Written Answers Nos. 1-20
7. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the United States recently approved the sale of $20 billion in fighter jets and other military equipment to Israel; if he will call upon the US President to cancel supply of this deadly weaponry to Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40658/24]
View answerThe United States has a key role to play in the Middle East, with regard to security in the region as a whole and as regards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the situation in Gaza.
President Biden, Secretary Blinken and the US administration are working hard to achieve a ceasefire and to bring about a diplomatic solution. This is the only path to ensuring lasting security between Israel and Lebanon. I also welcome and support the ongoing efforts of the US, Egypt and Qatar to conclude a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza. It is long past time that such a deal is concluded. The violence must stop and there must be a dramatic scaling up of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza.
It is vital that all parties in the region demonstrate the political will to return to diplomatic and political pathways to end this cycle of violence. This includes Iran and its proxies, but it also includes Israel. In this regard, it is my strong view that all partners with influence, including the European Union and the US, need to use their leverage more effectively with all actors, including Israel to positively influence the situation on the ground.
We have seen credible reports by a number of internationally mandated institutions, bodies and representatives that serious violations of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law are taking place throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza.
In these circumstances, it is incumbent on all States to assess whether their relations with Israel are consistent with their obligations under international law. The implications of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in July (on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory) must also be assessed by States.
These are points that I will continue to make to all counterparts, including the United States.
13. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to bring an end to conflict in Sudan; the assistance provided to civil society organisations in the country in light of the humanitarian crisis; the number of Irish citizens resident in Sudan; the efforts to date and planned for their safe passage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40617/24]
View answer17. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken to date to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36389/24]
View answer18. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his efforts at the United Nations General Assembly to achieve a ceasefire and alleviate humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. [40492/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 17 and 18 together.
The Government is gravely concerned by the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Some 25.6 million people - over half the population of Sudan - face acute hunger. This includes more than 755,000 people already experiencing famine conditions. Sudan is now the world's largest hunger, protection and displacement crisis.
The conflict has involved extreme levels of violence and human rights violations against civilians. This includes sexual violence, torture, arbitrary killings, destruction of vital health and food infrastructure, and targeting of specific ethnic groups.
Ireland’s response has addressed both the humanitarian crisis and the political roots of the conflict.
At the international conference on the Sudan crisis in Paris in April, Ireland pledged €12.3 million in humanitarian aid for 2024, an increase of €2 million on 2023. We have exceeded this amount. Following my announcement in September of an additional €1m in bilateral support, we have provided €14 million so far this year.
Ireland’s assistance includes support for partners working on peacebuilding, as well as for Sudanese civil society. Sudanese civil society has been critical to humanitarian assistance and protection. Ireland has also promoted the use of flexible funding to facilitate support for Sudanese-led action, in particular community kitchens and Emergency Response Rooms. Sudanese civil society are vital ‘first responders’ on the ground. Ireland has also provided specific funding for reproductive health for women and girls in Sudan and neighbouring countries and for victims of gender based violence.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has assisted more than 350 Irish citizens and their dependents to leave Sudan since the onset of the conflict in April 2023. Our Embassy in Nairobi, which is accredited to Sudan, continues to monitor the situation in Sudan actively and to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens as required.
To pressure the parties to end the conflict, Ireland championed the establishment of a new EU autonomous sanctions regime. The first set of targeted measures was announced in January against six companies, with six individuals listed in June.
Ireland has consistently prioritised support for accountability mechanisms at the Human Rights Council, including urging the renewal of the mandate of the Independent International Fact-finding mission for Sudan.
When I visited the Horn of Africa in July, I undertook to continue to keep Sudan on the international agenda and to highlight the impact of the crisis. At the UN General Assembly last September, Sudan was a priority focus of my engagements, including participation in a Ministerial Humanitarian Meeting on Sudan. Both the Taoiseach and I will highlight the situation in Sudan at the upcoming meeting of the European Council and at the October Foreign Affairs Council.
We will continue to work with the EU and international partners to promote an end to the conflict, persuade the parties to come back to the negotiating table, permit humanitarian access and end all attacks on civilians.
14. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 15 of 27 June 2024, the status of his engagement at EU level in relation to the February 2024 request seeking an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40618/24]
View answerThe EU-Israel Association Agreement provides the legal basis for trade relations between the EU and its Member States and Israel.
The Agreement provides that the relations between parties will be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which constitute an 'essential element' of that Agreement.
In February 2024, the then Taoiseach, together with Prime Minister Sánchez of Spain, wrote to the President of the European Commission asking for an urgent review of Israel’s compliance with this element of the Agreement and, if it concludes that Israel is in breach of it, that it propose appropriate measures for the consideration of the Council.
In addition, the Association Council established under the EU-Israel Agreement is tasked with examining any major issues arising within the framework of the Agreement, and any other bilateral or international issues of mutual interest.
I have repeatedly called in meetings of EU Foreign Ministers for an EU-Israel Association Council to be convened urgently, in order to review Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Agreement. As the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has made clear, the next Association Council meeting cannot be ‘business as usual’.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement must in the Government’s view be interpreted and applied in accordance with the obligations of the EU and its Member States under international law. These obligations have been clarified by the International Court of Justice in its recent advisory opinion on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Ireland, together with likeminded EU member states, will continue to press within the EU for a fundamental review of EU-Israel relations, including the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
15. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to explain the Government's position on the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. [40631/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Government’s legal advice is that the Occupied Territories Bill is not compatible with EU law, as the EU has exclusive competence for external trade.
