Written Answers Nos. 49-72
49. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland is compliant with the European Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008 in relation to checks on US military at Shannon Airport on goods destined for Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50301/23]
View answerI have addressed the wider issues relating to Ireland’s approach to the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory on frequent occasions over recent weeks so I will focus my response on issues relating to diplomatic clearance for military aircraft, and the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft.
Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.
This policy is well known and is fully understood by the United States and other international partners.
There is also a long-standing process in place concerning the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory. Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so from the Minister for Transport.
In considering any application for such an exemption in respect of munitions of war, the Department of Transport consults with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice to determine if there are foreign policy or security considerations to take into account. The process is robust and includes advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs in respect of international humanitarian law, Ireland’s international obligations and our wider arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation policy.
50. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of tribunals, public investigations and commissions of investigations in process; the length of time each has been underway; when each will conclude; the cost to date of each; and the estimated cost of each at completion. [44814/23]
View answerMy Department has no tribunals, public investigation or commissions of investigations currently underway.
51. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his Department’s current preparatory plan for the UN Summit of the Future in 2024, in anticipation of the outcome document Pact for the Future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49689/23]
View answerOur Common Agenda (OCA) is the UN Secretary-General's vision for the future of global cooperation. It calls for inclusive, networked and effective multilateralism, and for turbocharging action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to better respond to and deliver for people and planet. It outlines possible solutions to address the gaps and risks that have emerged since 2015, calling for a Summit of the Future to be held in 2024, where a Pact for the Future will be the outcome.
Ireland has strongly supported the UN Secretary General’s work, including through reflecting OCA elements in the recently adopted SDG Summit political declaration, which Ireland co-facilitated, and engaging in the Summit’s preparatory Ministerial meeting in September of this year, during which we called on countries to be brave in our ambition.
The Pact for the Future and its related components – including the New Agenda for Peace, the Global Digital Compact, and cross-cutting issues such as human rights and gender equality – is about much more than even the SDGs. It aims to address areas of concern Ireland has highlighted for many years and sought to address through consistent and considered engagement with the multilateral system.
We have worked with partners for decades to strengthen international law, to press the need for disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. We continue to contribute many Irish peacekeepers to UN Missions across the globe. We have grasped how global challenges must have global solutions, and have engaged deeply in the UNFCCC processes, playing a leadership role to deliver progress last year on the creation of a new Climate Loss and Damage Fund.
These goals are key to the work of my Department, and Ireland continues to emphasise them in EU and international fora, while also specifically encouraging our partners to seize the opportunity the Summit of the Future presents.
52. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative by Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50118/23]
View answerIreland is deeply concerned at Russia’s failure to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This initiative was vital in delivering life-saving food products from Ukraine to countries most impacted by food insecurity. We support efforts of Turkey and the UN Secretary General to restore the deal and put on a sustainable footing.
Ukraine has since made some progress in pushing back the blockade by the Russian navy of Ukraine’s ports and parts of the Black Sea. This has allowed for the establishment of a “humanitarian corridor”, enabling over 60 ships sail to and from Ukrainian ports, restarting the export of grain. I am pleased to see that so many ships have been able to safely traverse this corridor and hope that this can continue.
In parallel, the European Union is facilitating the export of Ukrainian grain via the "solidarity lanes" through neighbouring countries.
However, Russia has consistently targeted grain silos and port infrastructure, so Ukraine’s export capacity for grain has decreased by 40% compared to last year. Just as worrying is the recent news of a Liberian flagged cargo ship being struck by a missile in the port of Odesa, killing a Ukrainian port worker and injuring three crew members on board the vessel.
Ireland plays a leadership role in tackling hunger globally. Ending hunger is one of the core priorities at the heart of our international engagement and development programme. This year, Ireland will provide at least €284 million in support for food, agriculture and nutrition around the world. To help counter the impact of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on the most vulnerable, Ireland will provide €2 million to President Zelenskyy’s “Grain from Ukraine” initiative.
We will continue our efforts both to support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression, and to counter the global impacts of the Russian invasion.
53. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he continues to liaise with all concerned, in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement, in the context of ensuring that interaction with communities is maintained and recognised as an important part of the peace process. [42533/23]
View answerThis year marked the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a transformative moment for the people of this island, the islands of Ireland and Great Britain, and the people of Northern Ireland in particular. The Agreement set a new, democratic framework for relationships between and within these islands.
The principles of the Good Friday Agreement underpins the work to restore Northern Ireland’s power-sharing institutions. It is a matter of enormous regret that they continue to be blocked eighteen months after the last Assembly election.
I am firmly committed to securing the effective implementation of all strands of the Good Friday Agreement. To this end I have prioritised engagement with all major stakeholders in Northern Ireland across politics and civil society. I have greatly appreciated these exchanges with diverse interlocutors. I have met with organisations supported by my Department’s Reconciliation Fund, with victims and survivor groups, with PSNI leadership, with business representatives, cultural institutions, and academics. I am determined to engage openly and honestly with voices from right across the community. In recent months I have appreciated being welcomed by the Orange Order and East Belfast GAA.
I meet and speak frequently with counterparts in the British Government and with Northern Ireland's party leaders. I spoke with the latter most recently at the end of October. I was left with a clear sense of the profound level of frustration at the decision of one party to block a return of the power-sharing institutions. The vast majority of elected representatives – national, unionist and neither – want to get back to work.
In my recent meeting with the Secretary of State of Northern Ireland at the British Irish Chamber of Commerce Conference on 12 October in Dublin, I raised the challenges of Executive Formation. I have been clear that the current situation cannot continue indefinitely and encouraged open, constructive dialogue between all parties.
Later this month we will host meetings of British Irish Council and British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference, which as the Deputy is aware are two of the Good Friday Agreement institutions that facilitate cooperation on an East-West basis. I look forward at those meetings to discussing with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how our governments can best work together to bring politics in Northern Ireland back to stability.
The upcoming meeting of the British Irish Inter-Governmental Conference will be the third such meeting this year, following a meeting in Dublin in January and another in London this June. The urgent task of restoring Northern Ireland's power-sharing institutions will undoubtedly be a focus of my discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at this month's Conference.
As guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish and British Governments have a particular responsibility to see the Good Friday institutions operate as effectively as possible and delivering to the collective benefit of all of our citizens.
It is my firm view that progress towards a better, more reconciled, Northern Ireland is best delivered through partnership between the two Governments, on the basis of the commitments made in 1998.
54. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he continues to take to increase contact with all the communities in Northern Ireland, in the context of moves towards the restoration of the Northern Assembly. [42534/23]
View answer55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which his Department continues to encourage and influence discussions with all sides in Northern Ireland in order to establish a level of mutual confidence that would facilitate the restoration of the Assembly. [45327/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together.
It is deeply disappointing that 18 months on from the last Assembly elections, Northern Ireland's political institutions remain blocked, and as a result the North-South Ministerial Council is also prevented from fulfilling the responsibilities mandated to it by the Good Friday Agreement. In my engagements, I have underlined the importance of getting the full range of Good Friday Institutions up and running, across all strands.
Elected leaders have a particular responsibility to demonstrate that politics works. The continued blockage of the institutions is the result of a political choice by one party, but damaging to the exercise of politics by all parties.
A clear message from my ongoing engagement with political and civic leaders from diverse backgrounds across Northern Ireland has been the importance of an urgent restoration of the devolved institutions. Unionists, nationalists and those who are neither have articulated a profound level of frustration that their local leaders are being prevented from playing their full part in addressing the myriad challenges facing Northern Ireland.
It is time that the democratically elected representatives of Northern Ireland were allowed to take up their responsibilities and deliver on the multiple and intersecting challenges facing the people of Northern Ireland. My engagement with political and business leaders at September’s Northern Ireland Investment Summit left no room for doubt that a restored Executive would be best positioned to advance a rich array of opportunities.
In the margins of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce Conference on 12 October in Dublin, I discussed the challenges of Executive formation with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I was in direct contact with Northern Ireland political parties in late October.
