Written Answers Nos 21-40
21. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 21 March 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. [19871/23]
View answerIreland is consistently engaged at the European Union and United Nations in response to Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression.
The European Union and its Member States have collectively pledged assistance of over €67 billion to Ukraine and its people, including financial support, humanitarian assistance, budgetary support, military assistance, and the hosting of refugees fleeing the war.
In response to Russia’s illegal invasion, the EU has adopted ten major packages of sanctions on Russia. These are the hardest hitting and most expansive sanctions in EU history. At the April FAC, I reaffirmed Ireland’s support for additional sanctions in response to Russia's actions, particularly on individuals and entities involved in the heinous crime of the forced displacement of children from Ukraine to Russia, as well as the need to strengthen measures against circumvention. I also highlighted Ireland’s efforts to ensure accountability and our support for a just peace.
At the United Nations, Ireland co-sponsored a resolution on the UN Charter principles underlying a just and comprehensive peace, overwhelmingly adopted by the General Assembly, with 141 votes in favour in February.
Ireland has co-sponsored five other UN General Assembly resolutions in response to the invasion, 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.
Ireland also used our voice at the UN Security Council throughout 2022 to hold Russia accountable.
We have been strongly supportive of the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative, and of EU efforts to alleviate food insecurity. I discussed this with the United Nations Secretary General during my visit to New York in March, and reiterated Ireland's ongoing support for the UN's efforts.
22. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Windsor Framework agreed between the European Union and the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19494/23]
View answer24. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his assessment of the implementation of the Windsor Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19598/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 24 together.
On 24 March, the EU-UK Joint Committee which oversees the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement met to formally adopt the Windsor Framework. This finalised the agreement in principle announced by Commission President von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Sunak on 27 February
The focus is now on the implementation of the agreed solutions.
A meeting of the EU-UK Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework will take place later today, where there will be an update on progress made to date, including on the required legislation at EU level. This Specialised Committee under the Withdrawal Agreement is the formal EU-UK structure for the implementation of the Windsor Framework and will continue to meet regularly through the implementation phase. Ireland is represented at official level in this Specialised Committee.
The Windsor Framework comprehensively addresses the real-life concerns raised by people and business in Northern Ireland. The Framework provides solutions in particular to issues around the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, based on a balance of facilitations and safeguards to be implemented in a phased basis over the coming years.
It is critical that the agreed benchmarks are met and that the Framework is implemented fully and in good faith. In this context, I am in regular contact with stakeholders in Northern Ireland, our counterparts in the UK and our partners across the EU.
I am, in particular, in close contact with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris and with European Commission Vice President Sefcovic who is leading on the implementation of the Framework for the EU side. I met both last week on the margins of the Queen's University conference in Belfast.
On that occasion, Commission Vice-President Šefcovic and I met jointly with the Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group to hear their views and discuss implementation of the Framework. The practical insight of stakeholders in Northern Ireland has been very valuable over recent years and will be critical in the implementation phase ahead. We heard clearly from business representatives on the importance for Northern Ireland of the full and timely implementation of the agreed solutions.
It is very clear from speaking with all stakeholders in Northern Ireland that the Framework provides welcome certainty and predictability for businesses and communities. It presents Northern Ireland with unique economic opportunities, given its access to both the UK’s internal market as well as the EU’s single market.
At the events last week in Belfast to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, it was clear to me that people and businesses in Northern Ireland want to get on with making the most of the opportunities that the Framework presents for Northern Ireland, including for attracting investment into Northern Ireland, in light of strong interest from the US, EU and other international partners.
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 to discuss how best to achieve this shared goal.
The Framework is a clear example of the EU and UK successfully working together to find joint solutions. It is vital that this partnership approach is continued through the implementation phase which is now underway.
Across the EU, support for the Framework is clear. I speak regularly with my EU counterparts who continue to support the peace process in Northern Ireland. Minister of State Burke attended the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 21 March, where EU Member States gave their backing to the agreed solutions of the Framework.
I am hopeful that agreement on the Framework can mark the beginning of a new, more cooperative phase in the EU-UK relationship.
23. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised concerns that there are Irish citizens in Northern Ireland on remand for over three years who were refused bail and are awaiting trial; if so, the response he received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19770/23]
View answer51. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised concerns with the Northern Ireland and British authorities that there are Irish citizens there awaiting over eight years for a trial; if so, the response he received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19771/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 51 together.
The issues raised by the Deputy are of vital importance. Access to justice is an important human rights issue. I am aware of the ongoing delays that persons awaiting trial in Northern Ireland are experiencing.
