Written Answers Nos. 1-9
1. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach the outcome of the most recent EU Council in relation to the provision of much needed additional support at EU level for the people of Palestine, with the ongoing genocide by Israel, the use of starvation as a method of war, and the prevention of essential food, medicine and other essential supplies reaching innocent people in the most desperate of situations. [36661/25]
View answer2. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach the outcome of discussions at the recent EU Council in relation to the need for additional support by the EU and its member states for Ukraine in view of the continued loss of life and suffering being inflicted by Russia. [36660/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
I attended a meeting of the European Council on the 26 June 2025. Leaders discussed the ongoing developments in Ukraine and the Middle East, including the humanitarian situation in Gaza. European defence and security, global economic developments, migration, preparedness and the EU’s internal security were also on the agenda.
On Ukraine, Leaders reaffirmed that the EU remains steadfast in its solidarity and support, including regular and predictable financial support. To date, the EU has provided almost €158.6 billion to Ukraine, which includes budgetary, humanitarian and military support.
The European Council also agreed to continue applying pressure on Russia to agree to an unconditional cease-fire while also undermining Russia’s ability to wage war. To that end, the adoption of the 17th package of sanctions, targeting Russia’s energy and financial sectors, including the ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers and their operators, was welcomed, with a call for the 18th package to be adopted swiftly.
To support Ukraine’s ability to deter Russian aggression, the European Council made clear that the EU and its Member States stand ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees. An important part of this is Ukraine’s EU accession, on which Leaders called for an intensification of work.
On the situation in Gaza, Leaders called for an immediate cease-fire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and a permanent end to hostilities.
Leaders condemned the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and widespread starvation. They called on Israel to fully lift its blockade on Gaza, and to allow unimpeded access and the sustained large-scale distribution of humanitarian assistance.
Leaders further called on Israel to enable the UN and its agencies, and humanitarian organisations, to work independently and impartially.
The European Council reiterated their condemnation of the escalation in the West Bank and repeated the call for further restrictive measures both against extremist settlers and organisations that support them, and against Hamas.
The Leaders also took note of the review of Israel’s human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Council, which found Israel to be in breach of its obligations and invited the Council to follow-up on the review.
EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs are expected to consider this follow-up at their meeting in July.
Ireland will continue to advocate for urgent action, up to and including the suspension of the Association Agreement. Israel must be held accountable for its actions in Gaza and the EU must use all the tools at its disposal to ensure that Israel respects its obligations under international law and international humanitarian law.
Finally, the European Council underlined, the EU’s firm commitment to a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution and to continue to work with regional and international partners to support the Palestinian Authority.
3. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if goods already in transit from the United States to Ireland, such as large and bulky aircraft parts that are being brought into the country via shipping containers, will be subject to the mooted import tariffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36287/25]
View answerNegotiations remain the main focus for both the EU and Ireland. A mutually beneficial agreement that works for both sides is the objective. At the same time, we understand the need for the EU to undertake further internal preparations in case negotiations are unsuccessful. This is a sensible and measured approach.
On 8 May, the Commission published a new package of rebalancing measures in response to the 25% tariffs on the auto sector and an additional 10% tariff on most goods levied by the US on EU Member States. It should be remembered that so far the EU has not imposed any additional tariffs on US goods.
Through a public consultation process, which closed on 10 June, the European Commission sought the views on the proposed measures from Member States, as well as of business and other stakeholders. The Commission will now undertake its own internal processes before finalising the proposed package, which will then be brought back to Member States for a final decision.
It is Ireland’s and the EU’s hope that it will not be necessary to deploy any rebalancing measures. However, if that situation arises, the operation and application of tariffs will be clearly communicated.
4. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to review the correspondence (details supplied); if he will expedite the passport application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36291/25]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.
5. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 988 of 24 June 2025, his views on the success of the Mitchell Scholarship Programme; his plans to ensure the long-term viability of this programme going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36298/25]
View answerThe funding of the Mitchell Scholarship Programme is a matter for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and I refer the Deputy to the parliamentary question answered by that Minister on 24 June 2025, the reference number for which is 34280/25.
The response can be found on the following webpage: www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-06-24/947/
6. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of Ireland’s GNI allocated to official development aid in 2024. [36483/25]
View answer7. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide a breakdown of Ireland’s official development aid spending in 2024, between bilateral and multilateral channels, including funding to international organisations such as the UN, EU and the World Bank. [36484/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
Ireland's international development programme focusses on providing support for countries and communities most seriously in need. The Government's policy for international development, 'A Better World,' provides the framework, with the objective of reaching the furthest behind first and addressing the needs of those living in some of the world’s poorest or most climate-exposed countries and those living in areas affected by conflict.
