Vol. 1029 No. 6
75. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's response to the escalation in the conflict in Ukraine, particularly the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57928/22]
I am taking this question for Deputy John Brady. I ask the Minister to outline the Government's response to the escalation in the conflict in Ukraine, particularly the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure. President Zelenskyy has spoken about the Russians using cold as a weapon of mass destruction. Everything from energy to the refugee crisis has been weaponised. The Russians have complete belief in hybrid, asymmetrical warfare and we need a response.
Since the further invasion of Ukraine in February, Ireland has been steadfast in its support for the Government and people of Ukraine, and we continue to be today. It is crucial that international law is respected and Ireland has been to the forefront of efforts at the United Nations to hold Russia accountable and to bring an end to the war in Ukraine as soon as possible. We have been consistent and vocal at the Security Council in our condemnation of Russia's actions and in calling out Russian disinformation. Ireland will continue to use our seat at the Security Council to call for an end to Russia's war of aggression, to push for the protection of civilians and to demand real accountability.
Ireland welcomed the eighth EU sanctions package against Russia on 6 October and has called for consideration of further measures to cut off the Kremlin’s remaining sources of revenue. The measures we have imposed are having a significant impact and we will continue to work together with EU partners to maintain this pressure. The recent large-scale attacks against civilians and critical infrastructure in Ukraine constitute another unacceptable escalation of the war and civilians are paying the highest price. Those responsible must be held to account.
The Government remains deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, particularly as winter approaches and in light of Russia’s ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure. We are grateful to the UN and other partners for their ongoing efforts. We know there is only one way to end the suffering in Ukraine, and that is for Russia to end its illegal war, withdraw its forces from the territory of Ukraine and restore peace.
Ireland’s solidarity with Ukraine is steadfast and resolute. We remain committed to supporting the people and Government of Ukraine for as long as it takes. Ireland has to date provided €20 million in humanitarian support and has committed almost €70 million in non-lethal assistance to Ukraine. I will shortly be announcing an additional bilateral package of assistance to Ukraine to help address immediate financing needs.
We all know the biggest victims in war are civilians. People were killed in Poland recently, and, unfortunately, this is what happens in war. The Irish people have shown significant solidarity with those dealing with Russian munitions daily. Things are not going particularly well for Vladimir Putin in the war, but the problem in this regard is that he has taken aim at civilians. He has tried to operate any level of asymmetrical warfare or hybrid operations that he thinks will have an impact. We have seen the attacks undertaken and the increase in the number of refugees who we will be dealing with in the near future. This is something Europe must deal with across the board. We have our issues here in this regard as well.
This is an horrific war. We may have seen up to 250,000 people killed already, and perhaps 200,000 of those have been military personnel on both sides. It is hard to know what the figure is in respect of civilian losses, but it could be anything between 40,000 and 60,000 people, or maybe more. This is horrific. We know the brutality with which civilians have been treated because we have, unfortunately, seen their corpses and mass graves. Many of these people were tortured and brutalised, some with their hands tied behind their backs. This is a horror show in the context of human suffering and this is why Ireland has taken such a clear view concerning this war and why we will continue to take a very clear view in respect of accountability for the war crimes that are likely to have taken place. We will continue to support Ukrainians who have had to flee. Here in Ireland, we now have about 63,000 or 64,000 refugees and this number will continue to grow. Through the European Peace Facility, EPF, we will continue to support the Ukrainian military to defend its people and country. We will also continue to increase the supports we provide from a humanitarian perspective to help the Ukrainian people, or as many as we can, through what is going to be a very difficult winter.
I accept that. We all want this war to end and for Russia to leave the Ukrainian lands its forces have taken. We want to see a peaceful situation restored. Hopefully, there will be a time when a straight player, such as Ireland, will be able to play a role in this regard. We all accept this opening does not seem to be there now, but we must live in hope and be prepared for such a situation.
