Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:1. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the UN General Assembly. [48037/22]
Ceisteanna - Questions
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Seán Haughey
Ceist:2. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the UN General Assembly. [49950/22]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:3. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the UN General Assembly. [51711/22]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:4. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the UN General Assembly. [51714/22]
Bríd Smith
Ceist:5. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the UN General Assembly. [51717/22]
Mick Barry
Ceist:6. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the UN General Assembly. [52020/22]
James Lawless
Ceist:7. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the UN General Assembly. [52029/22]
Mick Barry
Ceist:8. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the UN General Assembly. [53551/22]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together.
I visited New York for UN high-level week from 21 September to 23 September. While there, in addition to delivering Ireland's national statement, I had the opportunity to engage with a number of other leaders in round-table discussions, at bilateral meetings and in the margins. I had formal bilateral meetings with the Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres; the President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi; the President of Nigeria; the Vice President of Uganda; and the Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands.
I participated in a round-table discussion on prospects for the Sahel region, convened by the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Guterres, and attended by regional states and organisations, as well as by members of the UN Security Council. I also participated in a sustainable development goals-related event on the implementation of the UN global accelerator on jobs and social protection, convened by Mr. Guterres and the Prime Minister of Belgium, Mr. Alexander De Croo. I took part in a panel discussion on jobs and social protection to recover from overlapping crises. This was alongside Vice President Alupo and facilitated by Mr. Achim Steiner of the UN Development Programme, who delivered a keynote address. I also attended a forum of small states reception, hosted by Singapore.
In my statement to the General Assembly, I said that all countries, no matter how small, have a contribution to make to international peace and security and to economic and social development and that all people have the right to live in dignity and have their human rights and fundamental freedoms respected. I noted, however, that this is not the case for those currently facing hunger and food insecurity, nor is it the case for those in Ukraine who are being bombarded by Russian missiles and for many people in Syria, Afghanistan or Palestine. I spoke also of the devastating impacts of climate change, which often affects most those who bear least responsibility for its causes. I cautioned that despite these challenges and their scale, we must not lose faith in the UN or protections that a rules-based international order, for all its shortcomings, provides. I highlighted the successes that Ireland has achieved working with partners during its current term on the Security Council – for instance, in terms of humanitarian access to Syria and on ensuring the role of women as peace-builders and agents of change is at the heart of UN peacekeeping and political missions across the globe.
When speaking at last month's General Assembly, the Taoiseach acknowledged in his remarks that Israeli settlements are a clear violation of international law, that the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is untenable and that the global community cannot become inured to it. At least five Palestinians were killed yesterday and 21 wounded in the occupied West Bank after a wave of Israeli forces entered Nablus. Civilians have described the city as a scene from hell. Last week, a dozen Israeli soldiers raided a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem to arrest a 16-year-old child, Shadi Khoury. The soldiers beat him so badly that there was a trail of blood left outside the family home as they dragged him from it blindfolded and barefoot. He continues to be held without charge. Shadi's classmates held a vigil for him yesterday, calling for his release. As Ms Diana Buttu has observed, the international community seems to have a fiction that there is somehow Israel and also the settlements, as though they were separate from one another. In reality, they are one. This week, a committed settler was appointed army chief in the occupied West Bank, which will serve only to underpin the long-voiced concerns about collaboration between the Israeli army and settlers in attacks against Palestinians. The normal rhetoric and controlled condemnation of this has to stop. There has to be robust action to hold Israel to account. What is the Government going to do to support and champion the occupied territories Bill?
The world is in a very difficult and dangerous place at this time. There are numerous conflicts taking place, including the war in Ukraine. Climate change is now a reality in many countries. Conflict and climate change together have brought about famines and droughts, unprecedented world hunger and food insecurity. As if these were not enough, we are now witnessing the decline in democratic values throughout the world. During our two years on the UN Security Council, we rightly kept the focus on the effects of global warming on developing countries and how it creates even more conflict. The Taoiseach said as much in his address to the UN last month. He also correctly labelled Russia as a rogue state. In his contribution just now, he said we cannot lose faith in the UN. He referred to perceived shortcomings. How does he perceive the UN to be working in 2022? Is Russia's ability to veto UN resolutions a serious weakness? Is the UN, therefore, in need of reform to protect the rules-based international order? What else can be done to support the UN in its important work?
