Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
114. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the experience of his Department following its recent exercise in persuading members from the global south to support a UN resolution to mark the one-year anniversary of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13675/23]
View answerIreland has been vocal at the United Nations and other multilateral fora over the past year in speaking out against Russia’s illegal and justified invasion of Ukraine, and calling for Russia to be held to account. We have co-sponsored six UN General Assembly resolutions adopted in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which have condemned Russia’s aggression; called for humanitarian access; suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council; condemned the illegal so-called referendums in the occupied parts of Ukraine and illegal annexation; and recognised the need for an international mechanism for reparations for Ukraine.
Most recently, Ireland co-sponsored a resolution at the General Assembly calling for the immediate, unconditional withdrawal of Russia from within Ukraine's internationally recognised borders, and stressing the importance of reaching a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the principles of the UN Charter. The Resolution was overwhelmingly adopted by the General Assembly, with 141 votes in favour, on the 23 February 2023 – one day before the first anniversary of the war.
Ireland has been active in outreach to the wider international community, including to countries in Africa and Asia, to encourage support for these important resolutions. We have done this at political level, through our Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, and through our network of Embassies around the world,
In general, we have found that our message has resonated. As a small independent State, that is committed to the rules-based international order and the UN system, we have stressed that the principles of the UN Charter ideas are not merely abstract, but that they protect us all. When one country rides roughshod over the UN Charter, and so fundamentally threatens the peaceful co-existence of nations, this is a global threat, not just a European issue. Voting in the UN General Assembly shows that the large majority of partners from all regions agree with this view.
In addition to these efforts at the General Assembly, we have been active in other UN bodies and across the wider multilateral system, working with partners to demand that Russia end its illegal war and to promote accountability.
In our dialogue with Global South partners, we are particularly cognisant of the negative impacts of Russia’s war on many developing countries, increasing energy and food insecurity, and exacerbating existing inequalities and structural weaknesses. Ireland has been particularly active in support of efforts to address the increased global food insecurity stemming from Russia’s war. We have been strongly supportive of the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative, and of EU efforts to alleviate food insecurity, most notably the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes. We will continue to do what we can to demonstrate that the global impacts of this war are a priority for Ireland and the EU. I discussed these issues with the United Nations Secretary General during my visit to New York last week and confirmed Ireland's ongoing support for the UN's efforts to alleviate the impacts of Russia's invasion.
My Department announced an €30 million in new funding in September 2022 to assist the Horn of Africa, which is facing acute food insecurity. An additional €75 million was also announced in Budget 2023 to address humanitarian and other needs in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries, and to address the growing food security and nutrition crisis in vulnerable countries, especially in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. In September 2022, Ireland also pledged an additional €50 million to combat child malnutrition over 2023 to 2025. In 2023, we will spend a total of €230 million on food, agriculture and nutrition programmes globally.
