Tuesday, 31 Jan 2023

Written Answers Nos. 30-80

Official Engagements

Ceisteanna (35, 36)

Alan Dillon

Ceist:

35. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent phone call with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. [2026/23]

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

36. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his phone conversation with the Ukrainian President. [2118/23]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I spoke by phone with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, 10 January.

President Zelenskyy extended New Year’s wishes to the people of Ireland and expressed his appreciation for the steadfast assistance and friendship shown by Ireland and the Irish people to Ukraine over the past year, and to the more than 70,000 Ukrainians who have received refuge and protection in Ireland.

I assured President Zelenskyy of Ireland’s continued solidarity. I also confirmed to him that Ireland will continue to stand with Ukraine, now and throughout its path towards EU membership.

We discussed Russia's despicable attacks on Ukraine’s civilian and energy infrastructure.

President Zelenskyy raised his ten-point Peace Formula and looked forward to Ireland and other international partners’ cooperation in implementing a peace plan when conditions allow.

President Zelenskyy also extended an invitation to me to visit Ukraine at a future opportunity.

Questions Nos. 37 to 41, inclusive, resubmitted.

World Economic Forum

Ceisteanna (42, 43)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

42. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the recent meeting at Davos, with particular reference to future trends in global trade. [3327/23]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

At last week’s Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, I had a wide range of engagements including an IDA Ireland reception; bilateral meetings with a number of international business including representatives of Intel, Amazon Web Services and Meta. These meetings were an opportunity for company executives to update me on progress with their operations in Ireland, and their future development plans, including in the current context of global job cuts across the industry.

I met with political leaders, including the President of Moldova; the leader of the opposition of Belarus; the Administrator of USAID, Samantha Power; leader of the UK Labour Party, Keir Starmer; a foreign policy-focused lunch hosted by the Washington Post; a panel discussion on Widening Europe’s Horizons, with fellow panellists Serbian President, Aleksandar Vuèiã, Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, and European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola; and a dinner hosted by World Economic Forum President, Børge Brende. I also had a number of media engagements.

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

43. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. [3341/23]

The Taoiseach

At last week’s Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, I had a wide range of engagements including an IDA Ireland reception; bilateral meetings with a number of international business and political leaders including representatives of Intel, Amazon Web Services and Meta; the President of Moldova; the leader of the opposition of Belarus; the Administrator of USAID, Samantha Power; leader of the UK Labour Party, Keir Starmer; a foreign policy-focused lunch hosted by the Washington Post; a panel discussion on Widening Europe’s Horizons, with fellow panellists Serbian President, Aleksandar Vuèiã, Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, and European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola; and a dinner hosted by World Economic Forum President, Børge Brende. I also had a number of media engagements.

Questions Nos. 44 to 62, inclusive, resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 63 to 69, inclusive, answered orally.

Middle East

Ceisteanna (70)

Patrick Costello

Ceist:

70. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs how he will implement the Programme for Government commitment to respond to the annexation of occupied Palestine by Israel. [4381/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The annexation by Israel of any part of the occupied Palestinian territory would be a clear violation of international law. It would have no legitimacy, and would not be recognised or accepted by Ireland, or by the international community more generally, and would be deeply damaging to the two-State solution. I am concerned by the statements of some Israeli officials regarding formal annexation of areas within the occupied Palestinian territory. 

The Programme for Government clearly states that the Government would regard any such moves as “a breach of international law and would consider an appropriate response to them at both national and international level”.

Ireland has been consistently vocal in its opposition to settlement expansion and annexation. In June 2021, the Government supported a Dáil motion that reflected our grave concern about the scale and character of settlements and their negative impact. We will continue to proactively raise these issues at EU level, in national and EU statements, at the UN Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly, and in our bilateral contacts.

The situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is a priority matter of our foreign policy. In my recent interactions with Prime Minister Shtayyeh and Foreign Minister Malki, I expressed my concern at the situation on the ground and the recent statements by some members of the Israeli government.

In Ireland’s statement on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question in the UN Security Council on 19 December, Ireland reiterated the message that Israel must halt settlement activity, which is in flagrant violation of international law and which is an impediment to achieving a just and lasting peace based on a two-State solution, based on the agreed international parameters and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

Questions Nos. 71 to 74, inclusive, answered orally.

Middle East

Ceisteanna (75)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

75. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a report (details supplied) has been drawn to his attention; his response to the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4435/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I am aware of the report published by Amnesty International last year, entitled “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity” (February 2022)

I note also that the issues outlined in this report have also been raised in a number of other reports from UN Rapporteurs and from civil society organisations.

Ireland’s focus is on seeking to change the reality on the ground, and to encourage a process that can deliver a two-State solution, which is the Government's priority.

I have been forthright in expressing concern regarding the unequal treatment of Palestinians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland will continue to raise concerns regarding discriminatory practices towards the Palestinian people on a regular basis directly with the Israeli authorities, including during visits to the region, and at EU and UN level. Ireland was particularly proactive in raising this issue at the UN Security Council during our tenure.