The issues identified by the Deputy are the responsibility of the authorities in Northern Ireland, including the Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service. The ongoing absence of a functioning Assembly and Executive poses an obstacle to further reducing delays in Northern Irish courts. The vote of the people of Northern Ireland in last May's Assembly elections must be respected, so that the political leadership required if the issues facing communities, such as these are to be addressed.
Minister for Justice, Simon Harris and I discussed the ongoing challenges of paramilitarism and the fifth report of the Independent Reporting Commission, which identifies the speed of justice as an important element in dealing with paramilitarism, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 19 January 2023.
25. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the efforts of the Irish Government to secure the release of a person (details supplied) who is currently imprisoned in Iran. [19753/23]
View answerI remain extremely concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his ill health. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department.
To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement by the Government with the authorities in Iran on the case. I have discussed the matter with the Foreign Minister of Iran, and contact is being maintained at official and political levels.
In our engagement we are stressing the urgent importance of the citizen being released from prison on humanitarian grounds, in light of his deteriorating medical condition.
My Department is providing ongoing consular support and assistance to the citizen and to his family, with whom I have been in direct contact. We are liaising with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter.
As with all consular cases, it would not be appropriate to discuss the specific details of the case.
26. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 21 March 2023, if he will provide an update on his bilateral engagement to-date in 2023 with his Israeli counterpart with regard to the ongoing demolition and seizure of Palestinian property in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as the recent escalation in violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19870/23]
View answer39. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of meetings that have been held with the Israeli ambassador about the dramatic increase in violence in Palestine. [19789/23]
View answer53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will call in the Israeli ambassador to Ireland to establish the steps that are being taken in relation to the escalating violence by Israel on Palestinians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19618/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 39 and 53 together.
I reiterate the comments made in my reply to Deputy Connolly to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 21 March 2023. Our position remains unchanged. Ireland is committed to supporting a just and sustainable peace on the basis of a two-State solution.
I have not yet spoken to my Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Cohen, though hope to do so in due course to repeat our concerns on demolitions and the seizure of Palestinian property.
My officials have engaged with the Israeli Ambassador in Dublin in recent weeks, including on the issue of the recent escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. I issued statements on 24 March and 7 April in which I expressed my concern at the situation on the ground and highlighted the importance of protection of civilians.
The focus of parties must be on urgent de-escalation and on the restoration of a genuine political horizon. The only lasting solution to the conflict can be through relaunching meaningful negotiations between the parties to realise a two-State solution.
27. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures being undertaken by his Department to ensure that there are sufficient staffing numbers in passport services in order that the current processing times for passport applications are maintained, given the spike in volume of passport applications received by passport services often occurs in the lead up to and during the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19747/23]
View answerWe are currently in the busy season for passports, as citizens prepare for their upcoming summer travel plans. Thanks to the staffing and operational plans implemented for 2023, the Passport Service is successfully responding to the current high demand, and has issued almost 350,000 passports to date this year. All turnaround times are at their target level and there are no backlogs. The Customer Service Hub is responding to over 3,000 queries per day.
Staffing remains a priority and recruitment will continue in the coming months. The Department has run 16 recruitment and promotion competitions since 2021 to fill vacancies in the Passport Service and works closely with the Public Appointments Service to secure new staff. The Department also took the unprecedented step to retain temporary staff through contract extensions to ensure expertise is retained, and staffing levels are maintained.
The Passport Service and the Department’s Human Resources Unit have been actively working to assign new staff to the Passport Service since the start of the year. Approximately, 100 Temporary Clerical Officers have been assigned to the Passport Service since January 2023. In addition to this, over 90 permanent staff have also been assigned to the Passport Service since the beginning of the year.
The Department recently concluded a competition for additional Temporary Clerical Officers and will start to assign successful officers from that competition in early May.
Additional office space on the Balbriggan campus provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers. This brings the total capacity of the Balbriggan campus to 500 workstations.
I am confident that the staffing and accommodation measures implemented, along with other improvements, will continue to have a positive impact on passport processing times for 2023.
28. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on his plans for a consultative forum on international security policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19493/23]
View answerThe international security environment has changed significantly over the last year. In order to build a deeper understanding of the threats faced by the State, and the links to, and between, our foreign, security and defence policy, I have convened a Consultative Forum on International Security Policy to discuss the issues involved.
The Consultative Forum will take place in three different locations; on 22 June at University College Cork, on 23 June at the University of Galway, and on 26-27 June at Dublin Castle. It will be chaired by Louise Richardson DBE (formerly Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews).
