Written Answers Nos. 142-161
143. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on student accommodation in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48948/26]
View answerThe National Student Accommodation Strategy which I published in March 2026, outlines a pathway to make higher education more accessible by addressing two key challenges, accommodation supply and viability and accommodation affordability.
Development of a student accommodation programme supported by the Higher Education Authority and the National Development Finance Agency is underway. This programme will enable Higher Education Institutions in Galway to have access to increased purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) by supporting private developers to build PBSA on or near campus through a combination of nomination agreements, licensed sites and site servicing. The programme is being rolled out in phases with Galway included in phase 1.
The rent a room digs campaign will run again in advance of this coming academic year . As of June 2026, over 5,000 rent a room beds were advertised nationwide, including 317 beds in Galway.
University of Galway currently has 1,882 student beds with existing planning for a further 1,562 beds.
In terms of the Galway specific pipeline as of the end of May, commencement notices have issued for 1,533 student beds which includes 345 beds under development on Queen Street through private sector investment supported by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. Additionally, there is a further 293 privately owned student beds in Galway have that have been granted planning permission.
144. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will report on the output of the recent national skills roundtable talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50092/26]
View answerI held the third in my series of National Skills Roundtable talks last week, assembling representatives from industry, education and Government to discuss preparing our workforce for the age of AI.
Our discussion highlighted that Ireland has a strong foundation and clear ambition around AI skills; however, we need to act with greater speed, coordination, and a focus on building capabilities across the entire workforce to fully realise AI’s economic and societal potential.
I believe flexible learning opportunities are essential to ensuring that our people can access the skills and knowledge needed to benefit from technological change and the opportunities it creates. In support of this, I have introduced several initiatives, including the online platform AIReady.ie, micro-qualifications offered through the 16 ETBs, and the recent expansion of investment in micro-credentials.
Following feedback received at the roundtable, I have asked the National Skills Council to work with industry and education partners on Phase 2 of AIReady.ie, bringing together AI tools and learning resources already developed by those organisations and making them freely available on the platform, with a focus on supporting graduates and SMEs.
Collaboration is key to our success. By working together, across Government, agencies and partnerships such as the Regional Skills Fora and National Skills Council, we can empower people across society with the skills and confidence to both navigate and help shape the future.
I intend to hold another Roundtable in July on Professional Services, and I have plans for further sector-specific engagements in the autumn.
145. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work being carried out in his Department to further streamline cross-Border further and higher education anomalies, including the recognition of awards and the engagement by the CAO system with students from the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49775/26]
View answerMy Department continues to engage with the higher education sector on measures to support North-South student mobility and to address barriers which may affect students seeking to pursue higher education across the island of Ireland.
Officials from my Department have engaged extensively with the Irish Higher Education sector on the issue of alignment between points awarded on the CAO system to students from Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The current CAO scoring arrangements show reasonable alignment between A Level and Leaving Certificate scores, with a slight advantage, based on the proportion of students attaining certain scores, to students who have taken A Levels. This reflects a revision to the scoring of A and A* levels in 2025 to ensure an appropriate alignment between A-Level and Leaving Certificate achievement.
Measures have already been undertaken to increase information and support to Northern Irish students considering study in Ireland, including a dedicated page on the CAO website to advise those with A Levels of the application process. CAO representatives also participate in the annual conferences of Northern Irish Career Advisers.
My Department continues to engage with higher education stakeholders on measures that may further support student mobility from Northern Ireland. While admissions policies are a matter for autonomous higher education institutions, officials continue to explore what further measures could be taken to encourage and facilitate Northern Irish students who wish to study in Irish higher education institutions.
The Minister for the Economy, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald, and I remain in regular communication on these matters, and will continue to work together to support greater North-South collaboration and student mobility in further and higher education.
147. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timeline on the proposed stakeholder consultation and subsequent publication of the review of specialist training provision, STP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50198/26]
View answerBy way of background for the Deputy, under Specialist Training Provision (STP), Education and Training Boards (ETBs) contract providers to deliver training to learners who need more intensive support than is available in mainstream FET settings. In 2026, over €45 million was allocated to STP, including more than €19 million for learner training allowances. In 2025, approximately 2,760 learners enrolled in STP.
