Written Answers Nos. 24-43
24. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had engagement with the Polish Ambassador regarding reports of LGBT free zones in Poland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47165/21]
View answerI am concerned by some of the developments relating to LGBTI+ people in Poland including the impact of resolutions adopted by some local authorities on members of the LGBTI+ community.
I can assure the Deputy that our concerns on these matters have been raised with the Polish Government. I have written to my Polish counterpart to set out the concerns that have been expressed by Irish people and by the large Polish community living in Ireland. I also underlined Ireland and Poland’s shared commitments to equality and non-discrimination as EU Member States. We will continue to raise our concerns through all appropriate channels with the Polish authorities.
The Embassy of Ireland in Warsaw undertakes a number of initiatives to demonstrate support for the LGBTI+ community in Poland, including participating in Pride Parades and actively engaging with civil society groups in Poland. The Ambassador also signs an annual open letter of support for efforts to raise public awareness of the issues affecting the LGBTI+ community, both in Poland and globally.
We will continue to constructively engage both bilaterally and at the EU level on this very important issue.
26. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the work being carried out to meet Ireland’s commitment to allocating 0.7% of gross national income to overseas development assistance. [46847/21]
View answer76. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will commit to a targeted pathway of achieving 0.5% gross national income to official development assistance in order that Ireland can reach the 0.7% in 2030 as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47189/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 76 together.
The Government is committed to achieving the UN Official Development Assistance target of 0.7% of GNI by 2030, as set out in A Better World, Ireland's International Development policy, and re-iterated in the Programme for Government. It is important that we do so in a responsible way. Ireland's development programme has a strong global reputation. This reputation was confirmed in the Peer Review of Ireland’s Development Assistance, issued by the OECD earlier this year. Our ambition to meet this important target must not see ODA quantity come at the cost of its quality.
Our ODA allocation has increased in real terms for the last seven consecutive years. The recent strong recovery in GNI means that to achieve modest increases as a proportion of GNI, ODA will need to continue to increase in real terms. My Department is currently reviewing and building systems that will enable our development programme to grow further, including as a proportion of GNI, in a sustainable way. This also includes working in coordination with other Government Departments and bodies spending Official Development Assistance, and with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on allocations to ODA.
27. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the recent meeting of the United Nations Security Council which Ireland chaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46883/21]
View answerThe Taoiseach chaired the UN Security Council Open Debate on Climate and Security on 23 September, the second of three high-level signature events during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council this month.
Climate and Security is a relatively new agenda item on the Security Council. It is a priority for Ireland’s membership, and we are currently providing leadership on the Council as co-chair of the Informal Expert Group (IEG) on Climate and Security together with Niger.
The aim of the Open Debate was to deepen substantive awareness of how climate is relevant to the work of the Security Council, and the impacts of climate change on situations of conflict, and to outline what actions the Council can take within its mandate to anticipate, advance and shape action on climate-related security risks. UN Secretary-General, António Guterres and a civil society activist provided important briefings to the Council on these issues.
The Taoiseach noted that, where climate change is a factor in exacerbating instability and undermining peace and security, the Security Council should use the tools at its disposal to tackle the related issues. He urged the Council to act, and noted Ireland’s intention to convene discussions on a thematic resolution on climate and security.
Council members broadly welcomed Ireland’s efforts to advance this agenda, with most supporting the tabling of a thematic resolution. A small number noted their view that Climate change should be dealt with in broader development-related organs, fora and processes outside of the Security Council.
Following on from the Open Debate, Ireland and Niger intend to convene further discussions with all Council members, with a view to being able to adopt a thematic resolution. This would be an important first for the Security Council and would allow it to better assess and address the effects of climate change in its work.
During our Presidency of the Council throughout the month of September 2021, Ireland chaired meetings across a broad range of issues on the Council agenda. I chaired a debate on Afghanistan on 9 September, during which the Council unanimously approved a Resolution on peacekeeping brought forward by Ireland. Minister of State Byrne also chaired a Briefing on the 25th Anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on 27 September.
28. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the proposals put forward by the British Government concerning a Troubles-related amnesty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46840/21]
View answer67. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will continue to request that the UK Government would not provide an amnesty to persons responsible for killings and other atrocities in Ireland related to the constitutional question of Northern Ireland. [44166/21]
View answer70. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the proposals put forward by the British Government concerning a Troubles-related amnesty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46781/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 67 and 70 together.
It has been the consistent position of the Government that the Stormont House Agreement provides a balanced and comprehensive framework, to address the painful legacy of the Troubles based on the principles of truth, justice, rule of law and reconciliation. Progress on its implementation is crucial, for families and victims and for society as a whole. It was agreed in 2014 by both Governments and the political parties after intensive negotiations, and it should be implemented.
The proposals published by the British Government on 14 July for a ‘Statute of Limitations’, ending criminal investigations and prosecutions relating to Troubles-related incidents, as well as inquests and civil litigation, have caused significant upset, shock and concern. They represent a very radical departure from the Stormont House Agreement and we cannot accept them.
Where the British Government propose significant changes to the Stormont House framework, these must be discussed and agreed by both Governments and the parties to the Northern Ireland Executive. Only through a collective approach can we hope to deal with these issues comprehensively and fairly and in a way that responds to the needs of victims, survivors and society.
Following a meeting of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 24 June, we agreed to begin an intensive process of engagement with the British Government and the Northern Ireland parties to find an agreed way forward, with discussions beginning in July. Importantly, this process has engaged fully with victims’ representatives. The intention is to find an agreed way forward that will allow implementing legislation to be introduced in both the UK and Ireland by the end of this Autumn.
It is the position of the Government that there should be effective investigations into all Troubles-related deaths, regardless of the perpetrator. The rule of law and the protections afforded by the European Convention on Human Rights must apply equally to everyone and must be upheld, and this principle is at the core of the Stormont House framework.
We have strongly communicated our position on this issue to the British Government and will continue to do so, and to caution in the clearest terms against any unilateral action. The Government will continue to engage and work with the British Government and the parties represented on the Northern Ireland Executive on this very important issue in the period immediately ahead.
30. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the recent visit by the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs to Latvia and Estonia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46843/21]
View answerMy colleague the Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, T.D., undertook a working visit to Latvia and Estonia from 5th to 7th September 2021. The visit marked the thirtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Baltic States following the re-establishment of independence in 1991.
The Minister’s programme included a wide range of engagements in both Riga and Tallinn and the main topics discussed were Rule of Law, Belarus, Future of Europe and Brexit.
In Riga, Minister Byrne met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia to discuss a number of issues, including the bilateral relationship, and EU and international issues. The Minister also met the Latvian Interior Minister, Ms Marija Golubeva, to discuss recent developments in the Baltic region. Also in Riga on Monday 6th, the Minister spoke at the prestigious Riga Graduate School of Law on the subject of “Our Future in Europe: 30 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Ireland and the Republic of Latvia".
Among the Minister’s engagements in Riga on Tuesday was a meeting with the Chair of the European Affairs Committee and the Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Chair of the Group for promoting cooperation with the Oireachtas. The Minister also visited Riga’s LGBT House and the Museum of the 1991 Barricades, which commemorates the events leading up to Latvia’s independence from the Soviet Union.
On Wednesday in the Estonian capital Tallinn, Minister Byrne met with Märt Volmer, Estonia’s Undersecretary for European Affairs to discuss issues on the EU agenda. He visited the Embassy of Ireland to officially open the Embassy’s new Chancery and also visited the Estonian Parliament for a meeting with its European Union Affairs Committee.
31. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he or his Department have had with the British and Northern Ireland authorities to date in 2021 in relation to issues such as extended delays in bringing cases to trial involving Irish citizens, prison conditions for Republicans and other such security-related issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47062/21]
View answerThe issues to which the Deputy refers are kept under review by my officials at the Belfast Secretariat. Officials regularly engage with a range of parties to monitor the situation in relation to security related matters.
The Deputy will be aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact in terms of causing delays and backlogs within the Northern Ireland criminal justice system. These delays come on top of the significant delays that were reported back in 2018 in the ‘Speeding Up Justice’ Report. As justice powers are a devolved matter, the NI Department of Justice are taking forward measures to address the delays within the system.
