Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:1. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [7688/22]
View answerWednesday, 2 March 2022
Questions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Paul Murphy
Question:2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [7691/22]
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Mary Lou McDonald
Question:3. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [9275/22]
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Alan Kelly
Question:4. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the international unit of his Department. [9493/22]
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Peadar Tóibín
Question:5. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [10078/22]
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Mick Barry
Question:6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [10111/22]
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Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:7. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [11437/22]
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Seán Haughey
Question:8. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [11728/22]
View answerOral answers (33 contributions)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together.
The international section of the Department supports my work at international level, beyond the European Union, to promote Ireland's foreign and economic policy objectives and to maintain and develop strong bilateral and multilateral relations. Working closely with other Departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, the section provides me with advice and briefing on bilateral and multilateral relations and on international issues generally, including international peace and security, overseas development assistance and international human rights. The section co-ordinates my international travel, including my engagement with Heads of State and Government and with other senior international figures and organisations.
The international section oversees the implementation of the Global Ireland 2025 strategy and assists the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in its work co-ordinating whole-of-government efforts to implement the UN sustainable development goals. The international section will support me and the Government in managing the international dimensions of Covid-19, including on the global availability of vaccines and therapeutics, future pandemic preparedness, international travel and progress towards economic recovery.
The Taoiseach has rightly referred to crimes against humanity and against international law committed by Vladimir Putin. Tonight in the Dáil, we will discuss the Amnesty International report entitled, Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians: A Cruel System of Domination and a Crime Against Humanity. The report asks European governments, including the Taoiseach's Government, to condemn Israel for ongoing, systematic crimes against humanity. Is the Taoiseach going to endorse that report and its recommendations regarding the referral of Israel to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, a total arms embargo against the state of Israel, and targeted sanctions against Israeli officials who perpetuate the system of apartheid, very similar to the sanctions the Government has just agreed to against members of the Kremlin and Putin's coterie for crimes against humanity? If the Government does not do those things, it will be guilty, as will the European Union, of gross double standards in supposedly opposing crimes against humanity and breaches of international law.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach about his position on the newly published draft corporate sustainability due diligence directive from the European Commission. We desperately need laws ensuring corporate accountability throughout the supply chain, regarding human rights, labour rights and environmental rights, but it appears the Commission has gone for the lowest common denominator position, with loopholes to carve out the vast majority of corporations in this country and across the EU. For example, 99% of Irish businesses would be excluded because the proposed legislation will apply only to companies with an annual turnover of more than €150 million and with more than 500 employees. That would exclude, for example, the Dublin-based Coal Marketing Company, which sells coal from the infamous Cerrejón mine in Colombia, from where communities nearby face pollution of their air and water. Another loophole would allow companies to offload responsibility through a contract onto their suppliers. Will the Taoiseach work to strengthen this proposal?
I send my solidarity to the Ukrainian people and their families in Ireland and commend those who are doing so much on the ground in our communities to organise relief, collect money and show support. Two people in my town, Tanya, who runs Tanya's Kitchen, and her mam, both of them Ukrainian, will run a fundraiser tomorrow, while Ollie, who runs The Snug, is collecting money as well. So much work is being done and we have much to be proud of. I hope yesterday's Dáil statements demonstrated our collective support for Ukraine and our deep opposition to Russia's morally bankrupt and illegal war.
In light of Ireland's military neutrality, our seat on the UN Security Council and our position as an EU member state not aligned with NATO, we have a unique and important role in supporting Ukraine, making the case for peace and holding Russia to account for its war crimes. As for sanctions and, specifically, the targeting of Russian oligarchs and their financial entities located in Ireland, just three of the 34 of these special purpose entities will be impacted by the current round of sanctions. I am concerned there appears to be no intention to pursue the remaining 31 entities. Will the Taoiseach clarify the position?
Over the past two years, my party colleague Deputy Mairéad Farrell has raised a special purpose vehicle provision in section 110 in Ireland's tax code that is used by these Russian entities and others to avoid regulation and tax. Does the Taoiseach accept it is finally time to reform how the International Financial Services Centre, IFSC, and our tax code are used, how our financial regulation performs and how our rules on transparency of company ownership work?
The Currency has an article today on its website that indicates it has tracked about €13 billion domiciled in the IFSC by sanctioned Russian firms. The Irish Times has stated that about €34 billion is held in opaque Russian-linked shell companies registered in the IFSC. Colm Keena published a report in 2020 that showed a network of bank accounts allowing Russia to funnel money into the West. Cillian Doyle and Jim Stewart have carried out research that shows that €118 billion has been moved by Russian companies through section 110 trusts based in the IFSC over a 12-year period.
All the rhetoric we use in this House will come to nothing if we do not show Ukraine that we mean business by ensuring these sanctions are not circumvented through the IFSC. What will the Taoiseach do to make sure that is the case?
Yesterday in this House, I questioned the Taoiseach about reports of people of colour fleeing Ukraine, being discriminated against at the Polish border and being turned away. In his reply, he stated, "we neither support nor have any evidence ... of any racist approach to facilitating migration into Poland". There is plenty of evidence now. Ignorance was not really an excuse yesterday, given a Government Deputy, Deputy Higgins, raised the matter in the Dáil yesterday evening, but it is certainly no excuse today. This has been reported by the BBC, CNN, Reuters, France 24, The Guardian and others. I give the Taoiseach a second opportunity to join with me in voicing opposition to a racist border policy at the Polish border with Ukraine and to call for equal treatment for everyone fleeing this humanitarian crisis.
