Wednesday, 14 Feb 2024

Written Answers Nos. 44-58

Referendum Campaigns

Questions (44)

Carol Nolan

Question:

44. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures he is taking to ensure that organisations, including State bodies under the aegis of his Department as well as non-governmental organisations and charities that are in receipt of funding from his Department, do not use any portion of such funding to campaign or promote a position in favour or against any outcome of the forthcoming referenda on Articles 41.1.1, 41.2.1 and 41.2.2 of the Constitution, thereby breaching the McKenna principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6761/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Government is not entitled to spend public money for the purpose of promoting a campaign for a particular outcome and a guidance note outlining this position was circulated to all Government bodies and agencies, including to my Department.

I wish to assure the Deputy that the officials of my Department are aware of their obligations to remain impartial as they serve the State.

While NGOs are, by their very nature, independent of Government, those in receipt of funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs are aware that public funding must be used only for intended purposes, and engagement in information campaigns linked to the referendum is not covered in funding arrangements.

Official Engagements

Questions (45, 48, 49)

Matt Carthy

Question:

45. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the Colombian government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6922/24]

Matt Carthy

Question:

48. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, during his engagements with representatives of the Colombian government, they discussed the fossil-fuel non-proliferation coalition; the role of climate justice in the Colombian peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6925/24]

Matt Carthy

Question:

49. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, during his engagements with representatives of the Colombian government, they discussed the labour reforms and the role of social justice in the Colombian peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6926/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 48 and 49 together.

I visited Colombia on 10-11 January 2024. During my visit, I met with Defence Minister Iván Velásquez, Vice Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Francisco Coy and Elizabeth Taylor Jay, and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace (OACP).

In my meeting with Vice Ministers Coy and Taylor Jay, we discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations; bilateral cooperation in the areas of education and agricultural research; migration; cooperation in multilateral fora; EU-CELAC relations; and the current situations in Ukraine and Gaza. We had a fruitful exchange with regard to peacebuilding in Colombia, with a discussion on the progress, challenges and key issues in this regard. We also discussed biodiversity and climate protection, notably the importance of the protection and preservation of the Amazon rainforest, and the potential to cooperate at multilateral level on our shared objectives in this area. In addition, our conversation touched on the importance of developing and diversifying our trade in goods and the possibility of collaboration in the area of Business and Human Rights and the sharing of our National Action Plans on this topic.

In my exchange with Minister Velásquez, our discussion also focused on Ireland’s support to peacebuilding in Colombia, the dynamics of the Total Peace initiative and the EMC dialogue process. We also discussed ongoing police cooperation, including how this could be further developed, approaches to tackling organised crime and drug use, the use of models of citizen engagement, and police reform.

My meetings with the OACP were important to deepening understanding of Ireland's guarantor role in the ongoing peace dialogues with the EMC, together with Norway, Switzerland and Venezuela. The next round of dialogues is scheduled to take place from 3-10 March.

I was pleased in all of the above meetings to highlight Ireland’s strong bilateral relations with Colombia, to reiterate Ireland's strong support for the Colombian peace process, including the 2016 Peace Agreement and the Government’s Total Peace policy, and to share that this support will be further enhanced in 2024.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (46)

Matt Carthy

Question:

46. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagements and initiatives undertaken by his Department in support of the Colombian peace process, including those regarding land reform and inclusion of marginalised communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6923/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Since the signing of the Peace Agreement in 2016, Ireland has provided over €20 million to support peacebuilding and the promotion of human rights in Colombia. 

Ireland funds the UN Multi Partner Trust Fund and the Organisation of American States Mission to  Support the Peace Process.  These partners support a broad range of initiatives designed to progress the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, including land reform and with a particular focus on marginalised communities. Ireland also supports the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia, which promotes human rights with an emphasis on the territorial, gender and ethnic dimensions.  

Since October 2023, Ireland has acted as guarantor in the ongoing peace dialogues with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC). The guarantor role involves maintaining a continuous presence at the talks, promoting and protecting the dialogue process, supporting the parties to advance the process, and providing technical support and assistance.

