Wednesday, 22 Apr 2026

Departmental Consultations

Questions (1)

Carol Nolan

Question:

1. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach to elaborate on his discussions with the Palestinian Prime Minister Mustafa recently. [28610/26]

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Written answers

I most recently spoke with Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Mustafa, on the 26th March. During our phone call I reiterated Ireland’s enduring solidarity with the Palestinian people. We both agreed on the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the rising settler violence and appropriation of land in the West Bank.

I met with PM Mustafa in the margins of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January.

We discussed the importance of Palestinian self-determination and a path towards the implementation of the two-State solution as part of phase two of the Comprehensive Plan, and I asked how the international community can best ensure that Palestinian voices are heard as the future of Palestine is decided. I shared my concern about the absence of the West Bank from that discussion.

The Prime Minister briefed me on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and I expressed my deep concern that Israel continued to restrict access for essential supplies.

I assured PM Mustafa that Ireland is a committed member of the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the PA and that we were actively examining what contributions we could make through the Coalition. I also said that Ireland would continue to call for Israel to release tax revenues being withheld from the Palestinian Authority.

Departmental Legal Cases

Questions (2)

Emer Currie

Question:

2. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Taoiseach Taoiseach to provide details of the number of legal actions against his Department that have been resolved without going to court in line with the 2023 State Litigation Principles; and if his Department is fully applying the State Litigation Principles in seeking to resolve any current or outstanding legal actions. [28871/26]

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Written answers

Deputy Micheál Martin

The Offices of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor provide litigation and advisory services to the Department of the Taoiseach in respect of any litigation against the Department and endeavour to act in accordance with the provisions of the State Litigation Principles in such cases.

In the period 1 January 2023 to date, one legal action in which the Taoiseach was named as a respondent fully concluded following court proceedings. No legal actions against the Department were settled out of court in the period.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (3, 4, 5)

Barry Ward

Question:

3. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Taoiseach the position regarding the flexible working and remote working policies in place for civil servants in his Department; and if there is any discrepancy in these policies based on seniority. [28928/26]

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Barry Ward

Question:

4. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Taoiseach the position regarding the flexible working and remote working policies in place for staff that work for any agencies under the remit of his Department; if there is any discrepancy in these policies based on seniority; and if this policy is under the control of the agency itself or if it is directed by the Department. [28946/26]

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Barry Ward

Question:

5. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Taoiseach if any review is ongoing in relation his Department’s policy on flexible working and remote working for civil servants in his Department, particularly in the context of increased fuel prices. [28964/26]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 4 and 5 together.

The Department of the Taoiseach’s Blended Working Policy provides a procedure for Departmental staff in eligible posts to apply for blended working arrangements. In the case of full-time employees, the Policy provides for a minimum attendance of three days per week in the office; one of which should be a team anchor day. Business needs often require attendance in the office for more than three days per week and the Policy allows for that.

The Policy has been developed in line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations and does not include any discrepancy based on seniority. The Policy is subject to review on an ongoing basis to be responsive to the evolving business needs of the Department.

Formal reviews of the Policy will be aligned to the Blended Working Evaluation Model developed by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only body under the aegis of the Department. NESDO provides blended working arrangements for staff under their own Blended Working Policy. There is no discrepancy in NESDO’s Blended Working Policy based on seniority.

Question No. 4 answered with Question No. 3.

Question No. 5 answered with Question No. 3.

Passport Services

Questions (6)

Naoise Ó Muirí

Question:

6. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will provide an update on a passport application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28810/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.

Departmental Legal Cases

Questions (7)

Emer Currie

Question:

7. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide details of the number of legal actions against her Department that have been resolved without going to court in line with the 2023 State Litigation Principles; if her Department is fully applying the State Litigation Principles in seeking to resolve any current or outstanding legal actions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28835/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

My Department seeks to act in accordance with the State Litigation Principles in the legal actions in which it is involved in the State and is advised by the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office as appropriate.

The Department fully recognises the imperative that the State should act in the public interest, broadly construed, when engaged in litigation and should consider the broader public interest before taking certain procedural steps in litigation, as reflected in those Principles.

Please find below a table outlining the information requested by the Deputy.

Year	Number of cases resolved without going to court
2023	0
2024	4
2025	2
2026 to date	1

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (8, 9, 10)

Barry Ward

Question:

8. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the flexible working and remote working policies in place for civil servants in her Department; if there is any discrepancy in these policies based on seniority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28920/26]

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Barry Ward

Question:

9. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the flexible working and remote working policies in place for staff that work for any agencies under the remit of her Department; if there is any discrepancy in these policies based on seniority; if this policy is under the control of the agency itself or if it is directed by the Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28938/26]

View answer

Barry Ward

Question:

10. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any review is ongoing in relation to her Department’s policy on flexible working and remote working for civil servants in her Department, particularly in the context of increased fuel prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28956/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 9 and 10 together.

My Department has a Flexible Working policy that allows officers at Clerical Officer, Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer level and equivalent to work under the flexible working hours provisions. There is no discrepancy in the Flexible Working policy based on seniority in these grades.

The Blended Working policy for my Department is framed within the context of the broader Civil Service Policy on Blended Working. All officers in my Department who avail of blended working are required to attend the office at least 50% of the time, averaged over a four-week period. There are no plans for a review of the policy at this point. There is no discrepancy in the Blended Working policy based on seniority in the grade.

There are no bodies or agencies under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Question No. 9 answered with Question No. 8.

Question No. 10 answered with Question No. 8.