Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2026
86. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date on the establishment of the John Hume Fund; and the indicative timeline for its introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21738/26]
View answerIn September 2025, my Department established a new European Parliament Unit, with dedicated resources to focus on our relationship with this key institution. The overall purpose of this unit is to maximise opportunities for effective Irish engagement with the European Parliament, both as a key partner in our ongoing work and in particular with a view to an effective Irish Presidency in the second half of this year.
Part of this work in engaging with the Parliament, has been to explore the possibility of establishing a John Hume Fund. As you know, John Hume was the only member of the European Parliament to win a Nobel Prize and the idea of establishing a fund in his name - to be awarded by the European Parliament - is to honour a person or organisation who promotes reconciliation and shared prosperity in Europe.
Officials from my Department have been engaged in outreach around the establishment of the fund, conducting research on existing awards granted by the European Parliament and gathering insights from relevant interlocutors, with a view to recommending a way forward on the establishment of a new fund in cooperation with the European Parliament.
My officials will continue this engagement over the coming months, considering how best to honour John Hume, a true peace maker who embodied so many of the values of what it means to be European. My Department will provide further updates during the course of our Presidency later this year.