In addition, Ireland supports various international and local organisations working in Colombia that have made a significant impact in conflict resolution, human rights and building resilient livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Ireland also engages with humanitarian organisations working on demining and in support of the Venezuelan migrant community located in Colombia.

Our Embassy in Bogota supports community peace building dialogues, including exchanges with and lesson-sharing from the Northern Ireland peace process.  Ireland has also supported the Office of EU Special Envoy for the peace process in Colombia, led by Eamon Gilmore until the end of this month, and while an elected member on the United Nations Security Council, we advocated consistently for comprehensive implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (47)

Matt Carthy

Question:

47. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the allocation within his Department in support of the Colombian peace process in the years 2020 to date; the initiatives supported through these allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6924/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

For many years, Ireland has been actively engaged in supporting Colombia’s peace process through political support, advocacy, and by regularly engaging with relevant institutions, organisations and communities. These actions have served to consolidate Ireland’s long-standing reputation as an honest, trusted and credible interlocutor with all parties to the Agreement. Our key messages have included the need for comprehensive implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement; to ensure Colombian state presence across conflict-affected regions; the importance of including civil society and community actors in the peace process; the inclusion of women, ethnic communities and the centrality of victims; and an emphasis on support to the transitional justice institutions.

In 2024, support for the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement will remain a central focus for Ireland. We will also support the Government’s efforts under the Total Peace initiative, notably in the context of our role as guarantor in the EMC talks. Our support will align with our policy of supporting furthest behind first, by seeking to support communities and groups most affected by conflict. Thematic priorities will include: dialogue and participation; human rights and gender equality; and strengthening civil society to promote peace.

The total annual allocations made to organisations in Colombia in the years 2020-2023 are as follows:

2020 (€ million)	2021 (€ million)	2022 (€ million)	2023 (€ million)
2.52m	2.43m	2.74m	3.50m

This funding was disbursed variously to the organisations and interventions set out below.

Organisation	Description
UN Multi-partner Trust Fund (MPTF) for Colombia	The United Nations MPTF for Sustaining Peace in Colombia finances coordinated responses that guarantee stabilization through the design and implementation of people and peace-centred agreements, frameworks, and programmes.
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Colombia	The OHCHR, in addition to a technical assistance and monitoring mandate, works to strengthen capacity in relation to the promotion and protection of human rights with both the State and civil society in Colombia.
Lesson Sharing Programme	The Lesson Sharing Programme aims to facilitate the exchange of lessons from the experience of peacebuilding and reconciliation on the island of Ireland and in Colombia.
MAPP OEA	The Organisation of American States’ Missions to Support the Peace Process (MAPP) seeks to provide verification and advisory support to Colombia during the process of demobilization and reintegration of illegal armed groups, and to support peace efforts undertaken by Colombian institutions and communities.
International Crisis Group	The International Crisis Group is an independent organisation working to prevent wars and shape policies that will build a more peaceful world.
Institute for Integrated Transitions	The Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) is an international non-governmental organisation dedicated to helping fragile and conflict-affected states achieve more effective negotiations and transitions out of war, crisis or authoritarianism.
Berghof Foundation	The Berghof Foundation works to accompany Colombian actors in developing and implementing conflict transformation and peace efforts on different levels.
EU Trust Fund for Colombia	The EU Trust Fund for Colombia sought to support the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement in early post-conflict stabilisation and recovery, with a view to securing a stable and lasting peace.
Christian Aid Ireland	Christian Aid works with local civil society partners and communities in these countries to tackle violence, build peace and protect human rights.
Misean Cara	Funding to missionary partners for a range of developmental activities.
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)	The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) seeks to uphold human rights by supporting and protecting civil society space
GOAL	In Colombia, GOAL’s principal focus is on building resilient livelihoods of vulnerable communities. This will include work on fisheries in communities in coastal marines. They will also work on market systems in urban, informal settlements which are destinations for Venezuelan migrant populations.
In-Country Micro-Project Scheme	The In-Country Micro Projects Scheme (ICMPS) supports local non-governmental organisations to carry out small-scale development projects.
Halo Trust	HALO Trust operates demining activities in Colombia.
Rapid Response Initiative	Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative deploys highly-skilled personnel and sending emergency supplies to a disaster zone in the immediate aftermath of a crisis.
Instituto de Estudios Interculturales	Instituto de Estudios Culturales facilitates dialogue processes amongst local community stakeholders in Colombia.
Fundacion Instituto De Ciencia Politica	Funding to develop and implement a comprehensive communication strategy for a research report on illegal recruitment and use of children and adolescents by the FARC-EP in the Colombian armed conflict.
UN Women – National Action Plan on UNSCR1325	Support to UN Women Colombia’s role in formulating a National Action Plan on Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council.
UN University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR)	Support to a research project on managing exits from armed conflict

