Written Answers Nos. 170-190
170. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the processes that were followed in the decision to allow US military Osprey jets fly over Dublin on 26 August 2023; if safety concerns about the aircraft were known; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13967/25]
View answerUnder the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military and state aircraft that wish to overfly or land in the state require diplomatic clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft are unarmed; carry no arms, ammunition or explosives; that they do not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation. I can confirm that the correct diplomatic clearance procedure was followed in full in this case.
It is the longstanding policy of the Department of Foreign Affairs not to disclose details relating to these requests, as such information is provided by Embassies in the expectation of the maintenance of confidentiality. However, I can confirm that three US military Osprey aircraft were granted diplomatic clearance to enter Irish sovereign airspace and land in Ireland in late August 2023, and that the conditions above were met in full in each case.
171. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the firing of three members of the US Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board by the Trump Administration and the resulting lack of quorum on the board; whether he has considered this issue in light of the key role of the board in satisfying the standards necessary to facilitate transfer of private and personal data outside of the EU, as agreed in the 2023 Transatlantic Data Privacy Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13387/25]
View answerThe EU-US Data Privacy Framework is an important means by which transatlantic data flows are facilitated. I am aware that my colleague the Minister for Justice, who leads in this area, has addressed this matter in answering Parliamentary Questions on 25 March.
I am also aware of developments in relation to the membership of the United States Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. My officials, including through engagement by our Embassy in Washington, engagement with other Government Departments and with the European Commission, are also monitoring this situation, including in relation to possible implications on the legal framework through which data transfers are facilitated.
172. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he has raised, or plans to raise, the potential issues with the Transatlantic Data Privacy Framework arising from the Trump Administration's decision to fire three out of four members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, given that the board plays a key role in satisfying the standards necessary to facilitate transfer of private and personal data outside of the EU, with EU and US partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13388/25]
View answerThe EU-US Data Privacy Framework is an important means by which transatlantic data flows are facilitated. I am aware of developments in relation to the membership of the United States Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.
My officials, including through engagement by our Embassy in Washington, engagement with other Government Departments and with the European Commission, are monitoring this situation, including in relation to possible implications on the legal framework through which data transfers are facilitated.
173. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to confirm the names of the members of his Department's strategic economic advisory panel; how many times the panel has met; if he will provide me with its terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13419/25]
View answerThe extensive economic relationship between Ireland and the United States delivers prosperity and employment on both sides of the Atlantic. Protecting and developing the two-way trade and investment is a priority for me as Tánaiste.
Securing insights on how best to position Ireland to navigate the turbulence in the trading environment in the coming period will be critically important. At what is a turbulent moment for the international trading environment, the views of private sector stakeholders can assist the Government’s efforts to identify opportunities, navigate challenges and ensure Ireland’s competitiveness into the future.
The US based Strategic Economic Advisory Panel is a specific commitment in the Programme for Government and its establishment allows the Government to hear from senior US-based business people on key economic challenges and opportunities for Ireland.
During his visit to Washington D.C., the Taoiseach met with a number of participants of the Strategic Economic Advisory Panel. This was the first meeting of the group.
The Strategic Economic Advisory Panel is designed to be a flexible structure, to ensure that the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Government can draw on the analysis and expertise of senior US-based experts with links to Ireland on specific business and economic issues as and when relevant; as such there is no official membership, and formal terms of reference are not envisioned. Participants at the recent meeting were drawn from recommendations from our diplomatic network and State agencies in the United States
In establishing the panel, the Government drew on similar models used in the past to draw on expertise and experience from our diaspora. The Global Irish Network is one such example. There are no plans for remuneration for participants.
174. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the manner in which Irish embassies and consulates around the world are assisting with the dissemination of information related to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme for survivors throughout Ireland's diaspora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13498/25]
View answer175. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to detail all efforts by the Irish Embassy in Washington, DC and Irish Consulates across the United States in disseminating information regarding the mother and baby institutions payment scheme for US-based survivors; the extent to which information has been shared with partner organisations in various US cities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13499/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.
Given that it is estimated that in the region of 35% of all survivors live outside Ireland (with the majority living in Britain), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade works with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth, to promote awareness of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payments Scheme for those living outside Ireland.
