Written Answers Nos. 12-31
12. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the appropriate diplomatic actions that have been taken or are planned in the matter of breaches reported by an organisation (details supplied), documentation on which has been provided to the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35624/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of recent media reports regarding civil aircraft flights to Israel. As the Deputy is aware, under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport. In 2023, and to date in 2024, no applications have been received or exemptions granted for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to a point in Israel. It is important to note that these exemptions are not granted to nation states, rather they are granted to civil air operators.
The Department of Transport is now examining these reports, including through engaging with the carrier concerned. It is important that we take the time to establish the facts of what has happened, and this is the urgent work that the Department of Transport is currently taking forward. It would not be appropriate to speculate on what actions might be considered until the facts have been fully established.
13. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions he has taken and will take to uphold the State’s standing and reputation as militarily neutral, given the reported breaches of Irish space in the transport of weaponry or components thereof in the pursuit of, or arming of, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza [35629/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of recent media reports regarding civil aircraft flights to Israel.
As the Deputy is aware, under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation. This policy is well known and is fully understood by the United States and other international partners, and is done in full compliance with Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.
Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport. Statistics on such exemptions are published on the Department of Transport’s website.
In considering any application for such an exemption in respect of munitions of war, the Department of Transport consults with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice on applications to determine if there are foreign policy or security considerations to take into account.
The process is robust and includes advice from my Department in respect of international humanitarian law, Ireland’s international obligations and our wider arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation policy.
In 2023, and to date in 2024, no applications have been received or exemptions granted for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to a point in Israel. The Department of Transport is now examining these media reports, including through engaging with the carrier concerned. It is important that we take the time to establish the facts of what has happened, and that is the urgent work that the Department of Transport is currently taking forward.
14. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason two passports (details supplied) are still outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33828/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra25. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application for a person (details provided) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34147/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra37. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application (details supplied) will be expedited as the application has passed the issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34438/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra38. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application (details supplied) will be expedited as the application has passed the issue date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34439/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra48. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34885/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 25, 37, 38 and 48 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.
15. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the protests by students across Bangladesh, who are demanding justice and accountability; if he will condemn the state violence being used against protesters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33888/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been kept informed, through our Embassy in New Delhi, of the recent student protests in Bangladesh which led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024.
The reports of violence, loss of life, mass arrests and damage to property in Bangladesh have been deeply concerning. The right to peaceful protest is protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which is ratified by Bangladesh and guarantees the rights of peaceful assembly, association and expression.
On 12 August, my Department issued a statement welcoming the establishment of an interim government in Bangladesh and calling for the restoration of democratic norms, including fair and transparent elections.
We further called for a return to peace and stability and accountability for those responsible for the recent atrocities. The invitation by the interim government to the United Nations to investigate atrocities committed during the weeks-long protests in Bangladesh is a welcome step in this regard.
Ireland regularly engages with Bangladesh on matters concerning human rights, the democratic process and rule of law, both bilaterally and at multilateral level. These issues were most recently discussed during bilateral consultations between Ireland and Bangladesh, hosted in Dublin in May 2024.
At EU level, Ireland aligns with the statements made by the EU in response to the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, including most recently on 8th August. Political issues such as democracy, rule of law and good governance are regularly raised with Bangladesh, including via the EU Delegation in Dhaka and within the framework of the EU-Bangladesh Joint Commission. Ireland supports the EU’s continued engagement with Bangladesh on the priorities governing our longstanding relations in the political, human rights, trade and development spheres.
Ireland’s Embassy in New Delhi, which is accredited to Bangladesh, continues to monitor the situation closely, in close coordination with our Honorary Consul and the EU Delegation in Dhaka. Travel advisories have been updated to guide Irish citizens in the country.
16. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when an application for Irish citizenship for a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33937/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 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.
The Passport Service Customer Service Hub has dedicated agents to deal with Foreign Birth Registration application queries. The contact number for urgent Foreign Birth Registration queries is +353 1 568 3331. This number is also available on the Department's website.