Question No. 48 answered with Question No. 45.

Question No. 49 answered with Question No. 45.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (50)

Matt Carthy

Question:

50. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s view on the current status of the Colombian peace process; the immediate and longer term challenges and the proposed initiatives Ireland will take to assist overcome those challenges. [6927/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

During my recent visit to Colombia on 10-11 January 2024, I had the opportunity to discuss the peace process in meetings with Defence Minister Iván Velásquez, Vice Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Francisco Coy and Elizabeth Taylor Jay, and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace (OACP).

In these meetings, we discussed the significant progress that has been made in the implementation of Colombia’s 2016 Peace Agreement and the Total Peace initiative, as well as the various obstacles that remain in both the short-term and long-term. These achievements and challenges are also clearly set out in the UN Secretary General’s most recent report on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia. Challenges include structural issues such as poverty, inequality and issues around land distribution, as well as the presence of armed actors and illicit economies in some parts of the country. The persistently high rates of violence against former combatants and human rights defenders around the country are also concerning.

International support to the Colombian peace process remains paramount, and I was pleased to communicate to my interlocutors that in 2024, Ireland’s direct funding in support of peacebuilding in Colombia is increasing to over €5 million. This funding will contribute to initiatives that will advance peacebuilding and equality in the country, inter alia in the areas of dialogue and participation, human rights and gender equality, capacity building, the strengthening of institutions, and strategic peacebuilding initiatives.

Official Engagements

Questions (51, 62)

Matt Carthy

Question:

51. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the government of Türkiye; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6933/24]

Matt Carthy

Question:

62. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the government of the Republic of Türkiye; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6988/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 62 together.

21 and 32 together.

Türkiye is an important regional partner and candidate country for EU membership, with which Ireland continues to maintain a productive relationship across the full range of our shared priorities.

I met with my Turkish counterpart, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, in September. During a wide-ranging conversation, I once again expressed my deep condolences for all those who lost their lives in Türkiye following devastating earthquakes in February 2023.  I underlined the close bilateral relations that our countries enjoy, and recalled that Türkiye is an important partner for the EU, while further reiterating the EU’s wish to see progress on key fundamentals such as sanctions circumvention, and compliance with rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. Other topics touched upon included improved relations in the eastern Mediterranean as well as modalities for engagement on the Cyprus problem.

Most recently, I again met with Foreign Minister Fidan in the margins of the 8th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean in Barcelona, in November, during which we discussed the situation in Gaza.

Election Monitoring Missions

Questions (52)

Matt Carthy

Question:

52. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when election monitors from Ireland last attended a mission in Türkiye; if Irish election monitors will be taking part in a mission to Turkey regarding the 2024 local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6934/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs

The 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 election observation missions organised by the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Ireland's current five-year international Election Observation Roster was established on 1 January 2024 and has 173 members.  

Short term observers generally spend up to eight days in the country where the election is being held and long term observers can spend up to eight weeks. The number of deployments fluctuates annually, depending on the number of applications received and the selection decisions of the EU and OSCE.

Six members of Ireland's previous international Election Observation Roster participated in an OSCE mission to Türkiye in April and May 2023. The OSCE has still to confirm the deployment of a mission to observe the upcoming Local Elections, scheduled for 31 March 2024.

