Written Answers Nos. 23-36
23. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the current conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia; to outline Ireland's response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72611/25]
View answerWe continue to monitor developments in northern Ethiopia, and across the wider Horn of Africa. The region as a whole is experiencing instability and sustained humanitarian crisis. Ethiopia remains Ireland’s largest bilateral development partner.
It is now over three years since the signature of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which ended the devastating conflict in northern Ethiopia. In the period since then, there has been progress made in restoring basic services, improving humanitarian access, launching a Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration process, and enabling some limited returns to their homes by Internally Displaced Persons.
Ireland and our EU partners have been clear in our bilateral engagement with the Government of Ethiopia and with all relevant parties that effective implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement is critical to sustain and consolidate peace in northern Ethiopia and in the wider region.
Together with other international partners, Ireland stands ready to support outstanding processes arising from the Agreement, including the return of Internally Displaced Persons in full accordance with international humanitarian law. We also hope to see continued progress on the Transitional Justice process, to ensure that all human rights violations and abuses are investigated and perpetrators held to account, and on the National Dialogue process.
In this context, our development programme currently includes specific interventions in support of the National Dialogue, Transitional Justice, the engagement of women in political and peace processes, and support to Ethiopia’s Human Rights Commission. In the Tigray region we fund programmes which support victims of sexual and gender based violence, including from the 2021-2022 conflict, alongside livelihoods support, and climate smart agriculture interventions.
24. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the trade that takes places between Ireland and illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72668/25]
View answer25. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the categories in which trade takes place between Ireland and illegal Israeli settlements within the occupied Palestinian territories; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72669/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
The CSO currently does not collect data on the value or categories of goods specifically from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory entering Ireland.
There are no reliable data at EU or national level on the volume of trade in services with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, as the current method of data collection (based on Eurostat requirements) simply records the value against an overall country code, i.e. Israel.
26. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action she has taken in relation to the illegal seizing of Irish citizens who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, in October 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72671/25]
View answer27. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the further action she will take in relation to the illegal seizing of Irish citizens who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, in October 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72672/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together.
I am pleased that all of the Irish citizens detained following their participations on the Global Sumud Flotilla, and the Freedom Flotilla, have returned home. Throughout the period the primary concern of the Government was to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all those detained. As such, officials from across my department, including our Embassy teams in Tel Aviv, Amman, Istanbul, and Ankara, provided all possible and appropriate consular assistance to all those affected. Recently, officials from my Department met with representatives of the Flotillas to hear first-hand their experiences.
The Tánaiste repeatedly expressed Ireland’s concerns about the security of the Flotilla and continually urged for respect for international law and international humanitarian law – raising the matter at EU and UN fora, and joining other Foreign Ministers in joint statements. We understand that the peaceful efforts of those on board reflect an understandable desire by many people around the world to urgently address the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza.
This week I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels where I raised Ireland’s concern that the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza continues, despite two months of ceasefire. The people of Gaza do not have enough to eat, they do not have enough adequate shelter from winter weather, they lack sufficient access to healthcare, medicines and sanitation. I called on the EU to use its considerable leverage with Israel to urgently address this humanitarian catastrophe and will continue to ensure that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains a focus at EU level.
28. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions being taken or anticipated against Belarus in relation to an aircraft (details supplied) that was grounded in Minsk in May 2021 [72730/25]
View answer29. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the conclusion of Irish complaints in relation to the detention of an aircraft (details supplied) that was grounded in Minsk in May 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72731/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together.
The Government strongly condemned the coercive forced landing of Ryanair flight FR4978 en route from Athens to Vilnius by Belarusian authorities on 23 May 2021 to enable them detain a Belarusian journalist and another passenger.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) investigated the incident and concluded in July 2022 that the Government of Belarus had committed an act of unlawful interference in breach of international aviation law concerning the forced landing of Flight FR4978 in Minsk on 23 May 2021.
The EU and its Member States, together with other international partners, took measures in response to this serious and irresponsible act, banning Belarusian carriers from European airspace and airports. The EU also adopted sanctions against the individuals and entities involved in the forced landing of the aircraft and a substantial package of sectoral measures in this context.
The Government continues to support strong coordinated EU sanctions and other measures, including action at the OSCE and at the UN, to hold Belarus accountable for its violations of human rights and the rule of law, and its complicity in Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine.
30. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on her Department's position in relation to the detention of a person (details supplied); the concerns raised in the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention report in June 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72749/25]
View answerI am aware of the arrest of former Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan, in 2023 and his ongoing detention. While judicial matters are an issue for Pakistan's courts, I note that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, in its report issued in June 2024, has found that Mr. Khan is arbitrarily detained and has called for his immediate release. I am also aware of the recent statements of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and the national Human Rights Commission of Pakistan regarding the treatment of Mr Khan and calling for his conditions of detention to comply fully with international norms and standards.
Ireland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of universal human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom to participate in the political process, is clear. Ireland, through our Embassy in Islamabad, is monitoring developments in the country and region closely and engages regularly with both the EU Delegation and like-minded partners in Pakistan on representations to the authorities regarding human rights issues.
This year, the EU has raised a range of human rights issues directly with the Pakistani authorities during a January visit by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Olaf Skoog, in the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue in November, and during the fifth GSP+ monitoring mission to Pakistan which took place in recent weeks. Ahead of the upcoming EU-Pakistan Joint Commission on 17 December in Brussels, a subgroup meeting on Democracy, Human Rights, Rule of Law was held in Islamabad, on 1 December, attended by the Irish Embassy.
31. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she is aware of the recent abduction of over 300 students and staff from St Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria; if her Department can offer any diplomatic assistance or advice including support through EU diplomatic mechanisms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72759/25]
View answerI remain deeply concerned by the abduction, and ongoing detention, of children and teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, Nigeria on 21 November. The Government strongly condemns this and other recent abductions in Nigeria, and joins all calls for the swift and safe release of the children and teachers. I am encouraged by the news that 100 children have been rescued and hope they and all those still in captivity can return to their families as soon as possible.
The Government of Nigeria declared a security emergency in the aftermath of the abductions, and sought to redeploy additional police and army personnel to the region. Nigeria’s National Security Adviser visited St. Mary’s School community in early December and emphasised the Government’s commitment to securing the safe return of all abducted students and staff. President Tinubu has welcomed the recent return of 100 students, and stated that both the federal and the Niger State governments are working closely to reunite those who remain abducted with their families as swiftly as possible.
Ireland’s Ambassador to Nigeria and officials at our Embassy in Abuja, in cooperation with the EU, are monitoring the situation closely, and maintaining contact with Nigerian authorities in their efforts to locate and free all those abducted. Our officials in Nigeria are also in regular contact with the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, the order managing the school in the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora and Kontagora and I have written to the District Leader of the OLA Sisters in Ireland to assure her of the Government’s support. My Department has spoken at senior official level with the Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Nigeria in Dublin to express our deep concern about the kidnapping and the safety of the abducted children and teachers from St. Mary’s school. In addition, officials have raised the case at EU level.
Through the Irish Aid programme, Ireland provides some €2.5 million annually for humanitarian and development projects in Nigeria, implemented by a number of partners on the ground. Ireland also supports peacebuilding in the greater Lake Chad Basin, and specifically in Nigeria, in areas such as mediation and reconciliation forums addressing resource conflicts. We will continue to prioritise the strengthening of peace and security in Nigeria and the broader region, as well as addressing persistent development challenges including poverty levels. We will also continue to work with all relevant partners in the country to support St Mary's School, and will continue to use every opportunity that arises to press for progress on the safe return of the abducted children and staff.
32. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline Ireland's trading relationship with South Korea. [72770/25]
View answerIreland enjoys a strong and mutually beneficial trading relationship with the Republic of Korea. This relationship and steady growth in two-way trade is complemented by strong people-to-people connections and regular bilateral and multilateral political engagement.
Ireland’s total trade in goods with the Republic of Korea was valued at €2.6 billion in 2024; with exports from Ireland to the Republic of Korea in trade in goods valued at €0.9 billion, and imports from the Republic of Korea in trade in goods at €1.7 billion. In the absence of 2024 figures, total trade in services between Ireland and the Republic of Korea in 2023 was valued at €4.2 billion.
Important sectors for exports from Ireland to the Republic of Korea include agri-food, pharmaceuticals, ICT, life sciences, agri-tech and renewable energies while imports from the Republic of Korea to Ireland include electronics and motor vehicles.
Our trade and investment promotion agencies are active in the Korean market and work closely with my officials at the Irish Embassy in Seoul. All Team Ireland members in the Republic of Korea work hand in hand to support Irish companies already doing business or considering entering the Korean market, Korean companies seeking to invest in Ireland as well as to seek opportunities for deepening our trading relations.
Strengthening our two-way economic partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region is a key strategic priority for my Department. This is very much true of our relationship with the Republic of Korea, a valued partner of Ireland.
