Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2024
60. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if will report on his engagements with the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6961/24]
View answerEthiopia is Ireland’s largest bilateral international development partner. In 2022, we provided some €40 million in development and humanitarian assistance, through programmes managed by our Embassy in Addis Ababa and through NGO and international partners. Our assistance supports development priorities related to health and education, women’s economic empowerment, democracy and human rights, and humanitarian response. Following several years of severe drought, along with the impact of conflict in Ethiopia, up to 30 million people in the country are in need of assistance.
While Ireland’s bilateral relations with Ethiopia were affected during the conflict in Tigray and Ireland's work on the UN Security Council, in 2021 and 2022, to highlight humanitarian access and other issues, we have normalised relations with the government following a series of high-level meetings and visits, and ongoing engagement by our Embassy in Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian Government agreed last October to the return of the full complement of diplomatic staff at the Embassy.
In November 2023, I visited Ethiopia to reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to partnership on peace and development, including support for transitional justice and accountability measures and the ongoing National Dialogue process. I met with Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide and State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mesganu Arega and was pleased to announce the resumption of Ireland’s support to flagship social protection and health programmes.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD, had earlier met with then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen in New York in September 2023.
In addition, senior Department of Foreign Affairs officials have travelled several times since 2022 to meet with Ethiopian government counterparts in Addis Ababa.