Human Rights

Questions (53, 54)

Matt Carthy

Question:

53. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has called upon the government of Türkiye to release a person (details supplied); if he has raised his prison conditions with the government of Türkiye, European partners or at the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6935/24]

Matt Carthy

Question:

54. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has engaged with the government of Türkiye regarding the conditions of political prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6936/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together.

Türkiye is a fellow member of the Council of Europe and a candidate for EU membership. Ireland has made clear our concerns for human rights in Türkiye, including in relation to prisoners and the  implementation of rulings of the European Court of Human rights.

Minister of State Burke discussed the matter during a meeting with a delegation from the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye, in January 2023. Ireland also regularly raises the issue at multilateral fora. I most recently voiced concerns at the non-implementation of European Court of Human Rights rulings at the July 2023 Foreign Affairs Council, during an agenda item on EU-Turkiye relations. More broadly, Ireland consistently emphasises the need for full implementation of judgements of the Court in high-level engagements with Council of Europe stakeholders.

Human rights are a fundamental aspect of EU membership and Ireland is fully supportive of the EU’s engagement with Türkiye around this. The EU regularly highlights the issue through public statements, Council Conclusions, and the Commission’s Annual Reports, and in bilateral engagements with Türkiye.

Ireland has also supported the Council of Europe’s extensive engagement in the area of human rights in Türkiye. The Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture, in a 2019 report, stated that the restrictions imposed on Abdullah Ocalan in the prison on the island of Imrali, from the time of his arrest up to November 2009, including lengthy periods in solitary confinement, were not acceptable. While I have not raised the case of Abdullah Öcalan specifically in my bilateral engagements with Turkish contacts, I continue to strongly advocate for fair trials and on the treatment of prisoners in Türkiye.

As a candidate country for EU membership and long-standing member of the Council of Europe, it is important that the Turkish authorities follow up on the recommendations of the European Commission and the Council of Europe and on the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.

Ireland, alongside our European counterparts, will continue to monitor all aspects of the EU-Türkiye relationship, with a particular focus on human rights. We will continue to voice our concerns bilaterally and multilaterally wherever possible.

Question No. 54 answered with Question No. 53.

Election Monitoring Missions

Questions (55)

Matt Carthy

Question:

55. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the work of those on the Irish election monitoring roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6937/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs

The 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 election observation missions (EOM’s) organised by the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).  

Short term observers generally spend up to eight days in the country where the election is being held. Long term observers can spend up to eight weeks. The number of deployments fluctuates annually, depending on the number of applications received and the selection decisions of the EU and OSCE.

Ireland's current five-year international Election Observation Roster was established on 1 January 2024 and has 173 members.  To date, ten members of this Roster have been selected to participate in election observation missions.  Of these, six participated in an OSCE mission to observe the Presidential Election in Azerbaijan. Four were selected to participate in an EU mission to observe the General Elections in Senegal, which have now been postponed.

EU Regulations

Questions (56)

Matt Carthy

Question:

56. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress made regarding amending Regulation No 1/1958 to include Catalan, Basque and Galician in the EU’s language regime; if Ireland will continue to support such an amendment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6957/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ireland has always been a strong proponent of multilingualism and encouraging of the greatest possible access by all EU citizens to the EU and its Institutions and highlighted this at the General Affairs Council in September 2023 where the proposal from the Spanish Government was first discussed. It was clear at that meeting that further consideration of all potential implications, including any legal, financial and administrative impacts, was needed for the Council to come to a considered decision on the matter. Ireland welcomed Spain's commitment to provide this additional information.

At the General Affairs Council on the 12 December 2023, there was an exchange of views on the proposal. Belgium indicated that they would take the file forward under their Presidency of the Council of the European Union, however the proposal has not yet been discussed at the General Affairs Council or at the Committee of the Permanent Representatives in 2024.

While further discussions are awaited, along with a greater assessment of the implications, Member States, including Ireland, have been generally supportive of the proposal, in recognition of the importance we place on multilingualism.

