Written Answers Nos. 263-279
263. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she has considered publishing departmental scorecards or dashboards outlining the status of European Union directive transposition deadlines, missed deadlines, infringement proceedings and associated costs to the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39463/26]
View answerOver Ireland’s 50 years of EU membership, approximately 4,500 Directives have been transposed into domestic law. The vast majority are transposed on time, usually within two years following official publication, depending upon the deadline provided for within the respective Directive. Where a Directive is not transposed on time, the European Commission can open infringement proceedings against Ireland. Most infringement proceedings are resolved (once transposition is completed) at the initial pre-litigation stages of either Letter of Formal Notice or Reasoned Opinion.
Where this does not occur, the European Commission can refer Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for non/incomplete transposition. Any costs arising are paid from voted allocations of the relevant Department.
In the interests of public transparency, my Department launched in March 2026 a new dedicated section on the Department’s website which highlights how Ireland implements EU law. This includes details on Directives which have transposition deadlines in 2026, as well as infringement proceedings open against Ireland and their current procedural stage. This is updated on a monthly basis. www.ireland.ie/en/eu/implementation-of-eu-law-in-ireland/.
265. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to recent comments on Israel's Technion University (details supplied) if her attention has been drawn to the involvement of that institution in Israeli military research and operations; and if the same separation between Government and educational institutions applies to sanctioned Russian institutions that are similarly involved in military research and operations. [39536/26]
View answerIreland implements EU and UN sanctions.
Sanctions are an important tool to promote the objectives of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in response to breaches of international law. EU sanctions are always targeted, and seek to bring about a change in the policy or behaviour of the target of the measures.
The various sanctions measures adopted at EU level in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine are targeted and specific, with the aim of weakening Russia’s economic base, depriving it of critical technologies and markets and significantly curtailing its ability to wage war.
In respect of Israel, Ireland has strongly supported the sanctions adopted by the EU against both individuals and entities involved in settler violence. We welcome the political agreement at the May Foreign Affairs Council on the adoption of listings against extremist Israeli settlers and entities under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, and we continue to call for the imposition of further EU sanctions in this context. There are not currently any proposals to sanction Israeli universities in the context of this regime, nor are any such proposals envisaged.
Ireland has consistently called for concrete action in response to egregious breaches of international law by Israel.
At the EU level, Ireland was the first EU Member State, together with Spain, to call for a review of Israel’s compliance with its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in February 2024.
In advance of the April 2026 Foreign Affairs Council, the Foreign Ministers of Ireland, Spain and Slovenia wrote to the HR/VP requesting a discussion of the EU-Israel Association Agreement at the next meeting of Ministers. The Ministers of all three countries called for the suspension of the Association Agreement at that time, and called for action on the proposal by the European Commission to suspend the trade elements of the Association Agreement if agreement cannot be reached on suspension of the Association Agreement as a whole.
At the Foreign Affairs Council on 11 May, Ireland again called on EU partners to re-consider the proposal to suspend the trade-related provisions of the Association Agreement. Ireland also requested that the Commission bring forward a proposal to prohibit trade with Israeli settlements on the basis of EU Common Commercial Policy, and for decision at the June Foreign Affairs Council. I reiterated this request at the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) on 22 May.
On 20 May, the Taoiseach wrote a letter to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa to express grave concern ‘regarding the shocking treatment of EU citizens from the Sumud Flotilla by the Israeli authorities’ and regarding the unacceptable behaviour of the Israeli Government Minister for National Security. He called for an urgent discussion at the next EU Council meeting on 18-19 June to consider further measures in response, including an EU ban on importation of products from Israeli settlements and the suspension of parts, if not all, of the EU – Israel Association Agreement.
266. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her plans to ensure the safety of the Irish citizens on the flotilla. [39539/26]
View answerI am aware of the recent Israeli operation on 18-19 May to intercept vessels participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters to the southwest of Cyprus. This was the second such operation, and it resulted in the detention of 14 Irish citizens.