In October 2023 the then Taoiseach, accompanied by senior Ministers, led the very successful inaugural Team Ireland Trade Mission to the Republic of Korea – an initiative with the objective of supporting the Government’s development and expansion of Ireland’s exports, tourism, and inward investment from existing and new markets. This trade mission has been followed by regular Ministerial visits to the Republic of Korea in the furtherance of these goals as well as more broadly strengthening our bilateral relations.
Our work to further develop the economic relationship with the Republic of Korea is very much aligned with the objectives of the Government Action Plan on Market Diversification which was announced this year. This Action Plan sets out a whole-of-Government commitment to support Irish businesses to adapt to the evolving global trading environment by striking out into new and diverse markets and deepening their engagement in existing markets. The Government Trade Forum will monitor the implementation of the Action Plan, ensuring that there is direct engagement with business organisations.
My Department remains committed to further developing the strong trading relationship between Ireland and the Republic of Korea along with deepening and strengthening our already strong bilateral ties.
33. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will review correspondence (details supplied); if this process can be expedited due to the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72799/25]
View answerThe Apostille and Authentications Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the competent authority to legalise public Irish documents for use abroad. After confirming that a signature, seal or stamp is genuine, an apostille or authentication stamp is affixed to the document and signed. This enables public documents issued in Ireland to be recognised in another country.
Turnaround times for this service can vary depending on the type of service used. Documents submitted via post have an average turnaround time of between three to seven working days from date of receipt.
Citizens can also choose to attend the walk in counter service for their apostille and authentication needs, where the average turn around time for requests is 30 minutes.
More information can be found on our website at: www.ireland.ie/documentauthentication
I am delighted to confirm that the documents referred to in this instance were received by this office on Thursday December 4th, processed and returned to the applicant on Monday December 8th.
35. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the recent Kenova report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73257/25]
View answer36. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when she expects a further publication arising from the Kenova report, with particular reference to the Dublin/Monaghan bombings of May 1974; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73258/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.
I welcome the recent Kenova Report and the step forward it represents in seeking accountability for crimes committed during the Troubles.
I want to thank the Kenova team for their service over the past nine years, initially under the leadership of Jon Boutcher and, subsequently, Iain Livingstone. They have gone about this invaluable, complex and sensitive work with care and dedication. It is clear they have endeavoured to place victims at the heart of the process, just as we have sought to do in the Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles.
This is a detailed and wide-ranging report, setting out the findings of the investigation launched in 2016 to investigate allegations of murder, kidnap and torture dating back to the 1970s.
The report brings together the high-level findings across the full Kenova family of cases, namely, Operation Kenova, which was an investigation in to potential criminal offences committed by the British agent known as Stakeknife, Operation Denton, which was a review of the activities of the so-called ‘Glennane Gang’, Operation Turma, an investigation in to the killing of three RUC Officers in 1982, and Operation Mizzenmast, an investigation in to the killing of Jean Smyth-Campbell in 1972.
What the report sets out is deeply shocking: in relation to Operation Denton collusion involved “vicious and serious criminal activity”, including bombings and murder, and “paramilitary groups were regularly supplied with intelligence by members of the security forces”.
The report states, under Operation Denton, that they did not see any evidence that collusion occurred at a political or strategic level. Furthermore, it did not identify any evidence or intelligence which would indicate that British security forces colluded with the UVF to carry out the Dublin/Monaghan bombings. However, it notes this cannot be categorically excluded.
Operation Kenova have also been unsparing in their criticism of the Provisional IRA, saying in the Kenova Interim Report that it was "an organisation based on intimidation and violence towards society in general, the security forces especially, and indeed often the very people it claimed to represent and protect”.
It is important to note that the investigation of the murder of three RUC officers in Armagh, Operation Turma, has resulted in decision to prosecution of an individual who was extradited from this jurisdiction in January of this year. This shows both that the prosecution of historic crimes is possible. As the Kenova Final report says, “there should be no immunity for those who committed murder”.
I agree fully with the report when it says that addressing legacy matters from the Troubles in Northern Ireland in a fair and transparent manner is vital to give justice and answers for what happened in the past. This is what this Government is committed to doing, in partnership with the British government.
Our focus is now on faithful and timely implementation of the Joint Framework - ensuring we put in place something that works in practice for families, victims, and survivors.
In terms of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings, on foot of a succession of motions adopted by this House, the Government has long-standing requests to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents held by the British Government relating to these atrocities.
I hope that the publication of the full report of Operation Denton, which I hope to see in the near future, will give renewed impetus to our broader work on legacy. Families have waited for far too long for answers.
I hope to see the full report of Operation Denton in the near future but the exact date of publication is a matter for the Kenova team and the PSNI Chief Constable.