This outreach included the provision of an information note on the opening of the payments scheme, which was placed on the websites of all our Embassies and Consulates, along with the promotion of the scheme through the social media channels of our Embassy and Consulate network.
Recognising the ageing demographic of many survivors, hard copy information booklets and application packs were sent to all of our Embassies and Consulates to ensure those living abroad without online access could engage with the scheme.
Our Embassies and Consulates shared the information with their network of community, cultural, sporting and other partner organisations, many of whom are funded under the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme.
This outreach complemented the international communications campaign undertaken by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth which is operating on a phased basis in Ireland and in jurisdictions overseas that have a significant Irish diaspora. It includes press releases, social media posts, briefings with stakeholders, visits to Britain to meet with groups supporting applicants, and a paid, phased advertising campaign with a spend to date of almost €1.8 million across two phases.
The two phases of paid advertising to date have run across Ireland, the UK, USA and Australia. They consisted of radio, print, and online advertising, along with an out-of-home campaign (e.g. post-offices, community centres, libraries, bus shelters and the Tube in London).
Due to the large number of survivors of institutional abuse living in Britain, the Emigrant Support Programme provides funding to community organisations in Britain supporting survivors there such as ICAP (Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy), the London Irish Centre, Coventry Irish Society and Fréa (north of England).
Our funding supports eight full-time posts and two part-time posts to ensure dedicated culturally sensitive support is provided to the survivor community. These organisations have been centrally involved with assisting survivors in Britain access the Mother and Baby Institutions Payments Scheme (MBIPS).
Our Embassy in Washington and Consulates throughout the United States continue to support outreach around all aspects of the Government’s Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. This includes the Birth Information and Tracing Act, which particularly impacted those living in the United States, as well as the consultations around the development of the National Centre for Research and Remembrance in Dublin – both of which have had significant engagement from those living in the United States.
When I was in Britain recently, I had the opportunity to meet a number of survivors and groups supporting the survivor community.
I assure the deputy that I and the Department will continue to engage with them sensitively and appropriately and that we will continue our work along with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to support the community.
176. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs given that his Department remains the data holder for passports issued as part of the Ireland-US adoption scheme from the late 1940s through the 1970s, the efforts made by his Department to reach out to and contact families that adopted Irish children as part of the scheme and inform them of the Government's mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13500/25]
View answer177. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs given that the Department of Foreign Affairs remains the data holder for passports issued as part of the Ireland-US adoption scheme from the late 1940s through the early 1970s, the efforts made by his Department to reach out to and contact US Catholic charities in each diocese where children were adopted, and to seek their assistance in disseminating information about the payment scheme for impacted families in their area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13501/25]
View answer178. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for updated figures on the number of Irish Passports provided for children travelling out of the State jurisdiction for adoption in a different jurisdiction since 1946; the updated list of countries where these children were travelling to for adoption; the number of children travelling to each country for adoption; the efforts to inform these families of potential entitlements under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13502/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive, together.
The Department of Foreign Affairs holds a number of files relating to historic adoptions involving Irish children, which are currently housed at the National Archives of Ireland under a previous agreement to ensure their long-term preservation. These files are restricted from public access and can solely be retrieved by a Department official at the request of Tusla or the Adoption Authority of Ireland under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022.While in some cases these files may contain records of interest for the individuals involved, they do not form a comprehensive overview of passport or travel-related documentation for children who left the State for adoption in another jurisdiction.
Under passport record management and retention rules, all paper applications and associated documents received by the Passport Service and Missions abroad have a data retention period of 13 months. It would therefore not be possible to provide the data requested on the number or destination of Irish children travelling out of the State for adoption in a different jurisdiction. With regard to the question of using passport-related personal data to reach out to individuals who were adopted, the Department of Foreign Affairs is obligated to balance the right to identity, and associated entitlements, with the right to privacy in a fair and compassionate way. Working closely with the Department of Children, Equality, Integration and Youth, the Department’s outreach has therefore focused on the extensive promotion of the Mother-and-Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.
