Written Answers Nos. 163-182
163. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are supports for members of the Irish diaspora who would like to retire to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15149/25]
View answerThe Government remains committed to deepening our ties with the global Irish and supporting them to build diverse and dynamic communities overseas.
We are also aware that everyone’s journey is different and that many will look to return to Ireland at various times. The Programme for Government commits to facilitating the easier return to Ireland for emigrants including those who wish to return in retirement.
On a practical level, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through the Emigrant Support Programme, funds the very informative Returning to Ireland portal on the Citizens Information website. This site provides a wealth of information including a dedicated Retiring to Ireland page.
The Emigrant Support Programme also supports a number of organisations such as Crosscare and Safe Home Ireland who provide information and support to returning Irish emigrants.
The Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad coordinates diaspora policy across Departments and oversees the implementation of the Diaspora Strategy and relevant commitments contained in the Programme for Government. As Chair of the Committee, I will continue to ensure that we minimise the challenges facing anyone who wishes to return and also continue to enhance the information available for specific cohorts such as those who would like to retire here.
164. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a report on his efforts to alleviate the repression of people, particularly women, in Afghanistan; the engagements he has had in support of these efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15157/25]
View answerIreland has consistently condemned the gross, widespread and systematic human rights abuses by the Taliban across Afghanistan, particularly against women, girls and individuals from marginalised communities. My commitment and that of the Government to this issue, and particularly the systematic gender persecution now being perpetrated by the Taliban against women and girls in Afghanistan, is well known and has been clearly set out in "Securing our Future".
My advocacy and that of the Taoiseach in raising the appalling human rights situation in Afghanistan is extensive. Ireland, with the then Tánaiste and UN Secretary General Guterres in attendance, hosted a side event at UN High Level Week in September 2024, to highlight the inclusion of women in the future of Afghanistan. The issue is regularly raised in appropriate international human rights fora such as the UN Human Rights Council, including on 28 February at the current HRC session where we delivered a statement denouncing the Taliban’s continued enforcement of restrictive decrees that curtail the human rights of women and girls, including the recent suspension of medical education for women by the Taliban. The Government has also been active at the recent session in New York of the Commission on the Status of Women, during which Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill held a meeting with the Afghan Women’s Forum on 12 March. Ireland also took a lead role in securing agreement within the EU Political and Security Committee earlier this month tasking the EU External Action Service to propose further measures to improve EU leverage on the current situation.
Restrictive measures introduced by the Taliban have disproportionately impacted on women and girls, severely limiting their access to health, education and employment and leading to increased levels of early and forced marriage and child labour. In response, I recently announced €3 million in funding to the UN OCHA-managed Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund which works to support the strategic priorities identified in the UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) for Afghanistan, including the specific needs of women and girls. We are also providing €1 million to the UNHCR Afghanistan Refugee Regional Response which supports Afghan refugees and host communities in neighbouring states, including in their work to provide educational assistance to Afghan women and girls.
In line with the commitment in "Securing our Future", Ireland will remain active in ensuring the appalling human rights situation confronting women and girls and marginalised groups within Afghanistan continues to receive appropriate international attention, including through coordination with our EU and like-minded international partners.
165. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to establish a passport printing service at the Cork Passport Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15395/25]
View answerThe Passport Online service offers citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This award-winning service has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing and has resulted in greater efficiencies for our citizens and for the Passport Service. Passport Online is a user-friendly, efficient service that is currently issuing the vast majority of adult renewal passports within 2 to 4 days.
Over 93% of all passport applications are now made through Passport Online which is available to 99.9% of all applicants globally.
The Passport Service operates three passport book printing machines: two machines are located in the main production facility at the Balbriggan campus and the third machine is located in the Dublin 2 Passport Office. The printing and dispatch of passports is a highly automated process in what is, essentially, an industrial production system.
The Passport Service estimates the initial capital cost of purchasing and installing new printer and mailing machine to be approximately €5.3 million.