SOLAS engaged independent consultants to review how STP operates and the outcomes for learners. The review is now complete. It involved extensive consultation and analysis, including interviews, surveys and focus groups with practitioners, ETBs, STP providers and learners, as well as desk-based research on the policy context and international models.
SOLAS is developing follow-up actions based on findings from the review, which it will engage key stakeholders in. A working group has been established and met for the second time on 17th June. Engagement with key stakeholders will commence before year-end.
148. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on improving access to graduate entry medicine programmes. [49861/26]
View answerI fully recognise the challenges faced by students seeking to access Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programmes, particularly in relation to the cost of study, and the importance of ensuring that entry to medicine is based on ability and commitment rather than financial means.
The Programme for Government contains a clear commitment to introduce a tuition fee support scheme for Graduate Entry Medicine and to expand GEM provision, including programmes with a focus on rural and regional healthcare needs. This sits alongside a broader commitment to increase healthcare training places across medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and the health and social care professions.
Significant progress has been made in expanding overall medical education capacity, within which GEM forms an important component. The number of new entrant EU/EEA medicine places has increased from 720 in 2021 to a planned 920 places by 2026, representing a 27% increase. Graduate Entry Medicine is included within this expansion, with additional places being delivered, including through investment under the Healthcare Education Activation Programme.
As the Deputy may be aware, GEM programmes are second-degree courses and therefore do not fall within the Free Fees Initiative, and students are not eligible for SUSI fee or maintenance supports. Tuition fees are set by individual higher education institutions, reflecting the high cost of programme delivery, including clinical training and placements, and my Department respects the autonomy of institutions in this regard.
I provide a substantial and increasing subsidy towards the cost of GEM places for eligible EU students. This funding, allocated through the Higher Education Authority, will reach over €16,900 per student per annum across all GEM places by 2026. Total fee support from my Department for GEM is now approximately €13 million annually. While this significant public investment has not translated into year-on-year reductions in fees, it reflects the underlying cost of delivering these intensive clinical programmes.
Students may also avail of a range of other supports, including the Student Assistance Fund, bursaries provided under the National Access Plan, and tax relief on tuition fees.
Work is actively underway, led by the Department of Health in collaboration with my Department, to progress the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a tuition fee support scheme for Graduate Entry Medicine. This is being considered alongside ongoing expansion of training capacity to ensure a balanced approach that improves both access and supply.
The combined approach of increasing places and examining additional financial supports is intended to ensure that Ireland can meet its future healthcare workforce needs, including in rural and underserved areas, while also improving access to medical education for a broader range of students.
149. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the roll out of aiready.ie; and his plans for future development. [49862/26]
View answerAIready.ie was developed through my Department in partnership with the National Skills Council and SOLAS. Part of the National Skills Council’s advice to Government last year was a recommendation to create such a resource to unlock the potential of AI-driven innovation.
Phase one of the initiative went live in March and features four free, non-technical short online courses on the fundamentals of AI. The courses are flexible, mobile-friendly, and designed for busy lives. By focusing on practical, everyday tasks, the aim is for Artificial Intelligence to be a helpful companion for everyone, rather than a challenge to be feared.
The platform seeks to support lifelong learning and workforce transitions by providing accessible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for three distinct user profiles.
We are gathering data regarding how users interact with the platform, such as registrations, course completions and the most popular courses. This is helping to shape the development of phase two of the platform, which is intended to be developed this year. Phase two and subsequent phases will allow for increased user profiles, progression pathways and more specialised skills targeting.
In this way, my ambition of helping to upskill one million learners will progress, and our skills system will play a key role in achieving national economic objectives.
150. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether he has met representatives of UCC or Munster Technological University about the possibility of a campus on the north side of Cork city. [49385/26]
View answerI can confirm that I have not met with UCC or MTU to discuss the need for a northside university campus in Cork City, nor have I been made aware of any plans to develop such a campus.
My Department works collaboratively with Higher Education Institutions and Education and Training Boards on the development of capital projects in line with their established masterplans. UCC is an autonomous body established under statute. Decisions regarding the development, operation and management of the institution, including site locations, are the responsibility of the Governing Authority of UCC.
