Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will come back to Vote 20, on which Deputy Berry has completed his questions. I will speak briefly on Vote 27. I acknowledge what members have said and the positive relationship they have with the Department and its officials serving both at home and abroad who continue to undertake fine work for and on behalf of Ireland. The Minister of State specifically mentioned humanitarian assistance. I note, in particular, Ireland's contribution in response to the devastating earthquake in Morocco. I had the opportunity to visit Morocco recently and I convey directly to the Minister of State the appreciation and thanks conveyed directly to me by my counterpart in Morocco, and the speakers of both Houses. They appreciate Ireland's response and its willingness to assist in a time of great challenge and difficulty. The Minister of State will be pleased to hear the Irish funding was put to good effect, and the difficult and challenging programme of reconstruction continues in the worst affected area of Morocco. I also acknowledge the work of Ambassador McIntyre and his team on intensifying positive relations between Ireland and Morocco. We saw at first hand the opportunities available for even greater and more positive relationships across economics, culture, politics and tourism. The ambassador does a good job out there.

I stray briefly into Vote 28 to acknowledge that Ambassador McIntyre's premises in Rabat are included in the €5.7 million request, under non-pay and administration costs. This is badly needed. We look forward to early action on the part of the Department to ensure these funds are made available. Premises have been identified and work is ongoing. It will greatly assist our team there if works could be completed to their satisfaction over the coming six to eight months.

I turn briefly to Ukraine under Vote 27. I also see reference to Ukraine under Vote 28. I will pose my question under both headings. If the information is not to hand, I will accept a note for the committee. We note that funding to Ukraine, in particular the €24.8 million in respect of Ireland's contribution to the European Peace Facility. The Minister of State is at pains on all occasions, as is the Tánaiste, to point out that Ireland has abstained from decisions to supply lethal equipment. We do not contribute financially in this area. How do we determine, or how are we satisfied, that the funding we provide goes solely to strictly non-lethal aspects of support? How many, if any, Irish field officers are there? I know the embassy in Kyiv has reopened and we have at least two personnel on the ground, which is welcome. Do we have any other field officers on the ground in Ukraine? I noted there is an OSCE representative but I do not think that falls strictly under the Department. Maybe the information is not available to hand. Does Ireland still have OSCE representatives active in eastern Ukraine?

On Ireland's contribution to the UN system, in particular peacekeeping, I welcome the Tánaiste's recent statement that legislation will be brought forward under what we described as the triple lock to amend Ireland's participation. I welcome that change and wonder about the timeframe. Is it envisaged that legislation will be enacted in the lifetime of this Government?

Finally, on Gaza and the funding Ireland provides to UNRWA, total funding this year is €18 million. I note it will support the core functions of UNRWA's staff, its operations and the procurement of materials. Will the Minister of State give the committee an idea as to the transparency regime, or transparency proofing, undertaken to ensure there are no middle agencies or no filtering of any of this funding beyond what might be described as the core functions he mentioned?

The Minister of State mentioned that UNRWA has seen the loss of more than 100 of its staff, all of whom were Palestinians. How does the Department manage to ensure a level of proofing in order that the Irish people can be guaranteed that none of the funding is diverted from the core issues and functions? I say this particularly having regard to media reports on a certain lack of objectivity on behalf of certain sections within UNRWA.

I will ask my final question now in regard to Vote 28 and the Minister of State can reply when we reach that Vote. It is in respect of the new premises and missions he outlined in Manila, Frankfurt, Rabat, Manchester, Toronto, Miami and Lyon. I again raise the situation in Western Australia where, in the city of Perth alone, there are 16,000 Irish-born residents and in the state there are more than 235,000 Australians who claim Irish ancestry. While I acknowledge that the honorary consul is doing a very good job, I ask that consideration be given in the context of proposed new missions to a consulate in Western Australia, having regard to the distance between Perth and the east coast cities where we have honorary consuls. The information might not be immediately to hand because it does not refer to the spending of money this year but I ask again that consideration be given to siting a consulate in Perth in order to service the needs of Irish interests in that area, not only from a consular point of view but also from an economic and political point of view, having regard to the very positive relations between Ireland and Australia.