Written Answers Nos. 210-229
210. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the Government's commitments under the new joint legacy framework; the up-to-date position on the establishment of the dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána; the powers to be afforded to said unit to investigate legacy cases related to the Northern Ireland conflict; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3443/26]
View answerThe measures announced in the Joint Framework on Legacy, published in September 2025, place responsibilities on both the British and Irish Governments. Reciprocal cooperation between the two jurisdictions is at the heart of the Joint Framework.
In this jurisdiction, we are committed to enabling “the fullest possible cooperation of the relevant Irish authorities with the Legacy Commission, once established” and the Government will bring forward legislation, namely the Legacy of the Troubles Bill listed in the Spring 2026 Legislation Programme, to facilitate this cooperation. This legislation will also provide for the establishment of the jointly funded Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR). The Minister for Justice, Migration and Home Affairs has indicated that he is hopeful that the General Scheme of the Bill will be published in April or May.
We are also committed to a financial contribution of €25 million over three years to include the costs of participation and representation of victims, survivors and next of kin in legacy processes.
The Joint Framework includes a commitment that a dedicated unit will be established as a central point of contact and coordination within An Garda Síochána for victims and families in relation to Troubles-related investigations. The unit, known as the Troubles Legacy Liaison Unit, has now been established within An Garda Síochána.
In line with the commitment in the Joint Framework, the investigation of Troubles-related cases will continue to be undertaken by the relevant Garda Division in which the incident occurred with the support of national units as required. This is the most appropriate and effective approach in this jurisdiction.
As the Deputy will be aware, within An Garda Síochána, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation holds a national investigative remit specialised in the area of major crime investigation which can provide support to local Divisions. This includes, where appropriate, deploying the expertise of the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) to provide for independent review of historical investigations, including homicides.
In circumstances where historic offences have not been resolved, the investigations remain open and the Garda Authorities follow up fully on any new evidence or information that becomes available to them, whether that comes from the public, from other police services or from their own investigations.
In time, once the Joint Framework has been implemented and embedded, further investigative leads may come to light through reciprocal cooperation with the UK authorities.
Its full operation will, however, depend on the progress made by the UK Government in enacting the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and the reformed Legacy Commission becoming fully operational.
211. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to appointing new special envoys, particularly in relation to recent international events or in the context of Irelands campaign for seat on the UN Human Rights Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3586/26]
View answerIreland is seeking election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2027-2029, with elections due to be held later this year. Our decision to seek membership of the HRC is a clear demonstration not only of Ireland’s unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights, but also to the United Nations and the UN Charter.
Ireland’s campaign will focus on the following thematic priorities:
• the promotion and protection of civil society space and human rights defenders;
• women’s rights and gender equality;
• the rights of LGBTQI+ persons;
• the right to adequate food; and,
• the rights of persons with disabilities in conflict.
Engagement in support of our campaign and our wider human rights diplomacy is an important part of my work as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and of my officials and the mission network. My department has put in place arrangements to engage proactively across the human rights agenda at the UN, as a member of the EU and in our bilateral engagement with a wide range of partners. My Department has no plans to appointment a Special Envoy in connection with the Human Rights Council campaign.
212. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of EU Presidency policy and administrative officers now employed on temporary contracts; her plans being developed to retain or utilise these people once their contracts end, given at that stage they will have extensive and intimate knowledge of EU and Irish institutional operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3587/26]
View answerAs of 15 January 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade employs 72 Presidency Policy Officers at its headquarters in Dublin on fixed-term contracts for the planning, preparation and delivery of Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union or to backfill permanent officers assigned to those tasks. These officers are remunerated at the first point of the Administrative Officer standard scale.
The Department has also hired 14 EU Presidency Policy Officers and 9 EU Presidency Administration Officers based in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels on temporary contracts for similar purposes. Additionally, as of 15 January 2026, one Presidency Policy Officer has been hired by the Embassy of Ireland in Belgium and one Presidency Policy Officer by the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. A number of other diplomatic missions across Europe have received sanction to enable them to also recruit, on temporary contracts, EU Presidency Policy Officers.
