Written Answers Nos. 41-60
41. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had with his European Union counterparts on the increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3930/22]
View answer47. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions that have taken place at European Union level with regard to the situation in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3695/22]
View answer70. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures that the Government is taking at European Union level to bring a peaceful solution to the current crisis in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3885/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 47 and 70 together.
Ireland is a strong and consistent supporter of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemns Russian violations of Ukrainian sovereignty. The build-up of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine is a matter of great concern. It is important that dialogue be maintained, with the primary goal of de-escalating tensions in the region. In this regard, I welcome the intensive diplomatic efforts which have occurred in recent weeks, aimed at defusing tensions. These include bilateral discussions between the US and Russia, between NATO and Russia, and at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. As a participating State in the OSCE, Ireland is pleased to express solidarity with Ukraine and seek a peaceful de-escalation of tensions in that forum.
Over the course of the last year, the EU has dedicated significant time to the situation in Ukraine, not least at the Foreign Affairs Council. The EU has been and will remain united in extending solidarity to Ukraine and condemning Russian aggression. I commend Ukraine it on its resilience and restraint in the face of continued Russian aggression. The latest build-up of troops near Ukraine has caused a sustained period of heightened tension over recent weeks and months. This has been exacerbated by Russia's security proposals which attempt to impinge on Ukraine's sovereign right as a nation to decide its own defence and external association policy.
I and my fellow EU Foreign Ministers discussed the situation again on Monday of this week at the Foreign Affairs Council of 24 January. That discussion built on our detailed exchange at the informal Foreign Ministers meeting in Brest on 13 and 14 January hosted by the French Presidency. In my own remarks, I have consistently underlined the need for strong and unified messaging from the EU.
EU leaders including the Taoiseach, at the European Council in December, clearly stated that any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe cost in response. This has been reinforced in the Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions of 24 January, which state that preparatory work has accelerated on restrictive measures in case of further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine.
EU Foreign Ministers on Monday continued to emphasise the need for de-escalation and the prevention of further conflict in Ukraine. This is the outcome we want to see. Too many lives have already been lost in the conflict in Ukraine and we must always keep open the path of dialogue. This is why we and our EU partners view the Minsk Agreements as so important. Their full implementation remains the best avenue to achieve peace in Ukraine. The OSCE as a platform for regional security has also featured heavily in our recent discussions. The OSCE is the body that brings all parties in the region to the table and I am in favour of the EU continuing to invest significant effort there.
However, I and my counterparts also acknowledged that the EU must be willing to meet unacceptable behaviour from Russia with consequences. We cannot continue to do business with Russia as normal if it perpetrates further military aggression against Ukraine. This is why we have agreed to signal that preparatory work on restrictive measures has accelerated. We hope that this work won't be needed. We hope it won't come to that. But we need to be prepared to use the leverage we have in the interests of peace and security on the continent.
EU Foreign Ministers have also engaged with Ukraine directly, to ensure that its voice is heard and that we understand its perspective. This includes engagements with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. I discussed these matters in person with Minister Kuleba when I travelled to Kyiv on 23 August to represent Ireland at the International Crimea Platform, a diplomatic initiative by Ukraine to seek a peaceful end to the illegal Russian occupation of the peninsula.
43. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposed timeframe to honour the Government commitment to recognise the state of Palestine. [3538/22]
View answer46. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of plans to officially recognise the state of Palestine pursuant to the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3914/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 46 together.
I have been clear in my engagement with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority of the commitment of this Government to advancing a two-State solution, in line with the agreed parameters for a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Government has pledged to honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a two-state solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory.
As I have stated previously, in the absence of progress towards a two-State solution, I would be prepared to recommend to the Government early recognition by Ireland of a State of Palestine, if and when it might be helpful, and this is a matter which I discuss regularly with EU colleagues.
Recognition by Ireland outside the context of an overall peace agreement would, however, be likely to affect Ireland’s influence on the Israel-Palestine conflict at EU and international level. Timing and context would affect whether such a loss of influence would be matched by a commensurate benefit for the Palestinian people and a positive impact on the peace process and a two-State solution.
44. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3642/22]
View answerThe Dublin-Monaghan bombings saw the largest loss of life on a single day in the Troubles, with 33 people tragically killed and many more injured. The Government will continue to seek the full truth of these appalling attacks, and some measure of closure for those affected, in accordance with the three Motions passed unanimously by Dáil Éireann.
