Parliamentary questions

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

32. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there have been any recent discussions with the United States authorities in relation to immigration reform, with particular reference to the need to regularise the status of the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23094/24]

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Brendan Smith

110. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the secretary of state for Northern Ireland and with the British foreign secretary in relation to the need for the British government to cooperate fully in a comprehensive investigation in to the Dublin/Monaghan bombings of 1974; if there has been any response from the British authorities to the motions passed unanimously by Dáil Éireann in 2008, 2011 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20832/24]

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Brendan Smith

117. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there have been any recent responses from the British government into the need for full cooperation and comprehensive investigations in to atrocities including the Dublin/Monaghan bombings of 1974 and the Belturbet bombing of 1972; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20833/24]

Middle East

Brendan Smith

113. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline the details of his recent visit to the Middle East; the outcome of discussions with the different groups he met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20100/24]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

128. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the interim report of Operation Kenova with particular reference to the actions of the British agent in the IRA which caused so many tragedies and loss of life; if he has expressed concern about the failure to pursue prosecutions for deplorable actions detailed in this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13540/24]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Brendan Smith

129. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures that will be implemented to grow even further and strengthen the all-Ireland economy following the very welcome growth in cross-Border trade since 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13541/24]

Departmental Policies

Brendan Smith

29. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his proposals for further discussions with the British foreign secretary and the secretary of state for Northern Ireland on the need for the British government to respond positively and without further delay to the unanimous requests of Dáil Éireann regarding the Monaghan and Dublin bombings of May 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11117/24]

Departmental Policies

Brendan Smith

35. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there has been any recent substantive response from the British authorities in relation to the unanimous motions passed by Dáil Éireann concerning the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11118/24]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

53. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has discussed with the political parties in Stormont the potential of the Shared Island initiative to fund cross border projects to benefit communities North and South; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3329/24]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

56. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the range of projects that can be funded under his Department's Reconciliation Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3330/24]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

9. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in Northern Ireland in relation to the need to have the Assembly, Executive and North-South Ministerial Council restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55785/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

171. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on any recent discussions he has had in relation to the restoration of the executive in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50269/23]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

207. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for a report on his Department’s Shared Island Civic Society Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50270/23]

British-Irish Co-operation

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the next meeting of the British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place; the issues to be discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41855/23]

Election Monitoring Missions

Brendan Smith

54. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of members of the current roster of election monitors, which is due to end in December 2023; the number of short-term observers monitoring requests sent by his Department to roster members since this roster came into effect; the number of first-time members of this roster; the number of first-time members of this roster who were accepted to serve as short-term observers on monitoring missions; the number of first-time roster members who have not been invited to serve as short-term observers, or other missions so far during this roster; the number of roster members who have served as short-term observers on two or more missions during this roster; the number of roster members who have quit the roster during its term; if he accepts that the length of this roster should have been extended by at least one year to allow for the impact of Covid-19; and his plans to amend, improve and reform the future operation of the Irish election monitoring panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38752/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

66. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Foreign Secretary concerning legacy issues with particular reference to the totally unacceptable Legacy Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39304/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

67. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the next meeting of the British/Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place; the issues to be discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39310/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

68. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his most recent meetings with the political parties in Northern Ireland concerning the need to have the Assembly and Executive restored without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39311/23]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that everybody is not in a position to correspond by e-mail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36696/23]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

61. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there have been any recent discussions with the United States authorities in relation to immigration reform, with particular reference to the need to regularise the status of the undocumented Irish. [37118/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

119. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Foreign Secretary concerning legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35428/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

120. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise again with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the need to provide an exemption to the electronic travel authorisation scheme for tourists travelling to Northern Ireland via this State taking into account that the island of Ireland is marketed as one tourist destination and the need to avoid barriers to free travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35429/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

23. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had recent contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the need to provide an exemption to the electronic travel authorisation scheme for tourists travelling to Northern Ireland via this State, taking into account that the island of Ireland is marketed as one tourist destination and the need to avoid barriers to free travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31616/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

25. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the political parties in Northern Ireland in relation to the need to have the Assembly and the Executive restored at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28844/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

70. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland concerning legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28845/23]

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Brendan Smith

182. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will have further discussions with the British Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the need for the British government to respond positively and without further delay to the unanimous requests of Dáil Éireann concerning the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of May 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23940/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

93. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give further consideration to the reintroduction of a programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20941/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

42. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had recent discussions with the British government in relation to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill; if he has outlined again that it is unacceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19776/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

59. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in Northern Ireland in relation to the need to have the Assembly, Northern Ireland Executive and the North-South Ministerial Council restored without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19777/23]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

238. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of any recent discussions he had with the United States authorities regarding the need to regularise the status of the undocumented Irish and have an appropriate visa programme put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14556/23]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

239. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the British Foreign Secretary concerning the difficulties that will be caused by the proposed electronic travel authorisation scheme as that legislation is currently framed; if he is aware of the concerns of some people travelling across the Border on this island on a regular basis, both residents and visitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14557/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Brendan Smith

533. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures that will be implemented to eliminate delays in the processing of foreign birth register applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13121/23]

Human Rights

Brendan Smith

122. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give detailed consideration to all the issues outlined in a recent publication (details supplied); if he will raise these issues in appropriate fora such as the EU Foreign Affairs Council and the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11983/23]

Human Rights

Brendan Smith

123. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will seek a specific discussion at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the concerning issues outlined in a recent publication (details supplied) about the persecution of Christians around the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11984/23]

British-Irish Co-operation

Brendan Smith

82. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his attendance at the recent British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4264/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

124. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement he has had with the United Kingdom government on Northern Ireland legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4265/23]

British-Irish Co-operation

Brendan Smith

106. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the recent British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3460/23]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

604. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the implementation of the UK Nationality and Borders Act and the need to have exemptions to this scheme to ensure the continuation of the free movement of people on a cross-Border basis on this island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63514/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any recent discussions with the authorities in the United States in relation to the appointment by President Biden of a Special Envoy to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62377/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

128. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if in communications with the with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland he has raised the need for the British government and Northern Ireland authorities to fully co-operate in all investigations into atrocities such as the Belturbet bombing of December 1972 and the Dublin Monaghan bombings of May 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62824/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

129. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the present and unacceptable British government proposals to deal with legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62825/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the need to have the Assembly and Executive restored in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57736/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

242. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding the need to have the assembly and Executive restored and fully functioning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56016/22]

Passport Services

Brendan Smith

243. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department’s attention has been drawn to public comments in Britain in relation to the issue of Irish passports (details supplied); if he will clarify the veracity of same; the number of passports issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56017/22]

British-Irish Co-operation

Brendan Smith

457. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, to hold a meeting at an early date of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference at Taoiseach and prime minister-level. [55117/22]

Passport Services

Brendan Smith

26. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a Passport Office will be established in Ulster in view of the substantial increase in passport applications from that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48920/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

41. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in regard to the need to deal with legacy issues with particular reference to the need to implement agreements made previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48921/22]

Passport Services

Brendan Smith

171. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport office will be established in the province of Ulster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48977/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

980. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is proposed to have early meetings of the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference following the appointment of a new British Prime Minister, to discuss issues of immediate concern including the protocol legislation and the totally unacceptable proposals published by the British Government regarding legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41016/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

421. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will convey again to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the widespread and serious concerns in relation to the British Government proposals concerning legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39301/22]