The Department has also facilitated employing a number of temporary presidency staff for other government departments based in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels.
Those recruited on these fixed-term contracts are making a key contribution to planning, as they will to the delivery of Ireland's Presidency. The officials of my Department are committed to ensuring that these new colleagues gain valuable experience that they can take forward with them in their future careers.
For any officers who are seeking to join the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the wider civil service on a permanent basis they must, as per civil service recruitment policy, join through an open competition. Publicjobs is the main provider of recruitment services to the Department and to the wider civil service. Any open competitions that arise will be advertised through the Publicjobs website and, for competitions specific to my Department, on the Department's website and social media channels.
213. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the current situation in Iran; and the engagement her Department has had with the European Union in relation to the matter. [3599/26]
View answer230. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will raise recent human rights abuses in Iran with the Iranian Government, and at EU and UN level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4092/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 230 together.
I am gravely concerned by ongoing developments in Iran and reports of the violent repression and killing, widespread injury and arrest of protesters and reports of executions. Both I and the Taoiseach have made public statements making clear our strong condemnation of these actions. Ireland has also contributed to EU statements on similar lines.
Senior Officials in my Department raised these concerns directly with the Iranian Ambassador-designate on 12 January and asked him to convey these to his government in Tehran. I know many EU partners have done the same.
Ireland and our EU partners call on the Iranian authorities to immediately halt any further violence and repression, to restore communications, and to uphold the fundamental rights of all Iranians.
Ireland has consistently condemned Iran’s violations of human rights, including the Iranian government’s use of the death penalty, and has supported EU sanctions linked to human rights violations. We will continue to condemn Iran's egregious and deplorable violations of human rights.
The EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, have raised the possibility of additional sanctions on Iran. Ireland will consider any proposals on their merits, with a view to preventing further Iranian government violations of human rights.
214. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to list the roles within public or semi-State organisations under her Department that are excluded from the single public service pension scheme; the number of people employed in those roles, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3618/26]
View answerThere are no public or semi-State organisations under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
215. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total number of post codes which she and her Department are giving consideration to prescribing under the terms of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025; and the total or estimated total geographical area of these post codes. [3706/26]
View answerReply not received from the Department.
221. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an up-to-date contact list for queries from Oireachtas members to agencies under her Department, in tabular form. [3872/26]
View answerThere are no agencies under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Passport Service operates a phone line to respond to Oireachtas Members' queries on urgent passport cases. In each case raised by an Oireachtas Member, the Passport Service reviews the application in question. It is important to note that this phone line does not function as a means of expediting passport applications.
In regard to queries on other matters, the relevant contact details are set out on the Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-foreign-affairs/organisation-information/department-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade-contact-details/.
222. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to set out, in tabular form, the total amount of Exchequer funding provided by Ireland to programmes relating to Gaza and the West Bank from January 2023 to date, broken down by year, funding instrument, recipient organisation, and administering body, and to state the projected allocations to each recipient body to the end of 2026. [3950/26]
View answer227. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how her Department assesses value for money in respect of Irish humanitarian funding provided to Gaza and the West Bank, including administrative overheads charged by intermediary organisations, and whether comparative analysis has been undertaken against alternative delivery mechanisms. [3955/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 227 together.
The Government has provided €102 million in humanitarian and development assistance for the people of Palestine since 2023. Through the international development programme, Irish Aid, we partner with trusted multilateral and non-governmental humanitarian organisations to deliver assistance to the people of Gaza and the West Bank, enabling us to achieve a greater impact than we could on our own. Partners provide us with detail on numbers of people reached with emergency life-saving assistance and strong reporting on results achieved. Since 2023 our humanitarian funding has been predictable and flexible, enabling our partners to provide assistance as quickly as possible with as great an impact as possible on the lives of affected people, in difficult and dangerous circumstances.
