Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2026
71. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland is working to support the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50025/26]
View answerThe Government has been consistent in the pursuit of accountability for Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. This includes the accountability of the Russian leadership responsible for the crime of aggression. Ireland has been one of more than 40 members of the “Core Group” involved in drafting the legal instruments necessary for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.
The Special Tribunal will be established by a bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe, which was signed on 25 June 2025. Ireland is engaging with members of the Council of Europe, the European Union and other supportive states to ensure the fulfilment of a number of criteria necessary for entry into force of this bilateral agreement, including bringing into operation an Enlarged Partial Agreement (EPA) on the Special Tribunal’s financing and management, and the conclusion of the requisite number of cooperation agreements with the Special Tribunal.
To this end, on 15 May 2026, Ireland was among the 36 states, and the European Union, to adopt the EPA on the Management Committee of the Special Tribunal. The EPA now requires the finalisation of internal procedures by a number of participating states, including Ireland, and a subsequent formal decision by adopting States for its entry into force, subject to there being sufficient financial resources for the operation of the Special Tribunal.
Ireland will continue to positively engage at the Council of Europe to ensure that the Special Tribunal is established and operational as soon as reasonably possible.