On a European basis, and beyond, we must deal with the energy crisis. I refer to the specific difficulties we have across Europe, but beyond this I mention as well the particular issues occurring now in Ukraine as the Russians attempt to freeze people out. We have also had low-level-type hybrid operations undertaken by the Kremlin and the Russian Embassy here. I call for the Russian ambassador to be given his ticket home. I accept this might not be the line the Government is going to espouse, so are we looking at anything from a diplomatic perspective regarding dealing with this embassy?
I can understand the sentiment behind the call for closing the Russian Embassy here and the expulsion of the Russian ambassador. I can understand this anger and frustration when we see images daily of civilians and infrastructure being targeted and homes, apartment complexes, shopping centres and hospitals having been targeted and hit with missiles, drones etc.
I understand that sentiment, but my job is to be a Minister for Foreign Affairs who tries to think ahead and tries to ensure that we have diplomatic channels open, if and when they may be useful in the future.
We have at least 200 people living in Russia. There are probably more, but 200 registered with our embassy there. The embassy in Moscow is also responsible for a number of other countries bordering Russia. Like virtually every other country in the world, maintaining diplomatic channels while at the same time being clear and critical of the role that Russia is playing in this war, the illegality of it and the brutality of it, is the appropriate way to continue our efforts.
One cannot call for Ireland to be ready to make a diplomatic intervention and at the same time shut off diplomatic channels of communication. The two do not go together. Having said that, I understand the frustrations and the sentiment behind that ask.
76. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions that he has taken to date at the EU, UN or directly to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57817/22]
The scale of the unfolding hunger crisis in Somalia and in its neighbours in the Horn of Africa is truly shocking. It clearly demands an urgent and comprehensive international response. My question is simply to ask the Minister to set out what that response is.
The fight against hunger and malnutrition is a key priority of Ireland's international development programme. The numbers affected by hunger are rising globally, and the food security situation in the Horn of Africa is particularly acute, including in Somalia where experts are warning of an imminent risk, as the Deputy clearly outlined, of widespread famine.
I saw for myself the devastation in the Horn of Africa during my recent visit to the region. In response to the rapidly deteriorating situation, the Government is providing more than €100 million in assistance to countries across the region this year. This includes €30 million in immediate emergency funding, which the Minister, Deputy Coveney, worked on for the budget this year. Of this additional funding, a significant portion will go directly to our partners who are active in Somalia to meet the needs of those affected by the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country. This will build on the €65 million in direct humanitarian funding provided by Ireland to Somalia since 2012.
Ireland contributes to the humanitarian response in Somalia through funds such as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF, which responds to crises as they emerge. The CERF has contributed over €76 million in emergency relief in Somalia since 2021.
Ireland has been a long-standing champion of global efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition. At the December 2021 Nutrition for Growth Summit, Ireland pledged €800 million over the next five years for nutrition programmes. At the UN in September, we pledged an additional €50 million over three years to fight acute child malnutrition, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, and the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF.
Few of us who witnessed it at the time will forget the visit of then President Mary Robinson to Somalia in 1992. After three days of visiting camps and meeting starving people, she broke down and wept at a press conference in neighbouring Kenya. People will remember that.
Thirty years later it is happening again, only on an even greater scale. In a year of unprecedented hunger, according to the World Food Programme, 828 million people will go to bed hungry tonight. In the Horn of Africa, four consecutive failed rainy seasons with the potential failure of the fifth means that 22 million people are at risk of starvation.
The three decades of civil war combined with climate change has brought an unprecedented catastrophe. I welcome the allocations of money but we need to do more to ensure that the conflict that has existed for 30 years ends too.
Part of our programme, both at the UN and everything on which we are focused, is to address that. I very much remember the then President's visit to Somalia. What I saw in the Horn of Africa first-hand is that there is one difference and it is something we need to be so conscious of more than anything else. In previous times, there was a failure of rains over a period of years and those rains may return. What we are looking at now is the first complete failure caused by climate change. This is a situation that has been brought about where there will not be a return to a pastoral life for the people who live in that part of the world. There will not be a return to the climate system that was there. One of the key things we are addressing, particularly through climate adaptation finance and through our development programme, is not only putting in place the immediate humanitarian aid which is needed on the spot to prevent the fact that 1.5 million children are acutely malnourished as we speak but to put in place the support mechanisms that will enable those people to change the way in which they are living. We are funding programmes that specifically will allow for a different type of agricultural existence to take place there where people will be able to remain and continue to live because we are never going back to what we had because of climate change.