As I am sure you are aware, I condemned the interception of vessels in international waters, and called on the Israeli authorities to release all Irish citizens detained, and to uphold their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and welfare of all those on board the Flotilla.
I am appalled by the treatment of illegally detained participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including Irish citizens. The Taoiseach has written to the President of the European Council to express his grave concern about the shocking treatment of EU citizens. Ireland has also been clear over many months on the need for action at EU level in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and international law.
At my instruction, Ireland’s Ambassador to Israel demanded immediate assurances that the welfare and wellbeing of all Irish citizens be safeguarded, that they would be treated with dignity and respect, and that they be afforded all the protections that they are entitled to under international law.
I can assure you that throughout this period, officials from my Department, in particular teams from our embassies in the region, were in regular contact with the relevant local authorities to advocate for the safety and wellbeing of all those detained. Officials from the Embassy of Ireland to Israel were present on the ground to seek consular access at the detention centre, and later at the airport ahead of the deportation of our citizens and other detainees.
I am pleased to confirm that all our citizens arrived in Istanbul on Thursday, 21 May, where they were met by a consular team from the Irish Embassy to Turkiye, which offered them all appropriate consular assistance and support.
I can further assure you that consular officers in Dublin were also in direct and continuous contact with the Ireland-based Flotilla organisers, and with the families of all those detained.
I am happy to confirm that a our citizens have since returned home, either to Ireland, or to their place of usual residence. Eleven of the 14 originally detained arrived safely in Dublin on Saturday 23 May.
I can assure you that throughout this process, the safety and wellbeing of our citizens was my primary concern.
268. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific actions his Department has taken, or will take, in circumstances where an Irish High Court order for the return of children has not been implemented in a non-Hague jurisdiction; and where the parent concerned is being advised to travel to that jurisdiction despite the existence of travel restrictions preventing a guaranteed return to Ireland. [39917/26]
View answer269. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether his Department has sought formal clarification or assurances from the Egyptian authorities in relation to the status of travel restrictions affecting the children of an Irish citizen; and whether any steps have been taken to ensure that the parent and children would be permitted to leave Egypt safely following the execution of custody. [39918/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.
I understand the Deputy is referring to a specific case in which my Department has provided extensive and sustained consular assistance over a period of several years. The case has been raised consistently at the highest political and diplomatic levels with the Egyptian authorities, including by successive Taoisigh, Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Cinn Comhairligh and Ambassadors of Ireland to Egypt. Most recently, in April, it was raised by the Taoiseach with the President of Egypt. I raised it with my Egyptian counterpart on my visit to the country in January of this year.
As the Deputy can appreciate, Irish court orders relating to the wrongful removal of children are not enforceable in countries such as Egypt that have not ratified the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Moreover, the Irish courts cannot direct the Egyptian courts. However, the Egyptian courts for their part have also made rulings granting the citizen custody of the children. My Department has received official notification from the Egyptian authorities that they stand ready to enforce those orders and return the children to the citizen. My Department has engaged regularly with the Egyptian authorities in relation to this case and has sought and received written confirmation that the authorities in that jurisdiction will extend all possible cooperation to the Irish citizen within the scope of their consular functions.
In regard to travel restrictions, I understand these are currently under consideration by the Egyptian legal system. In line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), and as expressed in my Department’s Consular Assistance Charter, my Department cannot interfere in the judicial processes of another jurisdiction. My Department has encouraged the Irish citizen concerned to engage with their local legal representative who is best placed to advise on the laws as they relate to their case.
My officials continue to be in frequent contact with the citizen and to provide consular assistance. This has included working with other state entities to offer supports to the citizen to travel to Egypt for the enforcement of the rulings of the Egyptian courts on custody and the return of the children to the citizen.
Given the serious and sensitive nature of the case, my officials will continue to provide appropriate consular assistance to the citizen and to keep me informed on developments in this case.
270. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether his Department recognises that cases involving Irish citizens in non-Hague jurisdictions, where court orders cannot be effectively enforced, give rise to a gap in the protection of citizens’ rights; and whether consideration is being given to the development of formal bilateral arrangements, including a Memorandum of Understanding, to address such cases in the future. [39919/26]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, there are two distinct scenarios that can apply in International Child Abduction cases, depending on whether or not children have been removed to a country that is a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the Hague Convention). Where a child is removed to a country that is a contracting state to the 1980 Hague Convention, the Irish Central Authority for International Child Abduction (Central Authority) located within the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, is tasked with assisting in such return and access cases.
Concerning the Deputy’s query on the development of bilateral agreements with countries that are not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention, I understand that the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has previously taken steps to seek a bilateral agreement with a non-Hague jurisdiction and this remains a matter of competence for that Department.
In the scenario where a child has been removed from this jurisdiction to a country that is not a party to the 1980 Hague Convention, or is being wrongfully retained in such a country, my Department can and will provide appropriate consular assistance. Irish court orders relating to the wrongful removal of children are not enforceable in countries that have not ratified the Hague Convention. Moreover, the Irish courts cannot direct the courts of another jurisdiction. Therefore our strong advice to citizens who find themselves in such situations is to engage the services of a lawyer in the jurisdiction in question. Ireland’s network of embassies and consulates maintain lists of local, English-speaking, legal representatives which can be shared with Irish citizens. We can also help to identify local lawyers specialised in family law. As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department cannot provide legal advice, represent citizens legally or intervene in the judicial processes of another country.
Our missions abroad can also liaise with the authorities in the country to raise awareness of cases in which we are providing consular assistance, or to receive advice on the policy and judicial context, within the scope of our consular functions.
271. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a foreign birth registration application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39965/26]
View answerForeign Birth Registration (FBR) applications are currently being processed within the turnaround time of 12 months from receipt of supporting documents. Applications which require further supporting documents will take longer to process.
Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.
With regard to this specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the supporting documents and applications form for this application were received in the FBR office on 03 March 2026. Therefore this application is within the normal turnaround time. The Passport Service will contact the applicant directly if any further documents are required.
272. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian oil and imported into Britain is subject to the waiving of sanctions under licence GBSAN0004 issued by the Secretary of State on 19 May 2026 (detail supplied) will be subject to import sanctions here; and her views on whether additional measures are required to prevent its import. [39968/26]
View answerIreland has supported strong sanctions in response to Russia’s unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine. The targeted sanctions adopted in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in EU history.
I welcomed the recent adoption of the 20th package of sanctions and we will continue to support further sanctions as long as Russian aggression continues, including during our EU Presidency. EU sanctions have direct effect in all Member States of the EU, and they are legally binding on all natural and legal persons in Ireland.
Under EU sanctions, it is prohibited to purchase, import or transfer, directly or indirectly, crude oil or petroleum products into the EU if they originate in Russia or are exported from Russia. In the 18th package of sanctions relating to Russia, the EU introduced further measures to prohibit the purchase, import or transfer, directly or indirectly into the Union, of petroleum products obtained in a third country from crude oil originating in Russia from January 2026.
Last week, the UK amended its Russia sanctions regime to similarly restrict import to the UK of refined oil and oil products that have been processed from Russian-origin crude in third countries. At the same time, they issued a General Licence which authorises transactions which would otherwise contravene the new measures where they relate to diesel and jet fuel for a set period of time.
Sanctions provisions are subject ongoing review and adjustment. We will continue to work closely with our EU and international partners to seek maximum impact of sanctions to pressure Russia to stop its illegal war.
273. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of child passport applications processed by the passport service in each of the past five years; the number and proportion of these applications which required additional documentation beyond standard parental consent, including sole guardian affidavits (AFF1 or equivalent), cases involving a deceased parent, and cases involving court orders relating to guardianship, in each of the past five years; whether the passport service records or can provide data on applications involving testamentary guardians (that is, guardians appointed by will); and if so, the number of such cases in each of the past five years; if such data is not currently recorded in a disaggregated format; if his Department intends to introduce reporting on different guardianship categories within child passport applications (details supplied), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40020/26]
View answerThe Passport Service is meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 400,000 passports to date in 2026.