This morning Israeli forces raided several areas in the occupied West Bank. Six more Palestinians were killed and 21 were wounded. This is just a small part of a much more general escalation by Israel, with raids in Jenin and Nablus and blockades of whole communities. Many young people have been shot. There is also an ongoing attempt at ethnic cleansing in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem. Amnesty International produced a report this week that accuses Israel of having committed war crimes earlier this year in Gaza. The Taoiseach did mention these incidents in his UN Assembly speech but without making the assertive calls for action or sanctions that he directs towards Putin's bloody invasion of Ukraine. Can he possibly explain the inconsistency in standards and approach when it comes to the ongoing crimes against humanity, war crimes, illegal occupation, ethnic cleansing and apartheid practices that Israel perpetrates day in, day out, blatantly unapologetically and in respect of which no action is ever taken by the EU?
I met with aid agencies recently, who are warning that a devastating famine on a scale not seen since Somalia in 1992 when up to 300,000 people died is now imminent in the Horn of Africa. Already, hundreds of thousands of women and children have been forced from their homes and are gathering in large camps where supplies, including water, are expensive and increasingly scarce. These are climate refugee camps. The coming famine is almost entirely caused by climate change, with rains failing for the fifth season in a row and the sixth rainy season not looking much better. When is Ireland finally going to take meaningful action on climate at home and to push for other countries to do so abroad? Will the Irish Government push for a meaningful fund for finance for loss and damage for developing countries to be included in the final agreement at the Conference of the Parties, COP27? That will be 31 years after such a fund was first promised by rich countries during the Paris negotiations. Will Ireland join Scotland, Denmark and Wallonia in beginning to pay for loss and damage?
Research by Oxfam has shown that the profits of just six fossil fuel companies in the first six months of this year would more than cover the cost of major extreme weather and climate-related events in developing countries and still leave them with $70 billion in profits, yet they are being asked to pay nothing for loss and damage they are causing to the 40% of humanity living in the global south.
There are 60,000 political prisoners behind bars in Egypt. One of them, Alaa Abd el-Fattah, whose collection of prison writings was published earlier this year, has been on a 100 calories per day hunger strike since the start of April. The Egyptian dictatorship, having organised a military coup in 2013, now wants to organise a greenwashing publicity coup in 2022 by hosting the United Nations climate change conference, COP27. It is due to start on 6 November. Egyptian NGOs that have criticised the regime's record on the environment have been harassed, spied on and filtered out of the conference. Has the Government raised any objections to the location for COP27, and has it made the release of Egypt's political prisoners a serious issue in any fashion in the run-up to this conference? If not, why not?
I thank the Taoiseach for updating us on his speech to the UN General Assembly. I know he raised the plight of Palestine. I also want to raise with him the ongoing situation in Palestine where we are seeing a very serious escalation of violence by Israel as part of a month-long military campaign in the northern part of the West Bank with more than 100 Palestinians killed so far this year. This intensification of violence is deeply distressing to see. Does Ireland intend to raise this further at the Security Council? I know the Taoiseach raised it at the UN, but how can we use our position on the UN Security Council to highlight and put the spotlight on the appalling treatment of Palestinians by Israel?
Deputy Brady raised the issue of Palestine, as did a number of Deputies. Deputy Boyd Barrett said that I mentioned Palestine. I did more than mention it. I did not pull any punches in respect of Palestine in my speech, and I laid the blame where it clearly lay. I stated unequivocally the illegal nature of the settlements. I was very clear about it in my speech, as I was in condemning Russia. I am not into whataboutery. I will say if something is wrong in any given location. What is going on in Palestine is wrong. I have said this repeatedly. The Irish Government has said that a two-state solution is the only solution.
I know Deputy Brady's party has had a lot of engagement in America. The party has visited Senator Schumer and others and it has a lot of connections with influential congressmen. I do not know if they have ever raised the Palestinian issue with their American interlocutors, but I think they should. I would be interested to hear what their sense is of the position of the United States in terms of the congressmen and women that they meet.
I am more concerned about what the Taoiseach has to say.
I am interested in it. I think Sinn Féin should be consistent and when party members raise it here, they should also raise it when they go abroad on their fundraising missions in America when they meet Senator Schumer and pose for photographs with senior American politicians. I often wonder if they ever raise the issue of Palestine with them. I think that is a fair point at this stage.
We continually raise it here but get no answers.
Sinn Féin consistently attacks me but the Irish Government has been very responsive on Palestine.
What action?