Capital projects across the Higher Education sector are identified through competitive programmes and processes, with successful projects progressing through the various stages of architectural planning, tender and construction in line with the provisions of the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly Public Spending Code). Higher education capital funding and related projects are primarily organised on the basis of funding programmes, which have tailored parameters depending on the objectives that they seek to achieve.
No proposal has been received for the delivery of a university campus on the northside of Cork city.
151. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the progress of the South East Technological University, SETU, Wexford campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50299/26]
View answerSETU is currently developing its Preliminary Business Case, in collaboration with Waterford and Wexford ETB, to deliver a new tertiary campus in Wexford town incorporating Higher Education, Further Education, and Research.
I understand that a number of engagements have already taken place between SETU and WWETB on this initiative, and that a full business case proposal is expected to be prepared and submitted in the coming months. Both the HEA and my Department are ready to evaluate the proposal once it has been developed and submitted.
This is a key strategic acquisition which will hugely benefit Wexford and the South East. The Tertiary education campus is just one component of an overall masterplan for the area which will also include a range of other different uses including housing, schools, sports facilities and transport links. Wexford County Council are leading out on developing the overall masterplan for the area.
152. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of student accommodation units that are now under construction and owned by third level institutions; the details of location of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49818/26]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. There are over 49,200 purpose-built student accommodation beds nationally. About two-thirds in private ownership, while our higher education institutions provide more than 15,600 beds. The following chart shows the location of institution owned accommodation.
Publicly owned PBSA beds 2025/26
|
Institution |
Total Available Beds |
|
SETU Waterford |
426 |
|
University of Galway |
1,882 |
|
DCU |
1,443 |
|
UCC |
1,534 |
|
TCD |
1,834 |
|
UL |
2,934 |
|
Maynooth University* |
1,262 |
|
UCD |
4,187 |
|
MIC |
146 |
|
Totals |
15,648 |
* 116 Short Term Activation Programme (STAP) beds included in 1,262
The first Short-Term Activation Programme (STAP) project was completed at Maynooth University, delivering 116 new beds for the 2025/26 academic year. At University College Dublin, a major 493 bed development is now on site and Trinity College Dublin’s 358 bed development at Dartry is progressing to gate 2.
As of the end of May 2026 nationwide, commencement notice have issued for 3,504 Student beds while a further 13,979 beds have planning permission granted. Additionally, planning permission has been applied for another 1,782 student beds.
153. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he is taking to expand access to third level education places, particularly in light of increasing demand from school leavers in regions such as Galway; and whether he will outline any planned increases in capacity across universities and further education institutions. [50180/26]
View answerThere has been strong growth in demand for third level education places, including in the Galway region. This is reflected in recent enrolment figures, with Atlantic Technological University (ATU) recording the largest percentage increase in students nationally in 2024/25 (up 15.9% on the previous year), while the University of Galway also grew by 3.9% to over 20,000 students.
In response, my Department is taking a range of coordinated measures to expand capacity across both higher education and further education and training (FET). These measures combine investment in physical infrastructure, expansion of places in high-demand areas, and the development of more flexible pathways into and through tertiary education.
Expanding physical capacity
Significant investment is underway to increase campus capacity in the Galway region:
At ATU Galway, a new STEM building is under construction as part of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership programme. This facility will provide laboratories, teaching and learning space, and is expected to increase capacity by approximately 500 students when completed in 2027.
In parallel, a separate project at ATU Galway has received full planning permission under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Programme, which is aimed at strengthening infrastructure and supporting future growth.
At the University of Galway, a new library development supported under the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Programme will provide approximately 10,000m² of additional space and support capacity for over 1,300 additional students, also expected to be completed in 2027.
Strengthening further education and local access
Alongside higher education expansion, the Government is investing in FET as a key part of meeting demand and widening access:
A new FET college is proposed in Mervue, Galway, under the FET College Major Capital Programme. This will strengthen provision locally and improve progression pathways to nearby institutions such as ATU and the University of Galway.
FET provision is demand-led and continues to expand, offering a wide range of options for learners at different stages.