I also recognise that Northern Ireland has always been strongest when the Irish and British Governments have worked in close partnership. In the ongoing absence of functioning Strand One and Strand Two institutions, it is timely to recall that both Governments, and the parties to the Good Friday Agreement 'committed to partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of relationships within Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between these islands.' In the spirit of partnership, my Government is committed to promoting cooperation, coordination and trust with all parties in Northern Ireland and across these islands.
This Government is committed to strengthening our relationship with our British counterparts, in particular through the framework of the Good Friday Agreement, which explicitly recognises the importance of East-West relationships in Strand Three. I am pleased that we will host the next British-Irish Council Summit on 23-24 November in Dublin Castle and meet there with the British Government and other BIC member administrations.
I will host the next meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, also established under strand three of the Good Friday Agreement, in Dublin on 28 November. The Conference enables engagement on matters of mutual interest within the competence of the United Kingdom and Irish Governments. I look forward in particular to discussing efforts to restore the Strand One and Strand Two institutions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and other UK ministerial colleagues at that meeting.
Those meetings underline the importance of structures of the Good Friday Agreement for engagement between the two Governments, providing a framework for our partnership. They also underline the importance of getting the full range of Good Friday Institutions up and running, across all its three Strands.
56. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department is carrying out checks at Shannon Airport on US military vehicles which are stopping off enroute to Israel and other jurisdictions; if so, the number that have taken place in the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50300/23]
View answer81. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to ensure that military aircraft of foreign states landing in Ireland or overflights in sovereign Irish airspace are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and do not engage in intelligence gathering or form part of military exercises or operations; and whether there has been any review of the oversight of these matters in the context of the Israeli military assaults on Gaza. [50512/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 81 together.
I have addressed the wider issues relating to Ireland’s approach to the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory on frequent occasions over recent weeks so I will focus my response on issues relating to diplomatic clearance for military aircraft.
Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.
This policy is well known and is fully understood by the United States and other international partners, and is done in compliance with Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.
With regard to the transit of US military aircraft through Shannon and other Irish airports, the Department of Foreign Affairs publishes statistics in relation to overflights and landings of foreign military and state aircraft on the Department’s website. This includes details on the number of US military aircraft that have landed in Shannon airport this year.
My Department is committed to the highest standards of transparency and, as such, will continue to publish details relating to overflights and landings on a monthly basis on the Department’s website, as well as working to compile and publish historic data relating to overflights and landing of foreign military aircraft where and when possible.
57. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider instructing Ireland's Permanent Representative to the UN to call for an Emergency UN General Assembly under the Uniting for Peace Resolution, as the UN Security Council has failed to adequately act as required to maintain international security and peace in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50316/23]
View answerOn 27 October, the President of the General Assembly reconvened the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly, following a request by Jordan and Mauritania in their respective capacities as Chair of the Arab Group and Chair of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. This emergency special session was first convened in 1997 in accordance with Resolution 377(V) of 3 November 1950 ("Uniting for Peace").
Ireland delivered a national statement at this emergency special session, which included a renewed call on Israel to end the blockade of Gaza and to allow meaningful humanitarian access, especially of fuel, to enable hospitals and relief organisations to function. Ireland also echoed the call of the UN Secretary General for a humanitarian ceasefire or humanitarian pause, to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the population can be comprehensively met.
During this emergency special session, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution, calling for a “durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities”. The Resolution also reaffirmed that “a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means, based on the relevant United Nations resolutions and in accordance with international law, and on the basis of the two-State solution”. Ireland voted in favour of this Resolution, one of eight EU Member States to do so.
More broadly, I have made it clear that the efforts of the international community aimed at addressing the immediate crisis must also lay the foundation for the path towards a sustainable peace in the long term. I will continue to underline this point in my ongoing engagement with EU, regional and international partners.
58. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs according to his Department “Respect for human rights and the promotion of human rights is a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy” (details supplied), considering that the transfer of military weapons or equipment to participants is regulated by international humanitarian law, if he is concerned that events in Gaza are breach of this law; if he has any concerns that weapons or equipment in transit through Ireland may be used for human rights violations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50330/23]
View answerRespect for international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, is the bedrock of international peace and security. This will continue to be the guiding principle for Ireland’s approach to foreign policy in general, and in the context of Ireland’s response to the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Respect for international law is also critical to ensuring the long-term peace and security of both Israelis and Palestinians.
As far as transit is concerned, under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.
With regards to munitions of war on board civil aircraft, under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport.
In considering any application for such an exemption in respect of munitions of war, the Department of Transport consults with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice to determine if there are foreign policy or security considerations to take into account. The process is robust and includes advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs in respect of international humanitarian law, Ireland’s international obligations and our wider arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation policy.
59. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 23 May 2023, and in light of the British government's Legacy Bill receiving royal assent and entering into law on 18 September, if the Government will now proceed with lodging an interstate case against the British government with the European Court of Human Rights within the four-month time period this case must be lodged. [41888/23]
View answerThe British Government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act received Royal Assent on 18 September.
I am seriously concerned about the Act's impact on the fundamental work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland, and about its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights. The incorporation of the Convention into Northern Ireland law was an explicit requirement of the Good Friday Agreement.
The Government believe that this Act will not draw a line under legacy issues, but will instead ensure that it remains a source of contention, suspicion and mistrust, undermining the reconciliation which we have worked so hard to progress. It is a matter of deep regret this is the space in which we find ourselves.
The Government sought legal advice from the Attorney General on the possibility of Ireland initiating an interstate case at the European Court of Human Rights to test the compatibility of the British Legacy Act with the European Convention on Human Rights. Detailed and comprehensive legal advice has now been received from the Attorney General, an essential contribution to our consideration of whether or not to take an interstate case. We are carefully studying that advice and considering next steps.
I must emphasise that the initiation of an interstate case would be significant and would have to be done on solid legal grounds. It is not a decision which could, or should, be taken lightly.
The Government will look at the broader implications of such a decision in the round, including on the bilateral relationship with the UK as well as broader political and civic concerns in Northern Ireland on legacy issues. We will also take account of the opposition to this Act which has been expressed over the last eighteen months in this House and by victims’ groups and families across this island. The Government are fully aware of relevant timelines initiating a case to the European Court of Human Rights and the need to make a timely decision on this matter.
At all times, the Government will be guided by the best interests of victims and their families.
60. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has had opportunities to try and persuade the warring factions in the Middle East to desist in their current activities. [49982/23]
View answerI have engaged at a bilateral level with several partners in the region. I have spoken with my Iranian counterpart and urged him in the strongest terms to bring his influence to bear in avoiding regional escalation and in insisting on the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. I have also spoken with the Defence Minister of Lebanon, Maurice Sleem. I underlined our concern about the current situation at the Lebanon-Israel border and Hezbollah’s role in the conflict. I also discussed the role of our troops in UNIFIL and emphasised the importance of their safety and security. I have also spoken with my Palestinian, Israeli, Egyptian, Jordanian, Saudi, Qatari and Emirati counterparts, and am in ongoing contact with other EU Foreign Ministers.
I am undertaking a visit to Egypt, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territory from 14-16 November, during which I will have further opportunities to engage and encourage progress on an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and release of hostages, as well as other priority issues such as the exit of Irish citizens from Gaza.
I welcome that other partners have also been engaged in diplomatic efforts to avoid a regional escalation. I note in particular the intensive efforts of the United States, including visits by Secretary State Anthony Blinken to the region to engage with regional partners.
It is important that the efforts of the international community aimed at addressing the immediate crisis also lay the foundation for the path towards a sustainable peace in the long term. I will continue to underline this point in my ongoing engagement with EU, regional and international partners
61. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to bring forward the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 to Third Stage in Dáil Éireann, given the ongoing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and his party’s previous support for the Bill (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50367/23]
View answerAddressing the current situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is a central priority for the Government. Finding a path to an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza; to the immediate release without preconditions of all hostages; and avoiding any further or wider escalation in the region have been the central focus of engagements I have undertaken in recent weeks in relation to the current situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, including my visit to the region this week.