The Forum will be a broad discussion, examining issues such as Ireland’s work to protect the rules-based international order, through our engagement in peacekeeping, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and arms control and disarmament. It will look at new and emerging threats, including cyber, hybrid, disinformation and threats to critical infrastructure. The Forum will also examine our current and future engagement in EU Common Security and Defence Policy, as well as our existing relationship with NATO through the Partnership for Peace.
Attendance at the Forum will consist of invited guests, from Ireland and internationally, with expertise and practical experience in the areas to be discussed. There will also be spaces reserved for members of the general public. Discussions will be live-streamed and there will be an option for online submissions. The objective of the Forum is to initiate an open and evidence-based discussion on the State’s foreign and security policy. Anyone interested in engaging in the process will be able to do so.
Full details of the arrangements for registration, live-streaming and the making of submissions will be published by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Defence in the coming weeks.
Importantly, there are no predetermined or preconceived outcomes from discussions at the Forum and participants will be free to raise any relevant issues during deliberations. Once the Chair’s report has been developed, I will consider its findings and decide whether to take its recommendations to Government.
29. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the deteriorating situation in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19867/23]
View answer34. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement he has had with the Sudanese ambassador regarding the civil unrest and humanitarian crisis in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19754/23]
View answer52. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will detail his Department's support for the Irish humanitarian effort in Sudan, given the deteriorating situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19851/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 34 and 52 together.
The Government and our EU partners remain seriously concerned at the situation in Sudan. Heavy fighting, including airstrikes, has been taking place across Khartoum and the rest of Sudan since 15 April. Hospitals and critical infrastructure have been attacked. At least 500 people have been killed and thousands injured. Civilians are the main victims of the conflict, with many trapped in their homes, unable to access essential supplies. A series of ceasefires have been announced, which did not hold. However, the 3-day ceasefire announced by US Secretary of State Blinken on 24 April has eased the situation in some areas. Nevertheless, the situation remains very volatile, and dangerous.
Since the outbreak of hostilities, I have consistently expressed our deep concern and called on all parties to immediately commit to a ceasefire and allow access for medical and humanitarian assistance. The Department of Foreign Affairs has also conveyed to the Ambassador of Sudan in Dublin our concern about the safety and security of our citizens. We have emphasised the obligation on the authorities to ensure the protection of all civilians, the provision of humanitarian access, and protection of diplomatic personnel.
Our Embassy in Nairobi, which is accredited to Sudan, and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin have been in continuous contact with Irish citizens in the country, and have been advising and assisting with the process of evacuation of civilians. To date, 116 Irish citizens and family members have been assisted to leave Khartoum, mainly on flights to Djibouti, Jordan and Cyprus. I am particularly grateful for the assistance with these flights of our EU partners, France, Spain, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. We also deeply appreciate the assistance of the United Kingdom in evacuating Irish citizens in recent days.
On 23 April, the Government approved the deployment of an Emergency Consular Assistance Team (ECAT) mission, led by the Department of Foreign Affairs, to augment the ongoing consular support being provided to Irish citizens, and support evacuation operations led by EU member states. The team, currently based in Djibouti, includes officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and up to 12 members of the Defence Forces. The Department is also providing consular support to people evacuated to Djibouti, Jordan, Cyprus and other cities in Europe.
Even before the current outbreak of violence, some 16 million people in Sudan - one third of the population - were in need of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian operations are now almost impossible, with most organisations suspending their work. A humanitarian pause is vital, to allow civilians to access basic supplies.
Ireland has been a longstanding partner to the people of Sudan, providing over €35 million in humanitarian and development aid since 2018. Earlier this month, we provided €3 million to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund to respond to the urgent humanitarian need.
On 24 April, I discussed the crisis in Sudan with other EU Foreign Ministers at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. The Government will continue to work closely with our EU and other partners for an end to the conflict, and to support the people of Sudan to return to a peaceful and democratic path.
30. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he expects any further sanctions against Iran in view of the Iranian government’s ongoing repression of protestors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19704/23]
View answerIreland has clearly condemned Iran’s repression of peaceful protests. We have raised our concerns repeatedly with the Iranian Embassy in Dublin and with officials in Tehran. I also spoke with the Iranian Ambassador to Ireland on 20 January last.
Sanctions are an important tool of foreign policy, used to deter States from pursuing actions which threaten either international stability, or from harming citizens in their own country, including through violations of international human rights covenants.
