Written Answers Nos. 198-208
198. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will intervene in the processing of an urgent passport application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54690/26]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents for this application were received by the Passport Service on the 17/06/2026. The turnaround time following receipt of supporting documents for a first time application is 20 working days. Additional supporting documents were requested by the Passport Service on the 07/07/2026 and received on the 08/07/2026. Further supporting documents were requested by the Passport Service on the 08/07/2026 and received on the 10/7/2026. The turnaround time following receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days. Therefore this application is within the current turnaround time, and has not yet reached its issue by date.
199. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of civil servants seconded to her Department for the duration of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. [54297/26]
View answerThe number of civil servants seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the duration of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union is shown in tabular form below:
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Headquarters |
1 |
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Permanent Representation of Ireland to Brussels |
67 |
200. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether any external groups such as companies, consultancies, or NGOs have been paid to assist with managing Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if she will disclose each organisation, their assigned roles, and the funds allocated to them, in tabular form. [54298/26]
View answerIreland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union is an important opportunity for Ireland to shape Europe’s policy direction, lead important aspects of the EU’s work, and showcase Ireland’s engagement, expertise and values at the heart of the European Union. The Government has committed in the Programme for Government to resourcing and delivering a successful Presidency.
As part of this, Ireland is hosting high-level meetings including an informal meeting of the European Council and a summit meeting of the European Political Community, as well as a programme of 22 informal Council meetings at Ministerial level. More than 270 other Presidency meetings and events will also be hosted in Ireland.
To support the management of the Presidency across Government, my Department has procured key operational and logistical contracts to deliver the extensive programme of meetings in Ireland. My Department was provided with specific funding to cover these central costs in the Revised Estimates for 2026, given its central responsibility for coordinating and planning across Government.
The key organisational and logistical supports procured by my Department are set out in the table that follows. The costs provided are estimated costs and final costs will not be known until 2027, once all the work is complete and the final bills are paid. In the meantime, every effort is being made to ensure costs are being well managed across all areas.
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|
|
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Companies/consultancies/NGO |
Role |
|
Club Travel |
OGP Travel Management Framework for the provision of accommodation services |
|
Optimum Chauffeur Drive |
Ground Transport Management Services Operator to provide ground transport management services |
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Enterprise Rent A Car |
Lease of a core fleet of vehicles (40 cars, 44 minivans) for motorcade provision |
|
Optimum Chauffeur Drive |
Lease of armoured vehicles for specific meetings |
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Incert G.I.E. |
Supplier of accreditation system including software, hardware and technical support |
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DG-SCIC |
Supplier of simultaneous interpretation services for meetings |
201. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54335/26]
View answerI am concerned about recent reports indicating a further deterioration in the condition of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya. On 27 December 2024 the Israeli Defence Forces carried out an attack targeting the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, during the course of which Dr Abu Safiya was detained. As noted by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in his report of 31 December 2024, the pattern of Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals throughout the conflict in Gaza raises grave concerns about serious crimes under international law.
Ireland is clear that hospitals must never be militarised or targeted. Deliberate targeting of health facilities is a violation of international humanitarian law. Humanitarian workers must be protected at all times as they carry out their life-saving work. Ireland also condemns all forms of torture and ill-treatment, and calls upon all States to combat and prevent the use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment.
Ireland, including through our Representative Office in Ramallah, will continue to monitor developments in relation to this case and continues to call on Israel to comply with international law, stressing the universal applicability of international law, including humanitarian law.
I continue to have grave concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, with intolerable conditions. Israel must immediately remove restrictions on aid access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the Gaza Strip.
I commend the bravery of the doctors, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare professionals who continue to work in these appalling conditions to carry out their duties. Likewise, I note with admiration the continued advocacy of healthcare workers in Ireland for their counterparts in Palestine.
202. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to expedite a passport for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54431/26]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.
203. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland has supported the United Nations resolutions on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in each of the past five years; if her Department has raised the issue of Japanese, Republic of Korea and other nationals abducted by North Korea in any bilateral or multilateral forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54447/26]
View answerThe protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and we regularly raise concerns about the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the appropriate multilateral fora.
Ireland has supported resolutions on the situation of human rights in the DPRK at the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly every year for the past five years. At the 61st session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in March this year, Ireland co-sponsored a resolution on the situation of human rights in the DPRK which expressed grave concern about the issue of international abductions. The resolution called for meaningful engagement by DPRK authorities and for the immediate return of all abductees. In September 2025, Ireland issued a National Statement at the 60th session of the HRC condemning the continued curtailment of fundamental rights and freedoms in the DPRK.
My Department will continue to seek the most appropriate and effective ways to raise human rights concerns with regard to the DPRK.
204. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will consider introducing an auto renewal/reminder system for all Irish passports six months prior to a passport expiring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54461/26]
View answerThe Passport Service is successfully responding to a high level of demand for passports and has issued over half a million passports to date this year.
The Government has invested considerably in modernising, improving and protecting the Irish passport, along with the environment and systems that underpin service delivery for citizens. The Passport Service continually works to enhance the service and provide efficiencies for customers under the Passport Reform Programme.
The Passport Service takes every opportunity to remind citizens to check their passport validity. Each year the Passport Service proactively plans for the demand forecasted for the year ahead. Part of this planning involves an extensive public communications campaign to encourage citizens to apply, through Passport Online, in plenty of time for their passport prior to travel. This year's campaign focused on driving awareness amongst citizens, particularly parents of newborns and young children, that Passport Online was the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective way to apply for their passport.
Passport Online allows citizens to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is available to 100% of applicants globally. As a matter of best practice, applicants should check the validity of their passport before booking travel.
