Written Answers Nos. 1-16
2. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the correspondence she has received from representatives of the American Government, whether the Administration or members of Congress, in regard to the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50478/26]
View answerAt the outset, I want to acknowledge the work and commitment of Deputies and Senators to this objective of this Bill, which is to change the behaviour of the Israeli government in Gaza and in the West Bank.
I have not received any correspondence in 2026 from representatives of the US administration or members of the US Congress on the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026. I am aware, however, that a number of members of Congress have expressed reservations about the legislation. The matter has also been raised in contacts with representatives of the US State Department.
Our Embassy in Washington DC is continuously engaged with American interlocutors, including Administration officials and members of Congress, to ensure that Ireland’s foreign policy, including on the Middle East, is well known and understood.
We value the contributions of international partners as part of a robust and inclusive debate. The Government’s position, and indeed that of the EU and a majority of UN members is clear: settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the realisation of a two-State solution.
Consistent with the position of the EU, Ireland has been clear in underlining that policies and measures that distinguish between the state of Israel and Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law, do not constitute a boycott of the state of Israel. The Irish Government does not support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) approach with respect to Israel
We are united across this House by a desire to take action in response to actions by the current Israeli government that breach human rights and unilateral actions that undermine the viability of the two State solution.
The Government approved the text of the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 on 26 May. The Bill was published on 29 May and introduced in Dáil Éireann on 10 June. It is the Government’s intention that the legislation completes the parliamentary approval process by the summer recess and I am working to achieve that outcome.
5. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will report on her most recent discussions with the Northern Ireland Secretary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50757/26]
View answerDemonstrating the strong relationship between Ireland and the UK, I am in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn and have had a number of discussions with him in recent weeks.
On 9 June, I spoke with the Secretary of State following the disorder and anti-immigration violence following the horrific knife attack in Belfast on the 8 June. I took the opportunity to condemn the violence on behalf of the Irish government.
On 18 June, I wrote to Secretary of State Benn to provide him with an update as to our progress on legacy in this jurisdiction, including the publication of the General Scheme of the legislation implementing our key commitments under the Joint Framework (known as the Legacy of the Troubles Bill 2026), as well as the signing in to law on 3 June of the International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Act 2026. In that letter, I expressed my disappointment that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill did not move to Committee Stage in the previous parliamentary term, while welcoming his clear commitment to making early progress in the current parliamentary term.
Following this, on 22 June, I travelled to London where I met the Secretary of State Benn to discuss a range of issues, including the disorder and violence in Belfast on 9 June, legacy matters, our ongoing engagement and close cooperation in relation to the management of the Common Travel Area and political developments in Northern Ireland, including the budgetary situation.
I look forward to continued engagement with the Secretary of State in the coming weeks, in particular around implementation, in both jurisdictions, of our commitments under the Joint Framework, and ensuring that we put in place, as soon as possible, a legacy architecture that is compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights and can secure the confidence of victims and survivors of the Troubles.
6. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the progress made to date on the Government commitment of the establishment of the John Hume fund; the timeline for the introduction of the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49805/26]
View answerIn September 2025, my Department established a new European Parliament Unit, with dedicated resources to focus on our relationship with this key institution. The overall purpose of this unit is to maximise opportunities for effective Irish engagement with the European Parliament, both as a key partner in our ongoing work and in particular with a view to an effective Irish Presidency.
Part of this work in engaging with the Parliament, has been to explore the possibility of establishing a John Hume Fund or annual prize in his name.
I think it is important to reflect here in the House on why the Government has chosen to honour John Hume with this prize. John Hume was elected to the European Parliament in the first direct elections ever held to that body in 1979. He served as one of Northern Ireland’s three MEPs until he retired in 2004. John Hume remains one of the most distinguished statesmen ever to serve in the European Parliament and is the only member to have received a Nobel Prize. In commemoration of this, the Irish Government donated a bust of John Hume to the Parliament building in Strasbourg which sits in the Members’ Lounge. John Hume always said that his experience in the European Parliament, where he saw the reconciliation between longstanding enemies like France and Germany, indeed the very home of the Parliament in Strasbourg, a city that had moved between France and Germany through war on so many occasions, inspired him to believe that peace and reconciliation was also possible in Northern Ireland.
Officials from my Department have been engaged in outreach around the establishment of a fund or prize, conducting research on existing awards granted by the European Parliament and gathering insights from relevant interlocutors, with a view to recommending a way forward on the establishment of a new fund in cooperation with the European Parliament.
This work has been very valuable, and I know that we hope to see progress on the establishment of the Prize very soon. We are in the final stages of confirming the structure of the Prize and the timeline for implementation, so I hope to have an update for colleagues in the coming weeks.
14. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether her Department has assessed whether existing humanitarian assistance to Cuba is sufficient to meet the growing needs arising from shortages of food, fuel and essential medicines; whether consideration is being given to increasing Ireland's humanitarian contribution or supporting additional targeted measures through the European Union or United Nations to assist the most vulnerable communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50179/26]
View answerIreland is monitoring the humanitarian situation in Cuba and echoes the UN Secretary General’s deep concern at the growing humanitarian crisis in country.
Ireland’s position on the embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba is long-standing and clear. Ireland has consistently voted for UN resolutions calling for the ending of the embargo, most recently last October at the UN General Assembly. Restricting the flow of basic goods, and particularly fuel, to Cuba heightens the suffering of ordinary Cubans.
Ireland provides ongoing humanitarian assistance to Cuba through funding to global prepositioned humanitarian funds, which work with local partners to deliver assistance. These include the United Nation’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (IFRC DREF), and the START Network.
In the past year, the CERF has allocated €6.4 million to UN agencies in Cuba, the IFRC has allocated €1 million to the Cuban Red Cross, and the START Network allocated £270,000 to Care International for their work in Cuba.
Ireland has also committed €100,000 through the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to support Cuba to build capacity and develop a strategy to respond efficiently to extreme events such as hurricanes. Ireland will continue to engage with its humanitarian partners to assess needs.
At EU level, in April 2026, the European Commission released an additional €2 million in humanitarian aid to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Cuba. This follows €4 million in EU funding approved as a regional allocation for the Caribbean, which was primarily allocated to the response in Cuba. In 2025, almost €6 million was provided for disaster preparedness and emergency response in Cuba.
Ireland continually engages on issues relating to Cuba through a range of diplomatic channels, including European Union and United Nations fora.