Our Embassies and Consulates promoted the scheme through their social media channels and shared the information with their network of community, cultural, sporting and other partner organisations, many of which are funded under the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme.
In order to ensure those living abroad without online access could engage with the scheme, hard copy information booklets and application packs were also sent to all of our Embassies and Consulates. An information note on the opening of the scheme was placed on the websites of Embassies and Consulates.
With regard to passport entitlement, the Department is conscious of the fact that adoption can be a complex and sensitive area for some passport applicants who may be entitled to Irish citizenship due to the circumstances of their birth. The Passport Service endeavours to ensure that such applications are treated with due consideration and sensitivity.
179. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to detail the total expenditure on public procurement by his Department and its agencies, including spending on goods, services and works acquired through public procurement processes, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [13558/25]
View answerBelow is a table of expenditure on public procurement for the Department of Foreign Affairs in each of the past five years.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
64.8 |
72.4 |
103.9 |
95.9 |
111.5 |
There are no State Bodies operating under the aegis of this Department.
180. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide a list of regulatory, appeal or other bodies, either funded by or under the remit of his Department, which are quasi-judicial in nature. [13575/25]
View answerThere are no such bodies that fall under the aegis of my Department. While it may not come within the category set out in this question, in the interest of completeness the Deputy may wish to be aware that Section 19 of the Passports Act 2008 provides for a Passport Appeals Officer, to whom a person not satisfied with the decision of the Passport Service in relation to their application may apply and sets out the conditions governing this appeal process.
181. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Irish Embassy to the United States of America had any engagement with the Trump Administration on Conor McGregor’s recent visit to the White House for Saint Patrick’s Day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13605/25]
View answerThe Taoiseach visited the White House, at the invitation of President Trump, as part of his official St. Patrick’s Day programme in the United States. This was part of a wider St. Patrick's Day diplomatic engagement across the US, which encompassed 9 Government Ministers visiting 15 States different states, including my own engagements in Philadelphia and New York.
In respect of Conor McGregor's visit, decisions on who President Trump meets is clearly a matter for the US administration and the President himself. Any government can of course invite whomever they wish to meetings or engagements in their own premises.
As I have already set out clearly, Conor McGregor has no mandate to speak for Ireland or for the Irish people. He does not speak to the values of Ireland, including those of inclusivity, openness, compassion and respect, nor does he represent the Irish people.
I can confirm that neither the Irish Government or Irish Embassy had any engagement in relation to the visit by Mr. McGregor to the White House.
182. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for a list of civilian infrastructure projects supported by Irish Aid in Palestine; and an update on how each project has fared under Israeli bombardment. [13639/25]
View answerWe are witnessing appalling scenes from Gaza again this week. Ireland condemns the resumed Israeli airstrikes and a new ground operation, bringing fresh suffering and breaching the cease fire. I continue to urge all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, resume humanitarian aid into Gaza, protect aid workers and stress that attacks on UN facilities are a violation of International Humanitarian Law.
Damage to civilian infrastructure has been immense.
Ireland contributes €3 million annually to the Palestinian Authority's Department of Education. This includes support to school buildings in the West Bank. The February 2025 damage assessment for Gaza and the West Bank does not have a damage estimate for education facilities in the West Bank.
Gaza reconstruction and recovery is now estimated at US$53 billion. Increased support to UNRWA's operations in Gaza have been central to the Government's response. The Government has provided €58 million in core funds to UNRWA since 2023. Our total support to Palestine since October 2023 is more than €72 million. 311 of UNRWA’s facilities have been damaged or destroyed in Gaza.
Also in Gaza, Ireland and partners supported the Palestinian Water Authority develop the €45 million North Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment plant. Ireland had disbursed €6 million of its €8 million commitment by end 2022, of which €5 million was applied before October 2023. Its construction was well advanced by October 2023. Its current condition is not known and it is not accessible. We have facilitated the use of some of our balance funds on the scheme to support ongoing emergency water system repairs in Gaza.
Through the West Bank Protection Consortium Ireland supports the prevention of forced displacement. In 2024 infrastructure worth €549,134 was affected by demolitions, confiscations, settler violence or forced abandonment. Ireland and partners submitted their latest compensation request to the Israeli Coordinator of the Government Activities in the Territories on 18 March 2025. The total compensation called for since 2015 is now €1.68 million.