I warmly welcome the Government's focus on these matters. Both the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, have a clear focus on the issue of hunger. Ireland has championed, with the United States, hunger at the United Nations as an absolute priority but now 22 million people face starvation in the Horn of Africa. There is an immediate issue that needs to be resolved as best we can, ensuring that that does not happen and those people do not succumb and that they survive.
Of course, the Minister of State is correct that the larger issue of climate change fundamentally alters matters. That is why I welcome at least that element of the Sharm el-Sheikh conclusions that there will be a resilience fund to support countries such as Somalia but we need to, as I say, have an immediate and urgent response as well as the medium-term response the Minister of State describes.
There is, and that is why we put the supplementary amount of €30 million in place this year. That is why most of that will go into Somalia and will go into our partners who are on the ground in a position to immediately deliver on that.
I thank the Deputy for acknowledging there is incredible work being done by Ms Samantha Power in USAID in terms of this. With ourselves, they are probably to the forefront in highlighting the issues involved and in putting the supports and structures in place to try to make a real difference on the ground.
We need to continue to advocate strongly for more involvement. I will be raising this with my ministerial colleagues at our next European Council of Ministers meeting because this is the number one issue we are facing in Africa in terms of the potential for catastrophic famine. We need to act now before the famine and before those images that we all remember with such horror are a day-to-day occurrence on our television screens.
77. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's response to the threats by the Iranian Government to execute protestors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57929/22]
I ask the Minister to outline the Government's response to the threats by the Iranian Government to execute protestors. We all have been deeply shocked by the killing of Ms Mahsa Amini. We have seen the bravery of the protestors. A large amount of people have made the ultimate sacrifice because of this. We have seen the bravery, particularly of Iranian women. I want to get the Government's response on this. We even saw the Iranian national team show solidarity with what is happening at present in Iran.
Ireland opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, and I am deeply concerned by the recent reports that the Iranian Government has sentenced a number of people to death for their involvement in the ongoing protests.
Ireland has consistently raised our concerns around the high number of executions in Iran, including though the Universal Periodic Review process at the Human Rights Council. I urge Iran to declare a moratorium on executions, and to consider alternative sentencing.
The vast majority of those who have been arrested by the Iranian authorities in recent weeks, by some estimates more than 15,000 people, were by and large exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.
I commend the courage of the Iranian women and men who continue to exercise their fundamental rights. The Iranian security and police forces have continued to respond with lethal force and the level of violence perpetrated against protestors has only continued to rise in recent weeks.
Ireland raises human rights issues with Iran at every suitable opportunity, including in our direct contacts with Iranian officials, in contributing to EU policy on Iran, and in international fora such as the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. I have spoken directly to my Iranian counterpart about these issues, most recently in September at the UN and on 6 October directly by phone. I reiterated Ireland’s position when I summoned the Iranian ambassador to Iveagh House on 20 October.
In 2022, as in the past, Ireland co-sponsored the annual Canadian-led resolution at the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, which was adopted on 16 November. The resolution addresses a broad range of issues related to severe human rights violations in Iran. Ireland has also supported the call to hold a special session of the Human Rights Council on 24 November to discuss the concerning human rights situation that continues to develop in Iran. This is an evolving situation. It is very worrying. Many protesters are in a very vulnerable situation. The resolve of the Iranian people, particularly younger generations, has been extraordinary in recent weeks and I expect it will continue.
I agree with the Minister that huge resolve has been shown by Iranians across the board, especially Iranian women, who are rightfully absolutely outraged at what happened to Mahsa Amini. The level of force and lethal force employed by the Iranian regime to a degree shows the level of resolve. We are aware of a phenomenal level of violence and it is probably very difficult to get the full numbers. A very large number of people have been killed. We are told a number of them were children. It is vital that at every level and forum we are able to bring this to the fore. Will the Minister go into some detail on his interactions? We know the Iranian regime has also put out its own story on how it presents these protests. I imagine, not to put words in the Minister's mouth, that at times he has had need to call it out on this.
