government dedicated substantial time and resources into preparing for Brexit over a number of years. This intensive effort across Departments and Agencies included the development of two Brexit Omnibus Acts; three Brexit Action Plans; substantial investment in the State’s infrastructure and IT systems (including provision for 1,500 additional staff to support new checks and controls); and the provision of financial, upskilling and advisory supports for impacted sectors and businesses. Throughout the Brexit process, our readiness work was always underpinned by a strong communications and outreach programme.
I have chaired 27 meetings of the Brexit Stakeholders Forum since 2017 and expect to host another meeting of the Forum in the coming weeks. I have also met with companies and representative groups from across all impacted sectors to better understand their concerns. Minister of State Byrne and I will continue to engage with the Commission and our EU partners in respect of issues raised by our traders such the operation of the UK Landbridge.
With the publication in September, 2020 of the Government’s most recent Brexit Readiness Action Plan, all Ministers and Departments further stepped-up their levels of engagement with stakeholders across the island. Our communications was strongly focused on "calls to action", and encouraging engagement and action on the part of business and citizens to prepare for the enduring changes arising in 2021.
The Get Brexit Ready campaign comprised of events, stakeholder briefings, and national and local advertising campaigns. We sought to enhance awareness among businesses and sectoral audiences of the challenges and changes arising at the end of the transition period, highlighted the steps the Government is taking to address these challenges and encouraged them to take necessary actions and avail of all relevant offers of support. Unlike earlier campaigns, COVID-19 restrictions prohibited us leveraging large gatherings or trade shows such as the Ploughing Championships. In response, we significantly increased our use of virtual communications platforms such as webinars and online instructional videos. Official websites and social media accounts were important tools and www.gov.ie/Brexit remains a trusted signposting website for businesses and citizens.
In partnership with GIS, Revenue and the Departments of Agriculture Food and the Marine, Enterprise Trade and Employment, Health and Transport, my Department oversaw the preparation of nationwide advertising campaign focused on the small businesses, including shops, hauliers, farmers, fishers and others who trade with the UK, who are most exposed. The campaign involved advertising across national television, radio, print, digital, and out of home channels, targeted at all adults, in particular business owners and decision makers. This overarching campaign was then supported by focused sectoral campaigns run by a number of other Government Departments.
However, the Government has always been clear that notwithstanding these extensive readiness preparations, and even with the Withdrawal Agreement, the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the very welcome conclusion of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, challenges would remain. A further wave of Brexit related change will arise later this year when the UK introduces new import controls.
The Government will continue to provide citizens, businesses and other stakeholders with the information and other supports they need to respond to the ongoing challenges of Brexit. Planning for an information campaign ahead of the introduction of the new UK controls is underway. Our digital outreach will continue to be an important channel of communication – a recent Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine webinar on 14 April attracted 282 attendees and there have been more than 1,000 additional views of the webinar since. As we move to a new phase of assisting businesses adapt to the permanent changes that Brexit has brought about, the new “Brexit Ready Ireland” brand will be used for to support our communications activities.
378. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to protect the principle of devolution in the Good Friday Agreement. [17075/21]
View answerThe full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent implementing agreements is an utmost priority for this Government.
The New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) Agreement reached in January 2020 was a very significant shared achievement in restoring the devolved power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement to operation after three years of their absence. As we have set out in the Programme for Government, we are working to ensure that the NDNA Agreement is implemented in full.
The Government regularly engages with and supports the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland through the institutions provided for in the Good Friday Agreement, the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC), the British Irish Council (BIC) and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.
The NSMC is essential to overseeing and developing North South cooperation on matters of mutual interest. The important work of the NSMC to develop cooperation on an all-island basis has resumed following the NDNA agreement. Two successful NSMC plenary meetings have now taken place, as well as a number of Sectoral meetings at Ministerial level, and progress continues across the breadth of North-South areas of cooperation.
The Government also looks forward to enhanced roles for the British Irish Council and British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC), as set out in the Programme for Government. The BIC, which is provided for under the Good Friday Agreement brings together: the Irish Government; UK Government; Scottish Government; Northern Ireland Executive; Welsh Government; the Isle of Man Government; the Government of Jersey and the Government of Guernsey to “promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands”. The Government has participated in a range of BIC meetings this year and will continue to do so in the period ahead, including the summit planned for Northern Ireland in June.
