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

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue.

Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian crisis, driven by seven years of conflict, economic collapse and the breakdown of public institutions and services that has left more than 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

Ireland and the EU fully support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Mr. Hans Grundberg, whom I have met and spoken to, to bring about a political resolution to the conflict in Yemen. EU member states are in agreement that there is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen and all parties should agree to an immediate ceasefire.

In addition to significant diplomatic efforts, the EU has provided nearly €1 billion to Yemen since 2015 in development, crisis response and humanitarian assistance. At a national level, Ireland has contributed in excess of €32 million in humanitarian funding to Yemen since 2015.

As a member of the Security Council, Ireland has engaged extensively in support of the UN's efforts to end the conflict in Yemen. I have held discussions with the UN special envoy for Yemen as well as Major General Michael Beary, who was recently appointed as head of the UN mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement.

I have also engaged extensively with the countries of the region, including the foreign ministers of Yemen, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, stressing the need to work urgently towards a resolution of the conflict. In fact, yesterday I spoke to my counterpart in the UAE on this issue.

Sanctions are an important foreign policy tool for the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security. To be effective and impactful, sanctions generally need to be agreed by a large number of countries. For Ireland, this typically means aligning with sanctions regimes agreed at the EU or UN level. There is not currently a consensus among either the EU or the UN Security Council members on the introduction of sanctions against Saudi Arabia.

Ireland will continue to support all efforts to end the terrible conflict in Yemen, including in the context of our position on the UN Security Council and as an EU member state.

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