Written Answers Nos. 5-21
5. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken to assist Palestinian citizens who have been cleared to evacuate from the Palestinian region of Gaza and come to Ireland based on having family members already living in Ireland; the contact carried out with the Israeli occupation forces to ensure they are not preventing their evacuation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38564/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI want to thank the Deputy for his question regarding the situation of Palestinian citizens who have been cleared to exit Gaza and who have visas for travel to Ireland, based on having family members already living in Ireland, but who have, so far, been unable to exit Gaza.
I also want to recognise the extremely challenging and distressing situation for all those families in Ireland who have family members who have been unable to exit Gaza.
Clearance to exit Gaza has been subject to the approval of the relevant local authorities. This process has involved our Embassies in Tel Aviv and Cairo submitting the names of those Irish citizens and dependants who wished to leave Gaza to the relevant authorities, including Palestinian family members of Irish citizens in Ireland who had been granted visas for Ireland to join their family. These lists have been updated and resubmitted on an ongoing basis. Once clearance is received, our Embassy in Cairo liaise with the Egyptian authorities to receive Irish citizens and dependants on the Egyptian side, and to support their onward journey to Ireland. To date, we have assisted over 100 individuals to exit Gaza.
Some Irish citizens and dependants, including family members with visa to travel to Ireland, have received clearance to exit Gaza, but, due to the situation on the ground have not been able to exit. The Israeli military operation in Rafah, which began in May, has resulted in the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt being closed. Since its closure, departure of civilians from Gaza has not been possible. It is now almost five months since any civilians have been allowed to depart.
I wish to assure you that officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs, through our Embassies in the region, continue to advocate consistently with the local authorities to enable all Irish citizens and dependents remaining in Gaza who wish to depart, to do so.
Members of the Government undertook intensive engagements at the UN in New York last week. The urgent need to address the conflict in the Middle East is a priority, including efforts to advance the two-State solution, achieve a ceasefire and hostage release deal and to ensure the supply of humanitarian assistance at scale in Gaza.
6. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) whose daughter is working in Ireland, and who, despite having the necessary clearances to leave Palestine, is being prevented from evacuating from the Palestinian region of Gaza by Israeli forces of occupation; the steps that can and have been taken to help themselves and many others leave the territory, which has been under constant genocidal bombardment for nearly a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38565/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra11. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline, given the urgent and distressing situation regarding an Irish citizen (details supplied) who remains trapped in Gaza despite having received approvals for evacuation, the steps his Department is taking to apply pressure on the Israeli government to facilitate the person's safe passage to Ireland. [38943/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI want to thank the Deputy for his question regarding the Palestinian family member of an Irish citizen who has been granted a visa to travel to Ireland but who has not yet been able to exit Gaza in order to do so. I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is aware of this case and has been providing assistance to the family since late last year. I want to recognise that this is an extremely challenging and distressing situation for this family.
Since the onset of this crisis, my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of Irish citizens and dependants that have expressed a wish to leave.
Clearance to exit Gaza has been subject to the approval of the relevant local authorities. This process has involved our Embassies in Tel Aviv and Cairo submitting the names of those Irish citizens and dependants who wished to leave Gaza to the relevant authorities. These lists have updated and resubmitted on an ongoing basis. Once clearance is received, our Embassy in Cairo liaise with the Egyptian authorities to receive Irish citizens and dependants on the Egyptian side, and to support their onward journey to Ireland. To date, we have assisted over 100 individuals to exit Gaza.
Some Irish citizens and dependants, including the individual concerned, have received clearance to exit Gaza, but, due to the situation on the ground have not been able to exit. The Israeli military operation in Rafah, which began in May, has resulted in the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt being closed. Since its closure, departure of civilians from Gaza has not been possible. It is now almost five months since any civilians have been allowed to depart.
I wish to assure you that officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs, through our Embassies in the region, continue to advocate consistently with the local authorities to enable all Irish citizens and dependents remaining in Gaza who wish to depart, to do so. I confirm that this includes this individual.
Members of the Government undertook intensive engagements at the UN in New York last week. The urgent need to address the conflict in the Middle East is a priority, including efforts to advance the two-State solution, achieve a ceasefire and hostage release deal, and to ensure the supply of humanitarian assistance at scale in Gaza.
7. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he met with his Japanese counterpart during the recent UN General Assembly. [38606/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland and Japan have a strong history of engagement and cooperation, both bilaterally and through multilateral fora including the United Nations.
I met with my Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, at last year's UN General Assembly at an event on women, peace and security in which we both participated. We did not have the opportunity to meet at this year's General Assembly.