We are one of the largest contributors to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, on a repeated basis, which assists both Gaza and Palestine. We have raised it. UN Secretary General Guterres has praised Ireland. He pulled me aside at a European Council meeting to thank Ireland for its assertiveness on the Security Council in respect of the Middle East and Palestine. It is very easy to come in here and throw cheap shots at the Government's position. We have been very consistent over the last number of decades. We are one of the few countries in the European Union that has asserted itself in respect of this issue and taken a lot of criticism for so doing, might I add, from different quarters. That is the reason I put the point to the Deputy. He needs to let us know what feedback his party is getting from the people they are meeting with and if they raise it with them at all. I never get any feedback on that.
Deputy Boyd Barrett raised that issue as well, including Nablus and so forth. I met with Mahmoud Abbas recently. I also met with the Palestinian Prime Minister in London, coincidentally, as we were going to the Queen's funeral. In my view there is an absolute need to stop the settlements and for a genuine peace process between Israel and Palestine but there is a need for reform within Palestine as well. We need elections within the West Bank and Gaza. There has not been an election to the authority in 15 years or more. That is not satisfactory either. We made these points. We need to continue to support the Palestinian National Authority, resource-wise, so that it can administer services to its people. Ultimately, the only way out of this endless saga is to try to get a two-state solution in place.
I do not think that in any way invalidates our condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Deputy Boyd Barrett seemed to suggest. What is going on in Ukraine is beyond condemnation at this stage. It is incredible inhumanity, in particular the drone attacks on civilian targets and energy security. Putin basically wants to make life in Ukraine uninhabitable. I have not seen the scale of what he is doing anywhere in modern times, bar what happened in Syria and, again, he himself did that.
Or Iraq.
I do not justify what happened in Iraq either, but what is happening now in Ukraine-----
Or Yemen maybe.
-----is a reckless, illegal, immoral invasion of a neighbouring state. The stock response of the Deputies is to ask what about this and what about that. Can they not very straightforwardly condemn Russia?
We do.
We do all the time. The Taoiseach can put that on the record. We condemn Russia.
Deputy Murphy raised the financing of climate change. Again, Ireland has been to the fore in respect of the global financing of countries in particular those that need supports. We have been very strong on helping small island states, for example, and their need for adaptation in respect of climate change and how it will impact on them immediately.
We pushed very strongly at COP26 for an agreement and we increased our own contribution to global financing in respect of climate change. Again at the Security Council, in relation to famine, I reference the work of our diplomats. They are a young team but they are an exceptional team representing our country. They were instrumental in maintaining the humanitarian corridor in Syria, which we got passed at the Security Council, despite Russia's reluctance. That ensures food for millions of people in Syria. In Ethiopia, the government reduced the number of our diplomats at the embassy in Addis Ababa because of our stance at the Security Council in respect of the war in Ethiopia. They did not like Ireland standing up and assertively saying what should happen. We called for a proper peace process and we called for engagement, but that was frowned upon, with the result that our embassy was reduced in numbers. Ireland has been very effective at the Security Council and we have taken strong stances from a humanitarian perspective. During our term, in particular, we pushed the role of women in conflict in all of the areas such as Afghanistan and right around the world. We pointed to the example of significant women involved in reconciliation in Colombia and elsewhere. We invited them before the Security Council to make presentations.
Deputy Haughey raised the important issue of reform. In my view, the United Nations does need reform. The fact that one of the five members that hold the veto could engage in this kind of wanton destruction of a neighbouring state calls into question the membership of the Security Council, particularly the permanent five, and it injures and undermines the effectiveness and the capacity of the council. It is in need of urgent reform, and we consistently work on that in terms of broadening the Security Council and its membership into the future. It should reflect modern-day realities in terms of demographics and how the world has evolved.
Meanwhile, we continue to work with the UN Secretary General. It should be recognised that he has been effective in the work he did on the Black Sea grain initiative, which has done a lot of work to prevent hunger and famine in Africa and the Middle East. It is imperative that that Black Sea grain initiative is renewed to prevent further hunger across the board.
Departmental Strategies
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:9. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the well-being framework for Ireland overseen by his Department. [49698/22]
Bríd Smith
Ceist:10. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the well-being framework for Ireland overseen by his Department. [51716/22]
Ivana Bacik
Ceist:11. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the well-being framework for Ireland overseen by his Department. [52892/22]
Mick Barry
Ceist:12. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the well-being framework for Ireland overseen by his Department. [53212/22]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the well-being framework for Ireland overseen by his Department. [53227/22]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the well-being framework for Ireland overseen by his Department. [53230/22]
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:15. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the well-being framework for Ireland overseen by his Department. [53310/22]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 15, inclusive, together.
The well-being framework is a programme for Government commitment to measure how we are doing overall as a country and improve our understanding of quality of life in Ireland. It does this by bringing economic, societal and environmental impacts together under one framework. It also places a particular focus on equality and sustaining well-being into the future.