Given the range of needs, operating constraints, partner capacities, and partner mandates in Gaza and the West bank, the Department seeks to ensure Irelands assistance is delivered across a range of alternative delivery mechanisms, including through UN agencies, including UNWRA, and NGOs.
When allocating grants to these organisations, the Department assesses administrative, overhead costs and value for money, with reference to the context and alternatives available. These assessments are undertaken as part of the Department’s standard process for awarding and managing grants, consistent with its global approach to grant management.
The following table sets out the total amount of funding provided by Ireland to support the people of Palestine from January 2023. We also last week announced an additional €42 million in assistance to the people of Palestine for 2026, including €20 million in core funding for UNRWA, with the balance to be allocated in response to needs throughout the year.
|
Partners |
2023 €000s |
2024 €000s |
2025 €000s |
|
Partners |
2023 €000s |
2024 €000s |
2025 €000s |
|
UNRWA |
18,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
|
UN OCHA |
4,945 |
1,075 |
3,141 |
|
ICRC - IFRC |
2,000 |
|
|
|
Food and Agricultural Organisation - DAFM (Emergency Support Gaza) |
|
1,000 |
|
|
UNICEF |
|
|
2,000 |
|
World Food Programme |
2,600 |
|
3,000 |
|
World Health Organisation |
1,000 |
|
1,000 |
|
Norwegian Refugee Council (West Bank Protection Consortium) |
400 |
400 |
400 |
|
COMET-ME |
100 |
100 |
250 |
|
Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation |
|
120 |
|
|
Bilateral Palestinian Authority Services |
3,060 |
3,360 |
3,380 |
|
Humanitarian responders |
19 |
204 |
205 |
|
Peace and Rights |
1,367 |
1,856 |
1,668 |
|
Development Partners and support |
1,377 |
1,436 |
161 |
|
Scholarships |
927 |
1,017 |
946 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total in support of the people of Palestine |
35,795 |
30,568 |
36,151
|
223. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what governance, audit, and compliance conditions are attached to Irish Exchequer funding provided to UNRWA since January 2023, what additional oversight measures have been introduced following international concerns regarding UNRWA governance, and whether any Irish funding has been suspended, redirected, or made conditional as a result. [3951/26]
View answer225. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether her Department has conducted any risk assessments since January 2023 regarding the potential diversion or misuse of Irish humanitarian funding provided to Gaza and the West Bank, and if so, to outline the findings, mitigation measures applied, and any changes made to funding delivery models. [3953/26]
View answer226. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how many audits, evaluations, or compliance reviews have been conducted since January 2023 in respect of Irish-funded programmes in Gaza and the West Bank, which organisations were audited, whether any material weaknesses or adverse findings were identified, and what corrective actions were taken. [3954/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 223, 225 and 226 together.
Through our international development programme, the Government has consistently provided significant development and humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. This support has been scaled up since the start of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023. Last week, we announced a further €42 million in assistance for 2026, including €20 million in funding to support the work of UNRWA.
In 2023, as part the Department's ongoing oversight measures, the Evaluation and Audit Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade carried out an internal audit of grant funding to humanitarian NGOs operating in the West Bank and Gaza. The objective was to assess the effectiveness of risk management and internal controls in place governing the funding of NGOs through our programme of assistance for Palestine. The period covered by the audit was 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022. No significant issues were identified and a small number of recommendations were made which are being addressed by the Department.
In conjunction with this, an audit of Ireland's diplomatic mission in Ramallah was also conducted. The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the risk management and internal control systems of the Representative Office, with particular emphasis on internal financial controls. No significant issues were identified and the recommendations made have all been addressed by the Department.
As a trusted partner organisation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, UNWRA, in common with all our partners, is subject to the governance, audit and compliance conditions set out in the Department's 'tandard Approach to Grant Management. These include a detailed analysis of partner capacity, reporting and audit. This is complemented by the Department’s counter-fraud policy, legislation and procedures on protected disclosure, information on whistleblowing, and appropriate monitoring.