Please see below breakdown of child passports issued between 2021 and 2025:
|
Year |
Number of child passports issued |
|
2021 |
140,662 |
|
2022 |
394,822 |
|
2023 |
351,599 |
|
2024 |
342,288 |
|
2025 |
214,550 |
In the time allowed, it has not been possible to collate all of the information requested by the Deputy. I will follow up with a response with the additional data requested in the coming days.
274. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she intends to review the process for renewing child passports for widowed parents, who are currently required to submit death certificates and sworn affidavits every time their child's passport is renewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40107/26]
View answer275. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will review the procedures in the issuing of passports to ensure that widowed parents are not obliged to repeatedly submit death certificates and sworn affidavits every time their child's passport is renewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40176/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together.
I fully recognise the difficulties the current process may present for bereaved families and the Passport Service seeks to be as sympathetic and supportive as possible in assisting bereaved parents throughout the application process. To this end, the Passport Service has scheduled a meeting with Widows and Bereaved Parents Ireland to discuss their concerns.
In terms of the process in place, where a child's guardian is deceased, the Passport Service requests the original death certificate of the deceased guardian and a Sole Guardian Affidavit from the surviving guardian confirming that they are the only guardian of the child.
When one guardian is deceased, it may not always be the case that the surviving parent is the only guardian of the child. For example, a guardian can, in a will or deed, appoint someone else to be a testamentary guardian after he or she dies. In addition, step-parents or other family members may have acquired guardianship of a child following the death of a parent. In order to protect the rights of children and their guardians, the Passport Service needs to confirm each time that it has the consent of all relevant guardians before it can issue a passport.
276. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of EU transposition deadlines relevant to her Department in the years 2019 to date in 2026; if such deadlines were met; if not, the date by which they will be transposed; the value of any penalties incurred, by deadline and by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40189/26]
View answerBetween 2019 and 2026, there were two Directives within the responsibility of my Department for transposition:
• Council Directive (EU) 2019/997 establishing an EU Emergency Travel Document; and
• Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2024/1986 as regards the machine-readable zone of the EU Emergency Travel Document.
The transposition deadline for both was 9 December 2024. Ireland completed transposition of both Directives on18 December 2024 by a statutory instrument (S.I. No. 701/2024 - European Union (EU Emergency Travel Document) Regulations 2024). No infringement proceedings were initiated, and as such, no penalties arose.
277. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she envisages Ireland, during its European Union Presidency, being able to ensure that the EU awards higher priority to its efforts to address the multiplicity of conflicts and disadvantage impacting the Sahel region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40190/26]
View answerWe are very concerned about the deteriorating security situation and the humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa. The situation remains unstable. Since 2020, there has been a series of military coups across the region, which is now estimated to account for over half of all global terrorism deaths. The UN estimates that over 24 million people across the Sahel will require humanitarian aid in 2026.
Ireland has been responding, providing over €61 million in development and humanitarian assistance across the region between 2021 and 2025. This includes a total of some €17.8 million in 2025.
Last year, the EU provided over €541 million in humanitarian, development and peace assistance to respond to the needs of displaced populations and others directly affected by the insecurity across the region.
At EU level, Ireland has actively supported the renewed approach to the Sahel adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council in November 2025. It focuses on political and diplomatic engagement; human security; and social cohesion, economic opportunities and people-to-people ties. The approach has been led by the EU Special Representative for the Sahel, João Cravinho, whom I met with when he visited Ireland for consultations earlier this month. Ireland has been calling for a long-term EU approach to the region, with investment in human capital and essential service delivery central to addressing the root causes of violence, instability, and migration.
I have discussed with the EU Special Representative how Ireland can play a role in support of the renewed approach during our EU Presidency. During our EU Presidency, we will work to advance the renewed approach to the Sahel. We will continue to emphasise the importance of development cooperation as an essential investment in building resilience and humanitarian assistance to respond to the needs of displaced populations and those affected by the insecurity in the region.