As I have previously stated, the Occupied Territories Bill would not be compatible with EU law, and would not be implementable. This is the clear legal advice on this matter. The Government will therefore not be taking it forward.
Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed illegal Israeli settlements, and this Government will continue to do so.
62. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the competition for the new DFA election monitoring roster will be advertised; the number of places available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50378/23]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs maintains and administers a voluntary roster of suitably skilled and vetted individuals who are available to participate at short notice in international election observation missions, coordinated by the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Members of Ireland’s International Election Observation Roster play an important role in the promotion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which are key tenets of Ireland’s foreign policy.
Ireland's current international Election Observation Roster was established on 1 January 2019 and will expire on 31 December 2023. A call for applications for the next Election Observation Roster was advertised on the Irish Aid website and the Department of Foreign Affairs' social media channels in July 2023. A high volume of eligible applications was received by the deadline of 12 August 2023. These have undergone a process of assessment conducted by representatives from the Electoral Commission, The Carter Center, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
It is expected that the results of the assessment process will be communicated to applicants this month. It is expected that the new Roster will comprise at least 170 members and will remain in place for five years following its establishment.
63. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total cost of the passport service, including staff costs, as well as the revenue generated in fees paid by applicants for passports and passport cards, in each year from 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50438/23]
View answerThe Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 880,000 passports to date in 2023. Between 2,000 and 3,000 passports are being issued every day. All turnaround times are at or ahead of target and there are no backlogs. More than half of simple adult renewals issue within two working days or less.
Direct costs and revenue for the Passport Service for the period 2016-2022 are set out below in tabular form. Figures for 2023 will not be available until the Department's Appropriation Account has been signed off after the end of the financial year.
|
- |
Direct Costs (including payroll costs)* |
Passport Fee Revenue |
|
2016 |
€35.5m |
€46.7m |
|
2017 |
€34.1m |
€50.2m |
|
2018 |
€40.2m |
€51.4m |
|
2019 |
€40.3m |
€53.6m |
|
2020 |
€35.4m |
€26.7m |
|
2021 |
€38.3m |
€40.2m |
|
2022 |
€59.3m |
€63.6m |
*The table above covers direct costs incurred by the Passport Service, e.g. postage, building utility costs, operating and payroll costs. The Department’s financial management system does not allocate indirect costs incurred by central services, e.g. ICT, HR, finance, corporate services, etc.
64. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the bilateral aid programme continues to identify with and assist countries and communities that continue to be affected by various shortages in vital supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50493/23]
View answer72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which Irish aid goes directly to those whom it was intended in a smooth and seamless transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50501/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 72 together.
In Budget 2024, the Government provided the highest ever allocation for the international development assistance programme managed, under Vote 27, by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The allocation of €776.5 million represents an increase of €60 million, or 8.4% of the 2023 allocation.
This will help to ensure that Ireland can maintain our longstanding focus on the most vulnerable countries and communities, including those most acutely affected by food insecurity and conflict.
Supporting countries and communities most seriously in need is at the core of Ireland’s development assistance programme. The Government's policy for international development, A Better World, provides the framework, with a focus on reaching the furthest behind first and addressing the needs of those living in some of the world’s poorest or most climate-exposed countries and those living in areas affected by conflict.
The Government delivers this support through our bilateral development programme, channelled through Irish Embassies in relevant countries, through civil society and humanitarian organisations and through multilateral organisations, including the United Nations.
The most important criterion for decisions on which channel to use is the ability of the partner to reach those most in need in the most effective way possible.d These partners continue to be crucial, especially in the context of delivery of essential food supplies in countries facing humanitarian crises, food insecurity and climate shocks.
The world’s food systems continue to be severely disrupted as a result of climate change and economic shocks, and the impact of the conflict in Ukraine. Ireland has responded strongly to the deterioration in food and nutrition security, while also supporting ongoing efforts to build longer term, sustainable food and nutrition sytems.
