Written Answers Nos. 13-22
13. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the main challenges the Government faces with currently facing EU-Africa relations, including geopolitical competition and financing constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31952/26]
View answer16. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the consultations that have been undertaken to inform Ireland's approach to EU-Africa relations during its Presidency; the key themes emerged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31955/26]
View answer19. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether Ireland intends to initiate or host any EU-Africa ministerial meetings or political dialogues during its Presidency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31958/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 16 and 19 together.
Relations with Africa are a key geopolitical priority for Ireland and the EU. The security and development of the two continents are strongly interlinked, as neighbours. The EU is Africa’s leading partner on peace and security, investment, and sustainable development . The EU is the top trading partner of African countries collectively. African countries together constitute the EU’s fourth largest trading partner.
Ireland’s international development programme is integral to our foreign policy and is strongly focused on sub-Saharan Africa. Its aim is to contribute to reducing poverty, alleviating suffering, and improving the lives of some of the world’s poorest communities. Ireland’s business links with Africa are increasing in both directions and, as Africa’s economic growth continues, these links, whether trade in goods and services, or investments, will grow and deepen. People to people links with Africa date back centuries and reflect the work of missionaries, educators, health and development workers, humanitarian responders and Irish peacekeepers who have made a lasting contribution to development, peace and security. These human ties are further enriched by the presence of African communities in Ireland.
Reflecting the priority the Government attaches to Africa, the Taoiseach led Ireland’s political engagement with the continent at both the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa and the AU-EU Summit in Angola in November 2025. Ireland participated in the G20 as a guest country of the Presidency, South Africa. It brought together the world’s largest economies to discuss significant challenges we collectively face including sustainable economic growth and development. I represented Ireland at the G20 Development Ministerial in July 2025 which focused on global challenges in development cooperation. The EU-AU Summit emphasised the importance of the multilateral system and the centrality of partnership in addressing pressing challenges including climate change, the digital transformation, migration, security and ending conflicts in a just and lasting way.
Preparations are advancing for Ireland's EU Presidency. A consultation process has been undertaken with domestic stakeholders to guide the development of policy priorities, and we have been consulting widely with other EU Member States and with partners in Africa. As part of this process, Ministers have met a wide range of stakeholders in Ireland from across business, civil society, trade unions and other interest groups. A call for public submissions on the development of Presidency priorities issued in late 2025, providing stakeholders and interested parties the opportunity to have their say on the preparation of Ireland’s EU Presidency programme. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to engage stakeholders to provide updates on Presidency preparations and to gather insights t0 nform the ongoing development of the Presidency priorities and policy programme. We will finalise and publish our priorities and policy programme in June, weeks before the commencement of our Presidency.
During the Presidency, we will encourage the EU to drive reform and change that advances the economic development and the welfare of developing countries in Africa and elsewhere. I will chair an important informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council Development in Dublin in early October and will seek to focus on our commitment to sustainable development and the fight to end extreme poverty, notably in sub-Saharan Africa. We will also work for a strong focus on peace and security in Africa, and on developments in conflicts such as that in Sudan, which has caused the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.
Ireland’s steadfast support for international development comes at a time of substantial international challenge and cuts in development assistance by some major States. In addition to increasing the budgets for the Irish Aid programme, we a engaged in a series of international initiatives on the future of effective development cooperation, and are working to maintain attention on the enduring problem of poverty in the Least Developed Countries.
14. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which the EU-AU Joint Vision for 2030 is being implemented and monitored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31953/26]
View answer15. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way the outcomes of the 2025 EU-AU Summit are being progressed at EU level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31954/26]
View answer17. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland's plans to enhance EU-African Union partnership and relations during Ireland's upcoming presidency of the EU Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31956/26]
View answer18. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on Ireland's history to date and plans to support greater Africa voice and voting power in key international fora including at the UN and international banking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31957/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 15, 17 and 18 together.
The Government has consistently advocated for a stronger and more effective partnership between the EU and Africa. This includes partnership to ensure the effectiveness of multilateral institutions to address our shared global challenges. We continue to argue strongly for reform of the United Nations system, including the Security Council, which needs to be more representative. We have focused on the historical under-representation of Africa, and are ready any new model for the Council that is fair, more representative, and commands consensus.
We are also committed to working to ensure the International Financial Institutions, such as the World Bank Group, reflect the voices and perspectives of those they serve, including African countries. Ireland joined the African Development Bank in 2020, in view of its mission to reduce poverty and improve living conditions in Africa. The President of the Bank will visit Dublin in June for a series of high level engagements.
Ireland is a strong supporter of the EU-African Union partnership. The Taoiseach led Ireland’s political engagement with the continent at the AU-EU Summit in Angola in November 2025, which marked 25 years of strategic partnership between the EU and the African Union. The theme of the summit was Advancing Peace and Prosperity through Effective Multilateralism.
Leaders agreed a joint declaration that committed to upholding the rules and principles of the UN Charter, and focused on deepening economic, trade and investment partnerships. Significant progress was welcomed in the implementation of the EU's Global Gateway Africa-Europe investment package, reflecting a shared commitment to inclusive sustainable development. The unwavering commitment of the EU and the AU to continued partnership and mutually beneficial investment in green and climate-resilient initiatives in the areas of energy, transport and digital infrastructure was reaffirmed. Leaders further reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening dialogue and co-operation on peace, security and governance. They also reaffirmed their joint commitment to deepening co-operation and dialogue on migration and mobility in a comprehensive, integrated and balanced manner, and in full respect of international law and human rights.
