Rory Hearne
Question:248. Deputy Rory Hearne 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. [30533/26]
View answerPassport Services
Questions (248)
Written answers
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.
Departmental Policies
Questions (249)
Ged Nash
Question:249. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if it is the current policy of her private office/Department to formally invite or notify all local Oireachtas members of constituency events at which Ministers are in attendance in the course of performing their ministerial duties and functions; if she will provide the Department's current policy or protocol on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30598/26]
View answerWritten answers
There is no formal, Department-wide policy in place requiring that all local Oireachtas members be notified or invited to every engagement undertaken by Ministers in the course of their official duties.
Ministerial engagements are organised having regard to the nature and purpose of the event, the role of the host organisation, and the associated logistical arrangements. In that context, decisions regarding invitations and notifications are made on a case-by-case basis.
In general, where appropriate, efforts are made to notify relevant public representatives of engagements taking place within their constituencies. This may arise, for example, in the context of significant official visits, announcements or events of a public nature.
It should be noted that, in many instances, invitations to events are issued by host organisations rather than by the Minister’s Office or the Department.
I remain committed to ensuring that engagements are conducted in an inclusive and appropriate manner, having regard to all relevant considerations.
Departmental Data
Questions (250)
Ged Nash
Question:250. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide a list of all events across every constituency attended by the Minister in the course of her ministerial duties since 1 January 2026, where formal invitations/notifications to attend were not issued by her office to all local Oireachtas members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30616/26]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade I undertake a wide range of official engagements across the State in the course of my duties. These engagements are scheduled and managed by the relevant officials within my department.
There is no centralised system within the Department to record whether notifications or invitations in respect of individual engagements issued to all local Oireachtas members in a given constituency. In many instances, invitations to events are issued by the host organisations rather than my department or office. Accordingly, it is not possible to compile a definitive list of events where such notifications may not have issued to all relevant representatives.
In general, where appropriate, my department seeks to notify public representatives of engagements within their constituencies, having regard to the nature of the event and the associated logistical arrangements.
Notwithstanding the above, the following is a list of official engagements attended under my role as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade since 1 January 2026:
08th January 2026:
Young Scientist of the Year RDS Dublin
21st January 2026
· President's NY Greetings for Diplomatic Corps Áras an Uachtaráin
· Ireland-UK Youth Forum Iveagh House Dublin
28th January 2026
· Global Alliance on the Two State Solution Croke Park Dublin
24th February 2026:
· Sports Diplomacy Launch Aviva Stadium Dublin
12th March 2026:
· Ireland-UK Summit Civic and Cultural Reception Cork City
24th April 2026:
· UCC Presidency Event Cork
Passport Services
Questions (251)
John Brady
Question:251. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on a passport application (details supplied), as the applicant's travel date is imminent and all requested supporting documentation has been submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30670/26]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.
Energy Infrastructure
Questions (252)
Barry Ward
Question:252. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are solar panels in place on the rooftop or within the grounds of her Department building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30697/26]
View answerWritten answers
The Office of Public Works is responsible for all buildings utilised within the state by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. None of these buildings currently have solar panels for the Department's use. As part of its commitments under the Climate Action Mandate, the Department is, however, liaising with the Office of Public Works to identify which properties may be suitable for the installation of solar panels.
This assessment is being undertaken on a property-by-property basis, having regard to factors such as building type, structural suitability, planning requirements, heritage considerations, operational needs, and value for money.
The Department is working with the Office of Public Works to ensure that all other viable opportunities are identified and progressed where feasible.
Energy Policy
Questions (253, 255, 259)
Barry Ward
Question:253. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30715/26]
View answerBarry Ward
Question:255. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30752/26]
View answerBarry Ward
Question:259. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding any buildings operated and owned by her Department that have solar panels in place to support the energy demands of the building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30843/26]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 255 and 259 together.
My Department is committed to realising the goals of the Government’s Climate Action Plan through cooperation with the Office of Public Works for buildings in the State as well as through management of our Overseas Estate.
The overarching ambition of my Department’s Property Strategy is delivery of a network of high quality, safe, secure and sustainable workplaces to double Ireland’s global impact and influence.