With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for the application were requested from the applicant on 18 July 2024 and were subsequently received on 27 August 2024. These documents are currently being processed.
17. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when an application for Irish citizenship for a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33938/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 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.
The Passport Service Customer Service Hub has dedicated agents to deal with Foreign Birth Registration application queries. The contact number for urgent Foreign Birth Registration queries is +353 1 568 3331. This number is also available on the Department's website.
With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, an online application was made on 17 January 2022. The Passport Service currently has no record to show that documentation, which is required to support the application, has been submitted for the application. In the absence of this documentation, this application cannot be processed further.
18. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of any investigation into the murder of an Irish citizen (details supplied) in Bolivia in 2009. [33969/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very familiar with this consular case and I know how difficult the past fifteen years have been for the family. I want to assure you that officials in my Department remain in active and regular contact with the family. I commend the family for their resilience in seeking justice and accountability.
Earlier this summer, I met with the citizen’s mother to discuss the progress of the case before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. I reassured her of my and my Department’s full support for the family’s ongoing efforts to secure justice and to establish the facts surrounding her son’s death.
I wrote subsequently to my counterpart in the jurisdiction concerned expressing my strong desire to see a timely and just conclusion to this case. I have also reiterated this in a recent letter to the President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In recent months the Irish embassies in the relevant jurisdictions have also raised the case with the relevant officials and will continue to engage locally on behalf of the family.
I understand that in recent weeks the Commission has referred this case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, submitted its Merits Report 394/21 to the Court, and, among other matters, requested the Court to require the State concerned to initiate a full investigation into the violation of rights identified in the Merits Report. I very much welcome this decision and I hope that this will bring about the justice that the family has so determinedly fought for over many years.
Please be assured that my Department will continue to support the family throughout the process before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
19. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33984/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 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.
The Passport Service Customer Service Hub has dedicated agents to deal with Foreign Birth Registration application queries. The contact number for urgent Foreign Birth Registration queries is +353 1 568 3331. This number is also available on the Department's website.
With regard to the specific Foreign Birth Registration application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application was approved. Certificates will issue to the applicant shortly.
20. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of an application for a foreign birth registration in the case of a person (details supplied) which was originally submitted over 18 months ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33988/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 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.
The Passport Service Customer Service Hub has dedicated agents to deal with Foreign Birth Registration application queries. The contact number for urgent Foreign Birth Registration queries is +353 1 568 3331. This number is also available on the Department's website.
With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for this application had been requested on 12 October 2023. The Passport Service followed up the applicant again on 23 May 2024 to clarify the outstanding documents required for the application. Further documents were received on the 4 July 2024. These documents are currently being processed.
21. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the way in-country refugee costs are used in the calculation of official development assistance expenditure; the projected expenditure from in-country refugee costs that will go to official development assistance in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33991/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the rules of the OECD Development Assistance Committee, some of the costs of support for refugees within donor countries can be included in Official Development Assistance (ODA) reporting. It was agreed in the Committee, of which Ireland is a member, that assistance to refugees may be considered humanitarian in nature and is provided with the aim of ensuring the dignity and human rights of beneficiary populations. This approach aligns with Ireland’s priority in international development that humanitarian response is provided wherever it is needed.
To ensure that the focus remains on humanitarian response, costs are only eligible to count as ODA for the first twelve months of a refugee's stay. They may include direct expenses for temporary sustenance, such as food, shelter, and training, as well as basic health care and psychosocial support for persons with specific needs.
Because of these limitations, only a portion of each relevant Department’s support for refugees in Ireland is eligible to be counted as part of Ireland’s ODA.
Since the start of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine in 2022, Ireland has provided refuge for over 105,000 Ukrainian people. As Ukraine is an ODA-eligible middle-income country, support to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in their first twelve months is eligible to count as ODA. These costs have been included within Ireland's total ODA for 2022 and 2023, and will be again in 2024. They have been disaggregated in the Irish Aid Annual Report for transparency purposes.
