Written Answers Nos 1-96
80. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions that will be taken by Ireland, including action plans, funding, and diplomatic support, to achieve the UN's stated aim of delivering zero hunger, the declaration for which he signed in New York on 25 September 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37679/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast week I was honoured to co-host the High Level International Meeting on Zero Hunger at the UN in New York. The Zero Hunger Challenge was launched by the UN Secretary General in 2012. He set the international community the challenge to achieve an end to global hunger within a generation. There has been significant progress in recent years, but the stark reality remains that over 800 million people across the world still suffer from hunger. Ireland is recognised internationally for our commitment to ending hunger. We have made this a central tenet of our development policy, and of our foreign policy. Since 2011, we have devoted a fifth of Irish Aid funding to actions that will end hunger.
We work on the challenge with governments in our partner countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with civil society and with the UN.
We have focused in particular on the period from pregnancy to age two – the critical ‘thousand day’ period for a baby. Under-nutrition is linked to almost half of all deaths in children under five. We provide funding for essential interventions such as fortification of foods, iron and vitamin supplements, and promoting breastfeeding and nutritious diets.
We invest in boosting the productivity of poor smallholder farmers, with a particular focus on women. We help farmers to improve the quality of their soil, diversify their crops and to adapt to a changing climate and support links to markets.
I was proud last week to sign the Zero Hunger Declaration to build political will and take action to deliver on our pledge to end hunger, and build a more just world for all.
84. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the authorities in Iran are moving towards a more democratic process facilitating a recognition of international standards in respect of human rights; the degree to which such efforts continue to be encouraged, facilitated and incentivised by the worldwide community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37686/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recent years the growing polarisation over the nuclear issue, and the isolationism of the Iranian authorities, made it very difficult to discuss or progress issues relating to human rights, civil society, or democratic principles with Iran.
Following President Rouhani’s election in August 2013, the new Government in Iran has made some welcome statements on improving the protection of human rights. Ireland and our EU partners strongly encourage any such moves in Iran. My Department has also provided the Iranian Foreign Ministry with information on human rights protection and mechanisms in this country. At parliamentary level, I am sure that visits to Iran this year by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and most recently by the Ceann Comhairle will have helped to underline these messages.
Ireland has repeatedly addressed the human rights situation in Iran in its bilateral contacts and in the relevant international fora. The issue was discussed during senior official level consultations between Ireland and Iran which took place in Tehran last July. At the most recent session of the UN Human Rights Council in September, Ireland expressed concerns about the persecution of religious minorities in Iran and our hope that the stated intention of Iran to improve human rights protection will include these minority groups. The upcoming Universal Periodic Review of the human rights record of Iran at the UN in Geneva will be an important opportunity for states to engage in dialogue with Iran on its human rights record and to make recommendations on how to improve it. In addition, later this year, Ireland will once again actively engage in discussions on the annual resolution on the human rights situation in Iran at the current 69th session of the UN General Assembly.
While we welcome positive overtures by the Rouhani administration, we have yet to see significant improvement on the ground in human rights. It may be that the new leadership’s focus on trying to resolve the nuclear issue, and avoid negative domestic backlash particularly from conservative quarters, is limiting their ability to act concurrently in this sphere. But human rights is very much an area where positive words must be followed up with actions and changes on the ground, and this is an area we will continue to monitor closely, along with our EU partners.
I would hope also that if agreement can be reached on the nuclear issue, as seems possible, this may help to act as a confidence building measure for better relations in other areas as well.
85. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the details of his recent meeting with the US Vice President and the Secretary of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37739/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently visited New York, Washington D.C. and Boston over the period from 23 September to 1 October. While there I had a wide range of meetings covering UN issues as well as bilateral US-Ireland relations and Irish community matters. While our paths had crossed at the UN in New York, I met bilaterally with both Vice-President Biden and Secretary of State Kerry during my visit to Washington D.C. I also participated at the swearing-in ceremony for the incoming U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley, presided over by Vice-President Biden.
While several issues were touched upon, the main focus of the discussion that I had with Vice-President Biden and Secretary of State Kerry in Washington D.C. was on Northern Ireland. Given the developments on all party talks involving both governments in Dublin and London, I saw these meetings as an important and timely opportunity to engage with the U.S. Administration and with Irish-American supporters of the Northern Ireland peace process. I stressed that active U.S. support remains critical to sustaining peace and political stability in Northern Ireland.
I was happy to hear at first hand that the U.S. Administration is committed to active engagement over the period ahead. Throughout the Peace Process, the unwavering support of successive U.S. Administrations has been critically important, as it will be again in addressing the current challenges.