There is regular engagement between Ireland and Japan at Ministerial level, as well as ongoing exchanges at official level. My Department, including through our Embassy in Tokyo, maintains an excellent working relationship with Japan. I look forward to the further strengthening of this relationship in the year ahead, which will see the opening of the new Ireland House in Tokyo, as well as Ireland’s participation in at Expo 2025 in Osaka.
8. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when discussions on strengthening ties between the EU and Malaysia are next scheduled to be discussed at an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. [38607/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) is responsible for the EU's external action, which includes foreign policy, defence and security, trade, development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Malaysia is not typically discussed at the FAC.
EU-Malaysia relations are typically addressed in the context of Ministerial meetings between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU. The most recent of these took place in Brussels on 2 February 2024, and Ireland was represented by Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Seán Fleming TD.
The EU and Malaysia share a close partnership grounded in strong mutual interests in areas including trade, sustainable development and human rights. On 14 December 2022, the EU and Malaysia signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) during the inaugural ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit held in Brussels. This was the first bilateral agreement of its kind between the EU and Malaysia and was a significant step in EU-Malaysian relations. The PCA provides a framework for enhancing EU-Malaysia bilateral cooperation and dialogue in areas including trade, energy and politics, among many others. On 2 August 2023, my Department notified the Council of the European Union that Ireland had completed the legal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the PCA.
In addition to the PCA, the EU has engagement with Malaysia through the European Commission’s Global Gateway Initiative and the EU Indo-Pacific Strategy. A Cooperation Facility for Malaysia worth €20 million per annum for 2021-2027 is also in place and will support continued engagement.
In line with the Government’s Asia Pacific Strategy, my Department aims to strengthen and deepen its engagement with countries in South East Asia, including Malaysia. Relations between the two countries are longstanding and the Irish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur opened in 1995 as Ireland’s first Embassy in South East Asia.
9. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the consul general based in Los Angeles has met or spoken formally with either the undersheriff or sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [38608/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraContinuous strategic political engagement with the United States is a key objective under Ireland's 'Strategy for the US and Canada 2019–2025' and remains an ongoing priority for the Government. Engagement with state-level authorities, including judicial bodies, is an important element of this strategy.
Ireland's Consul General in Los Angeles met with Undersheriff for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), Andrew Walsh, on 4 June 2024, during an official visit to the State of Nevada. The Consul General discussed a range of issues, including consular matters, with Undersheriff Walsh. They also discussed issues around policing in the State.
There has been occasional contact by the Consulate with the LVMPD prior to this. However, this previous communication was in relation to specific consular cases and not at the level of Sheriff or Undersheriff.
10. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will openly and clearly oppose any further moves towards the accession of Georgia to the European Union in light of the stringent anti-LGBT laws adopted there, referred to as the 'family values and the protection of minors' law. [38696/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Georgian parliament’s decision to pass the ‘on family values and protection of minors’ law on 17 September contributes to the stigmatisation and discrimination of a vulnerable minority group and, as such, represents a further setback to Georgia’s EU accession path. According to UN human rights experts, the main bill, along with the 18 related amendments, violates the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, in addition to codifying discrimination of people on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. I am deeply concerned by the passing of this legislation, especially in the context of other recently adopted laws in Georgia, including the ‘on transparency of foreign influence’ law, passed earlier this year.
The Georgian parliament’s decision to pass this legislation reflects a deeply concerning global trend of pushback on LGBTQI+ rights. Within this environment of increasing pushback, the promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTQI+ persons remains a domestic and foreign policy priority for Ireland. The universal nature of human rights can only be fulfilled when they apply fully and equally to all people, irrespective of gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. Ireland avails of every opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the rights of LGBTQI+ persons, including by strongly supporting efforts in international human rights fora, such as the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly, to promote and protect the rights of LGBTQI+ persons.
I made clear at the June Foreign Affairs Council that the current political trajectory and democratic backsliding in Georgia is incompatible with the EU aspirations of the overwhelming majority of the Georgian people. Georgia’s accession process is de-facto halted while these laws, which directly contradict EU core values, exist in its legal code. In response to the so-called foreign agents’ law, I advocated for clear communication with the Georgian authorities regarding the impact recent developments would have on their EU reform progress. Unfortunately, the recent package of anti-LGBTQI+ legislation has demonstrated that the Georgian government is doubling down on democratic backsliding and turning towards authoritarianism. The EU and Ireland will continue to urge the Georgian government to return to its EU path, and repeal the anti-LGBTQI+ legislation along with the so-called ‘foreign agents’ law. The European Commission’s Enlargement Report, which will be published later this autumn, will provide an assessment of Georgia’s progress with regard to reforms linked to the EU accession process. Ireland will continue to highlight our concerns regarding this issue both bilaterally and at EU and multilateral level, and to underline that the EU accession process is merit-based, and that Georgia cannot progress further unless the government changes course.
12. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when he last spoke formally with the New Zealand Ambassador to Ireland. [39032/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI last formally met with Ambassador Mallard of New Zealand on 27 June 2023 though I have also met informally with the Ambassador at a number of other events and engagements. The Department of Foreign Affairs works closely with the Embassy of New Zealand in Ireland on the full range of bilateral issues, including strengthening our political and economic relationships and promoting cultural ties and people-to-people connections between Ireland and New ZealandI am kept fully informed of the New Zealand Ambassador's and Embassy's activities by my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs who are in regular communication with the Ambassador and his team on a wide range of issues related to Ireland's engagement in and with New Zealand, and including the work of our own Ambassador and Embassy in New Zealand.
My Department also held consultations at senior official level with New Zealand in May of this year on which I was subsequently fully briefed. These consultations took place in line with the overall commitment, set out in the Government's Asia Pacific Strategy, to strengthen Ireland’s relations with New Zealand, building on already close political, economic and people-to-people ties.
13. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements and efforts in relation to the treatment of women in Afghanistan by the Taliban government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39046/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have consistently spoken out on the human rights crisis facing Afghan women and girls and condemned the gross, widespread and systematic human rights abuses by the Taliban across Afghanistan, particularly against women, girls and individuals from marginalised communities. These concerns have also regularly been expressed at EU and UN level.
During my recent attendance at the UN General Assembly High Level Week, I was honoured to co-host an event entitled ‘The Inclusion of Women in the Future of Afghanistan’, alongside Indonesia, Switzerland and Qatar, and in partnership with the Women’s Forum on Afghanistan. The event was extremely successful in highlighting how the fundamental human rights of women and girls are under appalling and unprecedented attack since the Taliban regained power and urging intensified international efforts to redress this situation. In my address, I pledged continued support for the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and made clear that Ireland will work to ensure that the issue remains a priority on the international agenda.
Ireland also regularly raises this issue at the UN Human Rights Council, including at its most recent session where we delivered a statement denouncing the continued enforcement of restrictive decrees that curtail the human rights of women and girls. Ireland also called for the rights enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), to which Afghanistan is a State Party, to be upheld.
During the Universal Periodic Review of Afghanistan on 29 April 2024, we repeated our calls for those responsible for all abuses of human rights in Afghanistan to be held accountable for their actions. Our Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York also facilitated a press briefing last March by the Women's Forum on Afghanistan to highlight the critical role of Afghan women in driving economic development and regional prosperity.The advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is, and will continue to be, one of Ireland's key foreign policy priorities. I will also ensure that Ireland continues to do all it can, through its diplomatic efforts, to amplify the voices of Afghan women, including those inside Afghanistan.
14. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the Minister for Transport regarding the illegal transfer of arms through Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39047/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra17. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the illegal transport of the weaponry of war through sovereign Irish airspace could damage or diminish Irish neutrality or credibility internationally; to outline, in order to prevent same, the steps he intends to take to vindicate Ireland’s policy of neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39050/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 17 together.
Ireland's policy of military neutrality, as practised by successive Governments over many decades, means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. As I have said previously, the Government has no plans to alter our long-standing policy of military neutrality, join a military alliance or enter into a mutual defence arrangement.
The prohibition of the unauthorised carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft is an international rule, as set out in Article 35 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944, known as the Chicago Convention. Article 35 of the Convention provides that no civil aircraft may carry munitions of war in or above the territory of a state without that state’s permission. This is implemented in Irish law in the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders, 1973 and 1989. Under these orders, the carriage of munitions of war is prohibited on any civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory and on board Irish-registered civil aircraft, wherever they may be, unless an exemption is granted by the Minister for Transport.
The Department of Transport has confirmed that no applications for exemptions to carry munitions of war were received nor exemptions granted, for the civil aircraft flights which were the subject of recent media reports. The Department of Transport is examining these reports, including through engaging with the carriers concerned, to determine whether there may have been a breach of the applicable law.
My Department remains in ongoing contact with the Department of Transport on this matter.
15. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with the Israeli government; if he has raised the illegal trafficking of arms through Ireland bound for Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39048/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEngagement with my counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Most recently, I met with then Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on 16 November 2023, during my visit to the region. During this visit, I reiterated Ireland’s condemnation of the terror attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October and underlined the need for the unconditional release of all hostages. I also underlined my concern over the catastrophic situation in Gaza and reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire, an issue upon which Ireland demonstrated early and clear leadership at EU and international level.
Current Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, engaged with EU Foreign Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council in January of this year, enabling a further full and frank exchange on the situation in Gaza, during which I underlined Ireland’s concern at potential breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza, notably with regard to the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.