In June, the Government published a second report on Ireland's well-being framework, Understanding Life in Ireland: The Well-being Framework. This report outlines the longer term approach for integrating the framework into the Irish policymaking system over time. Alongside the second report, a high-level analysis of the well-being dashboard, which is hosted by the Central Statistics Office, was also published. This provides a medium-term, holistic view of quality of life in Ireland. Overall, the dashboard provides a positive picture of the country, as Ireland performs well in 21 of the 35 indicators. Only one dimension reveals a negative overall picture, namely, the environment, climate and biodiversity dimension.
This year, the well-being framework and the high-level analysis fed into the budgetary process. It was a theme at the national economic dialogue in June, and the analysis featured in the summer economic statement and as part of budget day documents. This will now be an annual contribution to the budgetary process that will support a broader discussion of the impacts of budgetary decisions. Work is ongoing in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on how to further integrate the framework into policymaking and expenditure decisions.
It is important that further integration is progressed in a measured and coherent way and implemented gradually. Over time, the framework can help inform policymakers take a more rounded view, based on evidence, of what determines quality of life in Ireland beyond just economic growth.
Ireland's well-being framework is a laudable initiative. The limitations of GDP as a measurement of a country's progress has long been acknowledged. As with any initiative, it can be judged only by the positive outcomes it delivers for society. Like equity budgeting, we have yet to see what tangible benefits and realisation of rights it will deliver. What impact, for example, will the framework have for people living in residential services for people with disabilities, who contributed to the HIQA report on resident forums published today? HIQA's report includes the distressing confirmation that residents want to get out of residential settings and live in the community but there is nowhere for them to live on their own.
On Sunday, my party leader, Deputy McDonald, met Geraldine Lavelle, who, as a result of collision when out cycling nine years ago, suffered a spinal fracture that left her paralysed from the chest down. After her rehabilitation, Geraldine moved into a congregated setting for what she thought would be a number of months in order to adjust to life with her injury. Eight years later, she is still there, with no indication of when appropriate social housing will be provided for her. She rightly believes that everybody needs a place to call home and that segregated settings do not feel like a home.
Frameworks are not worth the paper they are written on if people's lived experiences are not front and centre and if the State's failure to provide for them is not addressed. How will the framework deliver for Geraldine and the contributors to HIQA's resident forums?
The Taoiseach will agree that access to women's reproductive healthcare is essential to well-being, in particular that of women and girls. I say this as we mark this week the tenth anniversary of the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar. Of course, since then, we have seen the repeal of the eighth amendment and the introduction of very welcome abortion legislation in this jurisdiction. The announcement yesterday by the UK's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that the British Government would commission abortion services is welcome but also long overdue because women have for so long been denied access to basic healthcare.
I was glad to attend today the timely launch by the National Women's Council of Ireland of the new report Every Woman, setting out an overview of access to reproductive healthcare and choice for all. This report highlights the continued gaps in abortion healthcare, even in this jurisdiction. We in the Labour Party put forward a submission to the public consultation on the review of our abortion laws in March, calling for the repeal of the three-day waiting period and for better geographic coverage so that women in all counties can access services.
I was glad to launch the conference of the Southern Taskgroup on Abortion and Reproductive Topics, START, on 1 October. START is a group of doctors providing front-line services that was initiated by Cork-based GPs, obstetricians and gynaecologists. Doctors are seeking to ensure there is a stronger network across the country, and we are seeking to ensure strengthened access to reproductive healthcare once the review has concluded. Given that the consultation closed on 1 April, can the Taoiseach say when we will see progress on the reform of our abortion law to ensure greater access for women?
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. The Government's target is to retrofit 500,000 homes by 2030, or 62,500 homes a year, but so far this year only 681 homes have been approved and only 89 retrofits completed. It is safe to say the Government is about a million miles off target at this point and that is no surprise. If people are asked under the scheme to fork out €10,000, €20,000, €30,000 or €40,000 upfront in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, this is what the Government is going to get. There should be no upfront charges. The cost should be covered by the State, with people paying back a portion, based on ability to pay.
Someone once said the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. When is the Government going to change its policy on this issue?
The well-being framework rightly points to access to housing as a key component of well-being. For the more than 100 residents of Tathony House, an apartment complex in Dublin 8 with 35 households of workers, families and many children, their well-being was seriously shattered by an eviction notice from their landlord threatening the mass eviction of the entire block. Shockingly, the person who owns this property, who the residents estimate is probably making an annual income of about €700,000 a year, is trying to claim financial hardship as a justification for a mass eviction, which just tells us about some of the landlord class in this country.