ODA-eligible elements of each Department’s expenditures on refugee support are calculated and reported as ODA retrospectively. Funding for these costs comes from a number of different departments, and does not come from the budget allocated for Department of Foreign Affairs for international development cooperation. It is not possible to state at this stage what the projected costs will be for 2025.
22. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the way in-country student costs are used in the calculation of official development assistance expenditure; the projected expenditure from in-country student costs that will go to official development assistance in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33992/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile most Official Development Assistance (ODA) expenditure is focused on developing countries, there are elements of expenditure in the donor country which are eligible to be counted as ODA. These include scholarships and student costs, development awareness programmes, in-donor refugee costs and administrative costs. The Ireland Fellows Programme managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs falls within this definition.
The Programme offers early to mid-career professionals from 79 developing countries the opportunity to undertake a fully funded one-year master’s level programme at Higher Education Institutions in Ireland. The Programme aims to nurture future leaders; to develop capacity to achieve national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and to build positive relationships with Ireland. It is designed to support graduates on their return home, through the skills they develop, to contribute to capacity building nationally. It is also envisaged that they will contribute to building enduring positive personal and professional relationships with Ireland, promoting institutional linkages.
The award covers programme fees, flights, accommodation, and living costs. It is administered by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) in Ireland, on behalf of the Department.
All expenditure under the Programme is included in the calculation of Ireland’s ODA expenditure, including expenditure in Ireland. Total expenditure in 2023 was €9.1 million, with €9m of this provided to ICOS to cover programme fees, flights, accommodation and living costs for 206 Fellows enrolled in 17 Higher Education Institutions, as well as ICOS management fees and costs. The budget for the Programme in 2024 is €9.28 million. The 2025 allocation will be determined when the 2025 budget has been compiled and approved.
23. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the implementation of the programme for Government commitments under the remit of his Department. [34009/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the past four years, my Department has made significant progress across a wide range of policy areas, framed by our commitments under the Programme for Government. This was done while continuing to provide first class consular and passport services to Irish citizens at home and overseas, and are once again on track to issue over one million passports in 2024.
All this has been achieved in an increasingly unstable and complex geopolitical context, with the initial disruption of the COVID 19 pandemic and its implications, Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine, crises in Afghanistan and Sudan, and conflict in the Middle East, imposing significant demands on my Department and its staff in Ireland and around the world.
Throughout this period, my Department has successfully navigated these challenges while continuing to promote Ireland’s values and advancing our prosperity and interests abroad.
We have continued to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens who find themselves in distress overseas. The COVID pandemic necessitated the most extensive repatriation operation in the history of the State and post-COVID, the level of demand for Consular Assistance has quickly returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 2,043 new cases in 2023. Consular cases are also becoming more complex. We have observed significant increases in deportations, victims of crimes, and the numbers presenting with issues relating to their mental health and wellbeing while also having to manage large-scale operations like the evacuation of over 100 Irish citizens and dependants from Gaza. To help citizens make informed decisions, my Department’s travel advice service, TravelWise, is reaching more citizens than ever before. We are ensuring key groups engage with our messaging around smart travel, through campaigns like this year’s Make the Right Memories campaign, targeted at young adults.
The situation in the Middle East has been a key foreign policy priority throughout the term of this government and particularly in recent months. I have travelled to the region on a number of occasions over the last year and engaged extensively with EU and international counterparts on the Middle East Peace Process in general and the current crisis in particular.
In May 2024 the Government, alongside Norway and Spain, formally recognised the State of Palestine as a sovereign and independent state and established full diplomatic relations, in line with our Programme for Government commitment.
