Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Ireland is a long-standing advocate for refugees. For example, in 2016, Ireland co-facilitated the UN summit on refugees and migrants. This summit agreed the New York Declaration, which led to the global compact for refugees and the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.

The Irish Aid programme, Ireland's official development assistance programme, disburses more than €180 million each year in humanitarian assistance. In 2020, Ireland is providing more than €18.5 million in funding to the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, the highest level in more than a decade. Our contribution includes core funding of €9 million, €3 million to the UNHCR's Covid-19 appeal, and crisis-specific responses, including Jordan, Venezuela and the Rohingya crisis. My Department engages on an ongoing basis with the UNHCR.

Yesterday, I addressed the UNHCR executive committee, underlining that Ireland remains a strong supporter of the UNHCR and the life-saving work it does for displaced persons throughout the world. I acknowledged that several UNHCR staff members lost their lives to Covid-19 in the course of their work, showing extraordinary courage in protecting some of the world's most vulnerable people.

The conflict in Syria has resulted in a major migration crisis, with many grave and widespread consequences. The Government's response to the Syrian crisis, through Irish Aid, is the largest Irish response ever to a humanitarian crisis. This year, Ireland will disburse another €25 million in assistance, which includes support to refugees in neighbouring countries, particularly Jordan. Ireland is also party to the EU response to the Syria migration crisis and the related loss of lives, including the facility for refugees in Turkey, contributing more than €38 million.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, is also one of Ireland’s major humanitarian partners and Ireland has provided the ICRC with €14.5 million in funding this year, including €10 million in core funding, to assist in its protection work. Irish Aid provides predictable and co-ordinated funding to six key NGO partners through our humanitarian programme plan, which is designed for humanitarian interventions in situations of protracted and recurring crises.

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