The all-party motion that was adopted by the Dáil on 25 May 2016, like those adopted in 2008 and 2011, calls on the British Government to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, as well as the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, the bombing of Kay’s Tavern in Dundalk and the murder of Seamus Ludlow. The Programme for Government reiterates Ireland’s commitment to engaging with the British Government on this issue as matter of priority, in accordance with the All-Party Dáil motions.
I have consistently underlined to the British Government that the Dáil motions represent the consensus political view in Ireland that an independent, international judicial review of all the relevant documents is required to establish the full facts of the Dublin and Monaghan atrocities. I have also underlined that the absence of a response from the British Government is of deep concern to the Government and indeed this House, and I have emphasised the urgent need for such a response.
In addition, at the last BIIGC, which took place on 2 December, I again raised our concerns in relation to specific individual legacy cases, including the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.
Officials from my Department met with Justice for the Forgotten last year to hear their views and update them on the Government’s continuing engagement on legacy issues, including with the British Government on the Dáil motions.
The Government will continue to engage with the British Government on this request, at senior political level and in official level engagement by my Department, to pursue all possible avenues to achieve progress on this issue until a resolution is found.
48. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the work of his Department in supporting the distribution of vaccines to protect against Covid-19 in developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3911/22]
View answer78. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of funding provided by Ireland under the COVAX system for the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3635/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 78 together.
Ireland remains committed to an effective global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past two years, my Department, through the Irish Aid programme, has invested €200 million in global public health with further investment to come in 2022 of at least another €100 million. This includes COVID-19 specific response measures, and ongoing work to strengthen health systems for the prevention and treatment of pre-existing conditions.
Experience from Irish Aid’s engagement in the fight against HIV and Ebola demonstrates the importance of effective public health systems. Ireland continues to support health system strengthening through our funding to partners such as WHO, Gavi (The Vaccines Alliance), and to the Global Fund for TB, HIV / AIDS and Malaria.
The WHO is optimistic that the world will hit the target of 70% of the world’s population receiving their primary vaccination by mid-year. It is estimated that total production of vaccines will reach 19 billion by July. On 16 January, a shipment of vaccines to Rwanda included the billionth dose supplied via the COVAX facility. However, as long as a significant proportion of the world’s population remains unvaccinated and without full access to testing, tracking and treatment, COVID-19 will remain a threat to lives and livelihoods.
Last week, I announced an additional Irish contribution of €5 million to COVAX at a Gavi event. This brings Ireland’s overall contribution to COVAX to date to €13.5 million. This supports the purchase and distribution of vaccines in lower income countries. Ireland was one of the first donors to agree to cover the additional costs associated with donations of vaccines via the facility. The recent additional funding to COVAX will contribute to those costs, the financing of vaccines, and support to country readiness, such as the provision of equipment and technical support to boost vaccine rollout.
The Department of Health has received approval from Government to donate up to 5 million surplus vaccines to developing countries, largely through the COVAX facility. To date, more than 1.3 million of these doses have been delivered to countries including Nigeria, Ghana and Indonesia, with more expected. Further donations are expected in the coming weeks. The Department of Health, working closely with DFA, also facilitated the bilateral donation of 335,000 AstraZeneca doses to Uganda, specifically targeted to the vaccination of teachers to enable the reopening of schools. In addition, the response by the Irish public to the UNICEF “Get a Vaccine, Give a Vaccine” Covid-19 appeal has been exceptional, and acknowledged internationally.
With support from the Irish Aid programme to the HSE Global Health programme, key lessons learned from Ireland’s response to COVID-19 have been shared with the Mozambican health service, while health workers on the frontline of the pandemic in Jordan and Ethiopia were supported with psychosocial training for resilience.
Finally, Ireland continues to promote the sharing of technology through various means, for example, the intellectual property underpinning Ireland’s COVID Tracker App has been shared to assist countries in their contact tracing efforts.
49. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps a student (details supplied) can take to obtain a Covid-19 certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3913/22]
View answerThe rollout of the EU Digital COVID Certificate is a matter for the Department of Health. My Department continues to work closely with the Department of Health to ensure that Irish citizens vaccinated overseas are able to apply for the EU-DCC.
Irish citizens vaccinated abroad are advised that if the first dose was administered in Ireland and the second dose in another country, then the application should be made to the country where the second dose was administered. Information on applying for the EU-DCC in Norway is available at helsenorge.no/en/covid-19-certificate/.
The EU-DCC is not a precondition for travel to Norway from Ireland, but does make travel easier. My officials would be happy to follow up on this case with the citizen directly, should the Deputy wish to provide further details.
51. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his attendance at the meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on 24 January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3766/22]
View answerI attended the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, which took place in Brussels, on Monday 24 January.
