Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
38. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland in relation to attacks by Yemeni-based Houthis in the Red Sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2557/24]
View answer81. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he or his Department is taking part in any form of diplomacy in relation to the conflict in the Red Sea. [3070/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 81 together.
I condemn the ongoing attacks by Houthi forces on shipping in the Red Sea. These attacks threaten the lives of the crews aboard and also seek to close one of the most important shipping routes to the world.
While there are no direct diplomatic links with the Houthis, the US and other international partners have made clear the urgent need to end these attacks, so far without success. Ireland has not been directly engaged in these contacts.
If If these attacks are not stopped, it is the poorest and most vulnerable communities – in the Middle East, Africa and globally – that are the most severely affected in terms of food and energy security. In addition, the attacks have an obvious negative impact on our European and Irish economies and cost of living .
For this reason, Ireland welcomed the recent adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2722, calling for an immediate end to the attacks.
The EU is discussing the setting up of a defensive naval operation in the Red Sea to protect merchant vessels from attack. The proposed operation would be established under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), with ships and crew deployed from the navies of EU Member States. While Ireland will not be participating in the operation, we are supportive of its establishment in principle. The sole mandate of the mission will be to escort civilian ships and protect them if they come under attack.
I The Houthis must immediately desist from any further attacks on civilian ships and their crews; I hope that the military operations in the Red Sea consequent on their actions can be ended as soon as possible.