I have had much more interaction with my Iranian counterpart than most Irish foreign ministers would have. This is because of our role on the Security Council. We are what is called a facilitator of Resolution 2231. Effectively, this means we put reports together for the Security Council on the progress, or lack thereof, on what is called the Iranian nuclear deal or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA. This is something Ireland volunteered to do at the start of our term on the Security Council. To be honest, it was one of the impossible files. Since the change in President of the US, there has been a real effort in recent years to try to rebuild what President Trump deliberately collapsed. This was a deal whereby the western world would remove sanctions on Iran in return for complete transparency in the Iranian nuclear programme. I have visited Tehran twice in this regard. I have spoken to the Iranian foreign minister many times on it.
The relationship that has been built up around the JCPOA has allowed me to speak directly on our concerns about the human rights abuses of protesters. We have called for an independent investigation into what happened to Mahsa Amini. We are concerned that Iran has provided Russia with weapons that are now targeting civilians in Ukraine. These are straight conversations where Ireland is calling out breaches in international law. There is also a very concerning situation if Iran continues to support Russian efforts targeting civilians in Ukraine.
I welcome the response of the Minister. He has a level of access to the regime in Iran. This is down to vital work done to build up relationships. For the want of a better term, I suppose it is normalising the situation as would benefit all of us internationally in making this world a safer place. It had been scuppered by President Trump. What is happening now has to be called out for what it is. It has to be made absolutely clear to the Iranian regime that there can be no acceptance whatsoever of what it is doing at present. There needs to be an independent investigation into the killing of Mahsa Amini. Beyond this, as the Minister said, the protesters are in a very difficult set of circumstances and they need to be protected. We need to ensure we are not looking at a further crackdown or even executions, which would be utterly unacceptable.
Ireland has been very involved in this debate. We have had access beyond what we normally have because of involvement in a completely different issue. Of course, issues are all interlinked when it comes to bilateral relationships and relationships with countries in the UN and elsewhere. We have supported targeted sanctions against those responsible for the inappropriate treatment of protesters in Iran. We have supported those targeted sanctions at EU level. Ireland will continue to be very much at the centre of the conversation at EU level on the relationship with Iran. I have to say it is strained significantly at present given what we are seeing, particularly young girls protesting for a right to be themselves. There is support throughout the European Union for these aspirations. There is also the very concerning imagery of Iranian-made drones being used in Ukraine. Obviously this has to be subject to evidence but I believe the evidence is there. This has created a worsening relationship. I hope Iran will reflect on the aspiration to improve relations over time.
78. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of any engagement that he has had with his counterparts in other EU countries regarding the recent draft resolution (details supplied), which Ireland voted in support of, by the UN Special Political and Decolonization Committee requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands since 1967; if Ireland will support the resolution when it comes before the UN General Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58129/22]
My question is very specific. It is to ask what engagement the Minister has had with his counterparts in other EU countries on the recent draft resolution, on which Ireland voted in support, by the UN Special Political and Decolonization Committee requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on Israel's occupation of Palestinian land since 1967. The resolution is very detailed. It is nine pages long and includes serious language.
I am familiar with it because we supported it. We were one of the few EU countries to do so. I believe we were one of only five. Others either abstained or voted against it. I wish to convey my heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of those killed or injured in the tragic fire in the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza a few days ago.
Turning to the Deputy’s question, I welcomed the adoption by the UN Fourth Committee of the Resolution on "Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem". This resolution addresses a number of key concerns that are consistent with Ireland’s long-standing position, including calling for urgent measures to ensure the safety and protection of Palestinian civilians and demanding that Israel cease all of its settlement activities. It has been supported by Ireland in successive sessions of the General Assembly, including this year.
An important new element in this year’s resolution was a request to the International Court of Justice, ICJ, for an advisory opinion on issues arising from Israel’s continuing occupation of Palestinian territory. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
Advisory opinions of the court, while not legally binding, can nevertheless contribute to the clarification of international law and, therefore, given the authority of the court, may carry significant weight.