The Council discussed the current security situation in Eastern Europe at length. We held an exchange with US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, by video conference during which we reiterated our shared commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In our discussions, EU Foreign Ministers agreed that dialogue in line with the key principles that underpin European security, as enshrined in the UN Charter and the founding documents of the OSCE, is the best way to safeguard peace and stability. We also reiterated however that any further military aggression by Russia against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe costs. We adopted Council Conclusions which reflected these positions. I emphasised the need to focus on diplomacy and dialogue, and I also updated my EU colleagues on Russian plans to conduct live fire naval exercises off the south west coast of Ireland.
We also assessed how the EU might best respond to recent developments in Syria and Libya. Ireland is currently co-penholder for Syria humanitarian issues on the UN Security Council, and I highlighted the humanitarian imperative to ensure access to aid for all those in need.
The Council also exchanged views on the situations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Indo-Pacific, Sudan and Mali. We agreed on our intention to progress restrictive measures against individuals responsible for destabilisation in Mali, in support of similar targeted actions already undertaken by ECOWAS, while also underlining the EU’s commitment to supporting the Malian people.
Council Conclusions on the EU’s priorities in UN human rights fora in 2022 and on peace operations and crisis management operations for 2022-2024 were also agreed.
52. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress being made in appointing women to senior diplomatic posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3699/22]
View answerMy Department is committed to embedding a culture of dignity and respect in the workplace, emphasising gender, equality, diversity and inclusion, as set out in the Department of Foreign Affairs Statement of Strategy 2021-2023.
Advancing gender equality is a key objective in the Department's Human Resources Strategy 2019-2022. Since the launch of this Strategy, my Department has published a number of policies and supports, including a Maternity Leave Cover Policy, a Guide to Supports for Maternity, Adoptive and Parental Leave, and is currently in the early stages of developing a Menopause Policy. In addition, a gender pay gap report has been published for the past three years which also examines the levels of men and women at senior grades at headquarters and at Missions abroad.
My Department has an active Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Sub-Committee of the Management Board which has five working groups, one of which focuses on gender equality issues, including through the implementation of a Departmental Gender Equality Action Plan. The work underway across my Department complements wider efforts towards gender equality being advanced through the Civil Service renewal process.
At present, at Assistant Principal level and above, 46 percent are women. The proportion of Heads of Mission, by gender for the years 2011 to 2021, is set out in tabular form below. The figures demonstrate significant progress towards parity over the course of a ten year period. The percentage of female Heads of Mission is set to increase to 46 percent by the end of 2022 following the summer rotations at Missions abroad.
My Department remains committed to efforts to enhance gender equality at senior levels along with other commitments in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion.
|
Year |
Female |
Male |
|
2011 |
15% |
85% |
|
2012 |
18% |
82% |
|
2013 |
22% |
78% |
|
2014 |
26% |
74% |
|
2015 |
26% |
74% |
|
2016 |
26% |
74% |
|
2017 |
27% |
73% |
|
2018 |
29% |
71% |
|
2019 |
33% |
67% |
|
2020 |
33% |
67% |
|
2021 |
38% |
62% |
54. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps taken to link-in with the local diaspora for the Consulate General for the North of England; if consideration is being given to the use of a building which housed an Irish club (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3791/22]
View answerThe establishment of the Consulate General of Ireland in Manchester in July 2021 has allowed us to strengthen our relationship with Ireland’s diaspora and Irish community organisations across the North of England. I saw this first hand during my visit to open the new Consulate General on 1 October 2021. I engaged with representatives of numerous Irish community organisations at the opening reception in Manchester and during a programme at the Liverpool Irish Centre.
Since last July, the team at the new Consulate General has been active in engaging with our diaspora. It has visited Irish clubs in Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Huddersfield, Warrington, and Manchester, including the Irish Club mentioned by the Deputy. It has also met with several Irish community groups, such as Irish Community Care in Merseyside, and Irish Community Care Manchester, and Leeds Irish Health and Homes. In addition, the Consulate has engaged with Irish sporting and cultural organisations, including the Lancashire and Yorkshire GAA County Board, and met with Irish media entities, including Irish community radio programmes in Manchester and the makers of the Irish in the UK TV programme.
This outreach work builds on decades of engagement by Embassy London and the work of the Irish Abroad Unit in my Department. In 2021, funding of €1,336,551 was allocated to 25 organisations in the North of England under the Emigrant Support Programme.
