Written Answers Nos. 81-100
82. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the setting up of a unit within his Department dedicated to working on Ireland’s response to the global climate crisis and tasked with devising a strategy to scale up Ireland’s climate finance contributions as committed to within the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3836/22]
View answerFollowing the commitment in the Programme for Government, a Climate Unit was established in the Department of Foreign Affairs in October 2020. The Unit is currently staffed by nine officials and is embedded in my Department's Development Cooperation and Africa Division.
The Climate Unit has built upon the climate work that was already underway across the Department, in particular the funding of climate action through the Irish Aid programme. The Climate Unit currently has three main areas of thematic focus: Adaptation and Resilience, including Loss and Damage; Climate and Security; and Oceans. In addition, the Climate team are working with colleagues to strengthen capacity across the Department on climate issues.
At the World Leaders’ Summit at COP26, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland will more than double its international climate finance by 2023, to reach at least €225 million per year. The target represents a significant increase on current levels of climate finance (€93.6 million in 2019) and is likely to assist in making significant progress towards the Programme for Government commitment to “at a minimum, double the overall percentage of our development assistance that counts as climate finance” by 2030.
The Programme for Government has tasked the DFA Climate Unit with devising a strategy to scale up Ireland’s climate finance contributions.
The Strategy will provide a pathway to deliver on our targets, whilst ensuring that Ireland’s climate finance is effective and impactful in supporting developing countries to address climate change.
The Climate Unit is working closely with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Department of Finance and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine, along with other Government Departments, in the development of the Climate Finance Roadmap. Consultation has also taken place with civil society. Work on the Roadmap is well advanced, with a view to finalisation in the first half of the year.
83. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to join the foreign ministries of France, Germany, Italy and Spain in calling on Israel to end the construction of new housing units in east Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3883/22]
View answerI have been consistently vocal in my opposition to illegal settlements and their expansion in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Settlement expansion, demolitions and evictions threaten the viability of a two-state solution.
During my visit to the occupied Palestinian territory in November, I saw first hand the impact that settlements are having on Palestinian communities and on prospects for peace. I am particularly concerned about developments in strategically sensitive areas around East Jerusalem.
I have conveyed in the strongest terms my concerns about settlements, which are illegal under international law, to the Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid. Ireland’s Ambassador in Tel Aviv has also raised the issue directly with the Israeli authorities, most recently on 8 December. Ireland's Representative in Ramallah has made a number of visits along with EU colleagues to sensitive sites of concern in the West Bank.
Following the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Middle East on 19 January, Ireland made a joint press statement with France and Estonia, urging Israel not to proceed with new outline plans for the construction of hundreds of housing units in East Jerusalem, including the “Lower Aqueduct Plan” between Har Homa and Givat Hamatos. The plans will further undermine the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian State. Ireland supported the statement of 19 January by the EU External Action Service spokesperson which urged Israel not to proceed with these plans. I also echo calls by France, Germany, Italy and Spain for the Israeli authorities to reverse these decisions.
Ireland will continue to raise the issue at the Security Council, as well as at EU level and in our bilateral contacts.
84. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the increase in ambassadorial and consular appointments over the past three years in keeping with the goal to double Ireland’s global impact by 2025. [3689/22]
View answer'Global Ireland 2025' provides a cross-departmental roadmap to develop a broader and deeper platform to leverage Ireland's engagement globally. This initiative will continue to support efforts to grow and diversify export markets, inward investment and tourism and underpin economic recovery, in close coordination with the relevant State Agencies. In addition, the strategy will ensure that Ireland is better positioned to build the alliances necessary to advance its interests and defend national positions in the post-Brexit EU, while also helping to secure our deep and positive relationship with the UK and its constituent parts into the future.
Ireland's network of diplomatic and consular missions worldwide is critical to the achievement of our foreign policy objectives, supporting our citizens internationally and providing a global economic platform for our businesses. The network also ensures efficient delivery of passport and consular services to our citizens, support to emigrant organisations and outreach to the diaspora and other networks of influence.
