Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:97. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her plans to have an Ireland House Model in Berlin. [46838/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDiplomatic Representation
Ceisteanna (97)
Freagraí scríofa
There is an Embassy of Ireland in Berlin, Germany's capital city.
Ireland Houses involve the co-location of Irish diplomatic missions and State Agencies working together under one roof, sharing services and facilities and adopting collaborative work practices.
While State Agencies have overseas offices in Germany, with IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland present in Frankfurt, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia present in Düsseldorf and Enterprise Ireland present in Munich, none of the State Agencies have offices in Berlin.
There are therefore no plans at present to open an Ireland House in Berlin.
There are currently twenty-one Ireland Houses overseas shared by Embassies or Consulate Generals and State Agencies, and these are located in Atlanta, Austin, Beijing, Chicago, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Lyon, Madrid, Mumbai, New York, Prague, Riyadh, San Francisco, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo and Warsaw.
New Ireland House property projects are underway in London and Toronto with both expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Passport Services
Ceisteanna (98)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:98. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) as the applicant's travel date is imminent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47004/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.
EU Presidency
Ceisteanna (99)
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:99. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps Ireland is taking during the EU Presidency to advocate for EU membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47156/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland strongly supports EU enlargement which will be a priority of our upcoming EU Presidency.
Ireland was part of the first enlargement of the then European Economic Community in 1973 and we have benefitted enormously from our EU membership over the past fifty-three years. We believe that other European countries deserve the same opportunities, provided that they meet all necessary criteria.
Progressing Enlargement policy has re-emerged as a policy priority for many EU Member States and the European Commission following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The further expansion of the EU and its values can further protect and guarantee the prosperity, security and democratic development of the European continent.
Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for EU membership in 2016 and was granted EU candidate status in December 2022. In order to advance on its EU accession path, Bosnia and Herzegovina must implement necessary reforms to adopt its negotiating framework, including the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council and the Law on Courts, in line with EU standards. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also expected to appoint a Chief Negotiator to lead the country's accession negotiations.
Ireland strongly encourages Bosnia and Herzegovina to take these steps without further delay, and will continue to advocate for the country to grasp the current momentum on EU Enlargement to further progress reforms. In September 2025, Ireland opened a resident embassy in Sarajevo, which is a clear demonstration of the importance Ireland places on the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ireland continues to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on their EU accession journey. Last year, my Department, through the EU Enlargement and Fundamental Values Fund, launched the three-year “Ireland for EU Enlargement” capacity-building programme which supports officials from candidate and potential candidate countries engaged in the EU accession process. This year, we welcomed officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in the programme, in addition to officials from all other countries of the Western Balkans and Moldova and Ukraine.
Passport Services
Ceisteanna (100)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:100. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for the up to date position on the new passport design being launched; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47163/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am proud to be launching the new Irish passport design at the end of this month. The redesigned passport has been developed in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations that passports be periodically updated to maintain the highest international security standards.
The redesign incorporates a range of advanced security features, including new dynamic imaging technologies, enhanced holographic protections and innovative biometric security elements intended to strengthen against fraud and counterfeiting.
As part of redesign process, the Department conducted a public consultation focused on Ireland’s rich natural environment. With over 15,000 responses, this feedback has been instrumental in shaping the new passport design. The full results of this consultation are available at www.ireland.ie/en/irish-passport-redesign-consultation-results/.
The Department completed the procurement process for the new passport book, passport card and associated personalisation machinery in late 2024 and has worked with the successful suppliers on the design and manufacturing process.
All passports issued following the launch will carry the new design.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (101)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:101. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 16 June 2026, to provide the annual number of instances, by embassy, in which persons were able to access the procedure in place for the advance of funds through the embassy network to facilitate the return of the citizen to Ireland from 2018 to date; the total amount of funds advanced in each year; the total amount recouped in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47181/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In line with the Consular Assistance Charter, my Department generally cannot provide financial support to Irish citizens in difficulty overseas, including those seeking to return to Ireland. In most cases, we can facilitate citizens to communicate with their families or friends in order to make arrangements for onward travel or to access funds to support themselves in country.
In some cases, citizens overseas can face practical difficulties in receiving monies directly from friends or family in Ireland. When this occurs, as a last resort, the Department can offer an advance of funds facility, whereby family or friends can lodge funds with the Department at our offices in Dublin or Cork or by electronic bank transfer, or at a Garda Station. Once the funds have been confirmed as received in the Department, an Irish Embassy or Consulate releases these funds to the affected citizen. In a small number of cases, this advance of funds mechanism has been used for the repatriation of citizens who require assistance to arrange travel back to Ireland.