Diplomatic Representation

Questions (57)

Matt Carthy

Question:

57. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6958/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Coherent with a common EU position, neither I nor my Department undertake actions that would serve to confer the appearance of legitimacy onto the military junta. In keeping with that principle, we have not held bilateral meetings or engagements with the military authorities. It is Ireland’s practice to recognise states and not governments. 

I remain deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and wish to reiterate in the strongest terms my condemnation of the February 2021 coup. I am appalled by the escalation in violence, the displacement of large numbers of people and the dire humanitarian and human rights situation. Together with our EU partners, Ireland continues to call for the restoration of legitimate, civilian government. 

I and my Department remain actively engaged on the crisis. My Department has met with representatives of the National Unity Government at official level and also regularly engages with civil society organisations.

Ireland has repeatedly raised the crisis in multilateral fora. We actively engaged in negotiations for the UN General Assembly Resolution on the situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar, adopted on 19 December 2023. At the start of this month, the EU issued a statement on the third anniversary of the coup, condemning the coup and human rights violations by the junta, as well as calling attention to the dire humanitarian situation.

In December 2023, the EU imposed an eighth round of sanctions against individuals and entities in Myanmar, a measure supported by Ireland. Ireland fully supports action against perpetrators of the coup as well as those who sustain them, and welcomes consideration of further measures that would be effective in working to restore the democratic path.

Ireland continues to provide support to the people of Myanmar through humanitarian aid. Ireland provided total humanitarian funding of almost €2.4 million to Myanmar and to the Rohingya crisis in 2023. This included grants to both civil society organisations and UN agencies, with €500,000 and €1 million respectively provided to the OCHA Myanmar Humanitarian Fund and to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Ireland's total pledge to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, a major donor to Myanmar, was €16 million in 2023. In 2024, Ireland will provide increased support of €1 million to the OCHA Myanmar Humanitarian Fund and €1.5 million to the UNHCR. Through Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP) Chronic Humanitarian Funding Crises Stream 2, almost €790,000 will be provided to Trócaire and Christian Aid Ireland for their humanitarian programmes in Myanmar in 2024.

Human Rights

Questions (58)

Matt Carthy

Question:

58. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with his European counterparts with regard to the ongoing civil strife in Myanmar; efforts to relieve the humanitarian situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6959/24]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I remain deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and wish to reiterate in the strongest terms my condemnation of the February 2021 coup. I am appalled by the escalation in violence, the displacement of large numbers of people and the dire humanitarian and human rights situation. Together with our EU partners, Ireland continues to call for the restoration of legitimate, civilian government. 

The EU has also repeatedly condemned this military coup, including on 1 February 2024, the third anniversary of the coup, when an EU statement was issued by High Representative Borrell. My officials engaged actively in the drafting of this statement.

As the sub-regional organisation for South East Asia, ASEAN is a key interlocutor for addressing the crisis in Myanmar. Myanmar was discussed during the EU-ASEAN Joint Ministerial Meeting on 2 February which Minister of State Fleming attended. At this meeting, a Joint Ministerial Statement was agreed, condemning the continued violence, calling for increased humanitarian access, and noting the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus as the main avenue to address the political crisis. 

On 11 December 2023, the EU adopted the eighth sanctions package on Myanmar since the coup in 2021. Ireland fully supports action against perpetrators of the coup as well as those who sustain them, and welcomes consideration of further measures that would be effective in working to restore the democratic path.

Ireland and the EU provide significant humanitarian funding to Myanmar and to the Rohingya crisis. In 2023, Irish funding for these crises totalled nearly €2.4 million which included grants to both civil society organisations and UN agencies. In 2024, Ireland will continue to provide support to the people of Myanmar, including through increased sums of €1 million to the UN Myanmar Humanitarian Fund and €1.5 million to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Through Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP) Chronic Humanitarian Funding Crises Stream 2, almost €790,000 will be provided to Trócaire and Christian Aid Ireland for their humanitarian programmes in Myanmar in 2024. 

On 31 January 2024, the EU announced an initial humanitarian allocation for Myanmar for 2024 of €19.2 million. This is the highest initial allocation since the EU began providing humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. In 2023, the initial allocation was €17.3 million, with total financing by the end of 2023 reaching almost €33 million.