Louis O'Hara
Question:1. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Taoiseach to list all the Cabinet committees currently in operation. [38150/26]
View answerCabinet Committees
Questions (1)
Written answers
The Government has established 12 Cabinet Committees, as set out below:
Children and Education;
Climate Action, Environment and Energy;
Disability;
Economy, Trade and Competitiveness;
EU and International Affairs;
Government Co-ordination;
Health;
Housing;
Infrastructure;
Justice, Migration and Social Affairs;
Northern Ireland;
Water Quality.
Passport Services
Questions (2)
Niamh Smyth
Question:2. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); if the passport application will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37947/26]
View answerWritten answers
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue by date.
Passport Services
Questions (3)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:3. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport will be issued to a person (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37949/26]
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.
Legislative Programme
Questions (4)
Barry Ward
Question:4. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the Israeli settlements (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill 2025; if there is a timeline for this Bill to progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37977/26]
View answerWritten answers
In June 2025, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill.
The main purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, in line with the Programme for Government commitment.
Legally, the regulation of external trade in services is considerably more complex than is the case with goods at EU level. There would also be greater complexity when it comes to implementation than is the case with regard to trade in goods.
The Government has received the Attorney General’s advice on the question of whether the inclusion of services in the Bill is permissible under EU law. Advice provided by the Attorney General to the Government is confidential and subject to legal professional privilege, so you will appreciate that I cannot be drawn to discuss or speculate on the contents of the advice. However, I can say that the advice, which is detailed and extensive, identifies a number of significant legal and practical issues with the regulation by a Member State of trade in services with a country or territory outside the EU.
Following detailed consideration by officials in my Department, clarification was sought from the Attorney General on a number of legal issues. My Department has now received this clarification and officials are closely examining it.
Any legislation must be legally robust, able to withstand challenge and progress the Government's broader policy agenda.
Work is advancing across a number of strands at official level as well as engagement at EU level.
It remains the Government’s preference that collective action would be taken at EU level and we continue to pursue this.
Ukraine War
Questions (5)
Emer Currie
Question:5. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a report on her engagement with EU colleagues in relation to the situation in Ukraine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38018/26]
View answerWritten answers
Irelands and the EU remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine. More than four years into the Russian war of aggression, the humanitarian situation remains grave and the security threat severe.
Ireland’s support for Ukraine and our response to the threat posed by Russia remains a key focus of my engagements with my EU counterparts, both bilaterally and in Brussels. This war and the threat posed by Russia is not only an existential issue for Ukraine, but is a major challenge to the security of Europe.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine features prominently every month in the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council. Meetings of the Council provide an important opportunity to coordinate with my EU counterparts on how we can enhance support for Ukraine to defend against and deter future Russian aggression. I attended the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 11 May where Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Sybiha spoke about the situation in Ukraine.
I also travelled to Ukraine at the end of March and in addition to a high-level bilateral programme, I joined my EU counterparts for an informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Kyiv which discussed latest developments, measures to ensure accountability for Russia’s aggression and the support for Ukrainian veterans. At Bucha I, along with EU colleagues, stood in solidarity with the victims of the terrible events inflicted upon innocent civilians there by Russian forces in March 2022.
As Presidency, Ireland will continue to work with our EU and international partners in support of Ukraine and will support efforts to secure a just, comprehensive and lasting peace , based on the principles of the UN Charter. Ireland will continue to provide support to Ukraine, continue to support robust targeted sanctions, and will work to work to advance Ukraine’s path to EU accession.