In addition to the capital investment, these highly sophisticated machines require expert engineers to be on-site while the machines are in operation to maintain and service the machines and repair them when necessary. The running and maintenance costs alone are is estimated to be €600,000 per year.
The public offices of the Passport Service in Cork, and Dublin 2, operate an Urgent Appointment service for renewal applications. Our records show that just 1-2% of all passport applicants avail of the Urgent Appointment service. During 2024, there were an average of 240 urgent appointments for a four-day turnaround service available in Cork each week. In 2024, 26% of appointments available in Cork were booked.
For these reasons, at the moment, a business case cannot be made to invest this level of funds to facilitate the very small proportion of applicants who wish to have their passport renewed within one day in Cork.
I am satisfied that the current Passport Online service and production capacity meets the needs of passport applicants. The Passport Service will continue to consider ways in which to enhance this essential citizen service.
166. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the communications he has had with the United Nations in relation to Ireland’s departure from the UN mandate to deploy troops abroad; the interdepartmental communications he has had in relation to maintaining Irish neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15535/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has long history of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. With an unbroken record of service in UN peacekeeping since 1958, Ireland has contributed to a range of UN missions across the world. Just recently I had the honour to visit our troops stationed in Lebanon and saw first-hand the vital role they are playing with UNIFIL, where many thousands of Irish soldiers have been deployed over a number of decades. I can assure the Deputy that our commitment to the UN, and in particular, to UN peacekeeping operations, remains unwavering. My officials, including those based at our Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, remain in constant contact with the UN and its Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
Ireland's policy of military neutrality, as practised by successive Governments, means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. The Government has been clear that it has no desire to alter Ireland’s policy of military neutrality. The triple lock refers to a three-stage process to approve the deployment of troops on a peacekeeping mission. There is no connection between the triple lock and our military neutrality, and the Programme for Government makes clear that any amendments to the Triple Lock legislation will be in keeping with Ireland's policy of military neutrality.
167. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on whether Irish provided aid is being permitted to enter Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15499/25]
View answerSince October 2023, Ireland has provided over €72 million in support to the Palestinian people, together with 116 tonnes of relief supplies for people in Gaza.
On 2 March the Israeli authorities announced a halt to humanitarian aid entering Gaza. No assistance has been allowed in since then. Aid provided by Ireland is impeded by the same restrictions affecting all humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Government continues to call on Israel to facilitate the immediate, full resumption of rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout Gaza.
We have condemned the resumed Israeli airstrikes and ground operation which are bringing fresh suffering to civilians in Gaza. We urge all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal. All commitments should be implemented in full.The scale of humanitarian need is enormous, and has been accentuated by interruptions in the flow of aid and the wider disruption caused by the conflict.
The most efficient way to support the people of Gaza has been through UNRWA which has been the backbone of the humanitarian response in the Occupied Territory. Ireland has provided €20 million in core support to UNRWA this year which brings our support to €58 million since 2023. Despite the blockade, UNRWA continues to deliver assistance in accordance with its mandate, including psychological support to over 300,000 children, as well as other health and education interventions. Ireland’s support to the UN pooled fund of the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Gaza has also ensured that some aid has reached those in need.
Ireland’s engagement on Palestine is guided by the need for respect for international law, respect for the equal right to self-determination, peace, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and unwavering support for the two-State solution. Across all our bilateral and multilateral engagement, Ireland has consistently underlined the need for all parties to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law.
172. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the communications he has had with the European Union and the United States regarding the provision of arms and economic support to Israel following Israel’s breach of ceasefire in Gaza and escalating settler violence in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15533/25]
View answerThe Israeli-Palestine conflict, including developments in Gaza and the West Bank, continues to be a central focus of my international engagement.
The immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing hostilities to an immediate end and for all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, including the release of remaining hostages and the resumption of much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.