At each EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting since October 2022, Ireland has supported the addition of individuals and entities to the EU’s Iran human rights sanctions regime, in connection to their involvement in the disproportionate use of force against, and deaths of, protestors.
The list was most recently expanded at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 April. Restrictive measures now apply to 211 individuals and 35 entities. They include asset freezes, EU travel bans and a ban on exports to Iran of equipment which might be used for internal repression. People listed include government officials and security forces members, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Department of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor developments in Iran, and to raise our concerns consistently and directly with the Iranian government. We will work closely with our EU partners to ensure there is a joint, coordinated, and clear response to the actions of the Iranian authorities. Further sanctions will be considered as the situation develops.
31. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current waiting time for persons applying for passports under the foreign birth registrations; and if he is satisfied with the length of time applicants have to wait for their case to be considered. [19769/23]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen in 2022.
As a result of the significant extra resources deployed by the Passport Service to FBR processing over the past 8 months, the processing time has now been reduced to the normal requirement of between 6 and 9 months. Applications which require further supporting documents will take longer to process.
Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.
Taking into consideration the complexity of these applications, I am satisfied with the current turnaround time for Foreign Birth Registration.
With respect to the turnaround times for first time passport applications made on the basis of Foreign Birth Registration, these applications are subject to the same turnaround times as applicable to all first time passport applications. The current turnaround time for first time passport applications is 20 working days for online applications and 8 weeks for paper applications. Turnaround time starts from the date of the receipt of supporting documents.
32. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken to his counterparts in the EU on the situation in regard to China and Taiwan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19868/23]
View answerI am in regular contact with my EU counterparts on matters of foreign policy significance, including in relation to tensions in the Taiwan Strait. On 24 April, the Foreign Affairs Council reviewed recent developments in EU-China relations and visits there by EU political leaders. As the EU and China re-engage in high-level contacts following China's post Covid re-opening, there are more opportunities to discuss regional stability and the importance of the Taiwan Strait, including to global trade flows.
Ireland, and our EU partners have been clear that the maintenance of stability and the status quo is critical. Any escalation or confrontation is deeply concerning. We support peaceful resolution of tensions in the Strait and reject the use of force. I endorse the recent statement by President Von der Leyen that any weakening of regional stability in Asia would affect global security and the free flow of trade.
Ireland, along with the EU, adheres to the One China Policy. This means that we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and that we recognise the People’s Republic of China as the legal representative of China. This does not preclude the development of economic, cultural and broader people to people connections with Taiwan. The European Union is represented in Taiwan by the European Economic and Trade Office. This Office represents all EU Member States, including Ireland, and seeks to strengthen economic and trade relations with Taiwan. There has been a Taipei Representative Office in Dublin since 1988.
Ireland has also continued to engage in people-to-people exchanges with Taiwan. As of 2013, Taiwan residents are eligible to apply to participate in Ireland’s Working Holiday Programme. Each year, this programme gives some 400 Taiwanese residents the opportunity to come to live and work in Ireland.
33. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the average waiting time for a first passport in Cork. [19790/23]
View answer40. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current waiting times for paper passport applications only, including new applications, children's and renewals; and if his Department would consider any way of expediting certain paper applications that are required urgently for emergency travel. [19768/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 40 together.
We are currently in the busy season for passports, as citizens prepare for their upcoming summer travel plans. The Passport Service is successfully responding to the current high demand, and has issued almost 350,000 passports to date this year. All turnaround times are at their target level and there are no backlogs. The Customer Service Hub is responding to over 3,000 queries per day.
The turnaround time for all paper applications is 8 weeks, regardless of the type of application, or the county of residence of the applicant.
The turnaround time for all first time online applications is 20 working days from the receipt of supporting documents, regardless of the county of residence of the applicant. The turnaround time for simple adult online renewals is 10 working days, and for complex or child online renewals it is 15 working days.
Passport Online is now used by over 90% of applicants worldwide. It is the fastest and most cost-effective way to apply for a passport, and can be used for renewal applications from anywhere in the world, and for first time applications from over 50 countries worldwide. I strongly encourage the Deputies to advise their constituents of the efficiencies of the online system, and to apply online in plenty of time, in advance of booking travel.
With regard to the expediting of applications required urgently for emergency travel, the Passport Service has a dedicated team that works to expedite such applications for cases of medical emergency or the death of a family member abroad.
35. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline how his Department is supporting returning Irish immigrants who wish to re-settle in Ireland but face difficult barriers in terms of housing, driving licences, opening bank accounts, educational and work opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19780/23]
View answerThe Government’s Diaspora Strategy, 2020-2025, pledges to monitor barriers to returning emigrants and undertakes to remove them, where possible, and to improve the provision of information to diaspora communities about returning home.