The deteriorating situation on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territory is deeply concerning and it is important that the international community supports Palestinian efforts in seeking legal responses to the occupation. Ireland is a firm supporter of the ICJ and welcomes the increased recourse of states to its advisory role in clarifying international law.
In accordance with normal practice, there has been regular and structured co-ordination between EU member states on the ground in New York, on this and other resolutions to be acted upon by the UN General Assembly. While a common EU voting position was not possible for this resolution, I welcome the constructive engagement between the Palestinian observer mission to the United Nations and the EU and its member states on all resolutions related to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.
I take it as a forgone conclusion that the Minister will support it when it comes before the UN General Assembly.
Yes.
I thank the Minister for clarifying that.
On the matter of Palestine, I know the Minister is on record as being a strong advocate of the Palestinian people but while that is the case, it seems that we wait for Europe on an awful lot of occasions to see what its position is. On this occasion, the position is divided, although I see 98 countries voted in favour of it, 17 voted against, and 52 abstained.
I ask the Minister, while on the UN Security Council - temporary and all as it may be - to stand up for the Palestinian people. I say this in the context that a year has elapsed since the designation of the six organisations as terrorist organisations. During that time, a joint statement from ten EU member states, including Ireland, said that no substantial evidence has been provided by Israel in respect of designating them as terrorist organisations, yet they remain terrorist organisations.
As the Deputy knows, I have been and continue to be vocal on that issue. I remain seriously concerned by Israel's designation of six Palestinian NGOs, including Irish Aid and EU partner organisations, as terrorist entities. This designation has the potential to affect not only these six organisations, but civil society more broadly across the occupied Palestinian territory. It could seriously undermine vital humanitarian development and human rights work. This issue continues to be a priority for Ireland. In the context of the UN Security Council, Ireland has repeatedly raised this matter in monthly meetings of the Security Council, stressing our continued commitment to and support of civil society.
We have asked, over and again, for the evidence that forms the basis for this designation and we have yet to see anything credible that links these NGOs to terrorist activity. I think the EU, as in its institutions, has taken the same position. Obviously, different countries within the EU take different positions. I can only speak for Ireland. We will continue to raise this issue. It is so important there is a strong presence of civil society and non-governmental organisations across the West Bank and in Gaza so that people can speak the truth and legally challenge certain decisions. That is how democracies work. We will continue to support the organisations we have been working with.
Democracy is not working when it comes to Israel and the problem is the possible effects of that on the ground. The organisations that have been designated as terrorist organisations have been directly affected. They have been raided, ransacked and forcibly closed, with their equipment confiscated.
How long more are we going to wait before we do something about that designation? It has to be lifted. How long more is the Government going to wait before it gives a response to the Amnesty report that said Israel operates an apartheid system? When are we going to get the considered opinion from the Minister and the Department on our official reaction to that? We were told in June of this year that it was being considered. There has been no substantive response. Correspondence of 21 June states that, with regard to the recommendations and conclusions of the Amnesty report, Ireland will continue to engage with these to influence our approach. If they are not weasel words, Minister. There is an Amnesty report with damning conclusions and findings. What is our official, considered response given the lapse of time since the report's publication?
It is unfortunate the Deputy used a term such as "weasel words" on such an issue.
I withdraw those words in the interest of making progress on this serious issue.
I thank the Deputy and appreciate that. Ireland is one of the most credible voices on the planet in regard to the Palestinian-Israeli issue. We continue to be at the centre of debate within the EU, trying to make progress where that is not easy. Getting any form of consensus across the EU on new thinking and action in respect of the Middle East peace process has proven very difficult. Believe me, we have been trying and will continue to do so between now and the end of the year.
I have spoken to several other foreign ministers, who have a similar view to Ireland on these issues, to see if we can build consensus in trying to introduce some new thinking in a way that can support democracy across Palestine and raise serious questions with a new Israeli Government in terms of its responsibilities. That is how we make a difference, rather than making grand statements or issuing press releases in response to reports, by changing something on the ground in terms of the EU's approach on this issue and our relationship with the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority.