All of the Department’s partnerships, including with UNRWA, are subject to robust internal and external controls, including audit and evaluation, managed by the Department's independent Evaluation and Audit Unit and validated by the external Audit Committee. The Comptroller and Auditor General also assesses this Department's internal controls.
UNRWA is mandated by the UN General Assembly to provide vital services for Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the West Bank, and elsewhere in the region. It is the largest humanitarian organisation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Multiple Reviews of its work, structures and effectiveness have been carried by international bodies, including the EU and the UN:
• A European Commission review in late 2023 found that "the existing safeguards in place- which have been significantly strengthened in the past years - work well and no evidence has been found to date that money has been diverted for unintended purposes".
• A further review by the EU in January 2024 resulted in the restoration of suspended EU and indicated the EU’s support to the UN’s initiative to establish an independent Review Group to appraise UNRWA.
• Two major reviews were commissioned by the UN: the independent review, knowsn as the Colonna Report and the Office of Internal Oversight Report. They found that UNWRA was committed to upholding the humanitarian principle of neutrality. The Colonna Report found no evidence supporting Israel's claims of staff involvement in Hamas attacks but made a series of recommendations on governance, staff vetting and oversight.
Ireland has engaged closely with UNRWA on its response to allegations and concerns expressed by Israel. We have emphasised our strong support for the organisation and its work and have not suspended any funding to it.
224. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what mechanisms are used by her Department to verify the end-use of Irish humanitarian funding provided to Gaza and the West Bank, whether Ireland operates or participates in any independent verification or tracing system beyond partner self-reporting, and to outline the limitations of current verification arrangements. [3952/26]
View answer228. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to clarify the extent of direct control exercised by the Irish State over the allocation and distribution of humanitarian funding provided to Gaza and the West Bank, and to state whether she is satisfied that current arrangements provide sufficient accountability to the Irish taxpayer. [3956/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 228 together.
Through the international development programme, Irish Aid, the Government has provided €102 million in humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian people since January 2023. Last week, we announced an additional €42 million in assistance for 2026. The management and allocation of this funding is subject to the management procedures of the Department of Foreign Affairs, working with its humanitarian and development partners. As a donor of humanitarian and development funding, Ireland partners with multilateral and non-governmental humanitarian organisations to deliver assistance to the people of Gaza and the West Bank.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade prioritises the management of risk with all of its partner organisations. Ireland's funding to organisations in Gaza and West Bank is subject to:
• the same governance, audit and compliance conditions as all of the Department's other partners, globally. These conditions are set out in the Department’s Standard Approach to Grant Management, and include review of partners' capacities and flows of funds.
• robust internal and external controls, including audit and evaluation, managed by the Department's independent Evaluation and Audit Unit and validated by the external Audit Committee. The Comptroller and Auditor General assesses the Department's internal controls.
• partner organisations' internal oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability and minimize the risk of diversion in each stage of aid delivery. Typical mechanisms include vetting of staff, sub-partners, and suppliers; and supply chain tracking involving inspections and scanning at border crossings and logistics facilities.
These arrangements are designed to provide accountability to donors. However, we recognise that there are significant, inherent risks to aid delivery in challenging and dangerous environments such as Gaza. A Risk Management Solutions Group (RMSG) comprised of donors, UN, and international NGO representatives is currently is working to strengthen existing safeguards to promote aid transparency and reduce the risk of diversion into and within Gaza through measures that are proportional to the assessed risk.
229. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for an Irish citizen (details supplied) residing in America; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4007/26]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the applicant had incorrectly entered their email address on their application, and therefore had not received any emails from the Passport Service requesting additional supporting documentation. I can confirm the Passport Service has been in contact with the applicant to provide assistance and once the outstanding documentation has been provided, the application will be prioritised for checking.
I would ask the Deputy to continue to encourage his constituents to apply online, well in advance of their travel date, for the quickest, cheapest and most efficient service.