The residents - I put this to the Taoiseach, as we have done with St. Helen's Court in Dún Laoghaire and other cases where tenants have faced eviction through no fault of their own - are asking that the State step in and buy that block to ensure there is no mass eviction of these tenants. That should be a systematic policy pursued by the Government. We just cannot have a situation where, again and again, ruthless, profit-hungry landlords, just to make money, can threaten people with mass eviction into homelessness, with all the suffering, hardship and trauma that involves. I hope the Taoiseach will take seriously that request.
On Sunday, I joined workers protesting outside Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. They have been protesting over the last few weeks about the implementation of parking charges for them.
The cost will amount to at least €600 annually for many of the workers, which they will have to pay just to come to their place of work. If they cannot find a space in the limited staff car park and have to use the customer car park, this could rise to more than €2,000. Effectively, this a pay cut for these workers. They are 100% right to campaign and fight against it. Liffey Valley should be forced to offer free parking for its staff, as it has up until now. If it wants to encourage workers to take public transport, it should be covering public travel passes. Does the Taoiseach agree that it is disgusting that Hines, the real estate investment trust that owns Liffey Valley and that has more than €3.7 billion worth of assets in management in Ireland, is trying to squeeze even more profit out of these workers?
Deputy Brady raised the specific case of Ms Geraldine Lavelle. I am not familiar with the case in its entirety. I agree, however, that the more independent living services and facilities we can provide, the better. As the Deputy knows, we have different opinions from time to time in terms of closing residential care or evolving people from a residential care environment or integrated care setting to a home care setting. This approach has often created challenges for the services, particularly in terms of chronically sick young people or young people who, for a variety of reasons, have disabilities arising from accidents and so forth. There was a need for a resourced home care-based approach or independent living-based approach, which has been developed over a long period. I do not have the specifics of the case but the principle of facilitating independent living is accepted. Resources have been allocated on an annual and incremental basis. I am not familiar with this individual case. The Deputy stated that eight years have passed and that an appropriate setting has still not been provided, which is not satisfactory for that person.
Deputy Bacik raised the issue of access to woman's reproductive services and the work of the National Women's Council of Ireland, which published a report earlier. I outlined previously in the House, in the past week or so, where we are on that in terms of the Minister's various initiatives from a research strand to a consultation strand. That is nearing completion. I will voice the opinion in the interim that there is an obligation on the HSE and all maternity hospitals to provide access under the Act. I am concerned that some hospitals have still not done that. I accept that there can be individual conscientious objections, but it is then a matter for the hospital or the HSE to provide enough resources to accommodate this in given situations in order that there is a maximum of access to legally available services in the State. I will raise the issues raised by the Deputy with the Minister for Health. However, I did outline to Deputy Bacik last week the exact timelines for the review of the legislation that is under way and that will come to finality fairly soon.
Deputy Barry raised the issue of retrofitting. I do not know if the Deputy was in the Chamber during the Order of Business. I am told that the article is not correct. I have been informed by the Department that 29,000 have actually been completed. They are on target in terms of the retrofitting of homes. The article's reference to a figure of 89 related to a specific scheme involving the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, which was only started in February. It is achieving its targets, however. In fact, applications were up 150% this year after the announcement of the new scheme. It is very much on target. We must accelerate the numbers even further in order to meet the 2026 target, which is very high indeed. I will get those figures for the Deputy as they were presented to me. The note I received indicates that the article was mistaken and incorrect. It is certainly not reflective of the progress that has been made. I also heard it being quoted this morning on radio. Apparently, it is an incorrect article based on incorrect information. I stand to be corrected if that is the case but I think we need to bring clarity to it. The Department gave me that information. This is difficult for the Deputy; he made a presentation based on the article. I am told it is not grounded in the reality of what is happening, however.
Deputy Boyd Barrett raised a specific issue. I did not get the name of the building.
It is called Tathony House in Dublin 8.
I am not familiar with the background to that case in terms of the notice that issued to all 35 tenants.
Households.
I do not know whether the Deputy has spoken or written to the Minister in respect of this.
Letters have gone to both.
I do not know what the local authority's view is with regard to this matter. In the first instance, the local authority has to respond if it feels it is the right approach and, indeed, the Minister as well. There are various frameworks to try to get issues like this resolved. I do not know what the situation is in respect of the owner. I do not know the background at all, but I will raise the matter with the Minister.
