Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023
73. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he can directly, or through the EU and/or UN, influence colleagues throughout Europe and the developed world and raise awareness of the vulnerability of refugees, particularly women and children, who are very often at the mercy of traffickers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50502/23]
View answerIreland maintains a consistent focus internationally on issues relating to refugees and displaced persons. We continue to raise these issues in UN and EU meetings, highlighting in particular the plight of the most vulnerable, including women and children.
We fully support EU efforts to adopt a comprehensive approach to migration, including through resettlement and increased legal pathways for migration, addressing root causes of forced migration and reforming the Common European Asylum System. We welcome the current emphasis on external aspects of migration, including work on co-operation and mutually beneficial partnerships with countries of origin and transit which are key to preventing irregular migration.
Next month, I will attend the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. This event, the world’s largest international gathering of refugees, is an important opportunity to refocus attention on the situation of refugees around the world and to hear first hand from the refugee community. This event is co-hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR is mandated to lead and coordinate the international response to the assistance and protection needs of refugees. Its 2023 Global Appeal estimates the number of refugees internationally at 117 million, an increase of some 14 million people since last year. Ireland has a strategically important partnership with UNHCR. Our support of over €22 million to date in 2023 included €11.5 million of core funding for the agency. This multi-annual funding agreement aims to ensure predictable financing to aid UNHCR in its longer term planning. This year we also provided funding for UNHCR's response to specific crises, in Jordan, Bangladesh, Venezuela and Afghanistan.