Leaders agreed to establish a new AU-EU Senior Officials Mechanism to support implementation of Summit decisions, monitoring delivery across priority areas, and reinforcing the work of the existing follow-up committee. This is intended to provide continuity between Summits, maintain political momentum, and to advance delivery of the partners’ shared Joint Vision for 2030.
Ireland will continue to be an advocate for Africa within the European Union, including during our upcoming EU Presidency. As an important institution for the promotion of peace, stability and development in Africa, we strongly support the strengthening of the partnership between the EU and the African Union.
20. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how effective is the United Nations in addressing human rights issues such as FGM in Somalia; the role Ireland and the Government can play in supporting UN efforts to combat practices like FGM (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32134/26]
View answerFemale Genital Mutilation is a fundamental violation of the human rights of women and girls. It is nearly always carried out on girls under the age of 18. According to UN Women, globally over 230 million girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation, with 63% of these cases taking place in Africa. Each year, around 4 million more girls are at risk. While there has been an overall decline in the prevalence of female genital mutilation in the last three decades, not all countries have made progress and the pace of change has been uneven.
Human rights, and gender equality, are a cornerstone of Ireland’s foreign policy. A Better World, Ireland’s policy for international development, establishes gender equality as an overarching policy priority, and our aid programme has a strong focus on the prevention of, and response to, gender-based violence.
We work closely with partners, notably UN Agencies focused on gender-based violence and female genital mutilation. We provide significant core funding to UNFPA and UNICEF, which jointly lead the largest global programme to accelerate the elimination of female genital mutilation. It focuses on 18 African countries and supports the development of legislation outlawing female genital mutilation; funds community and media education initiatives; and provides training to improve health care services for those affected. Our Embassies in Africa, in managing our bilateral development programmes, also work directly with organisations tackling female genital mutilation at community level.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a member of the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence, a unique Irish collaboration dedicated to improving learning, capacity and advocacy around gender-based violence, including prevention and response to female genital mutilation. The consortium brings together 14 partners across government and civil society.
Female genital mutilation remains a significant issue in Somalia. Ireland has provided consistent humanitarian and development support to the people of Somalia, working with partners to assist Somalia in dealing with the combined impact of conflict, climate change and significant development challenges. In 2024, we provided just under €10 million in bilateral assistance to Somalia, including funding to the Somalia Humanitarian Fund and the International Red Cross. We are committed to continuing to work closely in partnership with government, local communities, civil society and multilateral agencies to address the complex factors behind the continuing issue of female genital mutilation in Somalia and elsewhere.
21. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to list all occasions that she and her predecessor travelled outside of the State from 23 January 2025 to date in 2026; and to state in each case whether she or her predecessor travelled on the Government jet or flew commercially; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32220/26]
View answerFrom the period of January 2025 to March 2026, my predecessor and I have used both commercial flight options and the Air Corps aircraft to travel outside of the state.
Table 1 lists all occasions that my predecessor and I travelled outside of the State from 23 January 2025 to date in 2026, indicating whether the travel was via commercial or Government jet and in this case, travel via the Air Corps aircraft.
Table 1 - Travel outside of the state
|
Date |
Mode of Transport |
|
26-Jan-25 |
Air Corps |
|
14-Feb-25 |
Air Corps |
|
19-Feb-25 |
Commercial Flight |
|
23-Feb-25 |
Air Corps |
|
06-Mar-25 |
Air Corps |
|
15-Mar-25 |
Commercial Flight |
|
07-Apr-25 |
Air Corps |
|
08-Apr-25 |
Commercial Flight |
|
14-Apr-25 |
Air Corps |
|
25-Apr-25 |
Air Corps |
|
29-Apr025 |
Commercial Flight |
|
03-Jul-25 |
Air Corps |
|
04-Jul-25 |
Commercial Flight |
|
28-Aug-25 |
Commercial Flight |
|
05-Sep-25 |
Commercial Flight |
|
21-Sep-25 |
Commercial Flight |
|
20-Oct-25 |
Air Corps |
|
19-Nov-25 |
Air Corps |
|
24-Nov-25 |
Air Corps |
|
04-Dec-25 |
Air Corps |
|
06-Jan-26 |
Air Corps |
|
11-Jan-26 |
Air Corps |
|
28-Jan-26 |
Air Corps |
|
29-Jan-26 |
Air Corps |
|
03-Feb-26 |
Commercial Flight |
|
13-Feb-26 |
Commercial Flight |
|
19-Feb-26 |
Commercial Flight |
|
23-Feb-26 |
Commercial Flight |
|
14-Mar-26 |
Commercial Flight |
|
30-Mar-26 |
Commercial Flight |
|
21-Apr-26 |
Government Jet |
22. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 212 of 24 February 2026, to state, as asked in the original question, whether she or the Government considers the recent murders of tens of thousands of people by the government of Iran to be a genocide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32223/26]
View answerI am on the record as condemning the violent repression, killing, injury and imprisonment of protesters by the Iranian authorities. I have repeatedly called for the Iranian regime to halt its brutal violence and repression against its own people, to release protesters who have been imprisoned, and to respect and uphold the fundamental rights of all Iranians, including minorities. This includes the right to freedom of opinion and assembly. I reiterate this call and will continue to do so.
The commission of genocide is a matter of law, which would be for a court or judicial body to determine.