For example, Ireland has pledged €50 million over three years in partnership with the USAID-UNICEF Accelerating Progress Against Child Wasting initiative which focuses explicitly on addressing child malnutrition in countries that are among the worst affected by the current food and nutrition crisis globally. As part of this pledge Ireland has also developed a new programme for Horn of Africa countries – Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia – aiming to improve local food security and supporting engagement in profitable, climate resilient livelihood strategies.
The Government will continue to fund programmes and actions that aim to improve and expedite access to nutritious food, providing at least €284 million for food and agriculture interventions in 2023.
65. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the multi-lateral overseas aid programme continues to interact directly with communities most seriously affected by conditions such as war, hunger and drought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50494/23]
View answerConflict, climate change and the continuing impact of the pandemic have combined to increase the need for humanitarian assistance in crises across the globe. The international response increased to a record €26.85 billion in 2022. This support meant that over 216 million people across 69 countries received food, medicine and other life-saving assistance.The commitments and contributions of the international community are guided by the United Nations Global Humanitarian Overview, a summary of the most pressing crises across the globe. It is updated regularly to ensure that the humanitarian response is focused on the most severe crises and reaches the most vulnerable populations, particularly women, girls and people living with disabilities. Ireland is playing our part in the global response, ranking among the top 20 humanitarian donors. In 2022 Ireland provided over €280 million in humanitarian assistance. Our assistance was focused on countries affected by war, famine and drought, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Ukraine, the Sahel and Venezuela. Ireland also responds quickly to natural disasters, such as the the earthquakes in Turkiye/Syria and in Morocco and Afghanistan.More than one third of Ireland's Official Development Assistance is provided to multilateral partners, notably the European Union, the World Bank and UN Agencies. These partnerships enable Ireland to reach conflict affected communities across the globe. The EU is the largest humanitarian donor and the World Bank is increasingly focused on the most fragile countries affected by conflict. UN agencies such as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, the UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF coordinate and deliver life saving assistance to millions of people suffering from drought and hunger. Significant elements of Ireland’s ODA are delivered through other Government Departments. For example the the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides support to the UN World Food Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. These UN agencies also provide vital emergency assistance to vulnerable communities across the globe.
66. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Irish embassies abroad, diplomatic missions or other representatives continue to promote Irish trade throughout the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50495/23]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to supporting the Government's external economic objectives and the promotion of Ireland's trade and investment objectives, including through the work of the State’s network of embassies and consulates abroad.
The Department's approach is firmly guided by the Government's Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values for the World . This involves working in partnership with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, including through the trade promotion work undertaken by Regional and Local Market teams.
Chaired by the relevant Ambassador, the Regional and Local Market teams see embassies and consulates working with State Agencies and other stakeholders on a Team Ireland approach to strengthen Ireland's international reputation and to support the development of trade, investment and tourism. Team Ireland also works to build education, science, technology and innovation partnerships; and to promote our culture and creative industries.
We saw the Team Ireland approach in action earlier this month when the Embassy in Seoul, working closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, DFA Headquarters and a number of departments and the State Agencies, coordinated the inaugural Team Ireland Trade Mission Week to the Republic of Korea from 30 October to 3 November. Team Ireland Trade Mission Week 2023 provided a platform for the Taoiseach and Ministers Coveney, McConalogue and Harris to undertake over 40 high level engagements with political and economic decision-makers in the fourth largest economy in Asia.
In addition to supporting the State Agencies in the delivery of their strategic objectives, our Missions work on a range of trade-related issues, including market access, regulatory compliance, visas, phyto-sanitary issues, and Double Taxation Agreements. This work is particularly important in markets with limited or no State Agency presence. Furthermore, our diplomats regularly engage in economic and public diplomacy to advance Ireland’s prosperity, and to protect the rules based international order that is critical for the realisation of our enterprise, trade and investment priorities.
67. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community has made commitments and kept them in respect of various disaster areas throughout the globe; the action(s) in place to ensure an active and positive response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50496/23]
View answerConflict, climate change and the lingering effects of COVID have combined to increase the need for humanitarian assistance. In 2022 the international community provided over €27 billion for food, shelter, medicine and other life saving humanitarian assistance. To date in 2023 the international community has provided over €17 billion.
