Written Answers Nos. 140-149
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland’s overseas aid continues to respond to the needs of the most serious situations globally whether by bilateral or multilateral provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11509/24]
View answer145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland encourages a greater more rapid response to emerging global emergencies arising from starvation, crop failure, war, ethnic cleansing arising from deliberations at the United Nations Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11514/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 145 together.
Ireland’s overseas aid responds to the most serious global emergencies through several channels. About one third of Ireland's overseas aid is provided through multilateral partners, including the European Union, the World Bank and UN Agencies. We also provide funding through trusted Non-Governmental Organisations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and pooled funding mechanisms.
Ireland ranks among the top twenty humanitarian donors. In 2023 we provided an estimated €300 million in humanitarian assistance. Ireland supports 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.
Responding rapidly to sudden onset emergencies is a particular challenge, which Ireland addresses through our Rapid Response Initiative, our prepositioned global humanitarian funding, and our engagement through the UN and EU.
Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative includes two components: the provision of emergency supplies such as tents and blankets; and the deployment of humanitarian experts to UN agencies to support their humanitarian response. In 2023, Ireland provided 350 tonnes of relief items in response to earthquakes in Türkiye, Syria and Afghanistan, and conflicts in Sudan and Gaza. Ireland also deployed 23 members of its Rapid Response Roster to five UN agencies in 14 countries.
Ireland also provides funding to several global humanitarian pooled funds. These pre-positioned funding mechanisms are the most efficient means to quickly respond to natural disasters or sudden escalation in conflicts. In 2023, Ireland provided €14.5 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, €1.4 million to the START Fund, and €1.2 million to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Ireland also provides pre-positioned humanitarian funding to Irish Non-Governmental Organisations through Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership.
In addition to these mechanisms, Ireland regularly engages through the EU and UN to encourage the rapid provision of assistance where it is most needed. For example, in 2023, Ireland joined the Advisory Board of the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). This will allow Ireland to influence a critically important UN humanitarian pooled fund. In 2023, the CERF allocated over $650 million to different humanitarian crises around the world.
141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which ongoing efforts continue to establish a peace process in the Middle East, with particular reference to the need for a legally recognised centre to investigate complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11510/24]
View answerI have been engaging intensively with EU, regional and international partners since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. During all of these engagements I have conveyed the same message: there is an urgent need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and a significant scale-up of humanitarian access and supplies into Gaza. All of Ireland’s diplomatic efforts are focused on these two core needs.
It is also important that our efforts aimed at addressing the immediate crisis also lay the foundation for a pathway 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. I will continue to advocate for a clear position from the EU, which emphasises the need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and remains alive to the evolving situation.
Ireland’s focus is on seeking to find a way to change the reality on the ground and to protect and encourage a peace process that can deliver a two-State solution, which is the Government's priority.
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Irish trade missions abroad continue to make successful conclusion in respect of the promotion of Irish exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11511/24]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and its mission network plays an important role in promoting Irish trade throughout the world.
Our approach is guided by the Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values for the World and the Global Ireland Strategy. In delivering on the priorities set out in these strategies, the Department of Foreign Affairs works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and other departments and our enterprise support agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland.
The location and priority themes for annual trade missions are selected within the framework of Departmental strategies and the strategies and objectives of the State Agencies. While the specific focus of trade missions will vary, the overarching aim is always to unlock new opportunities for Irish businesses aiming to grow business overseas, showcase opportunities for foreign direct investment in support of high-quality jobs and regional development throughout Ireland, strengthen Ireland’s reputation as a partner in education, science, technology and innovation, and/or promote our world class tourism and cultural offerings.
2023 saw a range of Government led trade missions to key and emerging markets including the US, Canada, France, Denmark, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Czech Republic, as well as the inaugural Team Ireland Trade Mission week to the Republic of Korea. Team Ireland Trade Mission Week, a priority outcome of the Trade and Investment Strategy, was led by the Taoiseach and sought to leverage the expertise of all Team Ireland partners for a sustained, coherent and impactful engagement with a key like-minded partner in Asia. 2024 has a similarly ambitious programme of trade missions.