This is a position that I fully share with my EU partners and one that I emphasised during my recent visit to the United States. The United States has made an important contribution to securing the ceasefire and hostage release deal. Together with the other mediators Egypt and Qatar, the US remains a key player in pressing the parties to return to the table to resume the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
Compliance with international law is also central to Ireland’s approach at EU and international level. Ireland has both bilaterally and at multilateral level, repeatedly called on Israel to comply with international law, stressing the universal applicability of international law, including international humanitarian law. All parties must respect international humanitarian law at all times. Hospitals and health facilities, medical and humanitarian personnel, must be protected.
There must be accountability for all violations of international law, irrespective of the party, and this includes Hamas and the violations for which it is responsible.
It is also vital that the perpetrators of intensifying instances of settler violence are held to account. This is a matter I have raised with my European counterparts at successive meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. I welcomed that the European Council in its October Conclusions agreed to take work forward on further restrictive measures against extremist settlers and against entities and organisations which support them. It is important that further listings are considered.
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.
173. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the current surge in number of foreign birth registration applications from the US impact on the current turnaround processing times for passport applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15501/25]
View answerThe Passport Service is successfully responding to the current level of demand for passports and Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications. Over a quarter of a million passports and almost 10,000 FBR certs have been issued to date this year.
While demand for passports and Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has increased significantly over the past decade, my Department has made it a priority to ensure that excellent customer service is maintained throughout the year. Due to my Department’s vigilant monitoring of passport and FBR applications and proactive management of resources, the Passport Service is in an excellent position to meet forecasted demand for 2025.
The Department's Management Board annually signs off on staff requirements to meet forecasted demand for the coming year. Staffing levels are kept under constant review, and assessed throughout the year to ensure adequate staffing is in place to respond to the demand for both passports and FBR.
174. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional measures he is proposing to the EU to impose sanctions on Israel given the ongoing and worsening attacks in the West Bank and Gaza following the breach of ceasefire by Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15532/25]
View answer178. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional sanctions against Israel is he proposing given that Israel broke ceasefire with Hamas and killed of over 800 civilians; if he is planning to cut trade ties with Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15534/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 178 together.
The urgent need to address the conflict in the Middle East remains a priority for Ireland.
The immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing hostilities to an immediate end and for all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal. Our focus must also be on the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza at scale, and the release of the remaining hostages. I condemn the resumption of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the new ground offensive, which have brought fresh suffering to the people of Gaza and have breached the ceasefire.
I am also extremely concerned about the situation in the West Bank, where Israel is conducting the single longest operation in 20 years. Over 40,000 people have been displaced as a result. The latest report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Israeli settlements also sets out a stark and evidence-based assessment of the exponential increase in settlement expansion, settler violence and impunity. These actions risk undermining the viability of the two State solution.
It is vital that the perpetrators of settler violence are held to account. I welcome that, at the meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council in February, the European Union strongly condemned the ongoing extremist settler violence in the West Bank and indicated that it will take forward work on further restrictive measures against extremist settlers and against entities and organisations that support them, in addition to those already listed under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.
As this House is aware, Ireland implements UN and EU sanctions. Sanctions are an important tool to promote the objectives of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in response to breaches of international law including international humanitarian law and human rights. EU sanctions are always targeted, and seek to bring about a change in the policy or behaviour of the target of the measures.
175. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report the discussion on EU-UK relations that took place at the EU General Affairs Council meeting which he attended in Brussels on 18 March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15341/25]
View answerMinister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, attended the General Affairs Council on Tuesday 18 March, where Ministers had an exchange of views on EU-UK relations ahead of the first EU-UK summit, which is scheduled to take place on 19 May.
Ministers received a briefing on the state of play in EU-UK relations from Commissioner Šefčovič. Discussion focused on areas where relations with the UK could be strengthened and on the best approach to collectively protect EU’s interests.