A micro-electric solar grid installed by our partner COMET-ME was destroyed by violent settlers in Khallet al-Dabea in the West Bank in July 2024, Ireland’s funding to that was estimated at €4,700.
We will continue to call for International Humanitarian Law to be respected and damages compensated
183. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the decision of the Russian election commission to ban opposition candidates such as persons (details supplied) from standing in the 2024 Russian presidential election; his views on whether these bans are a contravention of the European Convention on Human Rights; the interaction he has had with his Russian counterpart or the Russian ambassador on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13696/25]
View answerIreland remains extremely concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights and democracy in Russia which has been exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.
The presidential elections held by Russia on 15-17 March 2024 took place in an ever-shrinking political space, which has resulted in an alarming increase of violations of civil and political rights, with many candidates precluded from running.
In the run up to the election, the Central Election Commission barred from the election the only two candidates campaigning on anti-war platforms: Boris Nadezhdin, who was barred because of alleged irregularities in the quality of the 100,000 signatures required in support of his candidacy, and Yekaterina Duntsova, who was disqualified for spelling mistakes in the enrolment documentation that she had submitted. It was not until after the election, in May 2024, that amendments to the law legalized the grounds for the disqualification. The shocking death in prison of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in the run-up to the elections was yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia.
Ireland, together with our EU partners, have expressed regret at Russia’s decision not to invite OSCE/ODIHR observers to its elections. This runs contrary to Russia’s OSCE commitments and denied Russia’s voters and institutions an impartial and independent assessment of these elections. The regime of Mr Putin deprived Russian voters of a real choice and heavily limited their access to accurate information. It is clear that the presidential elections were neither free nor fair and ultimately reflect a wider deterioration in human rights and democracy in Russia under Vladimir Putin.
The political situation in Russia has increasingly descended into authoritarianism in recent years, and has deteriorated further since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. There are ongoing examples of mass arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as harassment of peaceful anti-war activists, human rights defenders, journalists, cultural figures and ethnic minorities. Domestic opposition leaders have been arrested and prosecuted on politically motivated charges. Legislation has been introduced to essentially shut down civil society in Russia.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation has described a so-called legal carousel whereby victims are put through a series of arbitrary detentions until a fabricated criminal charge is raised against the victim. Confessions are frequently obtained through the use of torture or other coercive practices. There is no independent oversight, reporting, or investigation mechanisms, which perpetuates impunity for such serious crimes.
Ireland is deeply concerned at the shocking erosion of human rights in Russia, and the persecution of individuals for exercising their personal freedoms, including rights to freedom of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly. Ireland will continue to highlight these issues at the Human Rights Council, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and other relevant international fora.
Russia is currently subject to the most comprehensive and far-reaching sanctions ever imposed by the European Union. Economic sanctions target Russia’s financial, trade, energy, transport, technology and defence sectors, as well as services provided to Russia or Russian persons.
Ireland continues to support strong coordinated EU sanctions and other measures, including action at the UN, to hold Russia accountable for its violations of human rights and the rule of law, and its unprovoked, illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
I have not engaged with my Russian counterpart nor met the Russian Ambassador to Ireland since taking up the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs.
184. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of contracts an organisation (details supplied) has had with his Department in 2024 and to date in 2025; the nature of the services this company provided to the Department during this period, in tabular form; and the amount his Department paid this company for such services in the years in question. [13865/25]
View answerMy Department has not engaged the named company centrally to perform work in the period specified and no fees have been incurred during this period.
185. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he met with the US House of Representatives Minority Leader during his visit to New York for St. Patrick's Day events. [13866/25]
View answerDuring my recent Saint's Patrick's Day visit to the United States, I was delighted to visit Philadelphia and New York, two of Irish America’s most important and iconic cities.
I renewed important political relationships with a wide range of American counterparts. This included New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and members of Congress Brendan Boyle and Mary Gay Scanlon. I did not meet with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic Leader, on this occasion.