The BIIGC is also an institution of the Good Friday Agreement under Strand Three covering East West relations. It brings together the Irish and British Governments to promote bilateral cooperation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments. It has been agreed that the next meeting of the BIIGC will also take place in June.
As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government will continue to work closely on a North/South and East-West basis in support of the devolved power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent implementing Agreements.
379. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he can influence the international community to focus on various war zones globally and encourage the UN to take a positive stance in order to protect civilians with particular reference to women and children; if he can foresee a situation whereby the UN can reclaim its position as a peacekeeper and peace enforcer at such various flashpoints as the Sudan, Ethiopia and Yemen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12219/21]
View answerOne of the most important channels for Ireland to influence global peace and security efforts at the current time is through our membership of the UN Security Council.
Ireland has been engaging across the full range of issues on the Security Council’s agenda - actively promoting respect for international law, prioritising the protection of civilians and supporting the fight against impunity.
Last month, at the Council open debate on indispensable civilian objects, I highlighted the necessity to protect civilians and the essential services they need in situations of armed conflict. As co-chair of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace, and Security, Ireland has worked to highlight the critical role of women as agents of change in Yemen, South Sudan, Libya and Mali. Ireland has also been actively involved in the Security Council Working Group on Children in Armed Conflict. On 7 May, Ireland co-sponsored an informal Council meeting on the Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on violations against children in situations of armed conflict.
UN peacekeeping is one of the most collaborative, effective and visible tools of the UN in the promotion and maintenance of peace and security across the globe. There are currently 12 UN peacekeeping operations worldwide, with over 95,000 uniformed personnel from over 120 countries. It is a global effort to which Ireland is fully committed - with contributions from the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána, Ireland is present in more than half of the current UN peacekeeping operations.
During our time on the Security Council, Ireland will work to ensure that the mandates for peacekeeping missions align with the needs of the people they seek to protect, and that the missions have the resources necessary to carry out their tasks. Since Ireland joined the Council, mandates have been renewed or augmented for peacekeeping missions in Cyprus, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Later this month, Ireland will work with other Council members to renew the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei.
Ireland has been at the forefront of UN Security Council efforts to address the situation in Ethiopia, and we led the negotiation of the first press statement from the Security Council on the current crisis. We will continue to use our Council membership to highlight the need to protect civilians and ensure unfettered humanitarian access.
Ireland strongly supports all efforts towards ending the conflict in Yemen, led by UN Special Envoy Griffiths. At the Security Council Ireland has highlighted a number of issues of concern in Yemen including the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the need for a political process that includes the full, equal and meaningful participation of women.
The Security Council is also active on Sudan, in particular in response to an upward trend in armed violence in Darfur in recent months. Ireland will work with other Council members on the renewal of the mandate of the special political mission UNITAMS in the coming weeks.
380. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which through the EU or UN he expects to be in a position to alert the international community to the violence against women and children, incidents of genocide, ethnic cleansing, sexual abuse and trafficking of women and children in the course of various conflicts; if he will influence the UN to intervene in order to address such atrocities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12220/21]
View answer414. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which he continues to influence the international community to make provision for the elimination of trafficking and violence against women and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24682/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 414 together.
Ireland is a strong contributor to European Union and United Nations efforts to eliminate human rights violations. This includes our work on human rights issues across the UN system, including at the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.
Ireland remains actively engaged on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and is co-chairing the Security Council’s Informal Expert Group on WPS. On 14 March, Ireland participated in a Security Council Open Debate on Conflict Related Sexual Violence, highlighting incidents of sexual and gender based violence, and calling on the Council to use the tools at its disposal to eliminate such violations and ensure accountability.
Ireland is also an active participant in the Council’s Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC). The Working Group recently adopted the first set of Conclusions on South Sudan which included strengthened language on humanitarian access, the best interests of the child and on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights. Ireland will continue to seek to further mainstream child protection across the work of the Council during our term.
Ireland also engages actively at the UN Human Rights Council. At the recently concluded 46th session of the Council, Ireland delivered over 20 National Statements on country-specific human rights situations. including Myanmar, Syria, Iran, Yemen, South Sudan, DPRK, Eritrea, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. My Department also meets regularly with the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Professor Siobhán Mulally from NUI Galway.
At EU level, Ireland is an active participant and contributor to the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, which works globally to support the preservation of peace, the prevention of conflicts and the strengthening of international security. Combating trafficking is also a key priority in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. The Plan’s objectives include promoting measures to prevent and fully eradicate trafficking in human beings, including by countering impunity for all perpetrators involved.