In that regard, my Department engages with a broad range of organisations in Ireland and overseas to support returning Irish citizens and their families, including Crosscare and Safe Home, both of which receive ongoing funding from my Department.
My Department also provides funding to the Citizens Information Bureau, which provides practical, comprehensive information to those intending to return.
My Department also funds the Back for Business initiative, which provides peer guidance to Irish entrepreneurs who have returned, or plan to return, to Ireland. The sixth cycle of the Back for Business programme is currently underway and the initiative has been a very successful one, helping new businesses find their feet and create employment in different parts of the country.
The Department also engages on an ongoing basis with other Government Departments and agencies on the issues facing returnees, primarily through the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, which I chair, and most recently met on 29 March last.
The question of barriers to return did come up at the third Global Irish Civic Forum which took place at Dublin Castle on 20-21 April, 2023, and clearly some issues do remain. I can assure the Deputy the Government remains committed to doing all that it can to address such issues.
36. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will engage with the President of the United States to ensure that families of those who lost their lives in the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max ET302 crash in 2019, including a person (details supplied) from County Clare, are not hindered in their pursuit for justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19628/23]
View answerI want to reiterate my sympathy and my condolences for the terrible loss of life caused by the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max ET302 crash in 2019, in which an Irish citizen tragically died.
The Department provided consular assistance to the family following the crash. I have personally engaged with the citizen’s bereaved wife and the Department of Foreign Affairs has supported her through what have been very difficult times for her and her family.
While I cannot comment on judicial matters in another country, I understand that there are ongoing legal procedures in the United States regarding this case. We have at various stages supported the family’s engagement with the U.S. authorities, and will continue to do so.
37. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has brought to the British government’s attention the concerns of the family of a person (details supplied) who was killed by the RUC in 1973 and their desire for a public inquiry into the killing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19447/23]
View answerOn Friday 24 February 2023, I met with the family of the person in question, who were accompanied by Councillor Michael Naughton. Officials in my Department also met with the family in November 2021.
Following my meeting with the family, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, bringing the case to his attention.
It is essential that all families have access to an Article 2 compliant investigation into their loved one's death. The family's campaign for a further investigation into this killing is one example among many of the cases could be negatively impacted if the British government’s Legacy Bill is enacted. The prospect of no full hearing of the evidence in this case, including the effective cross examination of the facts, such as whether the determination in the original 1973 inquest was correct, is deeply upsetting to the family, as is the possibility that no Police Ombudsman investigation would take place.
On many occasions I have raised my concerns with British Ministers that the Legacy Bill, introduced unilaterally, is not fit for purpose, and undermines the approach set out in the Stormont House Agreement. If the proposed Bill enters into force, the legislation would have far-reaching and negative impacts for victims, their families and communities in Northern Ireland and beyond. Enactment would fundamentally damage the process of reconciliation in Northern Ireland. The British government’s Legacy Bill has also come under intense criticism from a range of international interlocutors, including from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and members of the US House of Representatives. The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers has raised its concerns on a number of occasions, including most recently on 7 March when it stated its "serious concerns about the Bill and its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights" .
In the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, I continue to urge the UK to pause their Legacy legislation and return to a collective approach which is human rights compliant and delivers for victims.
38. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his most recent engagement with EU Commission Vice President; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19690/23]
View answerI will answer on the understanding that the Deputy is referring to European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefcovic.
I have been and remain in ongoing contact with Vice-President Šefcovic.
We met most recently in Belfast on 18 April where we discussed implementation of the Windsor Framework, and met jointly with the Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group. This was a valuable opportunity to engage directly once again with the group whose input has been so important over recent years.
I also met the Commission Vice-President on 2 April while he was visiting Dublin to attend the “Sharing Peace, Sharing Futures: 25 Years of the Good Friday Agreement” in the Abbey Theatre. I took this latter opportunity to thank him and his team for their indefatigable work leading up to the adoption of the Windsor Framework.
We will remain in close contact in the period ahead as work continues on putting the joint EU-UK solutions, agreed under the Framework, into practice.
The Framework contains important benchmarks and timelines to be met and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders in Northern Ireland, in the UK and in the EU to support the full and timely implementation of the agreed solutions.
I would take the opportunity to recognise the drive, commitment and expertise of Vice-President Šefcovic and his team which has guided us to lasting solutions which comprehensively address real-life concerns raised in Northern Ireland.