It is also important that the international community supports Palestinian efforts in seeking legal responses to the occupation.

In this context, Ireland supported a recent UN Resolution which includes a request by the UN General Assembly for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, on issues arising from Israel’s continuing occupation of Palestinian territory.

Ireland was one of seven EU Member States supporting this Resolution. We regularly coordinate with these, and other like-minded EU partners, on actions at international level that can contribute to supporting the two-State solution and addressing discrimination and violence.

Ireland stands ready to support all efforts to achieve a just and lasting two-State solution based on international law and internationally agreed parameters. This represents the only sustainable prospect that will enable Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace.

Question No. 76 answered orally.

Northern Ireland

Ceisteanna (77, 124, 131)

Paul McAuliffe

Ceist:

77. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent meeting with an organisation (details supplied) in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4214/23]

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

124. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement he has had with the United Kingdom government on Northern Ireland legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4265/23]

Pauline Tully

Ceist:

131. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the intended amendments to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill published by the British Government on 18 January 2023; if, the inclusion of these amendments informs the plans of the Government in relation to taking an inter-state challenge considering that committee stage is scheduled for the 24 and 31 January 2023, and the final stages of the bill could follow relatively soon thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4432/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 124 and 131 together.

Since taking up my role as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have engaged on legacy issues, in particular our opposition to the Legacy Bill, as a matter of priority. Prior to this, as Taoiseach, I raised this issue with Prime Minister Sunak.

I have engaged formally with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland three times since appointment and raised this issue on each occasion, most recently at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 19 January. Last week, the Taoiseach raised the issue again with Prime Minister Sunak.

During the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference, I made clear our view that this Bill, if implemented, would not be compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights and would damage reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland. The Bill as it stands is not fit for purpose, is not supported by political parties or civil society in Northern Ireland and represents a unilateral move away for the Stormont House Agreement. I also raised a number of individual legacy cases, including the Dublin Monaghan Bombings and the case of Pat Finucane.

In our discussions, the Secretary of State has highlighted the British Government's proposed amendments to the Legacy Bill, which have been tabled in the House of Lords. I have been very clear and frank that the proposed amendments do not alter our view of the Bill. We do not see how these amendments will address our fundamental concerns or those raised by victims, their representatives, or international human rights organisations.  

The Irish government has repeatedly stated in previous meetings with our British counterparts that any amendments to the Bill would need to be radical and fundamentally change the substance of this Bill for it to meet our concerns around immunity, compliance with human rights obligations, and victims’ participation.  The amendments published by the House of Lords last week simply do not do so. They address a limited range of issues and where they implicitly respond to criticism of the Bill, they do so insufficiently. In particular, the Bill provides for the granting of immunity from prosecution for gross violations of human rights on the basis of participation in the review process. There is no proposed change to this immunity scheme.

There has been increased criticism of the Bill and growing calls for it to be paused, domestically, from the UK’s own Parliamentary Human Rights Committee and, internationally, from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and members of the US House of Representatives. The British and Irish Governments have engaged on the Bill at the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers' meetings in Strasbourg. Since the Bill's publication, that Committee has produced three decisions, most recently in December 2022, which echo our serious concerns.

I am aware of increasing calls for Ireland to consider the initiation of an inter-state case at the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the Bill. The Government’s current assessment is that such a step would be premature. The Government, however, continues to keep this matter under review. I have also made the Secretary of State aware of this growing pressure for an interstate case.

Throughout my previous roles and now as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have valued the opportunity to meet with numerous victims' groups, families and survivors of Troubles-related attacks, North and South on the island of Ireland, to hear their views, experiences and concerns. We cannot hope to make progress on this difficult issue without the involvement of victims. As part of this continued outreach, I visited the WAVE Trauma Centre in Armagh. I met with their staff and a group of victims’ families and survivors.

During this meeting I heard directly of their personal experiences and ongoing challenges in seeking truth and justice. I heard from families of the disappeared and discussed victims’ services. The group also highlighted the ongoing impact lack of progress on legacy issues is having on reconciliation efforts, placing a barrier on families and communities' ability to move forward.

The group highlighted their serious concerns about the impact of the proposed UK Legacy Bill.

The meeting underscored to me the lasting damage the enactment of this Bill could do and the urgent need for a new collective path, human rights compliant and victims focussed, to be found. The Government continues to use all avenues to urge the British Government to pause this legislation to allow space for a collective path forward on this important issue to be found, such as we had with the Stormont House Agreement. 

In concert with these efforts, I will maintain my ongoing engagement with victims' groups from all communities, regardless of the perpetrators, to take account of their views and maintain their needs at the core of our approach. 

