Martin Daly
Ceist:156. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the next EU Foreign Affairs council will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56955/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Bodies
Ceisteanna (156)
Freagraí scríofa
The next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) is due to take place on Thursday, 20 November.
Yesterday, I attended the October meeting of the FAC in Luxembourg. The wide-ranging agenda included an exchange of views on Russian aggression against Ukraine, where we were briefed by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on the latest developments on this issue, and on Ukraine’s most urgent needs. Foreign Ministers had an opportunity to discuss these issues, to convey our strong and united support for Ukraine and to consider efforts to accelerate our commitments to Ukraine. I emphasised Ireland’s steadfast solidarity and support for Ukraine and for further sanctions on Russia, as well as our strong support for Ukraine’s EU accession.
Under the item on the Middle East, we discussed how the EU can further contribute to peace efforts. I welcomed the recent announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, and reiterated the need to focus now on preserving the ceasefire and flooding Gaza with desperately needed humanitarian aid. The EU can play an important role in this regard. I also underlined the importance of Ireland and the EU playing our part in working towards a sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine through the implementation of the two-State solution.
During the meeting, also reflected on our relations with the Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on the implementation of the EU strategy for cooperation with this region, and preparations for the EU-Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in November 2025.
Foreign Ministers also discussed the devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis in Sudan. Ireland continues to call for a cessation of hostilities, followed by a permanent, peaceful and inclusive political settlement, as well unhindered humanitarian access across the country. We also touched on the outcomes of recent parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova, and the situation in Georgia.
Question No. 157 taken with No. 136.
Question No. 158 taken with No. 121.
Question No. 159 taken with No. 104.
Question No. 160 taken with No. 136.
Budget 2026
Ceisteanna (161)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:161. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the key elements of Budget 2026 for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57051/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The increased allocations in Budget 2026 for Vote 27 International Co-operation and Vote 28 Foreign Affairs and Trade will support Irish citizens and promote Ireland’s values and interests around the world.
€10 million in support of the operations of the global mission network including the opening five new Embassies and Consulates to support Irish citizens and businesses around the world and strengthen Ireland’s international footprint under the Global Ireland 2025 Strategy. The Department now has over 100 Embassies and Consulates around the world promoting Ireland every day as a place to visit, work, invest or study.
There will also be a new allocation of €2.5 million to reinforce Ireland’s Embassy and Consulates General across the USA and strengthen Ireland’s presence in key locations around the world as part of the Government’s Market Diversification Strategy. This is a direct response to the new global trade challenges.
The Budget will also increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocation (Vote 27) by €30 million to a record €840 million. This will provide record levels in humanitarian and development support around the world in 2026.
Budget 2026 also sees additional investment in the Passport Service and support for Irish citizens living overseas.
There is an additional €1 million into the Emigrant Support Programme which will support the government’s new Diaspora Strategy and the continued focus on strengthening healing and relationships on the island of Ireland with an increase of €0.5 million in the Reconciliation Fund rising to the overall allocation here to €9.5 million in 2026.
In addition, 2026 will be an important year for Ireland in Europe as Ireland takes on the EU Presidency in the second half of the year. Ireland’s EU Presidency will be a whole-of-government priority led and coordinated by this Department. The government has committed central funding to facilitate the delivery of a successful presidency for Ireland.
Budget 2026 will see an additional investment of €1.3 million towards programmes focused on EU enlargement and on citizen engagement on the EU in Ireland.
Question No. 162 answered with Question No. 92.
Foreign Policy
Ceisteanna (163)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:163. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to the recent election in Czechia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56961/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Parliamentary elections were held in Czechia over two days on 3 and 4 October 2025, with political parties contesting all 200 seats in the lower house. At 68.95%, voter turnout was the highest since elections in 1998.
The ANO (Action of Dissatisfied Citizens/Yes) party, led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, emerged as the leading party with 34.51% of the vote, winning 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The SPOLU (Together) alliance, consisting of three of the outgoing governing parties, came in second place with 23.36%, followed by governing coalition party STAN (Mayors and Independents) on 11.23%. Three smaller parties exceeded the parliamentary threshold of 5% and will also have representation in the new Czech parliament.
Negotiations on forming a new government are underway. Ireland has excellent bilateral relations with Czechia, a valued EU partner, and I look forward to working with the new administration in Prague.
Question No. 164 taken with No. 131.
Question No. 165 taken with No. 147.