Ministerial-led trade missions focus on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in a range of sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, agri-food, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and life sciences, and education research and innovation.
In key markets and geographical regions across the globe, our network of embassies, consulates and state agencies work together collaboratively as Local Market Teams (LMTs) or Regional Market Teams (RMTs) to plan and deliver trade missions and to follow up on actions and outcomes. The LMT/RMT model ensures that there is an ambitious and coordinated Team Ireland approach in-market, strengthens how Team Ireland cooperates, and ensures collective efforts are focused on areas of high potential benefit to Ireland.
Ireland’s markets for exports of goods and services continue to develop in a positive and sustainable manner. For the second year in a row, the value of Ireland’s global trade exceeded €1,000 billion in 2023. The very positive results are a testament to the resilience and vision in the Irish enterprise sector and the Government’s policy to assist Irish business in that vision.
143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the European Union continues to address threats to the rule of law in all European member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11512/24]
View answerThe European Union is inherently a community of values. Collectively these values underpin the EU’s strength, integrity and coherence, particularly in the face of external threats. It is incumbent on all Member States to recognise where such core values are threatened and to engage constructively to address any issues. Ireland has consistently supported the European Commission in developing a comprehensive range of tools to reinforce rule of law standards across all European Union member states and address rule of law concerns where they arise.
Ireland recognises that protecting the rule of law also requires continual reform and objective assessment of rule of law standards across all EU Member States.
To this end, in December last year, Ireland supported the review of the Council’s annual rule of law dialogue and the subsequent Presidency conclusions on this topic, which were agreed to by twenty six EU member states. These conclusions have strengthened the Council’s annual rule of law dialogue as a valuable preventive mechanism in the EU’s rule of law toolbox by ensuring more EU member states’ Rule of Law country chapters are analysed and discussed annually. These conclusions also encourage more frequent exchanges within the Council, and with external stakeholders, as appropriate.
Ireland also welcomes the objective assessment of our own record in the area by the Commission. We recently met with officials from the Commission, during their virtual visit to Ireland, where they conducted their annual objective assessment of the Rule of Law in each of the EU’s Member States.
Ireland also regularly contributes to Rule of Law discussions at the Council in Brussels and will continue to work closely with other EU Member States to protect and uphold rule of law standards across the EU.
144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which Ireland, directly or through the aegis of the EU or UN, can promote the prosecution of those engaged in war crimes with a view to referral to the European criminal courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11513/24]
View answerThe International Criminal Court, which is an independent international body with close links to the United Nations, 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. Ireland is a party to the Rome Statute. The Court promotes and upholds the rule of law and provides a means to bring to account the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, including war crimes. In this way it contributes in a most fundamental way to the cause of international peace and justice.
While the ICC is central to the overall framework for international criminal justice, it is a court of last resort. The ICC does not substitute for national judicial systems. States bear the primary responsibility to investigate the most serious international crimes.
Referrals to the International Criminal Court may only be made with respect to crimes under the jurisdiction of the Court namely: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and in certain circumstances, the crime of aggression. The Court’s jurisdiction is limited to the territory or nationals of States Parties to the Rome Statute, States that have accepted the Court’s jurisdiction on an ad hoc basis and situations referred to it by the Security Council of the United Nations. This jurisdiction must be triggered in one of three ways: a situation may be referred to the Court by a State Party to the Rome Statute; a situation may be referred to the Court by the United Nations Security Council; or the Prosecutor may commence an investigation at his own initiative into crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court. Referrals by the Security Council are made pursuant to Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and must receive nine affirmative votes at the Council. Any one of the five permanent Council Members (P5) has the power to veto a proposed referral.