A commitment of the associated Strategic Action Plan has been to undertake sustainability surveys of all our overseas premises and implement recommendations in tandem with recommendations arising from my Department’s Climate Action Plan.
The installation of solar and photovoltaic panels can be a highly effective intervention to lower the carbon footprint of our overseas estate and reduce energy costs and my Department is committed to installing such panels where feasible.
In doing so, consideration is given to the availability of a suitable location for installation, the capacity for integration with existing electrical systems, likely payback period, the need for a consistent and reliable power source as well as local capacity to install and maintain panels.
My officials are currently developing Department-specific guidelines for deployment of solar and photovoltaic panels with a view to reducing further the carbon footprint of our overseas estate.
Energy Policy
Questions (254, 256)
Barry Ward
Question:254. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has a solar panel policy in place in relation to the installation of solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30735/26]
View answerBarry Ward
Question:256. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the merits of installing solar panels on all buildings operated and owned by agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30773/26]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 256 together.
There are no bodies or agencies under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Question No. 255 answered with Question No. 253.
Question No. 256 answered with Question No. 254.
Departmental Funding
Questions (257)
Conor D McGuinness
Question:257. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total allocation of funding to each State agency under her Department’s remit, broken down by the allocation to each agency, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30795/26]
View answerWritten answers
My Department comprises of Vote 27 (International Co-operation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade).
There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (258)
Conor D McGuinness
Question:258. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total spend on consultancy firms by each State agency under her Department's remit, broken down by the allocation to each named consultancy firm, for each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [30813/26]
View answerWritten answers
My Department comprises of Vote 27 (International Co-operation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade).
There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.
Question No. 259 answered with Question No. 253.
EU Presidency
Questions (260)
Roderic O'Gorman
Question:260. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she plans to use Ireland’s EU Presidency to highlight the issue of Palestinian statehood, as opposed to humanitarian relief for Gaza, at the relevant Council of Ministers meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30978/26]
View answerWritten answers
Given our own history of conflict and peacebuilding at home, Ireland has a longstanding commitment to a just, sustainable and lasting peace in the Middle East. This will frame our response to crises the Middle East, as in other regions, throughout the tenure of our Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Throughout the Presidency, Ireland will continue to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to international law and to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on the two-State solution, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace within secure and recognised borders.
On 28 May 2024, the Government decided to formally recognise the State of Palestine as a sovereign, independent State, within the territory defined by the 1967 borders referenced in UN Security Council resolution 242 (1967).
Our recognition of Palestine was a concrete step, taken along with trusted international partners. Since then we have been working closely with Arab and Gulf partners, as well as partners in Europe and beyond to promote implementation of the two-State solution.
Ireland is actively working with the EU and other partners in the region and beyond to create an enabling environment for the Palestinian Authority. I was pleased to attend the inaugural meeting of the Palestine Donor Group last November in Brussels where I had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Mustafa and Palestinian Minister for Finance and Planning Estephan Salameh. At that meeting, I called on Israel to release withheld Palestinian tax clearance revenues to the Palestinian Authority and take all necessary measures to ensure that correspondent banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks remain in place. Ireland has been clear that the progress the Palestinian Authority has made on reforms is being continually undermined by Israel.
In addition, Ireland is an active participant in the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. On 28 January, Ireland hosted the eighth meeting of the Global Alliance at Croke Park in Dublin. The meeting brought together senior officials and diplomats from more than 50 countries and international organisations. The event focused on sharing lessons from Ireland’s own experience of peacebuilding in Northern Ireland, and how dialogue, inclusion and strong institutions can help turn conflict into lasting peace.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. I also met with my Palestinian counterpart, Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian at the Munich Security Council in February and heard first-hand the serious impact that Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues is having on the Palestinian economy.
The Government is committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority, both politically and financially. Political and economic security in the West Bank is central to its stability and to the security of the wider region, as well as being an essential component to the viability of the two-State solution. Ireland has provided over €112 million in support of the people of Palestine since 2023.
Ireland will continue to use all the tools at its disposal – political, legal, diplomatic and humanitarian – to support the Palestinian people to achieve self-determination through the two-State solution. This is the only way to establish lasting peace and security for Israel and Palestine and the wider region.