Question No. 166 taken with No. 118.
Northern Ireland
Ceisteanna (167)
Erin McGreehan
Ceist:167. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a report on the joint framework on legacy issues published with the Northern Ireland secretary recently. [56952/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 19 September, together with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, I announced the publication of the Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles.
The Framework sets out a comprehensive package aimed at providing truth, accountability, and, to the extent possible, justice for victims and families who lost loved ones during the Troubles, and is a welcome return to partnership by the two Governments on Northern Ireland, working as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. It represents a clear break with the 2023 UK Legacy Act, which was opposed by all political parties, victims and survivors groups, and wider civil society in Northern Ireland.
The ICRIR will be renamed the Legacy Commission and a suite of changes will ensure much improved independence and investigative functions of the Commission. A new Inquisitorial Mechanism will be established within this Commission and hearings under this mechanism will be presided over by judges.
The Legacy Act’s prohibition on inquests will be removed and inquests which had commenced but were halted by the Legacy Act will recommence.
The two governments will establish a standalone, cross-border information retrieval body, as foreseen in the Stormont House Agreement, on a pilot basis.
Importantly, the Framework is underpinned by a commitment to reciprocal cooperation. The Government will ensure the necessary arrangements are put in place to facilitate the fullest possible cooperation by the relevant Irish authorities with the Legacy Commission. In turn, the UK authorities will provide reciprocal cooperation to Ireland for investigations, inquests and inquiries in legacy cases.
A dedicated legacy unit within An Garda Síochána will be established by the end of the year as a single point of contact for cross-border cooperation on Troubles-related cases and as a central point of contact and coordination for victims and families.
The Government also commits €25m to support the engagement of victims and families with the new legacy processes.
The British Government published their Bill to give effect to these changes on 14 October. I welcome the speed at which the British government has brought forward the Bill. This demonstrates the seriousness with which the Secretary of State and his colleagues are approaching this essential work.
My Department is currently examining the legislation closely.
I believe that, once faithfully translated into legislation, these measures will meet my two key tests: compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and, over time, securing the confidence of victims and survivors.
Question No. 168 taken with No. 117.
International Relations
Ceisteanna (169)
Colm Burke
Ceist:169. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the timeframe for when the new Ireland-Scotland Cooperation Framework will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57159/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Building on the cooperation undertaken since 2021, the new Ireland-Scotland Bilateral Cooperation Framework 2030 will provide a high-level, action-oriented and forward-looking framework for cooperation between the Governments of Ireland and Scotland.
This framework puts particular emphasis on cooperation in areas to include offshore renewable energy; fostering research and academic links, and partnerships relating to culture, language and young people.
Over the past nine months, officials from my Department, including officers at Ireland’s Consulate General in Edinburgh, have engaged in detailed consultations with the Scottish Government to develop the new framework, as well as with other Irish Government Departments and relevant external stakeholders.
Work under this new Bilateral Cooperation Framework will be supported by the framework for cooperation set out in UK-Ireland Joint Statement 2030. Recent agreements around the EU-UK relationship will also provide an important underpinning.
Our intention is to formally launch the Bilateral Cooperation Framework later this year and make it available online, in the English and Irish languages.
Foreign Policy
Ceisteanna (170)
John Lahart
Ceist:170. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of the situation of the Kurdish people across Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56951/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Kurdish people represent a large ethnic group in the Middle East. The largest Kurdish population is in Türkiye but there are large populations in north-west Iran and northern Iraq, and a smaller community in Syria. The geographical extent and numbers of Kurds in the various countries are debated, and have often been intentionally obscured.
The situation and experience of Kurdish people varies between the named countries. The Irish Government consistently calls for ongoing political dialogue, respect for human rights and promotion of the rule of law to foster more peaceful, stable and safe environments for all.
In August this year, I met the Turkish Foreign Minister and I welcomed the PKK’s declaration of a permanent ceasefire as a step that presents an opportunity to build for the future, including for the Kurdish people. Ireland continues to support efforts to advance constructive dialogue between Kurdish community representatives and the Turkish authorities through our support of the Democratic Progress Institute.
Kurds in Iraq enjoy regional autonomy through the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and have strong working relations with the Federal Government of Iraq, in which Kurdish parties participate. The current President and Foreign Minister of Iraq are both Kurds. Issues of the territorial extent of the Kurdish region, the city of Kirkuk and natural resources continue to be sources of friction. In Iran, government forces combat Kurdish separatist groups, including cross border attacks on alleged bases in the Kurdish region of Iraq. There are also many reports of suppression of Kurdish identity and political expression.
