Written Answers Nos. 114-126
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.
117. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs how his Department proposes to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. [13500/23]
View answerThe Good Friday Agreement, signed almost 25 years ago in Belfast, remains a remarkable achievement, one that brought peace and transformed this island. To mark that achievement, and the Government is co-ordinating a programme of events to celebrate the peace and to underline the ongoing centrality of the Agreement to relationships across these islands. The programme will acknowledge significant contributions from people on these islands, the US, the EU and further afield.
The centrepiece of the Government programme is a cultural performance in the Abbey Theatre on 2 April, representing the rich traditions of these islands in a reflection on the Agreement, its legacy, and what can be achieved in the next 25 years.
This year's global Saint Patrick’s Day 2023 programme had a strong focus on the Anniversary. Our diplomatic missions have undertaken a range of events engaging with political and civil society partners on the legacy of the Good Friday Agreement, with a particularly strong level of engagement in the United States.
During my own visit to the United States last week I gave a keynote address at an event organised by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy to mark the anniversary of the Agreement. This event, also attended by Secretary Clinton and a range of political and civil society leaders in Northern Ireland, shows the ongoing commitment our friends in the US have to furthering the process of peace and reconciliation on our island.
It is important that all three Strands of the Agreement are reflected in the anniversary programme and to that end work is ongoing to consider how the North South Ministerial Council and its subsidiary bodies, established under Strand Two of the Agreement, can best engage.
My Department has already awarded funding to a number of community partners for projects related to the anniversary, through the Reconciliation Fund.
A key focus will naturally be events in Belfast in April to mark the anniversary, which will see high level attendance from across Northern Ireland, the UK, the US and other key interlocutors. The Government will participate at political level at these events and looks forward to engaging with our partners on this transformative milestone in our shared history.
118. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on recent discussions with EU counterparts on Ukraine. [13501/23]
View answerI am engaged in continuous dialogue with my EU counterparts on Russia’s illegal full scale invasion of Ukraine, and how we as the European Union can support Ukraine and its people in the face of this aggression. This dialogue is continuing this week at the Foreign Affairs Council and European Council.
At the Foreign Affairs Council yesterday (20 March), which was attended by Minister of State Peter Burke, EU Ministers were briefed by Foreign Minister Kuleba on the situation on the ground. Ministers discussed a number of issues, including sanctions and work to counter their circumvention, as well as the deeply concerning reports of the deportation of Ukrainian children, and ongoing efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions.
[In light of the significant Ukrainian needs in ensuring their ability to defend against Russia's continued attacks, Ministers agreed in principle yesterday to facilitate the immediate delivery and procurement of military supplies, including ammunition, for Ukraine, through the European Peace Facility. In line with the commitments in our Programme for Government, Ireland’s contribution will continue to be directed exclusively toward non-lethal support, for which there is an ongoing need.]
Ministers also reviewed the global impacts of Russia’s war, including on food insecurity, and the importance of the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. I also discussed this issue with the UN Secretary General last week in New York, who has played a key role in ensuring that Ukrainian grain and other food staples can continue to reach world markets.
Discussions at the January and February meetings on the EU Foreign Affairs Council were also dominated by the issue of Ukraine. I have consistently highlighted Ireland’s support for tough sanctions against Russia in these discussions, and I was pleased that the tenth package of sanctions was adopted on 25 February. Ireland has also been active in discussions on ensuring support for Ukraine by partners in the Global South. The overwhelming support for a UN General Assembly Resolution, condemning Russia's continued attack against Ukraine and calling for a peaceful resolution, in line with the UN Charter principles underlying a just and comprehensive peace, was very welcome
I was pleased to see that the first tranche of the €18bn in EU Macro-financial assistance for 2023 was disbursed in January of this year. This regular, stable funding will help ensure that Ukraine can meet the most immediate needs of its people in the face of ongoing Russia attacks.
Ireland and our EU partners have also been to the fore in working for accountability for Russia's actions in Ukraine, including through support for existing mechanisms such as the ICC, ICJ and European Court of Human Rights, as well as exploring options for a Special Tribunal to try the crime of aggression. Ireland has recently joined the Core Group on the Special Tribunal, joining many EU Member States in working closely with Ukraine in ensuring that Russia is held accountable for its actions.
119. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance given to date by Ireland to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility and the EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12536/23]
View answerThe EU has agreed approximately €5.5 billion in support to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility (EPF) thus far, with the latest package of support agreed by the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 March. This support consists of €5.12 billion for lethal equipment and approximately €380 million for non-lethal equipment, inclusive of a new Assistance Measure allowing for the procurement of lethal equipment for Ukraine.
In line with the Programme for Government, Ireland has constructively abstained on the lethal equipment elements of the package and will not contribute financially to this aspect, and will instead provide a corresponding contribution to the non-lethal Assistance Measure. Our total expected contribution currently stands at approximately €121 million exclusively for non-lethal support, such as such as personal protective equipment, medical kits and fuel.
The EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) was launched in November 2022, and will provide specialised training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and coordinate existing Member State training activities. On 21 February 2023, the Government approved the participation of up to 30 Defence Forces’ personnel in EUMAM Ukraine.
