Jim O'Callaghan
Question:46. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland’s allocation for the International Criminal Court in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3207/24]
View answerWednesday, 24 January 2024
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Written answers
The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established as the first permanent international court to end impunity for the perpetrators of international crimes. The Court was established in 2002 with the entry into force of the Rome Statute. By its very existence the Court not only promotes and upholds the rule of law but also provides a means of bringing to account the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. In this way it contributes in a fundamental way to the cause of international peace and justice.
Ireland has been, and continues to be, a consistent and strong supporter of the ICC. A key pillar of this support is Ireland’s belief that the ICC should have sufficient resources to deliver its unique and important mandate. The ICC is funded mainly by means of annual assessed contributions made by the States Parties to the Rome Statute, determined every year at the Assembly of States Parties. The total annual budget of the Court for 2024 is just over €187 million, of which Ireland’s assessed contribution is approximately €1.5 million.
Ireland has consistently promoted a budget for the Court that is sufficient to meet the many demands placed upon it. The increasing expectations of states, civil society and victims for the ICC to pursue justice in numerous investigations across four continents, including the situations in Ukraine and Palestine will considerably increase the pressure on its resources over the coming years. In order to help alleviate the increased pressure precipitated by these investigations Ireland has recently committed to providing a significant amount of voluntary contributions to the ICC.
In November 2023 the Government announced that it would make a voluntary contribution of €3 million to the Court. This announcement was made shortly after the ICC Prosecutor highlighted the urgent resource needs of his Office during his visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Officials in my Department are actively engaging with officials in the ICC to determine how this voluntary contribution can best contribute to the important work of the Court, including to cyber security in the Registry following last year's cyber attack.
Last November’s announcement was in addition to a €3 million voluntary contribution made by Ireland in 2022 That voluntary contribution was made after a visit to Bucha and Kyiv by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D. The €3 million was divided amongst several voluntary trust funds established for specific purposes in support of the Court’s mandate. In addition to allocating €1 million to the Office of the Prosecutor’s Trust Fund for Advanced Technology and Specialized Capacity, €1.5 million of the voluntary contribution was disbursed to the ICC’s Trust Fund for Victims, €300,000 to the Special Fund for Relocations, €150,000 to the Trust Fund for the Development of Interns and Visiting Professionals and €50,000 to the Trust Fund for Family Visits for the period 2022 to 2024.
The Government is committed to supporting the vital work of the ICC and will continue to work with other countries around the world to promote and strengthen it.