In my meeting with Vice-President Biden and Secretary of State Kerry, I also conveyed the best wishes of the Government and people of Ireland to Ambassador O’Malley as he takes up his important position. The new Ambassador’s arrival in Ireland is all the more significant as the 90th anniversary of the establishment of Ireland-U.S. diplomatic relations occurs today, October 7.
While in Washington, I also had the opportunity to meet with the White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. In addition to Northern Ireland, I also raised with him the question of the undocumented Irish community in the U.S. I urged that President Obama would include their situation in the administrative action he is committed to taking before the end of the year.
86. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Catalan President, with the support of the Catalan Parliament, has signed a decree to hold a referendum on independence on 9 November 2014 and that the Spanish Government has declared it will block this democratic vote; his views on the right of the Catalan persons to democratically decide their own future. [37725/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraArrangements for the governance of any EU Member State are a matter for determination through that country’s democratic processes. Hence, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on such processes in any particular Member State of the European Union.
87. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the Cypriot reunification talks that the preparatory phase has ended and the talks are now entering an important and delicate phase; if he welcomes a UN envoy's meeting with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on 17 September 2014; and if he has discussed the issue with Cypriot Government representatives and his European colleagues. [37728/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is on record in welcoming the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014 announcing the resumption of settlement talks, and believes that it lays a solid foundation for the re-launch of negotiations for a fair and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem. We welcome the determination of both sides to conduct negotiations in a structured and results-oriented manner.
While Minister Flanagan has not yet had the opportunity to discuss the issue directly with his Cypriot colleagues, officials have on-going dialogue with representatives of the Cypriot Government, including through our respective Embassies.
This new phase of the discussions promises a qualitative change in the level of engagement. We very much welcome the appointment of Mr Espen Barth Eide in August as the new UN Special Adviser to the Secretary General (SASG) on Cyprus, and we wish him well in his role. Mr. Eide is assuming his functions at an encouraging moment in the process.
We were pleased to see the positive statement issued by Mr Eide after his meeting on 17 September, when the leaders re-affirmed their commitment to lead negotiations through a win-win approach and reach a settlement. This generates fresh momentum into this new phase. The leaders recognised the enormous amount of work that had been conducted in previous phases of the negotiations and agreed to move to the next phase of structured negotiations as well as to increase the frequency of their meetings.
Ireland fully supports the aim to find a solution that provides for a comprehensive settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Ireland remains supportive of all efforts to assist in the search for a mutually acceptable settlement to this long-standing problem.
We are pleased to have been able to maintain our presence in UNFICYP, the UN mission to promote peace and stability. Twelve members of An Garda Síochána are currently deployed to UNFICYP.
88. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of immigration reform legislation being passed in the United States Congress; the actions he has taken to progress the position of the undocumented Irish in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37719/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI visited New York, Washington D.C. and Boston over the period from 23 September to 1 October. While there I had a wide range of meetings covering UN issues as well as bilateral and community matters. On U.S. immigration reform, which remains a key Government priority, I met with both Irish community groups and high level government contacts.
My programme included discussions with Vice President Joe Biden, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Secretary of State John Kerry, and Congressman Joseph Kennedy. I had a meeting in New York with Irish-American community leaders, including from the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers, Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, Ancient Order of Hibernians and the New York branch of the GAA, with whom the Government has worked closely on our shared U.S. immigration reform agenda. I also had the opportunity to visit the Emerald Isle Immigration Center and Aisling Irish Center in New York and the Irish International Immigrant Center in Boston, which gave me the opportunity to meet some of those most affected by the current state of affairs.
Following the bipartisan U.S. Senate bill last year, and despite extensive combined efforts at Government, Embassy and Irish-American community levels since then, the U.S. House of Representatives has not yet taken action that would deliver relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the U.S. or an improved facility for future legal migration between Ireland and the U.S. While it appeared before the summer to be the intention of President Obama and his Administration to examine the scope for action on immigration via executive authority, President Obama announced on September 6 that he would delay any such action until after the November U.S. elections.
The exact extent, nature and timing of any action that the U.S. Administration will be ready to take remains to be confirmed and there is clearly no guarantee as to the outcome that can be achieved via executive action. However, in my contacts in Washington, including in my conversation with the White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, I stressed the importance of addressing the needs and concerns of the undocumented Irish migrants in any such action. There are of course limits to what executive action is likely to be able to do and so further progress on the legislative track is also necessary.
While there appears to be some willingness to consider further action in Congress at some future point, this is dependent on many factors and will not be easy to achieve. The Government will continue to work resolutely for progress over the coming months from which currently undocumented Irish migrants in the U.S. and their families can benefit.
89. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the creation of a so called international coalition to bomb ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria; if Ireland will be providing any humanitarian aid or support to the tens of thousands of Kurds who are fleeing from Syria to Turkey to escape ISIS attacks in recent weeks. [37724/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe growth of extremism and the threat posed by ISIS and other jihadist groups to the people of Syria and Iraq was extensively discussed at the UN General Assembly which I attended last week. As I made clear in my address to the General Assembly, there can be no complacency within the international community about the threat which ISIS and other extremists represent or about the need for urgent international action to confront this threat to us all.
Confronting this growth of extremism requires a wide range of actions including security responses to deny ISIS the freedom to attack civilians, action by the new Iraqi Government to promote inclusivity and ensure real Sunni representation within Iraq’s political system and Government, as well as achieving a political resolution to the Syrian conflict. Humanitarian relief is also a critical component of the response to mass displacement of civilians fleeing the threat from ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq.
UN Security Council Resolutions 2170 and 2178 adopted in recent weeks require all UN Member States to implement comprehensive measures to address the threat of terrorism including through such measures as taking active steps to prevent travel by persons suspected of planning or intending to participate in terrorist acts; cooperation in exchanging information on actions and movement by terrorists; prevention of recruitment and radicalisation of possible members of such groups, including through community outreach initiatives, and denying financial transfers to terrorist groups; and supporting the provision of bilateral assistance to States in developing national capacities to respond to foreign terrorist fighters. The Foreign Affairs Council meeting which I attended on 15 August has also welcomed the provision of military support by individual member States to the Iraqi and Kurdish regional authorities at their request to combat terrorism, consistent with the provisions of UN Security Council resolution 2170.
Ireland will continue to pro-actively support all international efforts, including by the EU and UN, to promote a political resolution of the current conflict in both Syria and Iraq. We will also continue to address the humanitarian consequences of the conflict and provide urgent assistance and support to the civilian populations within Syria and Iraq who have been displaced or suffered violations of their rights at the hands of ISIS and other extremists.
In this regard, Ireland has already made a major contribution to help alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and is one of the most generous contributors to the humanitarian response on a per capita basis, having committed over €29 million in assistance for humanitarian relief in response to the crisis in Syria and the recent humanitarian challenges in northern Iraq. Most recently, in response to the current wave of refugees from Syria into Turkey, funding of €210,000 has been allocated from the Start Fund, an NGO pooled fund mechanism which Ireland supports.
90. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government strategy to meet its programme for Government commitment of increasing the overseas development aid budget to 0.7% of GNP by 2015; if he will outline any investigation into the misuse of ODA funds this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37718/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme which is at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future”, our policy on International Development, restates our Programme for Government commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA), and to making further progress towards it when economic circumstances permit.
Over the past three years, despite the extremely difficult economic circumstances, we have managed successfully to stabilise the budget for development assistance. Since 2011 we have allocated over €2.5 billion for ODA, providing €657 million in 2011, €629 million in 2012, and €637 million in 2013. For 2014 we are likely to spend in excess of €600 million on ODA. These are substantial allocations of public funds and are clear evidence of the Government’s strong commitment to the aid programme.
The estimates process for Budget 2015 is now in its finals stages. As with allocations to all Government Departments, the 2015 allocation to ODA must be framed in the context of our policy commitments and the overall budgetary circumstances we face. The final allocation is ultimately a decision for Government and will be announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 14 October next. However, as I have repeatedly stated publicly, and in response to previous Questions this week, I and the Minster for Foreign Affairs and Trade have made, and will continue to make, the strongest case possible for the allocation to the development assistance programme.
As the Deputy is aware our aid programme is implemented in challenging, complex and indeed, inherently risky environments. To mitigate against those risks, my Department has a comprehensive system of internal controls in place including a strong internal audit function which is overseen by an independent audit committee reporting directly to the Secretary General. An Internal Audit unit operates at Headquarters and Key Partner Country level and monitors the internal control systems within the Department and across partner organisations. All expenditure under the aid programme is subject to audit by the Department’s Internal Audit Unit. I can confirm that no cases have come to our attention to date in 2014 which would require the Department to carry out an investigation into the misuse of funds managed under the aid programme.
91. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent resolution before the International Atomic Energy Agency calling on Israel to join the non-proliferation treaty; his views on the resolution; which way Ireland voted; and if he is in favour of a nuclear weapons free Middle East. [37726/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the recent resolution at the IAEA General Conference to which the Deputy refers.