At the meeting, Minister Byrne welcomed the upcoming summit as an important opportunity to deepen EU-UK cooperation, including on fisheries and energy. This is a key relationship for Ireland and we very much welcome the ambition of both the EU and the UK to strengthen and deepen cooperation. The UK remains an important likeminded partner for the EU in the face of shared global challenges.
176. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps Ireland is taking to fulfil its obligations under the Genocide Convention to take action to prevent acts of genocide in Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15514/25]
View answerAll States have a legal obligation to prevent genocide. The International Court of Justice has clarified that this is an obligation of conduct, not result, and that a State’s obligation in any given case will depend on its capacity to influence effectively those whose actions may lead to the commission of genocide. The Court recognised that this capacity to influence itself depends on several factors, including the geographical distance of the State concerned from the scene of the events, and the strength of the political links between the authorities of that State and the main actors in those events.
The Government is extremely concerned at the appalling scenes we continue to witness from Gaza. Ireland has continuously sought to influence events in Gaza by repeatedly calling for an end to hostilities there. We have condemned the resumed Israeli airstrikes and ground operations, which have brought fresh suffering to the people there. We have again called for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief at scale.
The Government has also filed Declarations of Intervention at the International Court of Justice in both The Gambia’s case against Myanmar and South Africa’s case against Israel under the Genocide Convention. In these Declarations, Ireland has argued for an interpretation of that Convention that requires the highest standards of behaviour from those involved in armed conflict or otherwise engaged in the use of force, specifically to prevent the commission of genocide.
177. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagements with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15463/25]
View answerIreland supports the important role that UN Special Procedures mandate holders play in the international human rights system. Their work contributes to the development of international human rights standards and helps to raise public awareness on human rights issues. My officials and I will continue to defend the important role undertaken by all such mandate holders.
Ireland regularly engages with the current holder of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, in the context of the UN Human Rights Council and the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. Ms Albanese presented her most recent Report during an Interactive Dialogue with the UN Third Committee on 30 October 2024. Ireland intervened in the Interactive Dialogue, engaging with the Special Rapporteur and UN Member States, stressing the importance of respect for human rights, and the obligation to ensure the protection of civilians at all times in line with international humanitarian law.
Senior officials in my Department met with Ms Albanese on 21 March 2025 on the occasion of her most recent visit to Ireland, which provided an important opportunity to engage on issues related to her mandate. During the meeting, my officials acknowledged the extremely difficult operating environment in which Ms Albanese is carrying out her mandate and conveyed Ireland’s appreciation for her role.
181. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his attendance at the General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 18 March 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15339/25]
View answerThe Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne attended the General Affairs Council on 18 March 2025.
Ministers firstly prepared the agenda of the European Council taking place on 20 March which included Ukraine, European defence, the Middle East, competitiveness, the Multiannual Financial Framework, migration, oceans policy, and multilateralism. Minister Byrne welcomed the EU leaders discussion of these topics, emphasising Ireland's support for a stronger and more capable Europe at this crucial geopolitical moment, as well as the need to advance the competitiveness agenda and unlock the full potential of the Single Market. On the Middle East, the Minister reiterated Ireland's call for the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid and at scale.
Ministers also had an exchange of views on the future of EU-UK relations, with a briefing by European Commissioner, Maroš Šefcovic, on preparations for the EU-UK Summit on 19 May. The Minister noted this is a key relationship for Ireland and welcomed the ambition of both the EU and the UK to strengthen and deepen cooperation.
Ministers also received a synthesis report of the 2025 European Semester and views of the Polish and Danish EU Presidencies on the roadmap for the remainder of the semester. Ministers then discussed the 2025 Euro Area recommendations, which were subsequently endorsed by the European Council.
In a discussion on the EU's legislative programming, Minister Byrne welcomed both the legislative priorities for 2025 and the policy objectives from 2025 to 2029. In particular, he welcomed the commitment to strengthening EU Competitiveness.