Developing alternative pathways to degrees
A central part of the response is the expansion of tertiary programmes, which allow students to begin their studies in an FET setting and progress to a degree:
For the 2026/27 academic year, there are 78 tertiary programmes nationwide with over 1,200 places available.
In Galway and the surrounding region, 12 such pathways are available, including 8 new programmes this year.
These include places in areas of strong regional demand, such as nursing and social care, and are delivered collaboratively by ATU and Education and Training Boards.
Importantly, these programmes operate outside the CAO system, providing an additional route into higher education.
Targeted expansion in high-demand disciplines
The Government is also prioritising growth in key skills areas, particularly healthcare:
New programmes are being developed, including a Master of Pharmacy at the University of Galway (up to 75 places annually) and a new veterinary school at ATU under the Veterinary Places Activation Programme.
The introduction of a new graduate-entry medicine programme at the University of Galway has been approved. It is planned that this programme will ultimately produce 48 additional doctors per year.
Additional places are being rolled out in allied health areas such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and podiatric medicine.
These initiatives are supported by significant investment, including €130 million from the National Training Fund to expand training capacity in priority healthcare disciplines.
Further expansion is also being progressed through a national call for proposals led by the Higher Education Authority, with a strong response from institutions and further increases in places expected.
In conclusion, these measures represent a sustained and coordinated effort to increase capacity across the tertiary education system. My Department will continue to build on this progress to ensure that growing demand particularly in regions such as Galway, is met, while also supporting balanced regional development and addressing key national skills needs.
154. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will support the City of Dublin Education and Training Board to open up additional spaces on specialist training courses operated by the National Learning Network, which is currently capped due to available funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50197/26]
View answerBy way of background for the Deputy, under Specialist Training Provision (STP), Education and Training Boards (ETBs) contract providers to deliver training to learners who need more intensive support than is available in mainstream FET settings. In 2026, over €45 million was allocated to STP, including more than €19 million for learner training allowances. In 2025, approximately 2,760 learners enrolled in STP.
City of Dublin ETB has advised my officials that, for 2026, €7.44 million has been allocated to NLN to provide specialist training. This allocation includes funding for learner allowances, and is projected to support 274 learners.
In comparison, City of Dublin ETB advised that the 2025 allocation to NLN totalled €7.08 million, which supported 259 learners. It should be noted that the 2025 figures represent actual expenditure, whereas the 2026 figures are budgeted projections.
As part of its overall budget management process, City of Dublin ETB also advised that it aligns provision levels across all programme areas with available resources and learner demand. This approach is applied consistently across all FET services, including NLN Specialist Training Programmes.
In line with its functions set out in the Education and Training Board Act of 2013, it is the responsibility of each Board to plan and deliver services throughout the year, taking into account their allocated budgets and the specific needs of their local communities.
My Department is committed to supporting a Further Education and Training (FET) system that helps individuals succeed, boosts economic growth, and prepares our workforce for the challenges and opportunities ahead, while fostering stronger communities.
This commitment is underpinned by a significant investment in FET in 2026. SOLAS, as the statutory authority for FET, is responsible for determining how funding is distributed across the FET sector, including to individual ETBs. This year, over €1.236 billion (excluding capital) is allocated to SOLAS. ETBs deliver the vast majority of FET provision and SOLAS is allocating over €1.077 billion in non-capital funding to ETBs in 2026.
This funding allocation agreed by Government at the Budget and set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services is clear and unambiguous. It is the responsibility of SOLAS and the ETBs to operate strictly within this allocation.
There are several specialist programmes within FET for learners with disabilities. Through Specialist Training Provision (STP), ETBs contract providers, including the National Learning Networks (NLN), to offer training to learners who require more intensive support than is available in mainstream FET settings.
155. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proportion of HEA or SOLAS-funded programmes that incorporate sustainability, green approaches or green skills in their delivery; the way in which this is being tracked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50084/26]
View answerMy Department recognises that skills are a cornerstone of delivering a successful green transition and of ensuring that Ireland meets its climate and energy security objectives. In this context, green skills have been placed at the centre of policy development. This includes priority areas such as near zero energy buildings and retrofit, e-mobility, sustainability, renewable energy and offshore wind.