A key pillar of Ireland’s foreign policy is our strong commitment to international law and our promotion of respect for international law. To adopt an approach that runs contrary to legal advice would undermine Ireland’s clear and principled stance in this regard.
Rather than focusing on unilateral measures and symbolic gestures, the Government has been focused on moving the dial forward in a meaningful way at international level.
I welcome the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July. The Opinion of the Court largely confirmed the Government’s legal analysis, which was outlined in Ireland’s written and oral submissions, and presented by the Attorney General to the Court back in February 2024.
Ireland cosponsored and voted for the Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 September last, setting out follow-up to the ICJ Advisory Opinion and which had 124 votes in favour.
It is now incumbent upon the international community, including the European Union, to give careful consideration to the Advisory Opinion. This is a point that I have underlined very clearly to my EU counterparts, including at our recent informal meetings in August and September.
16. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to report on his attendance at the British Irish Association Conference in September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40308/24]
View answer45. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on any recent discussions with the new secretary of state for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40328/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 45 together.
On 6 and 7 September, I attended the annual British Irish Association conference in Oxford. I have published the text of my remarks to the conference, in which I spoke about this Government’s commitment to supporting the work of the Northern Ireland Executive, the importance of political stability in Northern Ireland, and the need for meaningful progress on legacy issues.
While the conference takes place under Chatham House rules, and it would be inappropriate to outline all discussions in detail, the conference was an important opportunity to build on the positive momentum of renewing and strengthening relationships on and between these islands, and to discuss issues facing Northern Ireland.
During my visit, I also met with Scottish Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson MSP, for our annual meeting under the Ireland Scotland Bilateral Review. Our discussions reflected the importance of the strong bilateral relationship between our two nations, and identified concrete ways to broaden and strengthen cooperation into the future.
I also had a positive and constructive meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP. This was my third engagement with the Secretary of State since the UK general election earlier this year. I met him in Hillsborough Castle on 11 July and spoke with him by telephone on 5 July, the day of his appointment. On all three occasions, we have discussed legacy issues, as well as a number of other priorities in respect of Northern Ireland.
At our meeting at the BIA, we discussed what the British government’s commitment to repeal and replace the UK Legacy Act means in practice and how this work can be taken forward. I have made clear that any approach needs to command the support of victims and families and uphold the European Convention on Human Rights. Achieving this will require a robust, thorough, and ambitious process, involving root and branch reform of the ICRIR. It will be most effective if it is advanced in partnership between the two governments. We tasked our officials to explore whether, and how, we can develop an agreed approach on this fundamentally important issue and these discussions are ongoing.
The Secretary of State and I also discussed the importance of political stability in Northern Ireland. As I said in my speech at the conference, while responsibility for day-to-day politics in Northern Ireland lies with the Executive, the Irish and British governments can also play a constructive role. I believe that there is a need to have open and inclusive discussions about the practical functioning and management of the institutions in Northern Ireland.
19. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the situation between Iran and Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40571/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Iran has twice attacked Israel directly this year. The first of these, in April, brought the region to the brink of a wider war. On that occasion, both sides de-escalated. After the second Iranian missile attack on 1 October, which involved up to 200 missiles fired at Israel, the risk of regional escalation and conflict is again very real.
I have strongly condemned these attacks on Israel. I have also repeatedly stressed that a pattern of attack and reprisal by any actor in the Middle East risks spiraling into a regional conflict, which would be disastrous for the peoples of the region.
I have consistently called for all parties in the region, including Iran and Israel, to exercise restraint and for all who have influence to use this positively, to diffuse tensions. I include in this call the influence Iran exercises over its proxies in the region, including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. I have made this position clear in public statements, including at the United Nations, and in direct contacts with regional leaders.
Ultimately, we need to see a political process to resolve the conflicts in the Middle East that will address the security of countries in the region.
20. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to further improve our diplomatic relations with, and diplomatic presence across, Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40484/24]
View answerIreland has had extensive diplomatic and political relations with Canada since the foundation of the State, celebrating 85 years of diplomatic relations in 2024.
There has been significant bilateral high-level political engagement, the bedrock of good diplomatic relations, in recent months. Last month, the Taoiseach had a call with Prime Minister Trudeau and then met in person with the Prime Minister a few weeks later in margins of UN High Level week. For St Patrick’s Day 2024, I visited Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto and met with Prime Minister Trudeau as well as many other high level interlocutors. In February, the Speaker of the Canadian Senate, Ms Raymonde Gagné, led a Senate delegation to Ireland, who in addition to extensive Oireachtas engagement, the delegation met with President, Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
The Government has delivered on its commitment in Ireland’s “Strategy for the US and Canada 2019-2025” to significantly strengthen Ireland's diplomatic presence in Canada, opening new Consulates in Vancouver in 2018 and Toronto in 2022. In addition to the fulltime diplomatic presence, Ireland has a number of honorary consuls in the Provinces of Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton), Newfoundland and Labrador (St Johns), Nova Scotia (Halifax), and Quebec (Quebec City).
Our diplomatic presence is complemented by the presence of Ireland’s state agencies. Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Tourism Ireland, who have offices in Toronto, with Enterprise Ireland also present in Montréal. During my visit to Toronto for St Patrick’s Day, I announced plans to open a new flagship “Ireland House” in Toronto which again represents significant Government investment and the high priority of our engagement in Canada.
I wish to thank Deputy Stanton, as Chair of the Oireachtas Canada-Ireland Inter-Parliamentary Friendship group, for his excellent work over many years in promoting political, economic and cultural exchange between Ireland and Canada.