Northern Ireland

Ceisteanna (78, 80, 90, 106)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

78. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the efforts being made to assist in the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4401/23]

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

80. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update regarding efforts to restore to full operation the political institutions established by the Belfast, Good Friday Agreement; if progress has been made in relation to the negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is a related issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4097/23]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

90. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he continues to have discussions with all parties in Northern Ireland, with a view to early restoration of the Assembly and resolution to the Northern Ireland Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4391/23]

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

106. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent discussions with leaders of the political parties in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4333/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 80, 90 and 106 together.

The full implementation and effective operation of all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, including the devolved power-sharing institutions provided for under Strand One and the restoration of the North South Ministerial Council, is of upmost importance to the Government.

The refusal by one party to nominate a Speaker and to allow the formation of an Executive is a denial of the mandates given to other parties in last May's Assembly elections, as well as impeding the provision of much needed services to the people of Northern Ireland.

In my contacts with the Northern Irish political parties and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, I have highlighted the importance for the people of Northern Ireland of a functioning Executive and Assembly.

I have spoken with and met with the Secretary of State on a number of occasions in recent weeks, by telephone on 20 December 2022 and in person on 12 January 2023 and again at the meeting of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 19 January.  Each time we discussed the importance that both governments attach to the full functioning of the institutions provided for under the Good Friday Agreement.  We will remain in close contact.

In all of my meetings with the Secretary of State I have also raised the Irish Government’s deep and fundamental concern with the British Government’s Legacy Bill. The Bill, if implemented, would not be compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights and would damage reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland. I have made clear to the Secretary of State that this Bill is a unilateral move away from the Stormont House Bill that is not supported by political parties, civil society, or victims and their representatives in Northern Ireland. It is also contrary to the United Kingdom’s international human rights obligations.

I am in regular contact with the Northern Irish political parties with a view to working towards the restoration of the Assembly and of the Executive. I spoke with most party leaders by telephone on 9 January 2023. In all of my calls with the party leaders, I reiterated the importance that this Government places on the restoration of a functioning Executive. I plan to meet with party leaders in Belfast later this week.  

I am conscious that without an Executive the North-South Ministerial Council cannot meet. While much of the current focus is on the Strand One institutions, there is no hierarchy of institutions across the three Strands of the Good Friday Agreement.  To underline the importance I attach to Strand Two, I visited the North South Ministerial Council Secretariat in Armagh earlier this month as part of my first visit north in this role.

I am deeply concerned that the NSMC has been disrupted in recent years and has not met in Plenary Format since July 2021. No positive agenda is served by this disruption.  In the absence of regular NSMC meetings, the two Administrations on the island are not having the important conversations that we should be having to address shared challenges and opportunities.

With regard to the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, I welcome the continued positive engagement between Commission Vice-President Šefčovič and British Foreign Secretary Cleverly. It is encouraging that the EU and UK have agreed to continue work together to find joint solutions in response the practical concerns raised in Northern Ireland around the Protocol.

It is important now that we give the EU and the UK teams the space needed to deliver comprehensive and sustainable solutions for people and businesses in Northern Ireland.

I am hopeful that positive progress in EU-UK talks can provide the momentum for the restoration of an Executive. However, I want to be clear that the majority of people across Northern Ireland believe that the Executive should be fully functioning regardless of what happens with the Protocol.

The Government will continue to work closely on a North/South and East-West basis in support of the devolved power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and the full implementation of all of the Strands of the Good Friday Agreement and as well as successor agreements.

Diplomatic Representation

Ceisteanna (79)

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

79. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider opening a full-time resident Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4402/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

As the Deputy will be aware, I travelled to Lebanon last week. While there I met with both the Lebanese Foreign and Defence Ministers. I also met with UN Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix who is currently in the region.

I visited our UNIFIL contingent in Camp Shamrock and conveyed my sympathies and those of the government to the colleagues of Private Rooney. I also laid a wreath at the Tebnine monument in honour of all the Irish personnel who have died while serving with UNIFIL, including Private Rooney. 

The Government does not currently have plans to open an Embassy in Beirut. The Embassy of Ireland in Cairo is accredited to Lebanon. Ireland has an Honorary Consul General based in Beirut.

Ireland’s global impact and diplomatic network has been strengthened by the Global Ireland Programme, which was launched in 2018. The Global Ireland programme aims to double Ireland's international impact and influence in the period 2018 to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence. Since the launch of the Global Ireland programme, 19 new Missions have been opened or announced to open. In 2019 a new Embassy was opened in Amman, Jordan, and in 2021 a new Embassy was opened in Rabat, Morocco, expanding our diplomatic presence in the Middle East and complementing the presence of existing embassies in Cairo, Tel Aviv, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as well as a representative office in Ramallah. There are also Honorary Consuls based in Manama, Alexandria, Damascus, and Muscat.

Any decision on the opening of a new embassy is considered by reference to Ireland’s national, political and economic priorities. Against these and other factors, the Government keeps the matter of opening further embassies under active review. 

Question No. 80 taken with No. 78.