The primary role of the Defence Forces will be to provide training to members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the EU Member States in which the training will take place. The potential training to be provided could include Counter Improvised Explosive Devices Training, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training, Combat Medical Training and Engineering Training. These trainers will be supplemented by a small number of staff positions in the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) based in Brussels, Belgium and in the Special Training Command (STC) based in Strausberg, Germany.
120. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will condemn Israeli bombing and raids in Nablus in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13387/23]
View answerI made a public statement in relation to events in Nablus on 23 February. I condemned the violence, in which an Israeli security force operation resulted in multiple deaths, including a child, and injuries to around 100 people.
Israel, as an occupying power, has an obligation under international law to protect civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory. It was significant that the UN Security Council recently responded to the increased level of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory with a formal Presidential Statement.
I discussed this worsening situation in the occupied Palestinian territory in detail at the Munich Security Conference in February with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Safadi of Jordan, as well as with UN Secretary General Guterres on 15 March. I will continue to raise this issue with my EU and regional counterparts.
121. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends providing additional funding and resources to the Emigrant Support Programme to help remove barriers facing returning Irish emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12748/23]
View answerThe Government's current Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025 pledges to monitor barriers to returning emigrants and undertakes to adopt measures to remove them where possible, as well as to improve the provision of information to our communities abroad on returning to Ireland.
To this end, my Department engages on an ongoing basis with other Government Departments and agencies as well as with a broad range of organisations, both in Ireland and overseas, to support returning Irish citizens and their families.
These partner organisations include Crosscare and Safe Home, both of which receive funding from the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme.
This Programme was established in 2004 and has since then assisted over 530 organisations in some 37 countries with grants totalling over €220 million, including grants directed towards organisations such as these which support returning emigrants.
My Department also funds the very successful Back for Business initiative, which provides peer guidance to Irish entrepreneurs who have returned, or plan to return, to Ireland. Numerous people have benefitted from this across six cycles since 2019.
We also fund the Citizens Information Bureau, which provides practical and comprehensive information to those intending to return to Ireland.
The Minister of State for International Development & Diaspora chairs the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad and one of that Committee’s core responsibilities is to address issues affecting Irish people abroad who are seeking to return to Ireland.
I can assure the Deputy that our commitment to assist returning emigrants remains strong, as evidenced by the foregoing, and that we will continue to do all we can in this area to make their return as straightforward as possible.
123. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had with political representatives in Northern Ireland with regard to the Windsor Framework. [13499/23]
View answerI, together with my Government colleagues, have engaged closely and consistently with a broad range of stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including political representatives, as well as civic society and the business community, on the Protocol for Ireland/Northern Ireland. The clear and consistent message we received was on the need for stability and certainty.
I welcome the agreement by the EU and the UK of the Windsor Framework, which puts in place practical solutions to the real-life concerns raised by people and businesses and which can enable the stability and certainty that people in Northern Ireland want.
I have heard first-hand the genuine economic opportunities which the Windsor Framework offers the people of Northern Ireland through its unique access to both the EU Single Market along with the UK’s internal market, enabling much-needed investment in Northern Ireland.
While the Assembly parties will naturally require some time to study the Windsor Framework, this should not be an obstacle to the full functioning of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement across all three Strands.
I remain in regular contact with political representatives in Northern Ireland to encourage the return to a functioning Assembly and Executive, and also with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris-Heaton Harris to discuss how best to achieve this shared goal.
126. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 105 of 31 January 2023, if he will provide an update on Ireland's efforts at EU and UN levels to stop the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13636/23]
View answerIreland has been consistently engaged at European Union level on support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression.
Overall EU assistance to Ukraine pledged by both EU and Member States so far amounts to nearly €50 billion, which includes financial, humanitarian, emergency, budgetary as well as military support.
Ireland has consistently supported imposing tough sanctions on Russia in response to its actions. The ten major packages of measures adopted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in EU history. This war is entirely of Russia’s choosing, and Ireland has repeatedly called for Russia to choose to end its war immediately.
Ireland has also used our voice at the United Nations to highlight Russia’s illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, and to hold Russia to account. The UN Security Council met 50 times in 2022 alone to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Ireland consistently used its seat on the Council to push for Russia to be held accountable, demand that Moscow end its war, and call out Russia’s cynical attempts to use the Council and other UN bodies to spread disinformation.
Ireland has co-sponsored six UN General Assembly resolutions in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, condemning Russia’s aggression; calling for humanitarian access; voting to exclude Russia from the Human Rights Council; condemning the illegal so-called referendums in the occupied parts of Ukraine and subsequent illegal annexations; and recognising the need for an international mechanism for reparations for Ukraine. Most recently, Ireland co-sponsored a resolution on the UN Charter principles underlying a just and comprehensive peace. This 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 actively engaged in outreach to the international community in support of all of these resolutions, using our voice to highlight the importance of the rules-based international order, and the consequences for all States large and small, when a powerful country so flagrantly breaches the UN Charter and violates international law.
More broadly, Ireland has been 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. 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. I also discussed the prospects for a peaceful resolution of the conflict that would be in line with the UN Charter and would respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Unfortunately, there is no sign that Russia is willing to engage in dialogue on this basis.