Deputy Paul Murphy referred to Liffey Valley employees and the car park. This matter has been raised consistently in the House. These issues should be resolved through the normal employer-employee labour relations mechanisms. It does seem to be a very odd dispute. In my view, both sides should take steps to resolve this in the interests of all concerned. The public will be somewhat taken aback by what is occurring. Again, I do not have the full detailed background to the matter. I urge both sides to get into a process to get it resolved.
Departmental Offices
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:16. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [49699/22]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:17. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [51678/22]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:18. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [51712/22]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:19. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [51715/22]
Bríd Smith
Ceist:20. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [51718/22]
Mick Barry
Ceist:21. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [52021/22]
Ivana Bacik
Ceist:22. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the international unit of his Department. [52893/22]
Seán Haughey
Ceist:23. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international unit of his Department. [53397/22]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 23, inclusive, together.
The international section of the Department supports my work at an international level, beyond Europe, to promote Ireland's foreign and economic policy objectives and develop and maintain strong bilateral and multilateral relations. Working closely with other Departments, especially the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Defence, the section provides me with advice and briefings on bilateral relations and international issues generally, including international peace and security, overseas development assistance and international human rights.
The section also oversees the implementation of the Government's Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025 strategy, including its renewal. The section chairs a senior officials' group on the sustainable development goals, SDGs, which provides strategic overview and monitors overall performance, supporting the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which has overall responsibility for overseeing coherent implementation across government.
The section co-ordinates my international travel as well as my engagements with visiting Heads of State and Government and with other international figures and organisations. Recent outbound visits include my visits to Japan and Singapore in July and my attendance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
In my political meetings in Japan and Singapore with Prime Ministers Kishida and Lee, respectively, we discussed Russia's war on Ukraine, the impact of which is being felt all around the world. We also discussed a number of global topics of shared concern, including how to restore broken supply chains in the wake of the pandemic and how we can all act together on climate. Japan continues to be the largest source of inward investment into Ireland from the Asia-Pacific region, and I was pleased to meet with a number of industry representatives and Irish State agency clients while there. While in Tokyo, I was also pleased to turn the sod on a new Ireland House, which will bring our embassy and State agencies under one roof in this critical overseas market in order to ensure a joined-up team Ireland approach.
Approximately 5,000 Irish citizens call Singapore home, living and working there and making significant contributions. In my meeting with Prime Minister Lee, we also discussed economic and social changes in each of our countries. In particular, I set out the positive impacts the marriage equality referendum has had on Irish society. I welcome the decision taken since in August by Prime Minister Lee to repeal the law which had criminalised sex between men in that country.
At the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, I delivered Ireland's national statement. I also engaged with a number of other leaders in round-table discussions, bilateral meetings and in the margins, including with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, the President of the UN General Assembly, the President of Nigeria, the Vice President of Uganda and the Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands. I participated in a round table discussion on the Sahel region, as I said earlier, attended by regional states and organisations as well as by members of the Security Council. I participated in a SDG-related event on jobs and social protection, delivering a keynote address. I also attended a Forum of Small States reception hosted by Singapore.
There are seven contributors. They will each have one minute. I call Deputy Brady.
Iranian protests following the death of Mahsa Amini are now in their sixth week.
Support for the country's women is growing but so is the regime's brutality against its own citizens. Mahsa was arrested in Tehran by Iran's so-called morality police and taken to a re-education centre for lessons in modesty, where she later died. Earlier this month, Iran's revolutionary guard went into a girls' secondary school and forced the children to sing a pro-regime song. The girls refused and were beaten. Seven were arrested, ten hospitalised and 16 year-old Asra Panahi died. The country's military and police continue violently to raid homes, workplaces and education settings. Protestors are beaten and killed and jails are now overflowing with increasing numbers under house arrest.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs summoned the Iranian ambassador last week to raise the case of Mahsa Amini's death and the disproportionate response of the country's security forces to the protesters. What were the outcomes of this meeting? Did the ambassador confirm that Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi is currently under house arrest? What engagement have the Taoiseach and Minister had with their European counterparts? What further actions will Government and the EU take if the additional targeted sanctions against Iranian individuals do not deliver the intended results?
The State and all of us internationally are dealing with supply chain issues, inflation, the energy crisis and the cost-of-living crisis. Our dealings with the European Union are more important than ever as are bilateral relations, particularly with the United States, while they are absolutely necessary in respect of our nearest neighbour. Has the Taoiseach spoken with or has he plans to speak with Rishi Sunak? We have the issue of the Irish protocol, we all want the Executive up and running and we know we are looking at a deadline and are not quite sure what is going to be the case on Friday.