Efforts have been continuing since the 2010 Review Conference to organise a Conference on a Weapons of Mass Destruction-free zone, including nuclear weapons, in the Middle East. It has been our opinion - and the opinion of all other EU Member States - that there is still reason to believe that this Conference may yet take place. Ireland believes strongly that ridding the Middle East region of all weapons of mass destruction is an important and urgent task. For this reason, Ireland brokered a consensus agreement at the 2010 Review Conference on organising this Conference, which had the support of all the parties in the region.
While the content of the resolution may be viewed as being in line with our position on the promotion of NPT universality and the application of IAEA safeguards, the tabling of the resolution at this time, when there remains some prospect of agreement being reached on scheduling the Conference which all parties in the region would attend, may not be conducive to facilitating participation in this Conference.
For this reason, Ireland chose to vote with all other EU member States against the resolution. In light of the relevance of the resolution to the NPT, Ireland regularly reviews its vote and will continue to do so, taking into account the prospect of the Conference being convened, since our primary goal must be to help achieve a Middle East Zone free of all weapons of mass destruction. I discussed the prospects for convening the Conference with the Foreign Minister of Egypt, which is one of Ireland’s five partners in the New Agenda Coalition for nuclear disarmament, at a meeting in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly last month.
I further wish to note that Ireland, in conjunction with all EU Member States, supported a resolution on the “Application of IAEA Safeguards in the Middle East”, and that this resolution was adopted by the General Conference.
92. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on police repression of protests in Hong Kong against protestors; if he has made representations to the authorities in the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or their representatives here regarding the use of police against peaceful protestors in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37736/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland supports Hong Kong’s Basic Law protections of internationally recognised fundamental freedoms, including freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. We encourage all parties to refrain from any actions that may escalate tensions, and to express views on the SAR’s political future in a peaceful manner. We further encourage all parties to work for a constructive solution within the framework of the Basic Law.
Mindful that there are approximately 3,000 Irish citizens resident in Hong Kong, my Department is continuing to monitor the situation in Hong Kong closely and is in regular contact with our Consulate General in Hong Kong and with our Embassy in Beijing.
93. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade following the review, published in February, of the trade strategy 2010 to 2015, the progress achieved to date under each of the reconfigured 16 action points; when work will commence on establishing a new trade strategy for post-2015. [37680/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy (2010-2015) is being implemented over the course of the current Programme for Government and, as the Deputy notes, has recently been reviewed in a process led by my Department and involving relevant Departments, State agencies and private sector members of the Export Trade Council.
As provided for in the Strategy, the Government established the Export Trade Council (ETC), which I chair, and Local Market Teams chaired by our Ambassadors in priority markets to strengthen cooperation and coordination across all Government Departments and State agencies involved in the promotion and development of trade, tourism and investment.
Following the completion of the Review earlier this year, the original Plan of 25 individual Action Points linked to the achievement of numerical targets has been revised into a framework of 16 Action Points grouped under three main themes: Reputation, Facilitating and Enabling, and Winning Business and Jobs.
In continuation of the practice of having members of the ETC report on activity against individual Action Points, my Department is currently seeking updates on the revised Action Plan. This material will then be collated for future consideration by the ETC.
In the meantime, I would like to bring to the Deputy’s attention, a number of examples of progress achieved on some of the reconfigured Actions Points:
Maximise Ireland’s access to international markets
Taking account of the new market approach set out in the Review, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade this year opened new Embassies and Consulates General in key locations across South East Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas which will provide a platform for further promotion of Irish exports, investment, tourism and education.
Maximise impact of St. Patrick’s Day period worldwide
As part of the ‘Reputation’ theme of the revised Action Plan model, the 2014 St. Patrick’s period saw 30 trade-focussed visits led by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Ministers. As part of these visits, and over the St Patrick’s Day season, Embassies and Consulates helped to deliver an average of 17 promotional events and engagements each, across 133 cities in 68 countries. The Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Ministers and the Embassy network promoted key messages on trade, tourism and investment in op-eds and interviews in the international media – reaching, at a very conservative estimate, over 23.5 million people. When overseas media coverage of events that were part of the high level visits or supported by the Embassy network are added, wider audiences of at least 80 million people were reached.
Maximise the impact of integrated trade missions
In implementing the ‘Winning Business and Jobs’ theme, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to work closely with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia and other State agencies to promote Ireland, Irish companies and Irish products overseas. This is particularly the case in relation to the preparation for and implementation of Enterprise Ireland Ministerial-led trade missions, of which 18 will have taken place during 2014. The focus of such trade missions will continue to take account of the identification of seven Exploratory and High Potential Markets under the Review and the expansion of the Embassy network. [If appropriate: I will be leading one of these missions myself to Mexico and Austin in November]
The current Strategy runs to the end of 2015 and, of course, the focus of Departments, the Embassy network and the State Agencies will be on its continued implementation over that period. My Department, in consultation with the Embassy network and other Government Departments, State agencies and private sector members of the ETC, would propose to conduct a scoping exercise in the second half of next year to examine options for future approaches in the trade, tourism, investment and education areas.
94. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide Ireland's policies on debt-restructuring for developing countries; his views on global debt justice; and if he discussed this topic with the UN General Secretary recently. [37612/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has played a strong role in international efforts to alleviate the unsustainable debt burden on some of the poorest countries.
We have been to the forefront of the work globally to build a consensus on the issue of debt cancellation for the least developed countries. This has resulted in the development of a strong international framework on debt cancellation for developing countries with debt sustainability problems. We can be proud that Ireland has contributed our full financial share to both the main elements of this debt relief framework, the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI).
In total, since 1996, Ireland has provided over €116 million for international debt cancellation initiatives. We have done so despite the fact that Ireland, unlike most international aid donors, has not been a bilateral creditor. Our development aid has always been untied and provided on grant terms, not as loans.
We have worked with our partners on the ground, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, to help ensure that the additional money from debt relief has been spent on programmes that benefit the poor, especially through the support of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and support for anti-corruption efforts. Through Irish Aid, we are also contributing €100,000 annually to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for its technical assistance programme to help developing countries manage their debt sustainably.
Ireland is playing a prominent role at the UN on the negotiation of a new framework for international development to succeed the Millennium Development Goals, post-2015. When my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade met with the UN Secretary General in New York last week, they discussed our joint ambition for this new global development framework. Under the post-2015 process, the Third International Conference on Financing for Development will be held in Addis Ababa in July 2015 and will consider debt and debt sustainability as well as other financing options for developing countries. Ireland will play our full role in working for the success of this crucially important meeting.
95. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the increasing tensions in eastern Ukraine which have seen soldiers, militants and civilians killed recently; his views that the ceasefire may still hold; and his further views over possible gas and fuel shortages in Ukraine as winter approaches. [37727/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am continuing to closely monitor ongoing developments in eastern Ukraine, which remains an issue warranting our deep concern and attention.
While the situation remains fragile and infractions have occurred, the ceasefire agreed in Minsk last month between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels is continuing to hold in large part. It is crucial now that all sides respect their commitments and work to consolidate and to build upon this ceasefire to secure a sustainable peace. In this regard, I am encouraged by the constructive negotiations of the OSCE trilateral contact group in recent days, including the marking out of a proposed 30 km buffer zone in eastern Ukraine from which government forces and separatists will remove heavy weapons. I hope to see further progress on a sustainable political solution, based on the principle of respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and with clear guarantees on border security, disarmament of all illegal groups and the withdrawal of foreign forces.
On the key issue of energy supplies, there have been gas talks between Russia and Ukraine. At a meeting in Berlin on 25 September, both sides agreed to consider a compromise proposal put forward by the European Commission aimed at breaking the deadlock to ensure gas supply to Ukraine for the winter. The proposal would see Ukraine settle its debts in two payments, the first of $2 billion in October and the second of $1.1 billion by the end of the year. In return, Gazprom and Naftogaz would deliver 5 billion cubic meters, the minimum sufficient volume of gas which Ukraine considers is required for the winter months, with the possibility of ordering more gas if needed.
If agreed, this proposal should be binding on both parties. An interim agreement like this is necessary as the dispute has been referred by both Russia and Ukraine to the international arbitration court in Stockholm, with a final decision only expected next year. I am hopeful that the interim agreement will be finalised in the coming days in order to ensure a more certain outlook for the winter months.
96. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to change the triple lock policy with respect to the deployment of Irish Defence Force personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37610/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe conditions under which Irish military personnel may be deployed for service outside the State as part of an International Force, referred to as the ‘triple lock’ mechanism, are set down in the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act of 1960 as amended by the Defence (Amendment) Act of 2006. The service must be as part of an International United Nations Force as defined by the legislation; it must be approved by the Government; and, with certain limited exceptions, it must be approved by way of a resolution of Dáil Éireann.
The ‘triple lock’ reflects the central importance which Ireland accords to the role of the United Nations in relation to maintaining international peace and security which is integral to the pursuit of our foreign policy objectives and the promotion of our values. The authorisation of the United Nations confers international legitimacy on a military operation and ensures that it is undertaken only with the consent of the international community.
The ‘triple lock’ mechanism provides the essential foundation for the participation of Irish military personnel in overseas operations. I have no plans to change this policy.