In other cases, Irish prisoners overseas are facilitated through the advance of funds mechanism, with monies lodged to the Department either by friends or family, or by support organisations such as the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) who can, in exceptional circumstances, provide small hardship grants to the most vulnerable Irish prisoners overseas.
The total amount lodged into the Department’s accounts, for the purposes of the advance of funds mechanism, broken down by year since 2018, is outlined below.
|
Year |
Total |
|
2018 |
€39,316.74 |
|
2019 |
€155,954.70 |
|
2020 |
€34,597.20 |
|
2021 |
€26,074.60 |
|
2022 |
€20,116.07 |
|
2023 |
€134,485.55 |
|
2024 |
€ 21,558.84 |
|
2025 |
€21,668.89 |
|
2026 (to date) |
€13,736.61 |
Passport Services
Ceisteanna (102)
Séamus McGrath
Ceist:102. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications returned to applicants because the passport service could not contact the Garda witness after a number of attempts; and the information for each of the 2023, 2024 and 2025. [47238/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Passport Service is responding well to demand during the busy summer period, and has issued almost half a million passports to date this year.
A limited type of passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland are required to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána.
In December 2025, the Passport Service launched a new Passport Assist Service to support citizens who do not wish to use Passport Online channel and assist them to make a paper passport application. When developing Passport Assist, the Passport Service engaged with An Garda Síochána and provided training on how to ensure forms are witnessed correctly. Since its launch, the proportion of applications requiring Garda witnessing has decreased from 17% to 13%.
Passport applications that require Garda witnessing are:
- First Time Domestic Adult and Child Passport Assist;
- First Time Domestic Adult and Child Online.
The witnessing of these application forms is an important element of the identity verification process, as it provides initial assurance to the Passport Service that the person in the photograph is the same person presenting to submit the form.
Under Section 14(1) of the Passports Act, the consent of a child’s guardian(s) must be given before the Passport Service can issue them a passport. In order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and the rights of the child and their guardian(s), it is important that the Child Identity and Consent form is correctly completed, witnessed and validated by the Passport Service for both first time and renewal applications for children. Guardians must be present to the person acting as a witness.
In these cases, the Passport Service calls the relevant station to confirm that the Garda recorded the form in the station’s logbook. The Passport Service is not required to directly speak to the witnessing Garda. Passport Service staff call the Garda station up to three times to verify the witness' signature. Passport applications are checked by experienced entitlement officers who endeavour to maintain up-to-date records of the opening hours of Garda stations.
Where the Passport Service cannot reach the Garda station after three attempts, the relevant Superintendent’s Office can be contacted to verify the details. If the Passport Service is unable to verify the witness after these steps have been taken, a new witnessed form will be requested from the applicant.
The Passport Service is continuously looking at ways to make the application process easier for applicants, including the enhancement of digital services, and would therefore welcome the digitisation of the records maintained by An Garda Síochána when witnessing applications.
The Passport Service maintains a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána and offers guidance to the Gardaí on the correct completion of the required identity and consent forms. The Passport Service will continue our engagement with An Garda Síochána, to discuss how we can work together to improve the service for citizens.
With regard to the Deputy's query on the number of passport applications returned to applicants because the Passport Service could not contact the Garda witness after a number of attempts, the Passport Service does not record the reasons why new a identity and consent form may be requested from an applicant.
I would ask the Deputy to encourage their constituents who are considering travelling overseas this year, particularly families with young children, to check the validity of their passports before booking travel and to apply online and in plenty of time.
Departmental Staff
Ceisteanna (103)
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:103. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of WTE office manager posts filled at the Irish Embassy in Seoul in each of the years of 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47418/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The number of WTE Office Manager positions filled at the Irish Embassy in Seoul in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 is set out in the table below
|
Embassy Seoul |
No. of WTE Office Manager Posts |
|
2024 |
1 |
|
2025 |
1 |
|
2026 |
1 |
Departmental Staff
Ceisteanna (104)
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:104. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of WTE driver posts filled at the Irish Embassy in Hanoi in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47419/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The number of WTE Driver positions filled at the Irish Embassy in Hanoi in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 is set out in the table below;
|
Embassy Hanoi |
No. of WTE Driver Posts |
|
2024 |
3 |
|
2025 |
3 |
|
2026 |
3 |
Departmental Properties
Ceisteanna (105)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:105. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total landholding of her Department, broken down by county, including the amount currently unused or vacant, the portion zoned for development, and the number of sites that include vacant or derelict properties. [47625/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not own or lease any properties within this jurisdiction. The Office of Public Works is responsible for all accommodation utilised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade within the State.
Foreign Policy
Ceisteanna (106)
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh
Ceist:106. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 4 of 17 June 2026, the specific number of instances where she has been lobbied by Israeli and American stakeholders in relation to the proposed sanction legislation. [47831/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has engaged with a wide range of interlocutors to ensure that Ireland’s foreign policy, including on the issue of Israeli settlements, is well known and understood.