Preliminary figures for 2024 place Ireland’s total Official Development Assistance (ODA) at over €2.2 billion, which represents a total of 0.57% ODA % GNP. With ODA eligible supports for refugees from Ukraine excluded, the preliminary figure for ODA % GNP is 0.41%. This is an increase from 0.38% in 2023.
It is important to note that ODA eligible refugee costs are reported as ODA retrospectively, and funding was not taken from the ODA allocations for the Irish Aid programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for 2022, 2023 or 2024. This will remain the case in 2025.
The latest year for which full statistical detail of our ODA is available is 2023. Out of Ireland’s €2.6 billion in Official Development Assistance in 2023, €1.97 billion was provided as bilateral assistance, or €838 million with supports for refugees from Ukraine excluded. €629 million was provided as core support to multilateral organisations.
Total funding of €368 million was provided to and through the European Union, €306 million to and through the United Nations, and €71.8 million to and through the World Bank.
Every year, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade publishes an Annual Report on Ireland's ODA, which provides detailed breakdowns of the distribution of aid, including the amounts given to developing countries around the world, and the amounts allocated for different thematic priorities and to different partners. I expect that the Annual Report for 2024 will be published in September 2025.
8. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of Ireland’s official development aid in 2024 allocated to climate adaption and mitigation programmes in low-income countries; and whether this is additional to the existing aid budget, as per international commitments. [36485/25]
View answerInternational climate finance is an important priority for the Government. The Government has made significant progress in scaling up Ireland's international climate finance in recent years. Ireland’s International Climate Finance Roadmap sets out how we will deliver on the target of providing at least €225 million annually in climate finance by 2025. This target constitutes a more than doubling of Ireland's climate finance since it was made by the Taoiseach at COP 26. We are on track to meet this target this year, due to increases in climate finance provided in Budgets in recent years.
In 2023, Ireland provided €159.2 million in climate finance. Some 66%, of Ireland's total climate finance was channelled to programmes and projects that targeted resilience and adaptation to climate change. Cross-cutting activities, those which target both climate change adaptation and mitigation, received 20% of overall financial support. Mitigation focused activities received the remainder of support, approximately 14%.
In 2024, we estimate that Ireland provided in the region of €190 million in climate finance, again heavily weighted towards adaptation. A finalised figure for 2024 will be published following verification of Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) data by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) which is expected later this year.
All of Ireland's climate finance constitutes ODA, as defined by the OECD DAC. As such, Ireland’s climate finance is not separate to ODA.
9. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of Ireland’s official development aid in 2024 allocated to global health initiatives, sexual and reproductive health, and gender equality programmes, per region, in tabular form. [36486/25]
View answerDevelopment co-operation is integral to Ireland’s foreign policy. The priorities for Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) are set out in 'A Better World', the whole of government policy for international development. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is a key area of focus, and the policy recognises that universal access to health care, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care is fundamental to transforming women's health outcomes and to realising sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Ireland is ranked by the OECD as among the member countries with the highest share of ODA with gender equality objectives. We fund interventions directly dedicated to supporting women’s political and economic empowerment; prioritising girls’ access to quality education, addressing gender based violence, and improving women and girls’ access to health, including sexual and reproductive health.
In 2023, Ireland’s bilateral support for gender equality amounted to a total of €61.8 million for principally targeted activities, and €323 million for activities with a significant focus on gender equality.
'A Better World' commits to strengthening Ireland’s interventions in global health, with the objective of reaching the furthest behind first. Health interventions have a particular focus on women and girls, including in humanitarian settings, and on the inclusion of marginalised socio-economic groups such as people at risk of or living with HIV, and, persons living with disabilities.
Global Health Initiatives, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and Gavi, the vaccine alliance, represent key partners for Ireland in the effort to achieve SDG 3, better health and well-being for all. In 2023 Ireland invested €25 million in Global Health Initiatives. This was increased to €25.5 million in 2024.
In regard to sexual and reproductive health care, our main focus is on the prevention of sexual and gender based violence; enhanced maternal and new-born health; the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS; and reducing unmet need for contraception amongst adolescent and young women, including those in humanitarian crises. In 2023, the most recent year for which detailed breakdowns are available, we targeted €29.9 million on sexual and reproductive health. €10.5 million of this funding was provided to the Global Fund Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