We have stepped up our engagement in the Sahel in recent years, not least with the opening of a new Embassy in Senegal in 2023. Ireland’s work there includes support for food security, climate action, the empowerment of women and youth, and civil society. Our approach recognises the importance of improving livelihoods, with a particular focus on the needs of women and young people.
278. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if in the context of Irelands European Union Presidency more can be done to counteract campaigns of disinformation particularly in matters relating to the war in Ukraine and the plight of Palestinian citizens; if Ireland will do more to influence the social media platforms not least those headquartered in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40191/26]
View answerAt EU level, Ireland works together with our EU counterparts to counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Information (FIMI) and disinformation, which can form part of wider hybrid threats and campaign. This includes through implementation of the EU’s Hybrid, Cyber and FIMI Toolboxes. Together, these provide a suite of measures to be better able to identify, deter, mitigate, and respond to disinformation and interference campaigns, including through the imposition of restrictive measures where appropriate.
Responding to the threat of hybrid activity is a priority for Government and for our EU partners. During our EU Presidency, we will seek to assist the EU in navigating our complex and evolving threat environment and work to progress the EU agenda on countering hybrid threats.
Nationally, disinformation is a serious challenge, which must be met with a whole-of-society response. Our National Counter Disinformation Strategy, published in 2025, sets out commitments and actions to help counter this complex problem.
It is a rights-based strategy with 9 commitments and 36 supporting actions. It highlights the importance of strengthening people's resilience to disinformation, implementing and enforcing regulations, coordination and collaboration between stakeholders, promoting high-quality journalism and media plurality and conducting research in countering disinformation.
Implementation is monitored by a Steering Committee chaired by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (D/CCS), supported by a broader multistakeholder Coordination Group.
D/CCS allocated €1.1million in Budget 2026 to support implementation of the strategy, focussed on media literacy, fact checking expertise and research. Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s independent online safety and media regulator, has and is developing schemes for media literacy and fact checking. A scheme to support research was recently launched by the Royal Irish Academy in partnership with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
In terms of regulation, the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) calls for an independent regulator in each Member State to require platforms put in place the systems and processes that reduce the availability of harmful online content, like disinformation. In Ireland, that regulator is Coimisiún na Meán. Platforms are required to carry out risk assessments and take measures to reduce the overall availability and amplification of disinformation, in line with Articles 34 and 35 of the DSA, and the EU Code of Conduct on Disinformation. It’s important to note that under the DSA, the European Commission is the lead regulator for very large online platforms and search engines.
The EU Code of Conduct on Disinformation, within the framework of the DSA, has been in place since July 2025 and focusses on transparency, accountability, and collaboration among stakeholders.
If users of online services see harmful content, or content that is against the terms and conditions of that platform, they should report that content to the platform where they saw it. If the platform fails to act on the content, the user can report this to Coimisiún na Meán. Under the DSA, An Coimisiún can accredit Trusted Flaggers who will have the ability to report content to platforms and who will have their reports given priority, processed and decided upon without undue delay.
279. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passports issued by her Department in each of the years 2019 to 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40202/26]
View answerThe Passport Service is meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 400,000 passports to date in 2026.
The Passport Online service offers citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This award-winning service has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing and has resulted in greater efficiencies for our citizens and for the Passport Service. The percentage of applicants using Passport Online has increased from 93% in 2025 to 96% to date in 2026.
With regard to the Deputy's query about the number of passports issued during each of the years 2019 to date in 2026, please see the data below in tabular form.
|
YEAR |
PASSPORTS ISSUED |
|
2019 |
936,554 |
|
2020 |
450,327 |
|
2021 |
659,269 |
|
2022 |
1,087,173 |
|
2023 |
954,627 |
|
2024 |
1,061,629 |
|
2025 |
933,121 |
|
to 21 May 2026 |
402,013 |
I would ask the Deputy to encourage their constituents to apply for their passports through Passport Online. In particular, those who are travelling this year, especially families with young children who require their first passport, should apply online and in plenty of time. The Passport Service advises citizens to ensure their passports are valid before booking holidays and travel.