To return to what the Taoiseach said about Palestine and his uncritical commitment to the so-called two-state solution, the entire history of the State of Israel has been 70 years of relentless ethnic cleansing and displacement of Palestinian people. The two-state solution is a mirage and a ploy promoted by Israel and the United States, behind which they continue the relentless campaign of ethnic cleansing, colonisation of Palestinian territory and the permanent displacement of about 9 million Palestinians around the world. Instead of repeating that meaningless mantra, should we not call out the apartheid, ethnic cleansing, illegal occupation, war crimes and crimes against humanity and insist that the world isolates a regime perpetrating those kind of crimes? We should insist on equality, self-determination and freedom for the oppressed Palestinian people.
The Government has very cynically used Putin's imperialist and brutal invasion of Ukraine to drive a coach and horses through what is left of the idea of neutrality. Last week the Minister, Deputy Coveney, said that Ireland will participate in the EU's training mission for the Ukrainian army expected to get under way in mid-November. It is very clear that this is the next step in the Government's determined effort to involve Ireland in European and eventually NATO military undertakings. It comes alongside the fact that the Irish Government has now participated in five meetings of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a group described by the US Secretary of Defense as a NATO alliance, a body which meets at the NATO headquarters at the US airbase of Ramstein in Germany. It comes alongside the escalation of Ireland's involvement in permanent structured co-operation, PESCO, and the provision of military equipment to Ukraine. The Government is doing all of this in open defiance of the wish of an overwhelming majority of people to remain neutral from all of the imperialist military blocs that are a scourge on the people of the world. It is also doing it without any vote under Article 28 of the Constitution which states clearly that the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann. Will the Government stop this attack on neutrality and instead focus on real solidarity with Ukrainian people, call for cancellation of the debt, shut down the shadow banking system here and provide housing for Ukrainians and all refugees and homeless people here?
I want to condemn in the strongest terms the vicious attacks on the right to strike being carried out in France by the Macron Government. The notorious CRS riot police have been unleashed against striking workers who have been threatened with six months in prison or €10,000 fines if they do not return to work. These are workers at TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil who dared to strike for 10% wage increases after TotalEnergies gave a €2.6 billion dividend to shareholders and Exxon recorded its largest quarterly profits ever. Incredibly, Macron presided over this repression while heaping praise on the Iranian oil workers who have rightly chosen to strike against the repressive Iranian regime. Will the Taoiseach condemn the actions of the Macron Government and the repression of the French State against workers fighting for fair play and social justice?
I raised the situation in Iran with the Taoiseach last week and condemned the brutality of the Iranian regime against women and girls who have been asserting their rights. I received an extraordinary letter today from the Iranian ambassador suggesting there was exaggeration in my "emotive expressions", that I had been making loaded comments and that my contribution was characterised by misinformation. I take huge issue with the response of the Iranian ambassador and renew my call on the Taoiseach. How can we maintain relations with a country that treats its own people in such a way, and that is so intent on spreading misinformation about what is going on in Iran? We know that there have been protestors who have died. We understand some 244 protestors have died including 32 children. We have seen reports of arrests of so many people for protesting for basic rights and women and girls that Iran has run out of jail cells. We are seeing of course also Iran continuing to provide kamikaze drones to Russia that are being used to bomb civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. I am renewing my call on the Taoiseach to end diplomatic ties with Iran given all of the terrible brutality the Iranian regime is perpetrating on its own citizens and others.
The international unit in the Department of the Taoiseach gives the Taoiseach advice on international issues including peace and security, overseas development assistance and fundamental human rights. It also monitors progress on the implementation of the UN strategic development goals. I welcome the recent launch of the new national implementation plan for these goals. As regards fundamental rights, like Deputies Bacik and Brady, I also wish to ask the Taoiseach about the current situation in Iran. The death of Mahsa Amini following her detention for failing to wear a hijab has sparked widespread protests. There has been a disproportionate response to these protests and a number of protestors have been killed, as we have heard. There are also concerns about the safety and well-being of the Iranian athlete climber Elnaz Rekabi. Now it appears that Iran is supplying drone weaponry to Russia for deployment in Ukraine. Will the Taoiseach continue to raise at EU level the need to impose additional sanctions on Iran in response to these ongoing abuses of fundamental human rights?