Earlier, in March 2024, I directed officials to commence work towards preparing a Declaration of Intervention in the South Africa vs. Israel case. The Attorney General appeared at the ICJ in February 2024 and set out Ireland’s comprehensive legal analysis in the advisory opinion proceedings on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland has also campaigned for agreement at EU level on sanctions against violent settlers in the West Bank who are attacking and displacing Palestinian communities, and together with measures against Hamas, the EU has agreed to advance such actions. In February 2024, Ireland and Spain requested that the European Commission carry out an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement and will continue to pursue this issue at the Foreign Affairs Council and the European Council. In keeping with our commitment to fund the United Nations Relief & Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Ireland has provided political and financial support for UNRWA, including the announcement of a further €20 million of assistance this year. I will continue to engage extensively with European and Middle East partners to address this devastating crisis and build momentum towards full implementation of the two-State solution.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, we have continued to stand with Ukraine, providing humanitarian and stabilisation support, supporting the strongest sanctions against Russia, and engaging with international partners to ensure accountability for any crimes committed in Ukraine. Since February 2022, Ireland has committed over €380 million, including approximately €130 million in stabilisation and humanitarian supports, of which over €40 million has been allocated in 2024, and approximately €250 million of non-lethal military assistance under the European Peace Facility.
More broadly, in response to the evolving geopolitical context and wider threat environment in Europe, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence convened a Consultative Forum on International Security Policy to begin a serious and honest conversation on Ireland’s foreign and security policy.
The Government has sustained efforts to support peace and reconciliation on our island, leading to the successful restoration of the Executive and institutions of the Good Friday Agreement in early 2024, as well as marking the 25th anniversary of the Agreement at home and abroad. We have made good use of institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement to engage with the British government and address the legacy of the Troubles. My Department has met with victims, bereaved families and communities in Northern Ireland to reaffirm good progress has been achieved in the implementation of the Shared Island initiative.
We have continued to successfully navigate the complex out-workings of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. We ensured that our key objectives were met, both in relation to Northern Ireland and the overall EU-UK trade and cooperation arrangements, which have brought predictability and stability for business and traders across the island, underpinning the all-island economy. We will continue to work to ensure the Windsor Framework is implemented fully and in good faith, including engagement with EU partners.
The relationship between Ireland and the UK remains vitally important and central to sustaining prosperity and peace across these islands. My Department has worked with our British counterparts to maintain and strengthen the relationships between these islands. This work has intensified in recent months following the change in Government in the UK. We have also established frameworks for cooperation with the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, as well as strengthening ties with the North of England through a new Consulate-General in Manchester – work that we will look forward to progressing further with the new UK government.
Deepening our EU relationships and our influence at EU level has been a central focus of my Department. The Programme for Government made a particular commitment to marking 50 years of Irish membership of the EU which was delivered through a wide-ranging EU50 Programme (2022-2023) to celebrate and communicate the benefits of EU membership. The Government also launched the “A Career for EU” Strategy in May 2021 aimed at increasing the presence of Irish people in the senior ranks of the EU institutions and my Department is leading work on preparations across government for our Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026. In May this year, Ireland celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Day of Welcomes, the EU’s largest ever expansion which took place during Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2004.
We successfully concluded the Irish Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in 2022, including the agreement to hold only the fourth-ever Summit of Heads of State of the 46 member countries in response to the Ukraine war.
Our commitment to climate action, gender equality, strengthening governance, and the reduction of poverty, hunger and humanitarian need as outlined in A Better World has remained constant with Ireland delivering record amounts of Official Development Assistance since 2020, enabling the country to respond to complex human needs and humanitarian crises around the world.
Preliminary international official development assistance figures published in April 2024 by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, show that Ireland's ODA for 2023 stood at €2.6 billion, including eligible costs for Ukrainian refugees. This represents 0.67% of Gross National Income.
In global health, my Department has continued to work to advance universal access to the full range of quality healthcare services. We place a particular focus on improving health outcomes for women and girls, including in humanitarian settings. We are also committed to scaling up support for quality education, with a focus on girls’ education and education in crisis settings. Our focus on food and nutrition and the strengthening of food systems has grown. In 2023 alone, Ireland provided €284 million for action and programmes on food (including humanitarian food assistance), agriculture and nutrition.