The response of the international community is guided by regular humanitarian updates from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). These updates provide information on the numbers of people in need and the type of assistance required in the various crises across the globe. This facilitates a coordinated and appropriate response that targets those most in need.
Ireland is playing its part in the global response to humanitarian need, ranking among the top twenty humanitarian donors. In 2022 we provided a record €297.8 million in humanitarian assistance. This year, Ireland has supported humanitarian assistance and protection in countries and regions such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, the Sahel and Ukraine.
Ireland also responded immediately to the devastating earthquakes this year in Morocco, Afghanistan and Turkiye/Syria and to the floods in Libya, supporting the International Federation of the Red Cross, the United Nations and NGOs who were best placed to deliver life saving assistance on the ground and at speed.
Ireland is one of the 66 signatories to the Grand Bargain, an international initiative that sets out a series of actions intended to make humanitarian assistance more effective and efficient. The Grand Bargain includes donors, UN agencies, the Red Cross Family and NGOs. Grand Bargain signatories commit to provide quality funding, to promote locally led humanitarian action and to support innovative funding mechanisms. The Grand Bargain also promotes better data collection to more effectively target those most in need, particularly women, girls and people living with disabilities. Together, these actions combine to ensure that the global humanitarian response delivers the greatest possible impact for the affected communities.
68. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has directly, or through the aegis of the EU/UN, influenced the international community towards engaging in a permanent peace process to which both sides in the Middle East conflict could refer to in order to prevent further wars, retaliations/ill-treatment of civilians, women and children and setting out to address the specific grievances of both sides in the conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50497/23]
View answerIreland is committed to achieving a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, based on a two-State solution, in line with international law. I have repeatedly made the point in both my bilateral and multilateral meetings that it is necessary to reinvigorate a peace process and continue to engage at the European Union and United Nations on initiatives centred on the achievement of a sustainable peace.
I have reiterated the importance of supporting a peace process in my interactions with my EU counterparts at the Foreign Affairs Council and in my conversations with leaders in the region. Ireland continues to support initiatives to promote peace in the region at the UN, and supported at UN General Assembly resolution which called for a humanitarian truce, on 26 October. It is important that the efforts of the international community aimed at addressing the immediate crisis also lay the foundation for the path towards a sustainable peace in the long term.
69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he directly, and through the EU/UN, continues to focus on conflict in a number of areas in Africa resulting in ethnic cleansing and violence against women and children, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50498/23]
View answerEnsuring accountability was one of the core principles guiding Ireland’s two-year term on the United Nations Security Council. We promoted adherence to international humanitarian, criminal and human rights law across all files, supporting international courts and tribunals, advocating for the rights of victims and survivors, and seeking to strengthen the ability of the Council to act in the face of atrocity crimes.
We are maintaining this focus, particularly through the European Union, engagement in UN bodies, and support for the International Criminal Court, where ten out of the current 17 open investigations relate to Africa. In parallel, our humanitarian and development interventions offer assistance, protection, and empowerment to individuals and communities under threat, or seeking to rebuild lives post conflict. Situations in Africa where large scale attacks on civilians are threatened or reported, are a major focus of this engagement.
Since the outbreak of hostilities in Sudan in April 2023, for example, there have been multiple credible reports of targeting and killing of civilians on grounds of ethnic and social status. At the Foreign Affairs Council in June, Ireland initiated calls for additional sanctions tools to contribute to preventing violations, securing humanitarian access and breaking the cycle of impunity. We subsequently worked to ensure that a new EU autonomous sanctions regime was adopted. Meanwhile, at the UN Human Rights Council, Ireland advocated for the establishment of a Fact Finding Mission for Sudan, alongside supporting partners working with human rights defenders and civil society on monitoring and reporting.
Accountability for serious human rights violations has been one of Ireland‘s—and the EU’s – three consistent issues of focus in relation to the conflict in Northern Ethiopia. Ireland funds both the work of UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission in supporting the conduct of investigations and prosecutions, and we are following closely the development of the transitional justice policy framework. Complementing these engagements, are support for survivor-centred sexual violence response services and work to address the underlying structural causes of conflict, including promotion of national dialogue.
70. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which countries in the Western Balkans are being assisted towards membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50499/23]
View answerThe Western Balkans lies in the heart of Europe. Its future is within the European Union. In light of this, Ireland has a clear strategic interest in fostering good relations between the communities in the Western Balkans, and between the region and the EU.
We do this in numerous ways. First, by facilitating intra-regional dialogue, such as the EU-chaired Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. Across all our engagements with the Governments of Kosovo and Serbia, Ireland emphasises the need for concrete progress on the Dialogue as an essential step towards EU membership.
We also support closer ties with our Western Balkans partners through regular high-level engagement. Most recently, on 13 November, Ireland participated in the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Meeting in Brussels, which discussed ways to enhance CFSP cooperation with the Western Balkans. Meetings such as this provide an opportunity to engage with, and further understand our Western Balkan colleagues' points of view.
The EU accession process requires all Western Balkans states to demonstrate their ability to align with EU values, as well as with the EU acquis. Many Western Balkans countries have made good progress in this endeavour. This should be recognised and encouraged. We welcome the New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which envisages an investment of €6 billion to bring the countries of the Western Balkans closer to the EU, accelerate accession-related reforms, and boost economic growth. The New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans will work in addition to the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. In order to benefit from the New Growth Plan, Western Balkans countries will be required to implement specific reforms related to the accession fundamentals and CFSP alignment. We therefore strongly encourage our Western Balkans partners to accelerate reforms accordingly and to seize this transformative opportunity.
Ireland also participates in the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), which is the EU’s primary support tool to assist states in the implementation of reforms. Regional cooperation, good-neighbourly relations and efforts to overcome continuing bilateral issues and the legacy of the past are priority objectives for the instrument which, for the period 2021-2027, has a budgetary envelope of over €14 billion.
The Commission, in its recently released annual Enlargement Report Package, commended progress made by the Western Balkans on EU Reforms and recommended the opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved. We are currently studying these reports. However, we expect to be able to take decisions on the future direction of EU enlargement at the December European Council.
71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which he continues to use Ireland’s position at EU/UN level to highlight outrages against women and children in the various conflict zones across the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50500/23]
View answerIreland actively speaks out against all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls across the globe and is committed to integrating gender equality across all of our humanitarian and development interventions, and in our wider foreign policy.
The UN Secretary General’s Report on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) draws attention to the increasing number of women and girls living in conflict-affected countries, standing at 614 million in 2022, a 50 per cent increase from 2017. This figure underlines the urgency of implementing the WPS Agenda, which recognises the particular impact of war and conflict on women and girls, as well as the critical role of women in peacebuilding efforts. Ireland is implementing its third National Action Plan (NAP) on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and related resolutions on WPS (2019-2024). Through the NAP, Ireland commits to deliver on a holistic and comprehensive approach to conflict prevention as well as the adoption of both the EU Strategic Approach to Women, Peace and Security and the conclusions of the 2015 UN Study on the implementation of the WPS Agenda. The National Action Plan also emphasises the importance of amplifying the voices of young people and commits to supporting organisations to build youth engagement, including a focus on intergenerational dialogue and the engagement and empowerment of young women and girls.During our tenure on the UN Security Council (2021-2022), Ireland worked to mainstream the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and to embed gender perspectives, across the work of the Council. Together with Mexico, Ireland co-chaired the UN Security Council’s Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, and in 2022 meetings of this group addressed the specific situations of women in areas such Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Palestine, as well as the broader theme of conflict-related sexual violence.At Ireland’s initiative, we joined together with Kenya and Mexico in 2021 to develop the ‘WPS Shared Commitments’ Trio Initiative. These ‘Shared Commitments’ have now been adopted by 17 past and present Security Council members. Ireland continues to promote gender equality and the rights of the child in other UN fora, such as at the Commission on the Status of Women, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, and the UN Human Rights Council. We also contribute actively to discussions at EU-level on human rights issues, including at the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council.