Regarding the reports of civil aircraft flights and the alleged carriage of munitions of war, these relate to a number of civil air flights. It is appropriate that the Department of Transport continue to examine the issue with the air carriers concerned, as they have confirmed they are doing.
16. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 30 of 25 July 2023, and recent reports on the illegal trafficking of arms through Ireland, if he is fully confident Ireland has upheld its obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39049/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is committed to upholding its obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munition to not use, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer into or from national territory cluster munitions under any circumstances.
Cluster munitions are, by their nature, indiscriminate and imprecise, and should not be used in any circumstances. Ireland will continue to work toward the full universalisation and implementation of the Convention.
The Department of Transport has indicated that it is currently examining media reports of certain overflights by civil aircraft, including through engagement with the air operators involved. It is important that this examination be concluded to establish the facts in this regard.
18. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 6 March 2024, the Programme for Government commitment to hold a referendum on extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside of the State, and further to his own recent remarks in relation to this, if he has abandoned this Programme for Government commitment; if so, if he has informed his Cabinet colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39060/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe commitment set out in the Programme for Government to hold a referendum on extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside of the State remains in place.
The enabling legislation required in order to hold such a referendum is currently before Dáil Éireann (the Thirty-Ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Presidential Elections) Bill) and its timing remains under consideration.
Once the legislation has been approved by the Dáil and Seanad, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage can then make an order setting the day upon which a referendum will take place.
19. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the contact he or any Minister in his Department have had with any minister or official in the government of Israel since January 2014; the nature of these contacts, the purpose of these contacts; if a record was kept; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39071/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEngagement with a range of ministerial and other counterparts is a central part of my work, and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In my role as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have had various contacts with Israeli counterparts and government officials. I travelled to Israel in September 2023, as part of a three-day visit to the Middle East, when I met with the Foreign Minister, Prime Minister and President of Israel. I also visited Israel in November 2023, when I met again with my counterpart, then Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. These types of visit are standard, and former Ministers of this Department have undertaken similar visits, and held similar meetings, since 2014.
Management of Ireland's bilateral relations with other States is a competence of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Engagement by Ministers or officials from other Government Departments with their counterparts and with resident Embassies in Ireland is also a standard occurrence.
In terms of the records of these engagements, my Department manages its records in compliance with requirements under the National Archives Act 1986, Freedom of Information Act 2014, GDPR and the Data Protection Acts and Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015.
20. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he, his special advisory teams, or senior officials have consulted with, received briefings or sought advice from an external communications expert or communications consultancy company, or a public relations or public affairs company, in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the costs associated with those interactions; the names of those that have been engaged with; the subject matter or topics the engagements related to, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39133/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department commissions external contractors, consultancy services and outsourcing services where highly specialised skills are not available internally.
External expertise has informed, and continues to inform, my Department's strategies and policies and the effective delivery of our services to our citizens in a transparent and accountable manner representing value for money.
My Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement guidelines. Procurement takes place in compliance with Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP).
Provided is a table of communications experts, communications consultancy companies, public relations and public affairs companies in 2022, 2023, and to date in 2024:
|
Year |
Name of the Company |
Subject Matter / Topic |
Cost |
|
2022 |
Real Nation |
Managing the delivery of the DFA ‘Our World Awards’ programme (Irish Aid Awareness) with Primary schools. |
€283,693 |
|
2022 |
Fuzion Communications |
Communications Consultancy for the Africa Agri – Food Development Programme |
€28,394 |
|
2022-2023 |
Zero G |
Creative services in relation to Global Reputation and Communications Strategy for Ireland and related ancillary communications strategies & activities |
€112,000 |
|
2023 |
Real Nation |
Managing the delivery of the DFA ‘Our World Awards’ programme (Irish Aid Awareness) with Primary schools. |
€284,730 |
|
2023 |
Language |
Language were contracted by the Irish Council of International Students (ICOS) work on communications on the 50th anniversary of the Irish Aid Fellows programme in 2024. |
€55,000 |
|
2024 to date |
Real Nation |
Managing the delivery of the DFA ‘Our World Awards’ programme (Irish Aid Awareness) with Primary schools. |
€71,505 |
21. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current standard of testing for diesel fuel EN590; when in the supply chain testing is undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38712/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no specific standard or regulation which mandates the testing of compliance with all the elements of EN590 which falls under the remit of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. My Department is responsible for overseeing the testing and sampling of fuels as required under the Fuel Quality Directive (as amended). 100 samples of both petrol and diesel are tested each year, 50 in the summer and 50 in the winter, and the results are provided to the EU Commission on an annual basis.
