Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2026
109. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland has engaged with partner EU states, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland regarding the withdrawal from the Ottawa treaty which outlaws anti-personnel mines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22636/26]
View answerI am concerned by the withdrawal of States from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention, and for potential knock-on effects. My officials engaged with and directly expressed Ireland’s concerns with each of the States who have withdrawn from the Convention.
These withdrawals have come at a time when the global disarmament architecture is under severe strain. It is for that reason that Ireland proudly joined the UN Secretary-General’s six-month campaign to uphold humanitarian disarmament instruments and mine action in 2025.
It should be said that the decisions of States who have withdrawn from the Convention were not made in a vacuum and we recognise the context in which their decisions were made. States bordering Russia have witnessed up close and at first-hand, the lack of respect Russia shows for the borders of its neighbours, for international law, international humanitarian law and disarmament conventions.
These considerations were noted in the final report agreed by all States Parties to the Ottawa Convention at its twenty-second meeting in December 2025. At that meeting, Ireland called for States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention to uphold their commitments and for those not party to join. This is something we will continue to do.
Ireland remains a consistent donor to mine action around the world at a time when funding to the sector is seeing significant and worrying cuts. Since 2006, we have contributed some €70 million to humanitarian demining activities alone in up to 20 countries.