In recent months, officials have discussed the separated regime at Maghaberry with a number of key stakeholders. The Deputy is welcome to contact my Department if he has further concerns to raise.
32. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance his Department is providing in relation to family reunification plans for Afghans living in Ireland with family in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46845/21]
View answerThe Department of Justice has responsibility for matters pertaining to family reunification visas. In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, that Department is currently focused on processing family reunification applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland.
A person can apply for family reunification under the International Protection Act 2015 if they have been granted a declaration as a Convention Refugee, are a beneficiary of Subsidiary Protection or if they have been granted Programme Refugee status.
I am pleased that a special Afghan Admission Programme, with an allocation of up to 500 places, is being taken forward by the Department of Justice. This will allow current or former Afghan nationals living in Ireland to apply to bring their close Afghan family members to Ireland to live with them - with a particular focus on the most vulnerable.
My Department will continue its close cooperation with the Department of Justice, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth on this and related matters.
33. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures Ireland is prepared to take at the United Nations to support a lifting of the 60-year-old illegal blockade of the island of Cuba. [47096/21]
View answerI consider that the US's long-standing economic embargo serves no constructive purpose and that its lifting would facilitate an opening of Cuba’s economy to the benefit of its people. Ireland, along with our EU partners, has been a consistent supporter of the annual Resolution put forward by Cuba at the UN General Assembly regarding the US economic blockade, and Ireland again voted in favour of this Resolution at the General Assembly on 23 June last.
Officials in my Department closely follow developments relating to the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which, as the Deputy is aware, is a US federal law that strengthens and continues the economic embargo against Cuba. I was concerned by the decision taken in 2019 by the previous US Administration to suspend waivers for Title III of the Act, which had protected European persons and entities from its extra-territorial elements. Together with our EU partners, Ireland has firmly and continuously opposed extra-territorial measures that seek to extend the US embargo against Cuba to third countries, as contrary to commonly accepted rules of international trade.
I also regret the inclusion of Cuba on the list of State-sponsors of terrorism by the previous US Administration and I support the statement made by EU HR/VP Josep Borrell in January 2021, noting the negative impact of this decision on foreign direct investment in Cuba, further aggravating the difficult situation of the Cuban people in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The situation in Cuba has not been discussed at the UN Security Council in some time; however, should this issue be brought to the Council agenda during our term on the Council, Ireland will actively engage, in line with our long-standing position.
Ireland will continue to support the lifting of the US embargo on Cuba and my officials, including at the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico which covers Cuba, will continue to monitor the situation closely, in cooperation with our EU partners.
34. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will clarify Ireland’s position in relation to securing an effective and binding United Nations treaty on business and human rights. [47095/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, proposals for such a treaty are being advanced by an Open Ended Intergovernmental Working Group established by resolution 26/9 of the Human Rights Council in 2014. I favour constructive engagement with proposals for a legally binding treaty in the area of Business and Human Rights.
Ireland has engaged with this treaty process through the European Union. During the sixth session of the Open Ended Intergovernmental Working Group last Autumn, the EU acknowledged “the potential of a legally binding instrument to effectively contribute to enhance the level of protection against human rights abuses and violations, and to ensure that countries around the world do not gain undue competitive advantage by lowering human rights.”
In the same statement, the EU set out continuing concerns with the then draft of the proposed treaty. These included the need for any such instrument to cover all businesses in a non-discriminatory manner; consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; to be realistically implementable and enforceable; and to be capable of garnering support from a critical mass of UN members.
In recent weeks, a further draft of the treaty has been published by Ecuador (as Chair of the Open Ended Intergovernmental Working Group) and is under consideration by the EU and its member states. Ireland will continue to promote a constructive and engaged approach to the negotiations.
Finally, I would add that Ireland is strongly supportive of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which were unanimously endorsed by the Human Rights Council in 2011. Professor John Ruggie, who developed the UNGPs, and did so much to advance the Business and Human Rights Agenda, passed away last month. I would like take this opportunity to record our appreciation on the record of the House for Professor Ruggie's invaluable leadership on this area.
35. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on adding a human rights observation mandate to MINURSO when it is renewed in October 2021. [42383/21]
View answerAs a current member of the Security Council, Ireland seeks to improve the mandates of UN peacekeeping operations so that they align with the needs of the populations that they serve, including in the case of MINURSO. We believe that UN peace operations have an essential role to play in promoting respect for human rights.
Ireland’s longstanding position on Western Sahara is one of full support for MINURSO, the UN-led process and the Secretary General’s efforts to bring about a definitive and mutually acceptable political settlement on this issue. In this regard, we hope that agreement can soon be found on the appointment of a Personal Envoy of the Secretary General in order to move forward with the full resumption of dialogue between the parties under the auspices of the UN.
During our term on the Security Council, Ireland has called on all parties to respect the terms of the ceasefire agreement of 1991, to fulfil their obligations under international law, including ensuring full respect for human rights, and to refrain from taking any actions that could lead to further destabilisation of the situation on the ground.
The Council, in UNSCR 2548 of 2020, encouraged the parties to the conflict to develop and implement independent and credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights as well as enhanced cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including by facilitating visits of the High Commissioner to the region.
As part of the Security Council’s consideration of the mandate renewal process in October, the Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of MINURSO will update the Council on the situation.
In the mandate renewal process, as in all our work across the Council agenda, Ireland will continue to promote respect for human rights, accountability and compliance with international law.
36. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date on the UNCCD Great Green Wall project and Ireland’s engagement with the UNCCD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45791/21]
View answerThe Great Green Wall is a Pan-African initiative to restore and sustainably manage land in the Sahel-Saharan region, covering more than 20 African countries. It aims to rehabilitate 8.2 million hectares of land per year by 2030. The intervention zone dedicated to the Great Green Wall spans a length of at least 7000km between Senegal and Djibouti and it is home to 232 million people.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is one of a number of organisations involved in the Great Green Wall initiative and, in 2020, it reported that eleven participating countries have collectively rehabilitated approximately four million hectares of land between 2007 and 2019. This effort has resulted in a number of environmental and socio-economic benefits, including the creation of approximately 335,000 jobs.
At the One Planet Summit for Biodiversity, held in January 2021, US$14 billion was pledged to fund action to protect biodiversity, including support to assist the completion of the Great Green Wall by 2030.
Ireland’s partnership with the UNCCD is led by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications which made a €1.2 million contribution in 2018 to the UNCCD for the Great Green Wall. Irish Aid made an additional contribution of €50,000 to the Great Green Wall in 2018.
38. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts Ireland will undertake to address the impact of climate change in conflict-riven regions of the world, particularly in Africa. [47098/21]
View answerIn fragile and vulnerable situations, climate change acts as a threat multiplier, with serious implications for peace and security. 80% of UN peacekeepers are deployed in countries that are the most exposed to climate change.
Ireland is working to address these issues, in particular, through our membership of the UN Security Council. On 23 September, the Taoiseach chaired a High-Level Open Debate on Climate and Security at the Security Council. This event drew attention to what the Security Council can tangibly do to address climate related security challenges, including in conflict-affected regions in Africa. During this debate, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland would convene a discussion on a thematic resolution on Climate and Security, which would be a major step forward for the Council.
In addition, as co-chair of the Informal Expert Group on Climate and Security at the Security Council, Ireland is working to raise awareness on climate related security risks and how these can be acted upon. To date, this year, we have held meetings on the Sahel and South Sudan.
Ireland has been working to secure language in Security Council mandated peacekeeping operations to enable the inclusion of risk assessments and risk management strategies to help address climate related security risks.
Finally, Ireland is providing targeted finance to address this challenge, including funding for a UN Climate Action Officer in Somalia, through the UN Volunteer Programme. One of the messages which Minister Coveney received during his visit to Somalia in July was the increasing interplay there between climate change and security risks. Irish Aid supports a research project, Weathering Risk, which aims to analyse how climate change undermines peace as well as to strengthen the abilities of governments and international organisations to act in affected regions. Additionally, through the bilateral programmes managed by Irish Embassies in Africa the Irish Aid programme is helping mitigate the effects of climate change.
39. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the passports and working visas backlog; the percentage of Departmental staff who are back in the office full-time or with a blended arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47167/21]
View answerThe Passport Service has issued almost 450,000 passports and passport cards in 2021.