The Passport Service's programme of reform will continue throughout 2026 and into next year, with the delivery of several highly complex and transformational projects that are necessary to future-proof service delivery, enhance the customer experience, ensure business continuity, and safeguard the integrity of the Irish passport. Successful delivery of these projects will ensure that Ireland remains at the forefront of passport processing worldwide.
Last month, I launched a redesigned and modernised new Irish passport book and card. This project has also encompassed the replacement of high-security printing machinery required for passport personalisation.
Along with other upgrades to the Passport Service's systems, in 2027 citizens applying for a passport for the first time or renewing their passport will be able to opt in to receive electronic communications, including passport expiry reminder notices, from the Passport Service.
This service will be opt-in for several reasons. My Department has a statutory obligation from a data protection perspective to only use personal data, which may include home addresses or email addresses, where it is satisfied the data is accurate and up-to-date and would, therefore, be precluded from automatically using addresses used for the dispatch of passports 10 years ago. Unlike car tax or travel insurance, adult passports expire every 10 years and individuals’ circumstances or contact details may have changed in the interim.
205. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of EU Presidency policy and administrative officers now employed on temporary contracts across her Department, in Ireland and abroad; if these individuals can apply to internal civil service competitions for these temporary contracts; the plans being developed to retain these individuals once their contracts cease, given they will have extensive and intimate knowledge of EU and Irish institutional operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54594/26]
View answerAs of 13 July 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade employs 78 Presidency Policy Officers at its headquarters in Dublin on fixed-term contracts for the planning, preparation and delivery of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union or to backfill permanent officers assigned to those tasks. These officers are remunerated at the first point of the Administrative Officer standard scale.
The Department has also hired 14 EU Presidency Policy Officers and 9 EU Presidency Administration Officers based in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels on temporary contracts for similar purposes. Additionally, as of 13 July 2026, 22 other diplomatic missions across Europe have received sanction to recruit 25 EU Presidency Policy Officers, on temporary contracts.
The Department facilitated the recruitment of a number of temporary presidency staff for other government departments based in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels.
The colleagues recruited on these fixed-term contracts are making a key contribution to the delivery of Ireland's Presidency. The officials of my Department are committed to ensuring that these temporary colleagues gain valuable experience that they can take forward with them in their future careers.
Anyone who is seeking to join the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or other areas in the civil service on a permanent basis must apply through an open competition in line with civil service recruitment policy. Publicjobs is the main provider of recruitment services to the Department and to the wider civil service. Any open competitions that arise will be advertised through the Publicjobs website and additionally, for competitions specific to my Department, on the Department's website and social media channels.
206. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding all actions in each of the Climate Action Plans 2021 to 2025 under the remit of her Department; to provide a breakdown of the legacy actions remaining, broken down by the year of the climate action plan they were initially included in; and the estimated timelines for completion, in tabular form. [54629/26]
View answerClimate action is an important element of Ireland’s international development and foreign policies. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade supports the implementation of Ireland’s climate and energy policies, including Ireland’s Climate Action Plans, led by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has no actions under its remit in the Climate Action Plan 2025. The table below covers actions under the Department's remit in each of the remaining Climate Action Plans in the 2021- 2025 period (2021, 2023, and 2024).
207. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the research framework behind the drafting of the Maritime Area Planning (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendment) Bill 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54393/26]
View answer208. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views on the importance of seeking external expertise in drafting the Maritime Area Planning (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendment) Bill 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54394/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
The development of marine protected areas (MPAs) has been informed by both research and by extensive engagement with external experts and stakeholders throughout its developmental process. This engagement supports the work of internal scientific, legal and policy experts within the Department and across Government.
In 2019, an advisory group chaired by Professor Tasman Crowe, Director of UCD's Earth Institute was convened to provide independent expert advice on the processes to expanding Ireland’s MPA network. This group comprised of individuals with relevant scientific, socio-economic, cultural and governance and legislation expertise.
As part of its active research and deliberations, the advisory group gathered and facilitated the sharing of knowledge and perspectives on MPAs from more than 100 key societal, community, business and sectoral stakeholders. The process involved two consultative approaches, an online questionnaire and online focus groups.
The Expert Advisory Group's report can be found at the following link (Expanding Ireland’s Marine Protected Area Network).
This advisory group was reconvened on two occasions to undertake ecological sensitivity analyses of the western Irish Sea and Celtic Sea to help inform the future designation of MPAs. The reports of these sensitivity analyses were published in June 2023 and August 2024 respectively and may be found at the following links (Ecological Sensitivity Analysis of Irish Sea – Main Report and Ecological Sensitivity Analysis of the Celtic Sea).
The aim of these sensitivity analyses was to identify possible species, habitats or ecosystem services that would be suitable for protection. They also identified suitable areas in these parts of Ireland’s maritime area from within which MPAs could be designated, as well as developing methods, approaches and standards for identifying such suitable areas. These analyses support other planning processes, such as offshore renewable energy development. The analyses were both underpinned by stakeholder consultation. A third sensitivity analysis is now underway in the Atlantic area as part of the MPA LIFE project. Once this is complete Ireland’s entire maritime area will have been subject to ecological sensitivity analysis.
The Department is currently leading the 9-year MPA LIFE Ireland project (2024-2033), in collaboration with partners in University College Dublin, University College Cork and University of Galway. The total project budget is €25.3 million, 60% of which is funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme and 40% by the Marine Environment Division. The intention is to deliver a network of objective-driven, well-managed, monitored and enforced MPAs. This will be achieved through a participatory Ecosystem-based Management process involving the co-design, co-production and co-delivery of outcomes in close collaboration with marine stakeholders and citizens, including local communities, environmental organisations, industry and other stakeholders through a robust and meaningful process.
