Written Answers Nos. 129-143
129. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which Ireland is helping countries that border Ukraine to cope with the refugee influx that they are experiencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15150/22]
View answerThe solidarity shown by countries bordering Ukraine in taking in millions of refugees over a period of a few weeks has been remarkable. Their solidarity must now be matched by other EU Member States and Ireland will not be found wanting. As of last weekend, over 9000 Ukrainians had come to Ireland, with a whole of Government response being put in place to assist their stay. I would like to pay tribute to all those Irish people who have offered a place in their homes, or who are otherwise helping those Ukrainians who are here or coming here.
I am conscious that Ireland must also assist those closer to Ukraine, already hosting millions of refugees. That is why I allocated one quarter of the initial €20 million Irish Aid Ukraine response package to the UNHCR Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP). The RRP is allocating its €500 million appeal to directly supporting the host countries of Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.
In addition, €2 million of that support to UNHCR will go directly to is work in Poland and Moldova, who are coping with the largest influxes of refugees.
Given the particular vulnerability of female refugees, €1.5 million in Irish Aid support to UNFPA’s work on protection of women and girls.
A dedicated call for proposals for Irish NGOs ready to respond and support host countries is also being launched.
€1 million in Irish Aid funding is supporting national Red Cross societies, including in Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, and Romania, in their work with Ukrainian refugees.
Ireland is contributing to the Regional Response Plan through Irish Aid core funding to key participating organisations, including UNICEF, IOM, UNDP, UNHCR, UNFPA, WFP, WHO and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). We encourage all our humanitarian partners to use their core funding to respond to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis including by supporting neighbouring countries.
Finally, the EU has also announced a rapid assistance package of €500 million to help civilians affected by the conflict. This will include support to the RRP and additional funding to neighbouring countries.
132. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government supports the decision by the European Parliament to financially sanction Poland and Hungary in the midst of the 1.5 million refugees Poland has taken in in two weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15158/22]
View answerIt is important to note firstly that it is a matter for the European Commission to decide to financially sanction Member States via the measures provided for in the Regulation on a General Regime of Conditionality for the Protection of the Union Budget. No decision has been taken to financially sanction a Member State pursuant to the Conditionality Regulation.
On 10 March 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution welcoming the recent upholding by the Court of Justice of the European Union of the legality of this budget conditionality regulation. The Parliament’s resolution also called on the European Commission to respond urgently to ongoing and severe violations of the Rule of Law through application of the budget conditionality mechanism.
Ireland also welcomed the Court of Justice decision confirming the legality of the budget conditionality regulation. Our position has consistently been that the mechanism is fair and proportionate. We also welcome the Commission’s recent publication of guidelines clarifying how a prospective application of the mechanism would operate in practice.
Amid this illegal and appalling conflict in Ukraine, it is more important than ever that the EU is united and internally strong. I saw first-hand last week in Poland the enormous consequences that Russia's aggression in Ukraine has had, and will continue to have, for frontline EU Member States such as Poland. Similar is true for Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and others. We stand in solidarity with these countries during this tremendously challenging time and I underlined this message of solidarity during my meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau last Friday.
Notwithstanding this, respect by all EU Member States for the foundational values of the Union, including rule of law, is an integral part of the EU’s strength, including in the face of external threats. Challenges with respect to rule of law standards in Poland and Hungary do continue to present cause for concern. Ireland supports the Commission in exercising its role as guardian of the treaties and ensuring Member States adhere to the EU’s values. We note that the Commission wrote to Poland and Hungary in late 2021 in the context of budget conditionality regulation setting out specific concerns regarding domestic rule of law challenges.
We continue to urge both Member States to engage constructively with the Commission and hope that there will be positive movement to address these concerns and that activation of the regulation will not prove necessary. Should the Commission opt to apply the mechanism however, Ireland will engage fully in any Council discussions.
135. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the supports that his Department is putting in place for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15041/22]
View answerIreland has provided considerable diplomatic support for Ukraine. Ireland’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders is unwavering. Since Russia’s further large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ireland has stated clearly that this is a blatant violation of the UN Charter and a breach of international law for which Russia must be held solely accountable. Ireland has also engaged intensively at EU level in support of Ukraine, including on the largest package of sanctions in EU history on Russia. Ireland will also contribute to the European Peace Facility’s support of Ukraine through providing non-lethal support.
Ireland joined with 38 other state parties in referring the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court, ICC, to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ireland has also acted decisively at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly in support of Ukraine. 141 UN member states voted in favour of a resolution, which we co-sponsored, deploring Russia’s aggression.
My Department, through the Irish Aid programme, has put in place a €20 million humanitarian response fund, which is being delivered through Irish Aid partners present in Ukraine and ready to immediately provide support to Ukrainians affected by the conflict. Among those partners are the Red Cross Movement and UN agencies, including UN OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO. In addition, a dedicated call for proposals for Irish NGOs ready to respond is also being launched.
Guiding the Irish Aid response is the need to get resources to those affected as quickly as possible. By supporting trusted partners active on the ground with cash, Irish Aid is enabling them to deliver without delay while protecting valuable supplies channels from being overloaded. This initial Irish Aid humanitarian package puts emphasis on support to refugees, including the protection of women and girls as well as education, on healthcare and on humanitarian response including establishing much needed humanitarian corridors. Ireland is also part of the EU humanitarian response, which since February has disbursed over €93 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
Working with the HSE, and in response to a request from the Ukrainian government through the coordinated EU Civil Protection Mechanism, my officials have supported the dispatch of medical supplies to Ukraine.
136. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement that he has had with European Union officials in relation to the expulsion of the Russian Ambassador and diplomats from Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14757/22]
View answer140. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that all the activities of the staff in the Russian embassy are compatible with their diplomatic status. [15146/22]
View answer158. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any sanctions are being considered in relation to the diplomatic presence of Russia in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15152/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 140 and 158 together.
Ireland believes we need to maintain the strongest possible pressure on Russia to bring the illegal invasion of Ukraine to an end. We are looking at every available avenue open to us and reviewing the impact of our actions to date. A new EU sanctions package was adopted last week, introducing further restrictions on Russian financial services and the defence and security sector, plus a ban on imports of iron and steel products and exports of luxury goods. We will continue to work with EU partners to agree further sanctions and robust restrictive measures.
Ireland is a party to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 (VCDR), which has the force of law in the State pursuant to the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act, 1967. The Vienna Convention recognises the necessity of privileges and immunities for the peaceful and efficient conduct of international relations. The VCDR provides for a number of remedies which are available to a receiving state, including in the event that the actions of a member of the diplomatic staff of the mission, or any other member of the staff of the mission, are not acceptable. This continues to be kept under review.
There is value in keeping diplomatic channels open with Russia, not least to protect our interests and our citizens. Like all of the other responses we have deployed, we will continue to coordinate closely with EU partners to ensure decisions have a meaningful impact.
138. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his Department’s support for a programme (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15368/22]
View answerThe Global Games Development Fund is a matching funding partnership between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the GAA to promote and support community orientated GAA activities abroad.
First established in 2012, the Fund has been remarkably successful, helping both the development of Gaelic Games internationally and benefiting hundreds of local Irish communities in which the games development projects are located. From 14 local projects supported in 2013, the programme has grown greatly and this year will support over 100 different projects right across the world. The funding my Department makes available from the Government's Emigrant Support Programme has grown in response to that demand, from €45,000 in 2013 to €200,000 this year.
The strength and resilience of the programme was amply demonstrated in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, when our international GAA partner clubs and networks along with our Irish Community Welfare Support Organizations became the backbone for the delivery of assistance and support to our emigrants, including through the Government’s dedicated Covid Response Fund. I would like to avail of this opportunity to pay tribute to those efforts, much of which was done in a voluntary capacity.
10 years on from its launch, my Department and the GAA sat down to review the operation and objectives of the Programme, in particular, how to build on the experience gained during the pandemic.
I was very pleased to be able to announce the outcome of our renewed partnership with the President of the GAA in Croke Park on Tuesday 8 March. We agreed to re-focus our support on grass root activity; to concentrate assistance on the small, local community clubs; to increase the focus on youth involvement; as well as sponsoring the regional tournaments that have become a show-case for the games at international level. We will continue to expand the programme to reflect the changing patterns of Irish emigration, such as in Asia, Canada and the Middle East. On the administration side, we agreed to build-up the support of Croke Park’s central management on delivery and to strengthen our financial control procedures in line with the growth of the programme.
Some of the projects being funded are one-off events, others have elements lasting the course of a year, and each are identified through an Open Call mechanism conducted by GAA HQ. The applications are screened at a regional level by the GAA and funding decisions are taken jointly by a team from GAA HQ and officials of my Department.
As our communities abroad emerge from the shadow of Covid, the Government stands ready through a strengthened Global Games Development Fund, and sister programmes within the Emigrant Support Programme, to help them restore their community infrastructure, activities and networks. I was heartened to see for myself, and to hear from colleagues who participated in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the degree to which our communities abroad have been able to recover from the challenges they have had to overcome during the past two difficult years.
139. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will use its position on the United Nations Security Council to raise the situation of Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah and the ongoing violations of human rights by the Israeli authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15106/22]
View answerI am concerned by the situation in East Jerusalem where tensions remain high. I am deeply troubled by the evictions and demolitions carried out by the Israeli authorities in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah on 17-18 January. The recent ruling of the Israeli Supreme Court in favour of four Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah is a welcome development, but residents of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan remain threatened with eviction from their homes.
Ireland’s position on these matters is based on international law including international human rights law, Israel’s obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention as the occupying power in the occupied Palestinian territory, and on the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Ireland has been proactive in ensuring that these issues are highlighted at the UN Security Council. At the Council meeting on 19 January, the day following the incident in Sheikh Jarrah, Ireland made clear that demolitions and evictions undermine the prospects for peace and risk increasing violence, and called on Israel to cease these unilateral actions and comply with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law. Ireland also issued a joint press statement following the Security Council meeting, along with France and Estonia. Ireland also raised East Jerusalem at this week’s Council meeting on 22 March.
Ireland’s Representative was present in Sheikh Jarrah on 17 January along with other EU diplomats to monitor the incident, and the Ambassador in Tel Aviv has communicated our concerns directly to the Israeli authorities.
Ireland provides humanitarian assistance, legal and other supports to specific development projects to improve the situation of Palestinians. We fund a number of civil society partners that are active on human rights issues, which impact specifically on Palestinians in East Jerusalem, including in relation to evictions.