My Department is working with Enterprise Ireland to select a location for a permanent Ireland House in Manchester, which will include the long term chancery for the Consulate. The Ireland House will facilitate the collective work of Team Ireland - enhancing bilateral relations, deepening regional engagement, advancing our commercial interests and diaspora engagement. Specific requirements have been identified for an Ireland House in Manchester. The building that housed the Irish Club referenced by the Deputy has been visited by the Consulate General team and I can confirm that full consideration of the suitability of this premises has been considered, in line with these specific requirements.
55. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on Ireland’s recent participation on the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe meeting on Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3693/22]
View answerUkraine features regularly on the OSCE agenda. I understand the Deputy to be referring to the recent meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on 13 January, the first under the Polish Chair-in-Office.
Working to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict in and around Ukraine is a priority of the Polish Chair and will remain high on the OSCE agenda. Ireland participated in the Permanent Council meeting of 13 January and our position was reflected in the EU statement on behalf of all EU member States, including Ireland.
The statement highlighted that Russia’s actions, including the illegal annexation of Crimea and its acts of aggression in eastern Ukraine, have led to a severe deterioration of the security situation in the OSCE area. It repeated that any further aggression against Ukraine will come with massive consequences and a high economic cost for Russia and called for a de-escalation of tensions.
The EU’s full support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity was reiterated as was the need for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine to be granted full, safe and unhindered access to the whole territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The statement also indicated that the OSCE is the most appropriate platform for a meaningful dialogue in good faith on every aspect related to comprehensive security and expressed our readiness to contribute constructively.
59. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland’s embassy and consular network is aligned with the goal of attracting development and business to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3910/22]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs’ Mission network plays an important role in advancing Ireland as a destination for business and investment. The Mission network works to increase trade, diversify our markets and support Irish companies to take advantage of new opportunities, which is particularly relevant as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mission network plays a key role in the Team Ireland approach, which sees Government Departments and State Agencies working closely with other Irish stakeholders to strengthen our international reputation and drive the development of trade, tourism, investment, science, technology and innovation, culture and education. Embassies and Consulates General provide support for Ireland’s State Agencies strategic objectives and activities in overseas markets. The role of the Mission network in promoting Ireland as a location to do business, invest, study and visit, is particularly pertinent in markets with limited or no State Agency presence.
In June 2018, the Government launched the Global Ireland initiative, which aims to double the impact and scope of Ireland’s global footprint by 2025. Global Ireland's targets include enhanced global engagement, the expansion of Ireland’s Embassy network and strengthening of Ireland’s State Agency presence overseas. Each of these measures will increase Ireland’s international visibility, facilitate market diversification and intensification, and deepen bilateral relations in support of the Government’s economic and political objectives.
This programme is now past the half way mark with 14 new Missions open and operational. To date, new Embassies have opened in Wellington, Bogotá, Amman, Monrovia, Santiago de Chile, Rabat, Manila and Kyiv, and new Consulates General in Cardiff, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Manchester, Mumbai and Vancouver. We will also be reopening our Embassy in Tehran in 2023 and the Government has approved the opening of a further four new Missions in Dakar, Lyon, Miami and Toronto. New Missions have been opened in locations chosen on the basis, inter alia, of their potential to diversify our markets and increase trade and investment with Ireland.
Officers based at our Missions engage in economic and public diplomacy to advance Ireland’s prosperity, as part of their overall duties to promote Ireland's interests and support our citizens. They work on a range of trade-related issues, including market access, regulatory compliance, visas, phyto-sanitary issues, and double taxation agreements.
The Mission network also supports Ministerial visits and trade missions, in partnership with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, other Government Departments and the State Agencies, which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland that are aiming to grow business overseas, and in general helping deepen bilateral relations as the context in which trade and investment takes place.
60. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the steps Ireland is taking as a member of the United Nations Security Council to address rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3765/22]
View answerIreland has consistently made clear its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and has supported Ukraine in a range of international fora in this regard. Along with our EU partners, Ireland has called on Russia to de-escalate the tensions caused by its protracted military build-up. The build-up of Russian troops near its border with Ukraine is a significant cause for concern to us.
The UN Secretary General, António Guterres on 21 January called on the international community to avoid a confrontation and to create the conditions for a diplomatic solution of the problem. Ireland has repeatedly reaffirmed its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine at United Nations Security Council meetings on Ukraine, including at Arria formula meetings.
We have also stressed our non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, encouraged full, secure and unimpeded access for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, and called for the full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.
We co-sponsored the Arria formula meeting on Crimea organised by Estonia and Ukraine in March 2021, which also focused on the worrying human rights situation on the peninsula. We were also pleased to once again co-sponsor the General Assembly Resolution on the demilitarisation of Crimea, and we joined the EU statement on 9 December, as we have done in previous years.