We value these contributions as part of a robust and inclusive debate. The Government’s position and, indeed, that of the EU is clear: settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the realisation of a two-state solution.
At a national level, the Government approved the text of the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2026 on 26 May, and the Bill was introduced in Dáil Éireann on 10 June.
The Bill fulfils the commitment set out in the Programme for Government to progress legislation to prohibit the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Bill will positively contribute towards Ireland’s compliance with its international legal obligations as identified in the 2024 ICJ Advisory Opinion, including the obligation on states to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in maintaining the illegal situation created by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.
While Ireland is moving ahead at national level, the Government remains clear that collective action at EU level is the strongest and most effective route. Ireland is actively pursuing that collective approach at EU level.
Policing of Events
Ceisteanna (107)
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:107. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will raise the heavy repression against those peacefully protesting against the G7 summit which included the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, kettling, and physical attacks by the Swiss police with the Swiss government; if she is concerned about the right of protest in Switzerland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47844/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am aware that there were protests around the recent G7 Summit hosted by France near the border with Switzerland.
We know that Switzerland shares this approach and is committed to respecting human rights, including the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly and defending the right to engage in peaceful protest. It has a long tradition as an international leader in upholding human rights law and continues to play an active role in promoting, protecting, and implementing human rights globally.
Energy Policy
Ceisteanna (108)
Eoghan Kenny
Ceist:108. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if it is expected that regional assemblies and local authorities will design targets and designated zones within local authority areas within the lifetime of the mandate of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47177/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the aegis of the Accelerating Renewable Energy (ARE) Taskforce, work is underway on delivering a regional balance in the distribution of renewable electricity generation. The First Revision of the National Planning Framework (NPF), published in April, includes Regional Renewable Electricity Capacity Allocations for solar and onshore wind which will allow for the strategic planning of renewable technologies and deliver an equitable regional balance in the distribution of infrastructure.
Further to the publication of the revised NPF, each Regional Assembly is required to commence a revision of their Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES). As part of this RSES revision, Regional Assemblies need to adopt a Regional Renewable Energy Strategy (RRES). These RRES will translate the regional allocations into Local Authority-level targets which will inform City and County Development Plans, ensuring alignment between local plans and national policy. Officials from my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are actively working with our three Regional Assemblies to support them in this work.
On 26 March, all three Regional Assemblies commenced the RSES review process by publishing ‘Strategic Issue Papers’ online, seeking public input into the shaping of their new RSES.
The SEAI is also undertaking an update to the 2013 Local Authority Renewable Energy Strategy Methodology, with support from my Department and DHLGH. This will provide a robust, evidence-based and consistent approach to Local Authorities for the identification, assessment and planning for renewable energy development within their jurisdiction in accordance with national and European obligations, including the Regional Renewable Electricity Capacity Allocations and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies.
Environmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (109)
John Paul O'Shea
Ceist:109. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total value of unredeemed deposits retained under the deposit return scheme in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46933/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer the Deputy to the reply to Questions numbered 382, 383 and 384 of 13 January 2026. The position regarding the value of unredeemed deposits remains unchanged.
When published, Re-turn's 2025 annual report and financial statements will contain audited figures for unredeemed deposits for the year in question. I expect the report to be published in the coming weeks.
Environmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (110)
John Paul O'Shea
Ceist:110. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the current status of the review of the deposit return scheme initiated in 2025; the terms of reference of that review; when it is expected to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46934/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The framework for governance and oversight of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is set out in the Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2024; the Ministerial Approval issued under those regulations; and the Code of Corporate Governance for Compliance Schemes.
While Re-turn is responsible for all operational and funding matters relating to DRS, officials from the Department monitor performance of the scheme closely and meet with Re-turn monthly to review progress. In addition, quarterly meetings are held to discuss strategic priorities and governance matters. I have also met representatives of the company on a number of occasions.
Regulation 7 of the DRS Regulations provides for a review of Re-turn's approval three years after the grant of approval and every third year thereafter.
Re-turn's Approval was granted in July 2022 which means the first review was initiated in 2025 and this remains under consideration. As this is the first review since the scheme went live, a number of matters require review to ensure the continued effectiveness of the scheme.
The company will publish its Annual Report for 2025 in the coming weeks and will set out its performance against these targets and other metrics in detail.
Environmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (111)
John Paul O'Shea
Ceist:111. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the deposit return scheme achieved the 77% separate collection target required by 2025; if he can outline the collection rate achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46935/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 2025 separate collection rate achieved by the Deposit Return Scheme will be outlined in the 2025 Annual Report to be published by Re-turn, the operators of the scheme. I expect this report to be published in the coming weeks.