There are approximately 130,000 applications currently on hand with the Passport Service. Approximately 60% of those applications are first-time applications. First-time applications are complex to process. The Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant, take measures to ensure the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship and, in the case of children, confirm that all guardians have consented to the issuing of the passport. Accordingly, the current processing time for first-time online applications is 40 working days.
In contrast, simple adult online renewal applications are currently processed within 10 working days and, in almost 45% of cases, they are being issued within one business day.
A number of Departmental staff have been on-site throughout the pandemic. In August 2021, there were 519 staff assigned to the Passport Service. Of these, less than 1% were working from home on a full-time basis. From 20th September, all Departmental staff based in Ireland have been required to attend their respective workplaces one day a week.
On Monday, 27th September, the Passport Office in Mount Street resumed its Urgent Appointment Service for passport renewal. This service will resume in the Cork Passport Office on 22 October, subject to further easing of restrictions on social distancing. The Passport Service will continue to prioritise its emergency service for those who require a passport for a medical emergency or death of a family member abroad.
With regard to the part of the Deputy’s question relating to working visas, I encourage the Deputy to engage with my counterpart at the Department of Justice who will be able to assist with this enquiry.
40. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement he has had since August 2021 with the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi with regard to the facilitation of visa applications from Afghan persons seeking to leave Afghanistan and in particular with regard to relaxing the usual evidentiary burden in relation to the provision of original documentation such as birth certificates and passports in support of these applications in view of the current risks associated with obtaining or transporting original personal documentation in Afghanistan; if the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi is currently accepting copies of these documents in support of visa applications by persons from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47170/21]
View answer55. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department is still assisting asylum seekers that are trying to exit Afghanistan either directly or through a third country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46229/21]
View answer56. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the situation relating to Afghani refugees; and if Ireland plans to increase its allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47163/21]
View answer71. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will increase the number of places on the Irish Refugee Protection Programme for Afghan nationals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47190/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 55, 56 and 71 together.
Last month I announced, together with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Minister of State for Law Reform, Youth Justice and Immigration, that places would be allocated to Afghan nationals under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. The programme was created in 2015 as part of Ireland’s response to the migration crisis in central and southern Europe. It allows a predetermined number of vulnerable people in need of international protection to be granted refugee status in Ireland.
Places on the programme have been allocated to approximately 370 Afghan nationals, some 150 of whom have travelled to Ireland. Priority was given to those working on human rights issues, including the rights of women and girls, and minorities, as well as those working with NGOs and European and international organisations. The operation of this programme is managed by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Department of Foreign Affairs is, through our diplomatic network, including in Abu Dhabi and Ankara, liaising with relevant authorities in the region and countries in Europe in relation to transit routes. The Department of Justice is providing practical support by way of issuing visas, or visa waivers, to facilitate travel to Ireland. That Department is also focused on processing applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland.
The Department of Justice is currently reviewing all international protection applications on hand from Afghan nationals with a view to expediting their progress, in line with updated advice provided by UNHCR in recent weeks. These applications are already prioritised, as agreed with UNHCR. The processing of these applications takes full account of whether a person will be in danger if not provided with a permission to remain here.
It is a matter for the Department of Justice to determine which documents must be submitted in support of visa applications or visa waivers and the extent, if any, to which these may be relaxed.
The Government at its meeting earlier this week, approved the introduction of a new Afghanistan Admission Programme whereby current or former Afghan nationals resident in Ireland can apply for close family members in Afghanistan or who have recently fled Afghanistan to certain countries to be granted temporary residence in Ireland. I very much welcome this new proposal from my colleague, the Minister for Justice, which will create a tailored reunification programme and enable Ireland to better respond to the situation in Afghanistan.
41. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46871/21]
View answerI travelled to New York from 20 to 24 September for a series of meetings in relation to the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High Level Week, which began on 21 September. Although heavily curtailed due to COVID restrictions, this year saw a limited number of in-person elements which provided Ireland with an opportunity to highlight our priorities for the United Nations and the multilateral system more broadly.