In Syria the Kurdish community won considerable autonomy from Damascus and wish to retain that in the new Syria. The transitional authorities made an agreement in March with Kurdish forces to integrate into a new national army but that was not implemented. A new agreement was made last week and it is hoped this will last. Relations between the Damascus government and Syria’s Kurds will be a key issue in the ongoing construction of a new Syria.
Official Engagements
Ceisteanna (171)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:171. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on his recent bilateral engagement with Secretary Lutnick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57175/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I met with Secretary Howard Lutnick on 25th September at the Department of Commerce in Washington D.C. as part of a broader bilateral visit to the U.S. This meeting provided me with a valuable opportunity to discuss the dynamic economic, trade and investment relationship that exists between Ireland and the U.S., as well as the implementation of the Joint Statement on an EU-US Framework Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade, which was published on 21 August.
This meeting followed on from my last visit to D.C. in April and reflects our ongoing dialogue with the U.S. administration on trade and economic issues.
We discussed a variety of issues of critical interest to Irish businesses and people. I highlighted the mutually beneficial economic relationship between Ireland and the United States, which continues to create jobs and opportunities for both Irish and American citizens and businesses. I briefed Secretary Lutnick on our economic impact report, which measures Ireland’s trade and investment across the US and the fact that as the 5th largest source of FDI into the U.S., Irish businesses are employing over 200,000 people across the United States.
On tariffs, I raised the potential expansion of the list of goods exempt from the baseline 15% tariff rate, including for the spirits and medtech sectors. We discussed the issue of ongoing U.S. section 232 national security investigations into the pharmaceuticals and semiconductors sectors and I also raised the impact of the expansion of 232 measures on steel and aluminium and the detrimental effects on Irish manufacturers, particularly in the agritech sectors.
I raised the U.S.’ recent proposal to raise the cost of H-1B visa applications, and noted the importance of pathways for mobility for high-skilled workers, innovators and job creators.
The meeting with Secretary Lutnick was an opportunity to ensure that senior interlocutors in the Administration are fully aware and briefed on Irish priorities and concerns in respect of the wider transatlantic trade and business environment. It also allowed for a more detailed understanding of US thinking in policy areas of crucial importance for Ireland, and the interests of our businesses and citizens.
Question No. 172 taken with No. 155.
Northern Ireland
Ceisteanna (173)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:173. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position on the establishment of the Legacy Commission to advance the implementation of the legacy framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57024/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Joint Framework I announced together with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn on 19 September sets out a comprehensive package aimed at providing truth, accountability, and, to the extent possible, justice for victims and families who lost loved ones during the Troubles. It represents a clear break with the 2023 UK Legacy Act.
A substantial number of the reforms contained in the package of measures are designed to improve the independence and accountability of the Independent Commission on Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), which will be fundamentally reformed and re-named the Legacy Commission.
The lack of independence of the ICRIR was an issue from the inception of the Legacy Act, and universally opposed by victims, families and politicians alike in Northern Ireland. We therefore pressed for 'root and branch reform' of the ICRIR during our negotiations with the British Government.
In addition to its name change from the ICRIR to the Legacy Commission, the new Commission will have a suite of changes designed to ensure much improved independence. These will include: the creation of a statutory Independent Oversight Board; the formulation of statutory conflict of interest provisions; a Statutory Victims and Survivors Advisory Group; an independent appointments panel; and oversight of the exercise of police powers by the Commission.
Under the Joint Framework, the Legacy Commission will carry out investigations to UK-wide standards and will be tasked to explore all relevant investigative leads in any case referred to it. In all cases, the Commission will be under an obligation to provide as much information as possible to families.
A new Inquisitorial Mechanism will be established within the Legacy Commission. Hearings under this mechanism will be presided over by judges. It will be equipped to hold public hearings and, if necessary, private hearings to consider sensitive information. Provision will also be made for next of kin representation.
I note the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill brought forward by the Secretary of State last week. I welcome the speed at which the British government has brought forward the Bill. This demonstrates the seriousness with which the Secretary of State and his colleagues are approaching this essential work.
I have been examining the Bill closely and will continue to work intensively to ensure faithful implementation of both governments' respective commitments under the Joint Framework.