I also met with a wide range of our diaspora and Irish community and cultural organisations, emphasising the depth of cultural, economic and people-to-people ties between our two countries. At a time when we face considerable uncertainty, including because of the imposition of tariffs, I also placed a significant emphasis on economic engagement during my visit this year, particularly in New York.
I return from my visit convinced that Saint Patrick’s Day continues to serve as a unique opportunity to celebrate and promote Irish culture, to recognise our diaspora and to platform and promote Ireland as an excellent location to do business and to invest, and in particular in the United States.
186. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has met with the Malaysian ambassador to Ireland to date in 2025. [13926/25]
View answerI have not yet had occasion to meet the Ambassador of Malaysia to Ireland, His Excellency Wan Aznainizam Yusri Wan Abdul Rashid, in 2025. However, my officials have excellent ongoing engagement with the Ambassador and his team.
Malaysia and Ireland share a warm bilateral relationship, based on many decades of business and trade links, engagement between our governments and strong connections between the people of Ireland and Malaysia. There is a particular connection through higher education, especially medical education. A large number of Malaysian students are currently studying in Ireland, and there are also strong connections between a number of our higher education institutions. For example, RCSI and UCD have a shared overseas campus in the city of Penang.
Diplomatic links between Ireland and Malaysia are also strong. Ireland’s Embassy in Kuala Lumpur opened in 1995 and was Ireland’s first Embassy in South-East Asia . The current Irish Ambassador to Malaysia is Ms. Orla Tunney. The Embassy of Malaysia in Dublin opened in 2001, and was the first resident Embassy of a South East Asian county in Ireland. Senior Irish and Malaysian diplomats are in regular contact, and in November 2024 a delegation from my Department led by our Director General for Asia-Pacific met in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia counterparts for comprehensive bilateral consultations, where a full range of political, trade, and people-to-people issues were discussed.
The Government’s Asia Pacific Strategy outlines our commitment to enhancing and strengthening our relationships in South-East Asia, including with our longstanding partner Malaysia. The year 2025 is particularly significant, with Malaysia holding the Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
I look forward to continued strong engagement with Malaysia this year and in years to come.
187. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of engagement between his Department and the Government of Qatar in 2024 and to date in 2025. [13927/25]
View answerMinisters met at the inaugural EU – GCC Summit in Brussels in October 2024, under the theme “Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity”.
Ireland’s Ambassador in Abu Dhabi is accredited to Qatar, and travels there regularly. The Qatari Ambassador in London accredits also to Dublin, and officials of my Department are in frequent contact with the Qatari Embassy.
Qatar has played an important and helpful role in the recent conflict in the Middle East, including its efforts in facilitating negotiations on a ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza and its engagement with Iran. Irish Ministers have discussed these and related issues on a number of occasions with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar.
188. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to review a passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14041/25]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached the issue by date.
189. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the percentage of social media video accessible, such as providing the information or activities posted on each of his Department’s social media accounts, or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under its remit, including closed captioning and subtitling and Irish Sign Language translations, between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, inclusive. [14052/25]
View answerThe Department endeavours to maximise accessibility of its video content published on social media, and to date has prioritised provision of video content on social media channels with accompanying closed captions/subtitles rather than closed on-screen Irish sign language interpretation, in order to achieve this wherever practical.
The percentage of videos published natively on the primary social media channels of the Department that included automatic closed captioning/subtitling between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, inclusive, is as follows:
|
Social Media Platform |
% |
|
X/Twitter |
98% |
|
|
100% |
|
|
100% |
|
|
94% |
190. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what position Ireland will take regarding the nomination of Annalena Baerbock for the position of president of the United Nations General Assembly, particularly given her support for Israel’s brutal military campaign in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14175/25]
View answerThe role of the President of the General Assembly is a pivotal one within the UN system.
The election of the President of the General Assembly is scheduled to take place on 2 June 2025 through a vote in the UN General Assembly, with a simple majority required. If only one candidate has been nominated before the vote, then the President of the General Assembly may be elected by acclamation.
Under the current system of rotation, the President of the General Assembly for the 80th Session will come from the Western European and Others Group (WEOG). Ireland is aware of the nomination referred to and will consider it carefully.
