Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
712. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a list of the international organisations of which Ireland is a member of where Russia and or Belarus is also a member; if Ireland is taking steps to have Russia and or Belarus suspended and or expelled in each case; and if so, the nature of the steps and the current position. [29982/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the beginning of the war of aggression in Ukraine, Ireland has been to the forefront of international efforts to confront and isolate Russia, to assist the Ukrainian people and to bring an end to the conflict.
As a member of the UN Security Council, we have joined with likeminded countries to call for urgent meetings of the Council to address the crisis, and we have been consistent and vocal in condemning Russian actions, calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, and for full humanitarian access for those in need. To date, the Security Council has met 21 times to consider the matter, including on 19 April when I personally briefed them on my visit to Ukraine earlier that month.
Ireland co-sponsored the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution condemning Russia for its illegal, unjustified and unprovoked attack against Ukraine, which was adopted on 2 March (141 votes to 5, with 35 abstentions); the UNGA Ukraine humanitarian resolution, which was adopted on 24 March (140 votes to 5, with 38 abstentions); and the UNGA Resolution to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, which was adopted on 7 April (93 votes to 24, with 58 abstentions).
We are also active across the full multilateral system in ensuring that Russia remains isolated, including at the Council of Europe, where we worked with the EU and likeminded countries to expel Russia on 16 March.
Ireland joined over 40 States in referring the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court. Ireland will provide a further €3 million in funding to the ICC, which will assist with regard to all situations before the court, including Ukraine.
We also welcomed the establishment by the UN Human Rights Council of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. It is important that different accountability mechanisms in Ukraine can cooperate, within their respective mandates.
The most effective way to isolate Russia and Belarus, is by acting in coordination with our EU and international partners. To this end, on 21 March EU Foreign Ministers agreed common guiding principles for engagement with Russia and Belarus in multilateral fora.
These commit to:
- Following up on measures already taken or under consideration on suspension of Russia and Belarus’ rights of participation in international organisations and bodies and regional cooperation frameworks;
- Examining further possible similar measures across the multilateral system;
- Actively opposing the election of Russia and Belarus or Russian and Belarusian candidates;
- Acting to suspend upcoming chairmanships of working parties in international fora; Advocating against appointments of candidates to leadership positions;
- Acting to prevent Russia and Belarus from hosting international conferences, meetings, and events under UN or other multilateral instances.
Ireland engaged fully in the development of these guiding principles and has been working with our fellow EU member states to apply them on a case by case basis.
The EU approach acknowledges that taking forward specific actions requires a proper assessment of the legal possibilities in the context of the relevant procedural rules for each organisation concerned. EU coordination takes place at local level to determine the best course of action for each international body or meeting.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has a lead role when it comes to the international relations of the State but this is without prejudice to the specific responsibilities which other Departments, public bodies and organisations have with respect to the international bodies in which they participate. The Department of Foreign Affairs does not have centralised authority in this context and does not maintain an exhaustive list of all international organisations where Ireland may be represented.