Ireland, together with its EU partners has been, and continues to be, a consistent and strong supporter of the International Criminal Court. Ireland strongly believes that the ICC should have sufficient resources to meet its many operational challenges. The Government announced in November a voluntary contribution of €3 million to the ICC in support of its important work across all situations, including Ukraine and Palestine. This is in addition to the voluntary contribution of €3 million made to the ICC in 2022 and Ireland’s assessed contribution to the Court’s budget, which was €1.5 million in 2024.
Ireland was also one of 34 states that signed the Ljubljana–The Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and other International Crimes on 14 and 15 February 2024. The Convention, provides for international co-operation mechanisms to strengthen the fight against the most serious international crimes. This includes mutual legal assistance, extradition and transfers of sentenced persons, to facilitate the investigation and prosecution at the national level of these crimes. It will enter into force three months after it has been ratified by three states. Ireland's signing of the Convention underlines the Government's support for efforts to ensure accountability for the most serious international crimes.
146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which Irish aid goes directly to those for whom it was intended in a smooth and seamless transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11515/24]
View answerIreland's international development programme is focused on support for countries and communities most seriously in need. The Government's policy for international development, A Better World, provides the framework, with the objective of 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. These partners are particularly important in the context of delivery of essential assistance in countries facing humanitarian crises, food insecurity and climate shocks.
Ireland's total Official Development Assistance for 2024 will be just under €2 billion. €775.3 million has been provided for the international development assistance programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the highest ever allocation.
The most recent OECD Development Assistance Committee Peer Review of Ireland, found that is a strong development cooperation provider with many areas of excellence, and a leading advocate for multilateralism. The Review also noted that the clear focus of Ireland’s programme enables Ireland to exercise leadership and make a visible difference.
In its follow-up Mid Term Review last year, the OECD commended Ireland's cross-government engagement and policy coherence, and our continued strong partnership with civil society.
147. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to address curtailment of renewable energy on the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10137/24]
View answerCurtailment refers to the reduction in output of generation units because of system wide issues. Curtailment is one element of dispatch down, which also includes constraint, local issues, and oversupply, generation exceeding demand. Manging dispatch down is a priority as we seek to integrate more renewable electricity onto the grid. As Transmission System Operator, EirGrid have responsibility for the management of dispatch down and development of the transmission system.
In July 2023, EirGrid published an update to Shaping our Electricity Future, their roadmap for the transmission grid out to 2030 to deliver on the renewable energy targets. This roadmap includes plans for reinforcements, upgrades, and new infrastructure across the country. The grid needs to be stronger and more flexible to accommodate wind and solar generation which is technically very different to burning fossil fuels to produce power. The roadmap also sets out EirGrid’s plans to evolve operation of the power system in the period to 2030 as well as electricity market recommendations.
EirGrid is independent of me as Minister and operate under the supervision of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas. The CRU have responsibility for, inter alia, the regulation of the electricity market and the economic regulation of the electricity system operators, including EirGrid. The cost of building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system is recovered by system operators through charges on customers, all of which is overseen and agreed with the CRU.
148. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the eligibility rules will be published for the home energy upgrade loan scheme, and the expected timeline from submitting the application to drawing down the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11196/24]
View answerIn order to assist with the achievement of our retrofit targets, the Programme for Government, Climate Action Plan and the National Retrofit Plan committed to the introduction of a new residential retrofit low-cost loan scheme.
The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was developed by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund. An agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group underpinning the new Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was announced in October 2023.
The €500 million scheme is the first of its kind for both Ireland and the EIB. Homeowners will be able to borrow from €5,000 to €75,000 on an unsecured basis for a term of up to 10 years. The interest rates will be significantly lower than those currently available on the market as a result of the combination of the EIB Group loan guarantee and a Government-funded interest rate subsidy.
The Home Energy Upgrade loans will help reduce the financial challenges for many homeowners and will play a crucial role in helping homeowners to invest in energy efficiency, making their homes warmer, cheaper to run and helping to lower emissions. It will also signal to the banking sector, new sustainable business opportunities associated with retrofit and the transition to a low carbon economy.
It is anticipated that the loans will be available in the coming weeks through participating retail lenders.