A number of Deputies including Deputies Haughey, Brady and Bacik have raised the Iranian situation. The death of a number of women and girls and the underlying human rights situation for women and girls in Iran stand to be condemned. It is of deep concern. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has twice raised the specific case of Mahsa Amini and the unjustified response to peaceful protestors directly with the Iranian foreign minister and has called in the Iranian ambassador. He has also raised with the Iranian ambassador concerns for the safety and welfare of Elnaz Rekabi, the Iranian rock climber who could face charges in Iran for not wearing a headscarf while competing at an event in South Korea. Iran's supply of weaponry to Russia, which Deputy Haughey referenced, is directly contributing to violations of international law. Last Thursday the European Union adopted additional targeted sanctions to add three Iranian individuals and one entity involved in the development and delivery of drones to Russia.
More will be added in the coming days.
The fundamental question of diplomatic relations applies to many states that engage in practices we do not approve of, but diplomacy is the last channel remaining to try to persuade people to do differently and to articulate our concerns, consistently raise issues and, into the future, try to develop channels to get a change in how people practise. It is a matter of the gravest of considerations to end diplomatic relations, particularly in a context where we decided only in more recent times to restore diplomatic relations with Iran and given we are working in the context of the UN Security Council on the nuclear file, endeavouring to get the six-party treaty in place, and get Iran, the US, the EU and so on involved in denuclearising any potential for nuclear weapons in Iran. Keeping our diplomatic channels open is very important to the realisation of our goals as members of the UN Security Council, especially since we were responsible for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA, file at the Council.
I must take issue with Deputy Murphy's point. He said we are cynically using Putin's war to drive a coach-and-four through our neutrality. One might imagine we had contrived the war to enable us to do this. It is a shocking thing to say.
It is what the Government is doing. It is more shocking to do it.
We are not doing that at all. I reject the claim in its entirety. The Deputy will hate me for saying this, but over the 45 minutes we have been here this afternoon, he has done what he does, which is to attack everyone else and to attack Ireland. He is attacking us now in the context of the Government and the Ukraine war. He is not attacking Russia.
I said it three times in a row.
The Taoiseach should stop misleading the Dáil.
May we have the Taoiseach without interruption?
Deputy Murphy says it and then he speeds on quickly.
The Taoiseach is lying and the record will show it.
Deputy Murphy is aware of the long-standing tradition of not using such language.
The point is the Deputy spent the past three or four minutes saying the Government is trying to breach neutrality. That was of more concern to him than the fact Iranian drones are raining down on Ukrainian civilians. Why did the Ukrainian Government ask us for help in regard to training? I met the Prime Minister the week before last at a meeting of the European Political Community. What did he ask me? He asked for help with demining. Why did he ask for help with demining? He did so because there are mines all over Ukraine.
The Deputy has turned that into an attack on neutrality. It makes my blood boil. He only sees evil everywhere. He sees wrong everywhere. He sees wrong motivation. I have made it clear we are not joining NATO and no Government decision has been taken. By the way, people can have different perspectives on that.
Why are people being sent to NATO headquarters?
I suggest we have a citizens' assembly in the fullness of time but not now in the middle of this war.
The Taoiseach is trying to drag us into a military conflict with no vote in the Dáil.
The Taoiseach, please, without interruption.
The point I am trying to make is that, where we can help and where we should help, is with what Prime Minister Shmyhal said is a real problem for Ukraine, which is that as Russian forces vacate areas, there are mines left behind.
Will the Taoiseach answer my question?
We knew this when we were involved, with Norway and the Vatican, in leading on the Convention on Cluster Munitions more than ten years ago. We know armies like the Russian army leave stuff behind them, which will lead to children having their legs amputated when they step on mines and so on. Ukraine has asked us for help with demining. I think we should train Ukrainians if they seek help on that aspect of it.
Is that all the EU military training is doing? No, it is not.
Other European countries are free to do what they want within their laws. We can only do what can be done within the framework we have set ourselves in terms of the triple lock and so on. We are not participants in the war because of our neutrality policy.
We are way over time, Taoiseach.
What about my question on the situation in France?
That has been made crystal clear to Ukraine. Our military neutrality has been made crystal clear to all parties. That is accepted. Please do not try to throw fog in the way or throw confusion about the place by accusing us of actions we are not engaged in and alleging motivations that are completely untrue.
Go raibh maith agat, Taoiseach.
Has the Taoiseach spoken to Rishi Sunak?
I want to give Mr. Sunak time to draw his breath. I have not called him yet.
We might draw breath ourselves.
On Deputy Barry's question, I do not know the specifics of the case but President Macron is a liberal politician who likes discussing and debating with people. I have no doubt he would welcome an opportunity at some stage in his life to debate with the Deputy the pros and cons of how society should best be organised.