To provide a strategic focus to this space, SOLAS launched Green Skills 2030: The First National Further Education & Training (FET) Strategy for the Green Transition. This outlines how the FET sector can ensure that the challenges and skills needs associated with the green transition are met. An Implementation Plan translating the strategy’s recommendations into 24 strategic and 71 sectoral actions was launched in September 2025. This sets out a clear roadmap for action and aims to integrate green and transversal skills across all FET offerings and expand programme design and delivery.
Progress under the Strategy and Implementation Plan is monitored through a structured quarterly reporting process involving SOLAS and the ETBs. This reporting measures performance against key indicators and is fed back to my Department through the Green Skills Oversight Committee. In addition, SOLAS is developing a centralised data platform, scheduled for rollout in Q4 2026, to systematically capture quantitative data on green skills provision, including course delivery, learner enrolments and completions. This will support continued alignment with the objectives set out in Green Skills 2030.
Springboard+ plays a key role in addressing priority skills gaps through targeted, evidence-based course provision that complements the core State-funded education and training system. It offers free, 50% and 90% funded higher education opportunities to support upskilling and reskilling in areas of identified skills need.
Springboard+2026 was launched in March 2026. Of the 244 courses to be delivered under the initiative for the 2026/27 academic year, 27 courses relate to green skills and green skills-related areas, offering 624 places. This includes 4 micro-credentials offering 69 places.
The 2026 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy was launched in May 2026. 179 micro-credentials have been made available, subsidised at 80%. Of these, courses, 24 courses are in green skills and green skills-related areas, offering 466 places.
Springboard+ and Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy courses are open to people based on either being: Employed, a Returner or Unemployed, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.
The provision is tracked by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department. Information is submitted by providers to the HEA as part of the programme approval and funding processes. This supports centralised oversight and ensures that public investment aligns with national policy priorities and identified skills needs.
156. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to address the cost of attending third level education, including accommodation and student contribution fees; and whether he will provide an update on any supports available to students and families experiencing financial pressure in accessing higher education. [50181/26]
View answerI am committed to making third level education more accessible than ever before. I want to make improvements to student supports that are permanent and give certainty to families.
Budget 2026 offered me my first opportunity to make real and permanent changes in support of students, which included the first permanent reduction in the Student Contribution fee of €500 benefitting c.108,000 undergraduate students and 14,000 apprentices in 2025/26. It is my intention to continue rolling out equitable, sustainably funded and fair measures over the term of this Government and my officials have been tasked with examining the feasibility and costs that would be incurred in the implementation of additional and new measures.
Other budget 2026 changes include increases to all SUSI non-adjacent maintenance grant rates; an increase to the postgraduate fee contribution; an increase in the special rate of maintenance grant threshold and increasing the income threshold for the €500 student contribution grant to €120,000.
In Further Education & Training, courses are free or heavily subsidised, and eligible learners can receive financial supports.
Learners on social welfare may transfer to a learner allowance while on certain courses and can usually keep secondary benefits, such as medical cards. I have also permanently reduced the contribution fee for 14,000 apprentices in higher education by up to 17%.
In addition to these measures, I provided €19.3 million for the Student Assistance Fund which is more than a quarter of a million euro up on the previous year. It is available to all students who have an emergency financial need and supports approximately 22,000 students each year.
The new Student Accommodation Strategy sets out Ireland’s national policy to support access to appropriate housing for students. Under this Strategy, I am committed to further expanding and enhancing supports that directly address the affordability pressures facing students, especially for those who need it most.
To inform decision-making head of Budget 2027, I will publish an options paper which will identify costs and potential impacts of various policy options aimed at reducing the cost of higher education.
While I cannot confirm at this stage in the year the specific items that will be included in the next Budget, options to support students and reduce financial barriers will be key priorities for me as part of Budget negotiations.
157. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she has given consideration to revising policies governing a citizen's ability to de-Anglicise and use the Irish version of their name on official documents such as their passport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50448/26]
View answerAll passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”). The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and practices that are applied by the Passport Service in the issuing of passports.
Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on their birth certificate or naturalisation certificate. However, a name change for a passport from that which appears on a person’s birth certificate is permitted under the Act in situations such as marriage, civil partnership etc. where civil, or legal documents are available to verify this change.
In cases where name change arises, other than by marriage or civil partnership etc., the Act requires evidence of the use of this new name over a two year period.
If a person requests issuance of a passport in the Irish version of their name, Passport Service policy allows for some flexibility and may facilitate the request if the applicant provides proof of a minimum period of six months usage of the Irish version of their name. In such cases, the Passport Service will include an observation on the passport recording the person’s birth certificate or previous name. This observation must remain on the passport until the condition of two years proof of usage can be satisfied. After the required two years and if the person wishes to do so, they may reapply for a passport, submitting the required two years proof of usage of their name in Irish, and a new passport may issue without the observation.
In order to protect the integrity and security of the Irish passport against passport and identity fraud, while allowing for genuine cases where name changes have occurred, it is important that a passport is issued in the name used by the applicant. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of security features within the book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport currently ranks fourth in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 186 countries.
158. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the full record of correspondence and engagement between her Department and websites (details supplied) since 2015, including dates, subject matter and whether a reply issued in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50512/26]
View answerMy Department corresponded on one occasion with a representative from Diplomat.ie in December 2020, responding to a request for photos. These were provided as per my Department's policy to make publicly available photos of relevant Ministers and events. My Department has no records of meetings, in person or virtual, with representatives acting on behalf of Diplomat.ie, or any further engagement.
159. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an individual associated with websites (details supplied) has been authorised by her Department or the State to use a diplomatic title, to represent the diplomatic or consular interests of Ireland, or to act in any official capacity on behalf of the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50513/26]
View answerThe individual understood to be associated with the websites specified has not been authorised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to use a diplomatic title, to represent Ireland’s diplomatic or consular interests, or to act in any official capacity on behalf of the State.
160. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the mechanism that exists for her Department to respond when a private individual or organisation uses language, titles or branding that could reasonably be understood by the public to imply an official diplomatic or consular status or function; and whether such a concern has been raised with or by her Department regarding websites (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50514/26]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not have a statutory role in regulating or monitoring the terminology, titles, or branding adopted or used by private individuals or private entities.
The Department has received correspondence expressing concerns regarding the activities of individuals associated with the specific websites referenced. These have been carefully considered.
I am satisfied that the Department’s established protocols and systems provide an effective framework, in line with international diplomatic practice, to safeguard the integrity of official engagement, and ensure that interactions are conducted with authorised diplomatic representatives.
161. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in the context of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the protocols that exist to ensure that only accredited diplomatic missions and authorised State representatives are engaged with or referenced in connection with official EU Presidency diplomatic activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50515/26]
View answerIreland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time for the period up to 31 December of this year. The Presidency is an opportunity for Ireland to play an important role in leading and shaping the EU’s policy and legislative agenda, and the Government has made a firm commitment to resource and deliver a successful Presidency.
Engagement on matters relating to Ireland’s EU Presidency is routinely undertaken through accredited diplomatic missions both in Ireland and in Brussels, EU institutional representatives, recognised international organisations and other relevant partners, as appropriate. The accreditation of diplomatic missions and representatives is governed by international law, notably the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and also in Ireland by relevant Irish implementing legislation.
My Department has procured and developed an accreditation system for all EU Presidency meetings taking place here in Ireland. The primary purpose of this accreditation system is to facilitate strict access control to EU Presidency meeting venues, in order to provide for the safety and security of all event participants and the integrity of the events. The system also supports the smooth planning and delivery of critical event logistical supports with a security dimension, including the transport of delegations. An Garda Síochána has been consulted on all aspects of this system.
To the extent that their involvement will arise in the context of EU Presidency-related high-level meetings held in Ireland, the details of relevant staff members of accredited foreign diplomatic missions will be confirmed with reference to records held by the Department for each of the individuals concerned and so that they may be duly accredited for the meeting in question as appropriate.
I am satisfied that these protocols provide an appropriate framework to safeguard the integrity of official EU Presidency activities and to ensure that engagement with recognised diplomatic representatives is conducted in accordance with international diplomatic practice.