Moreover, in the face of escalating humanitarian needs, Ireland’s funding for humanitarian response has increased steadily in recent years and Ireland is recognised as a strong, principled donor, whose assistance is provided based on the humanitarian principles of independence, neutrality, impartiality and humanity.
In 2022, the Department of Foreign Affairs led on a cross-governmental process to formulate Ireland’s International Climate Finance Roadmap, which sets out how Ireland will deliver on the target of providing at least €225 million per year in international climate finance by 2025. We are on track to meet this target.
My Department continued to drive the implementation of the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy, significantly expanding our mission network. We now have 102 missions across the globe and planning is underway for a further five new missions (Belgrade, Sarajevo, Chisinau, Melbourne and Málaga) as well as further development of the “Ireland House” model, including digitally through ireland.ie.
My Department led an all-of-Government approach to Ireland’s presence at Expo 2020 in Dubai, promoting Irish business and investment opportunities in the UAE and beyond, and preparations for Expo 2025 in Osaka are well underway.
Moreover, in line with the Programme for Government my department has continued to lead on the development and implementation of a range of all-of-Government regional strategies covering the US & Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East & North Africa, and Small Island & Developing States (SIDS).
During this period, Ireland served as an elected member of the UN Security Council for the fourth time in its history, where we were active across the whole Council agenda. We successfully co-led on negotiations to twice extend the mandate of the lifesaving UN cross-border humanitarian operation into Syria; led on negotiations to successfully renew Operation Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina; championed human rights in Afghanistan - particularly for women and girls; and led efforts to bring the conflict and dire humanitarian situation in Ethiopia to the attention of the Council. Ireland tabled (in conjunction with Niger) a Climate and Security resolution garnering support from 113 member states. We successfully negotiated a landmark Resolution on peacekeeping transitions and were also a co-penholder for a resolution carving out a broad humanitarian exemption for UN Sanctions in December 2022.
More broadly, we continued to champion support for multilateralism and a fair, rules-based international. We played an instrumental role in achieving progress on Loss and Damage at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) and at COP28 in 2023 we have again been central to efforts to increase climate ambition. My Department played an active and constructive role in the negotiations leading to the adoption in June 2023 of the UN Agreement on Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), a historic global oceans treaty that has the potential to significantly enhance the protection of the marine environment. In November 2022, this Department hosted a high-level international conference for the “Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA)” which was endorsed by 83 States from across the world, a milestone disarmament achievement. My officials were also instrumental earlier this year as Ireland served as co-facilitator of negotiations and secured agreement on the Political Declaration for the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in September 2023. My Department also led on several other high level conferences over the period, such as the Global Diaspora Summit in April 2022 and the European Congress on Global Citizenship Education (GCE) in November 2022.
Our strategic focus on North America continued with high-level visits in both directions since 2020, including our annual programme of St Patrick’s Day visits to North America and President Biden’s visit to Ireland in 2023. It was a significant moment in the bilateral relationship and provided the Government with a unique opportunity to discuss our mutually beneficial economic relationship and our shared commitment to building peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland. With the opening of a new Consulate-General in Miami, Ireland’s diplomatic presence in the US has been further strengthened.
We launched our Global Ireland Diaspora Strategy 2020 – 2025 in November 2020, and have continued support for Irish communities abroad through funding for the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP). My Department also hosted the Global Irish Civic Forum in 2023, a gathering of Irish community representatives from across the world. The forum discussed support for communities abroad, promotion of Irish cultural heritage and sport, network building, reaching the next generations of the diaspora, and much more, and highlighted the critical importance of continued Government support for Ireland’s diaspora and representative organisations.
My Department is also taking forward, in close collaboration with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the commitment in the Programme for Government to build on Ireland’s first National Plan on Business and Human Rights. Development of Ireland’s second National Plan illustrates our continued dedication to implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the global standard for promoting adherence to human rights in business activities.
24. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a response and update will issue in the case of a foreign birth registration (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34052/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 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.
The Passport Service Customer Service Hub has dedicated agents to deal with Foreign Birth Registration application queries. The contact number for urgent Foreign Birth Registration queries is +353 1 568 3331. This number is also available on the Department's website.
With regard to the specific FBR applications about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents were received for the applications on 22 January 2024. A member of the FBR team will be in contact with the applicant’s parents should any further clarification be required.
26. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of Ireland's request to the President of the European Commission regarding a review of the EU-Israel Association agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34148/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, in February 2024, the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Sanchez of Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission requesting an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
I have subsequently raised this issue at successive meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council since then, including at the informal Foreign Affairs Council on 29 August. The Taoiseach raised the request in a meeting with President Von Der Leyen on 11 April.
At the Foreign Affairs Council on 27 May, I called for an urgent convening of an EU-Israel Association Council to review Israel’s compliance and this was agreed. The Israeli Ambassador to the EU has communicated that Israel will only participate on the basis of an agreed agenda which covers the full spectrum of the EU’s relationship with Israel. Ireland, along with many other Member States, made it clear that this is unacceptable and any discussion between the EU and Israel can not be a ‘business-as-usual’ meeting. Discussion between EU Member States and between the EU and Israel on the Council agenda are ongoing.
It will also be important that the European Union gives detailed consideration to the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 19 July. This Advisory Opinion, which was requested by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2022, related to “Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem”. It made a number of significant findings that have a bearing on EU-Israel relations in a number of areas.
27. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if a person born in Ireland who was not officially registered at birth can make an application for Irish citizenship (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34196/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. In order to meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement when making a first time passport application.
Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation.
If a person or their parent was born on the island of Ireland before 1 January 2005, they are an Irish citizen and they can apply for an Irish passport without making an application for citizenship.
My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR or naturalisation.
Further information on citizenship is available at my Department's website: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/citizenship/
In regards to the specific individual about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service cannot offer definitive advice in the absence of an application or any further information. However, the person is advised to make an application, submitting a letter outlining the details of their specific situation as well as any evidence they may have of their entitlement to Irish citizenship. The Passport Service will review the application and will follow up with the applicant directly as appropriate.
Information on what is required for all first time passport applications, including details on documentary requirements, guardianship and consent, are available at my Department’s recently updated website (www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/documentary-requirements).
Our Customer Service Hub agents are available through phone and webchat services from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. They can be contacted at +353 1 671 1633, or via the WebChat service: www.ireland.ie/contactpassportservice/
28. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current status of the opening of an embassy in Tehran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34200/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2021, the Government decided to re-establish an Irish diplomatic presence in Iran. In August 2021 a Chargé d'Affaires was posted to Tehran, joined later by other staff. Ambassador Laoise Moore arrived in Tehran last week and is awaiting a date to present her credentials. The full Embassy team is now in place and the Embassy is in operation.
29. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied), given that all necessary additional information has now been submitted; the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34243/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 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.
The Passport Service Customer Service Hub has dedicated agents to deal with Foreign Birth Registration application queries. The contact number for urgent Foreign Birth Registration queries is +353 1 568 3331. This number is also available on the Department's website.
With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents were received for the application on 20 July 2023. The Passport Service requested further supporting documents from the applicant on 15 May 2024 which were subsequently received on 16 July 2024. These documents are currently being processed.
30. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to expedite a passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34248/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant through the Urgent Appointment Service.
31. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will make political representations to Greenland against the extradition of a person (details supplied) to Japan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34259/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the extradition case referenced by the Deputy. This is a complex legal case currently under consideration in Greenland and by the Danish authorities.
While conscious that this case is the subject of on-going legal proceedings, I have asked my officials to raise the matter with their Danish counterparts to gain a better understanding of the issues at stake and to recall our shared commitments to the protection of environmental human rights defenders.