The formal theme of this year’s General Assembly was “Building resilience through hope – to recover from COVID19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations”. Two issues which featured strongly in the General Debate were efforts to address climate change urgently, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19, in particular the inequitable distribution of vaccines. The Taoiseach delivered Ireland’s national statement during the General Debate on 24 September and also chaired the first ever debate at the Security Council on Climate and Security at the level of Heads of State and Government.
In addition to attending the opening of the General Debate, I had an extensive programme of bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Algeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the President and Foreign Minister of Kosovo, as well as with the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, and a number of senior UN officials on humanitarian and peacebuilding issues.
I also participated in an informal EU Foreign Minister’s meeting, which focused on the EU response to the situation in Afghanistan.
UNGA High Level Week coincided with Ireland’s term as President of the UN Security Council, and in this context, I also chaired an Interactive Informal Dialogue between Security Council members and the League of Arab States during my visit.
Ireland was also represented at a number of virtual events during High Level Week, including by President Higgins, as well as Minister Ryan, Minister of State Brophy, and Minister of State Noonan, while Minister of State Byrne travelled to New York to chair a Security Council meeting on Monday 27 September to mark the 25th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, another of the key events of our presidency of the Security Council.
42. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if progress has been made on establishing an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45792/21]
View answerThe Government continues to prioritise immigration issues in our relationship with the United States. This includes working towards secure legal pathways for Irish people to live and work in the US as well as addressing the situation of undocumented Irish.
We have continued to raise these matters, including but not limited to the E3 Visa Bill, in our engagement with successive US Administrations, Members of the US Congress, and leaders from across the political spectrum. The Taoiseach raised the matter in March this year while meeting with President Biden during his St. Patrick's Day virtual visit. He also discussed the issue of the E3 visa bill, and creating pathways to citizenship, with the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Most recently, I raised the matter in my meetings on Capitol Hill during my visit to Washington D.C. last week.
President Biden's proposed US Citizenship Act of 2021 shows that immigration issues are a key priority for his Administration, and Ireland welcomes this development. The Government continues to pursue the E3 Visa Bill, which, if passed, could allow access to thousands of US visas each year to Irish citizens, providing new opportunities to live and work in the US.
Our Embassy in Washington D.C. engages in extensive outreach in support of the Bill, working with the US Congress on a bipartisan basis, meeting with both Members of the House of Representatives and of the Senate. We will seek at the earliest opportunity the reintroduction of the Bill to the United States Congress.
43. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on moves by the British Government to halt prosecutions of British soldiers responsible for the deaths of civilians in Northern Ireland; the position of the Irish Government with regard to establishing the truth in relation to the events of Bloody Sunday in 1972 and the Ballymurphy Massacre in 1971; if the Government is interested in considering any new evidence in relation to Bloody Sunday and claims to the effect that this was a pro-active counter insurgency operation by British military forces as outlined in recent newspaper articles and in a new book to be published in October 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46870/21]
View answerIt is essential that we make progress in addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland. Our position is that the Stormont House Agreement, which was agreed by the two Governments and political parties, provides the framework to address the legacy of the Troubles. Where there are genuine concerns regarding its implementation, or proposals to further strengthen it in different areas, we are ready to engage together with the parties and the British Government to find a collective way forward. Crucially, victims and survivors must be at the heart of this process.
The proposals published by the British Government on 14 July for a ‘Statute of Limitations’, ending criminal investigations and prosecutions relating to Troubles-related incidents, as well as inquests and civil litigation, have caused significant upset, shock and concern. They represent a very radical departure from the Stormont House Agreement and we do not accept them as the basis of a way forward.
Following a meeting of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 24 June, we agreed to begin an intensive process of engagement with the British Government and the Northern Ireland parties to find an agreed way forward, with discussions beginning in July. Importantly, this process has engaged fully with victims’ representatives. The intention is to find an agreed way forward that will allow implementing legislation to be introduced in both the UK and Ireland by the end of this autumn.
All victims’ families must have access to an effective investigation and to a process of justice in accordance with the law and regardless of the perpetrator. With respect to Bloody Sunday and Ballymurphy, officials in my Department have remained in ongoing contact with the families who have lost their loved ones in both cases, who have campaigned with such dignity and tirelessness for truth and justice for their loved ones, and we continue to offer our support.