There has been significant solidarity with Ukraine and against the war criminality of Vladimir Putin. We all agree we need to hurt the Russian and oligarchs' war machine financially. We need to deal with the section 110 companies and the various means by which money can be filtered that have enabled these people. There has been great success regarding people who have contacted us about medical supplies, particularly insulin. This was facilitated, but many people are still talking about the community response.
The EU Commission is talking about this becoming a major part of dealing with migration into the future. People have approached me in Dundalk and I would appreciate it if the Taoiseach could lay out for us what the process will be for people who are willing to take those who are fleeing war-torn Ukraine.
I am glad to learn more about the international unit in the Department of the Taoiseach. It is obviously doing important work.
As we all will be aware, international affairs are dominated just now by the horrific Russian war on Ukraine. The Taoiseach has engaged with a number of Heads of Government in this regard in recent days. Can the Taoiseach give me a sense of where world leaders are at on this? I think, in particular, of the Taoiseach's formal visit to Germany last week and his meeting with the German Chancellor, Mr. Olaf Scholz, just prior to the invasion. It seems, after some initial apparent hesitation by the German Chancellor, he has now become one of the strongest supporters for harsh sanctions on Russia. For example, he has cancelled the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.
Is the Taoiseach aware of any new initiatives by EU leaders as we witness the horrific scenes taking place in Ukraine?
Finally, in his exchanges with President Biden for St. Patrick's Day, what will the Taoiseach be saying to him in this regard? Have the Taoiseach's plans for his visit to Washington been finalised at this stage?
I thank the Deputies for raising the issues. In respect of Deputy Boyd Barrett's question in terms of the Amnesty report, Amnesty International is a respected NGO. I value the role it has played and the role other civil society organisations have played in relation to the Palestinian question. The Department of Foreign Affairs is currently examining the Amnesty report in respect of the plight of the Palestinian people.
I have consistently opposed the policy of successive Israeli Governments in relation to Palestine. It is my view that a two-state solution is the optimal solution to what has been a very long-running conflict. It is unacceptable how Palestinians have been and are being treated and the discriminatory practices that have been deployed towards them on a regular basis by the Israeli authorities.
Apartheid.
We have raised this at European Union level and at United Nations level. Indeed, the Secretary General of the United Nations has commended Ireland - he said it to me personally-----
Sanctions?
-----in terms of its consistency in raising the Palestinian question as a member of the UN Security Council.
Arms embargo?
That remains the case. Other colleagues across Europe have different perspectives on Palestine - the Deputy knows that well. Some are for historic reasons and others have different perspectives.
There go the double standards.
I do not accept the "double standards" jibe. By the way, I do not accept the juxtaposition of the two either. I want to make that point because I had this terrible feeling that-----
They are just Palestinians, not Europeans.
-----there are many formulaic responses to Ukraine and then the Deputy very hurriedly wants to move on to other issues. Anyway, I will say no more than that.
Deputy Paul Murphy spoke about the corporate sustainability due diligence EU directive. We support greater corporate accountability. The European Union has done far more than most across the world in terms of corporate sustainability policies and directives, as well as accountability and holding people to task. Through the various layers of both legal and judicial agencies within the European Union, that has been seen on an ongoing basis in terms of companies being brought before European courts or the Commission and being tackled in relation to a range of issues. I do not accept the criticism of the European Union, which is a consistent theme of Deputy Paul Murphy and others-----
It is criticism of the draft directive.
-----notwithstanding the fact that of all international bodies, the European Union has by far been the most progressive in terms of holding companies to account on environmental issues and on a range of other issues as well. It is a draft directive. It will go through change as it goes through the various Councils and so on.
In response to Deputy O'Reilly in relation to Ukraine, I have been raising this issue since the invasion of Crimea. I am on the record in this House, and was sometimes a lone-enough voice because people, including the Deputy's party, were not as exercised about the invasion of Crimea back then, unfortunately. That was a pity.
Section 110.
I just want to make the important point that once the violation of a country's integrity happens, it is creeping then and now we have an all-out war.
Unless it is Palestinian.
There could have been, in my view, greater opposition to the invasion of Crimea at the time all round. I merely want to say that.
In relation to section 110 entities, I made my position clear on that. With regard to authorised investment funds, the Central Bank has advised that total Russian assets held on 31 December 2021 is estimated at €11.4 billion or 0.3% of the total Irish fund assets of €3.8 trillion, and this is evenly split between equities and bonds. In terms of the special purpose entities, there were 3,000 Irish domiciled special purpose entities. The Central Bank has undertaken an initial review of those and any links with Russian counterparts. Some 34 of these entities have a Russian sponsor, meaning that they were established on behalf of a Russian company. By the way, it does not mean they are all illegal. Of these 34 entities, three have been identified as being directly linked to individuals or financial institutions covered in the 23 February round of EU sanctions. Work is ongoing in respect of the subsequent sanction rounds. I have given the figure in terms of the €11.4 billion, which is 0.3% of the €3.8 trillion.
I would make the point that a breach of a financial sanction, and this is in response to Deputy Tóibín as well, is a criminal offence. Accounts, funds or other assets must be frozen without delay in order that they cannot be made available, directly or indirectly, to the sanctioned person, entity or body, and all natural and legal persons in the State are obliged to comply with European Union sanctions.
We are obliged to move on to Question No. 9.
How is it being policed?
The community response.
We will do everything we can.
The Polish border.
First, on Deputy Ó Murchú's point, the implications of this are potentially enormous for the country and for the Continent in terms of migratory flows and people needing support. We have already provided an initial €10 million relief contribution.
We need to move on.
It will mean the energising of many community-based responses, as well as official responses to Ukrainians coming into Ireland to help them.
On Deputy Barry's point, we would be totally opposed to and would condemn any racist practices in terms of facilitating people who are freeing a war zone such as Ukraine.