Sean Fleming
Ceist:1. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the funding allocated to NGOs by his Department in 2025; and the funding allocated to NGOs by agencies and bodies under the remit of his Department. [13094/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Funding
Ceisteanna (1)
Freagraí scríofa
Neither the Department of the Taoiseach nor the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only agency under the remit of the Department - allocated funding to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in 2025.
Constitutional Amendments
Ceisteanna (2)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:2. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will hold a referendum on neutrality in light of opinion polling showing strong support for Irish neutrality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12202/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland’s policy of military neutrality means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements.
As the Government has stated on numerous occasions, there are no plans to alter this policy. As such, a referendum on Ireland’s neutrality is not necessary or appropriate.
Irish Aid
Ceisteanna (3)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:3. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if correspondence (details supplied) in respect of Irish Aid will be followed up by his Department and contact made with the author; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13018/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Development Cooperation and Africa Division in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has engaged over the years with the organisation referred to, the Community Lead Total Sanitation Foundation (CLTS). Officials will be happy to follow up directly with CLTS.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (4)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:4. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding allocated to NGOs by her Department in 2025; the funding allocated to NGOs by agencies and bodies under the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13086/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department provides funding to a range of non-governmental organisations through a series of grant schemes dedicated to delivering on the Government's priorities at home and abroad. These include support for international development overseas, development education in Ireland, reconciliation on the island of Ireland, emigrant support and information on the European Union as well as responding to humanitarian emergencies and promoting international peace and stability.
Through the Government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme, also known as Irish Aid, the Department provides funding to international development NGOs to implement programmes and projects in those countries which are classified by the OECD as eligible for official development assistance. Our NGO partners are well placed to ensure aid reaches those to whom it is intended and are very well informed of the realities on the ground.
Each year my Department publishes an Annual Report on Ireland's Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) programme. That Annual Report includes information on expenditure across Government on international development. Approximately 60 percent of Ireland’s total ODA is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs with the balance administered by other Departments. The Annual Report provides statistical information collated in accordance with agreed OECD standards on programme expenditure which show the amounts given through the various channels and countries, the distribution of aid, and the amounts allocated to priority focus areas. This information includes grants made to NGOs in each year.
The Government of Ireland ODA Annual Report is a core accountability and transparency tool, providing a comprehensive tabulation and overview of expenditure under the aid programme, and demonstrating the results achieved.
The 2025 Irish Aid Annual Report will be published later this year and will be available on our website. www.ireland.ie/en/irish-aid/
My Department has a number of funding schemes that support our other priorities at home and abroad. Information on these schemes and on the amounts of grants disbursed are available here: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funding. Some of these schemes will report later this year on expenditure.
EU Directives
Ceisteanna (5)
Liam Quaide
Ceist:5. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the financial penalties, including lump sum payments and daily fines, for failing to transpose EU directives into national law in 2025; the EU directives being infringed, the Department responsible; and the total amount of each fine, in tabular form. [13184/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
One financial penalty was imposed on Ireland in 2025 for failure to transpose an EU Directive, as follows:
|
EU Directive |
Department responsible |
Financial Penalty |
Total amount of Fine |
Date of Payment |
|
Directive (EU) 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and carers and repealing Council Directive 2010/18/EU |
Department of Children, Disability and Equality |
Lump sum |
€1,540,000 |
17 October 2025 |
The transposition of the Directive was completed in March 2024, which mitigated daily fines being imposed for any continued non-compliance from that date.
Undocumented Irish in the USA
Ceisteanna (6)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:6. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the supports being provided to undocumented Irish in the United States who face particular difficulties in relation to their status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13403/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Addressing the situation of undocumented Irish citizens in the United States and working to secure legal pathways for them to live and work in the US remain important for the Government.
Immigration matters feature regularly in our political engagements with the U.S. I was recently in Washington, D.C. where I met key figures from the US Administration and had discussions on Capital Hill.
Our diplomatic network across the U.S. works closely with a number of partner community organisations and immigration centres in supporting the undocumented. In 2025, the Government provided over €4.5 million to Irish organisations in the United States, including those organisations and Irish centres that provide trusted information, legal resources and support to those seeking to regularise their immigration status.
The diplomatic network also provides direct consular assistance to individual citizens, including those affected by deportation. Any Irish citizen who requires consular assistance, including in relation to immigration issues, can contact the Embassy in Washington or our Consulates across the U.S. at any time.
Undocumented Irish in the USA
Ceisteanna (7)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals, if any, under consideration in the United States concerning the need to provide a legal pathway for undocumented Irish emigrants in the United States, such as the inclusion of Ireland in the E-3 non-immigrant visa programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13404/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Addressing the situation of undocumented Irish emigrants in the United States, and working to secure legal pathways for Irish people seeking to live and work in the US, will continues to be important for the Government, as set out in the Programme for Government. Efforts to advance these issues have been made with successive US administrations.
During my recent visit to Washington, I discussed immigration matters in my political meetings on Capitol Hill. This included U.S. immigration policy, its impact on Irish communities and the prospects for immigration reform which could assist, inter alia, undocumented Irish immigrants. It is clear to me from these conversations that the challenges faced by such proposals for reform should not be underestimated.
The Government remains supportive of efforts to secure an Irish specific E3 visa programme. This would open up a new legal pathway for more Irish citizens to live and work in the US. However, it is unlikely that undocumented Irish currently in the US would be eligible for such a programme, if secured.
The introduction in February 2025 of a bill seeking to add Ireland to the E3 non-immigrant visa program by Congressman Richard Neal and Congressman Mike Kelly, the bipartisan co-Chairs of the Friends of Ireland Caucus was a welcome development. However, it should be noted that almost every U.S. legislative proposal related to immigration reform has stalled in Congress, in the last decade. Nonetheless, we continue to take all opportunities to develop immigration pathways for Irish people who wish to live and work in the United States.
We will continue to provide funding to Irish community organisations, including those that provide trusted immigration information, legal resources and support for those seeking to regularise their immigration status. Some €4.5 million was provided to organisations in the U.S. last year.