Written Answers Nos. 829-899
830. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of negotiations with both the UK and Scottish governments on restoring access for Irish fishermen to the waters around Rockall; and when he last personally spoke to his counterparts in both governments on this matter. [30572/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI continue to work closely with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to address the issues related to Rockall, reflecting the longstanding fisheries tradition in the area.
I have outlined Ireland’s position on Rockall and considered possible ways forward in contacts with the UK and Scottish Governments over the course of the past year.
I last met with my Scottish counterpart, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson on 9 March and we discussed this issue. We agreed to continue to prioritise this matter and to work together to seek to resolve outstanding issues. He reiterated this commitment in recent correspondence, and our respective officials are in ongoing contact.
Our officials also remain in ongoing contact with the European Commission on all matters relating to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, including fisheries.
Through these engagements, the Government is seeking to address the issues involved, reflecting longstanding fisheries patterns in the area.
The Government's position in relation to territorial claims on Rockall is consistent and longstanding Irish Government policy.
840. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the breakdown of the number of paper only passport applications which have gone past the estimated due date and number of paper only passport applications which are dispatched on or before the estimated due date in the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30761/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the information requested by the Deputy, the Passport Service has not be able to provide the information requested in the time allowed. These figures are currently being compiled and will be sent directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
844. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30814/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has been in contact with the applicant to advise them of what is required to progress the application.
890. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his reaction to recent reports highlighting levels of acute hunger and food insecurity throughout Africa and the Middle East; the status of the low level of current funding towards United Nations humanitarian appeals for these regions; his views on whether the Annual Meeting on the Grand Bargain on 30 June 2022 as an opportunity for Ireland to rally its partners to pledge real aid to this situation of utmost urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30931/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGlobal food insecurity is at record level. By the end of last year, nearly 193 million people were experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity, an increase of almost 40 million over the previous record in 2020.
This situation has continued to worsen in 2022. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, including its effective blockade on shipping from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, has restricted access to wheat and fertilizers. This has had an upward pressure on global food prices, exacerbating the precarious situation of vulnerable people particularly in countries experiencing ongoing humanitarian crises.
The United Nation’s outlook for June to September 2022 identified 20 hunger hotspots where lives and livelihoods are at risk and urgent humanitarian action is a priority. These hotspots, with the exception of Afghanistan and Haiti, are all in Africa and the Middle East. In six of these countries – Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen – there is a real and terrifying prospect of starvation and death.
The United Nations reports that its humanitarian appeals are significantly underfunded, at 18.2% of estimated resource requirement. That said, the amount of funding given in response to these appeals significantly higher in absolute terms than at this point in previous years.
There is a collective responsibility to act and Ireland is leading by example. Through our range of experienced and trusted partners, including UN agencies, the Red Cross family and NGOs, the Irish Aid programme is supporting responses across the globe, with a strong focus on the 20 hunger hotspots. The Irish Aid allocation for humanitarian action this year, at €113 million, is substantially higher than last year, and is likely to increase further before year end in response to these emerging needs. Separately, and to help address the underlying causes of food insecurity, Ireland has pledged to invest €800 million by 2027 in improving global food and nutrition systems.
As the informal focal point on Conflict and Hunger on the United Nations Security Council, Ireland is consistent advocate for urgent attention and action on global food insecurity. We are also a strong voice at the EU on collective action.
The Grand Bargain Annual High Level Meeting will take place on 30 June and 1 July in Geneva. This will bring together 64 donor signatories, UN agencies, the Red Cross family and NGOs. While this is not a pledging conference, it is a timely opportunity for key humanitarian actors to discuss and agree on the collective actions necessary to respond to rising global hunger. Ireland will use this important opportunity to advocate for an urgent, scaled-up response that targets those most in need.
891. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans that Ireland has in the context of food insecurity in Syria that may be exacerbated by the political and economic effects of the Ukrainian crisis in the event that humanitarian access to Syria from Turkey becomes blocked and its partners have to address this crisis at political and humanitarian levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30932/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith over 14 million people inside Syria requiring assistance, Syria has been one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world since the conflict there began over a decade ago. In addition to those affected within the country, millions more Syrians have left the country as refugees, the majority to neighbouring countries.
This is the context within which the wider impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including the restriction of grain exports, are reverbating, within Syria and also across its neighbours. In Syria itself, almost two-thirds of the population are expected to face food shortages in 2022.
This year, through the Irish Aid programme, the Government will provide over €23 million to the Syria humanitarian response. This will bring Ireland’s assistance to Syria since 2012 to over €216 million, our largest ever response to a humanitarian crisis. Using a variety of trusted partners, we ensure that critical assistance reaches those most in need. This includes displaced Syrians still within the country as well as refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey.
Ireland is also addressing the issue of food insecurity directly, notably through funding of €8 million (provided through the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine) to assist the World Food Programme’s activities both within Syria and in the neighbouring countries.
Ireland also provides significant humanitarian funding at the global level, including to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). In the last six months, the CERF has provided $25 million in critical assistance to Syria with the largest proportion going to support food security. Ireland also contributes to the EU response to the crisis – so far this year the European Commission has mobilised €135 million in humanitarian aid to provide vital assistance (including food and nutritional support) to millions of people inside Syria.
Since joining the Security Council in 2021, Ireland and Norway have served as co-penholders on the Syria humanitarian file. In July 2021, we were pleased to secure Resolution 2585 by consensus, which extended the mandate for the UN’s cross border operation at Bab al-Hawa for 12 months. Ahead of the expiry of that mandate in July, Ireland and Norway are continuing to engage extensively across the Council, making the case that humanitarian aid must continue to reach all people in need.
898. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the plight of two persons (details supplied) on hunger strike in Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly and with the Israeli authorities. [31003/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the cases to which the Deputy refers. Irish officials are closely monitoring this matter, in cooperation with our civil society partners on the ground. Both Ireland and the EU provide financial support to Israeli and Palestinian NGOs who are active in bringing issues regarding the treatment of detainees to light.
I have called on the Israeli authorities to end the practice of administrative detention completely and Ireland has repeatedly highlighted the applicability of international human rights standards and international humanitarian law in respect of detainees, in particular obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Detainees must have the right to be informed of the charges underlying any detention, have access to legal assistance, and receive a fair trial.
At the UN Human Rights Council, Ireland has called on the Israeli authorities, in accordance with their obligations under Article 9 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to refrain from conducting arbitrary arrests and to follow the acceptable procedure established by law regarding arrest and detention. Ireland also made a recommendation to Israel regarding the treatment of detainees during the most recent Universal Periodic Review of Israel at the Human Rights Council in 2018, expressing concern at Israel’s extensive use of administrative detention in particular.
I have also raised these issues directly with the Israeli authorities during my visits to the region.