Since the launch of Global Ireland, 14 new missions have been opened. These are new Embassies in Wellington, Bogotá, Amman, Monrovia, Santiago de Chile, Kyiv, Rabat and Manila with new Consulates General in Cardiff, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Manchester, Mumbai and Vancouver. Plans are underway to open an Embassy in Dakar and Consulates General in Lyon, Miami and Toronto before the end of 2022. Further expansion of the overseas Mission network remains under review as part of the Global Ireland initiative.
Please see below in tabular form the new missions opened in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and the diplomatic staffing complement attached to each one:
|
Year |
Mission |
Staff |
|
2018 |
Embassy Monrovia |
Counsellor x 1 Development Specialist x 1 Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2018 |
Consulate Vancouver |
First Secretary x 1 Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2018 |
Embassy Wellington |
First Secretary x 1 Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2019 |
Embassy Amman |
Principal Development Specialist x 1Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2019 |
Embassy Bogota |
Counsellor x 1First Secretary x 1Third Secretary x |
|
2019 |
Embassy Santiago |
Counsellor x 1Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2019 |
Consulate Cardiff |
First Secretary x 1Executive Officer x 1 |
|
2019 |
Consulate Frankfurt |
First Secretary x 1Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2019 |
Consulate Los Angeles |
First Secretary x 1Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2019 |
Consulate Mumbai |
First Secretary x 1Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2020 |
Not applicable |
|
|
2021 |
Embassy Kyiv |
Counsellor x 1Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2021 |
Embassy Manila |
Counsellor x 1Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2021 |
Embassy Rabat |
Counsellor x 1Third Secretary x 1 |
|
2021 |
Consulate Manchester |
First Secretary x 1Third Secretary x 1 |
86. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his attendance at an event after a champagne party in Iveagh House on 17 June 2020. [3841/22]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my response to PQ 3457/22. The Department is currently carrying out a review of the workplace arrangements on 17 June 2020, which will be completed by the end of this month.
87. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the message has been received in London that attempts to provide an amnesty in respect of troubles related atrocities is unacceptable and that justice is demanded in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3864/22]
View answerIt has been the consistent 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.
The Stormont House Agreement was reached in 2014 by both Governments and the political parties after intensive negotiations, and sets out a comprehensive and balanced framework to address the painful legacy of the past.
The proposals published by the British Government on 14 July 2021 for a Statute of Limitation’, ending criminal investigations and prosecutions relating to Troubles-related incidents, as well as inquests and civil litigation, represents a very radical departure from the Stormont House Agreement. We have been clear that this is not something we could support.
Where the British Government propose significant changes to that 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 engaged fully with victims’ representatives. It has also shown the breadth and strength of opposition to the proposals set out on UK Command paper on legacy.
At the last BIIGC, which took place on 2 December, I had a full discussion with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, in relation to the ongoing legacy engagement process, and to caution against unilateral action. The Taoiseach also wrote to the Prime Minister setting out his concerns on 7 December.
We have strongly communicated our position on this issue to the British Government and will continue to do so, and to seek a collective way forward. 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.
88. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of alcohol taken from the cellar of Iveagh House for the event on 17 June 2020; if food was delivered to the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3922/22]
View answerThe Department's Security Council campaign team was working in a large open plan area of Iveagh House throughout the day on 17 June 2020. When the result of the UN Security Council vote was announced and it became apparent that Ireland had won a seat in the first round, Covid-19 guidelines were momentarily not followed. The then Secretary General acknowledged the mistake on 18 June 2020. The Department of Foreign Affairs has apologised unreservedly for the breach. No food or alcohol was provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs on 17 June 2020.
89. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there were children in attendance at the event in Iveagh House on 17 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3923/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Department is currently carrying out a review of the workplace arrangements on 17 June 2020. This review will be completed by the end of this month. A child was present in a photograph uploaded on Twitter at the time and the review will address this matter.
90. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the means by which invitations were issued to attend the event in Iveagh House on 17 June 2020 to celebrate winning a seat on the United Nations Security Council; if there were children in attendance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3924/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Department is currently carrying out a review of the workplace arrangements on 17 June 2020. This review will be completed by the end of this month. A child was present in the photograph and the review will address this matter.
91. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the time the event in Iveagh House on 17 June 2020 finished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3925/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Department is currently carrying out a review of the workplace arrangements on 17 June 2020. The review will be completed by the end of this month and will include a timeline of that day.
