Results 1-20 of 4,866 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (22 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: Ireland has had diplomatic relations with Sudan since 1984, with accreditation changing from our Embassy in Cairo to the Embassy in Nairobi in 2016. A Sudanese Embassy was established in Dublin in 2016. The most recently accredited Ambassador of Sudan to Ireland departed in 2023, with a Chargé d’Affaires ad interim currently in post. On 20 October, the EU Foreign Affairs...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (22 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I am aware of the report to which the Deputy refers. We remain deeply concerned by the devastating conflict in Sudan, which has led to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. More than 150,000 people have already been killed and some 12 million people forcibly displaced. The Government is gravely concerned by reports that arms continue to reach parties to the conflict, despite...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I am grateful to Deputies O'Meara and Lahart for raising this very timely issue. Ireland condemns Russia’s escalation of large-scale aerial attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. In recent weeks, Russia has launched thousands of drone and missile attacks into Ukraine, some of which have been the largest aerial attacks since the start of the war, resulting in high numbers of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: Another figure that the Ukrainian ambassador cited was that 1,000 drones are being built every day in Russia. Those drones are not being used for delivering a cup of coffee or medicine, we all know that, stark as it is. The sanctions package is very interesting. An Irishman, David O'Sullivan, has the EU responsibility of monitoring sanctions and seeing how they impact. I attended a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: The primary role of the de-mining is in respect of training Ukrainian civilian authorities to clear mines. This is done by members of the Defence Forces. Ireland has a particular expertise globally in de-mining. We have been to the forefront of a number of training missions across Africa. We are still active in Uganda through the United Nations. In the last two years the Defence Forces...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Humanitarian Access (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for this pertinent question. The Government remains deeply concerned by the devastating conflict in Sudan, which has led to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. More than 150,000 people have been killed and some 12 million people have been forcibly displaced. The conflict continues to have a catastrophic impact on civilians. Despite reports of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Humanitarian Access (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: To be frank, the two main parties to this conflict - the Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, and the RSF - show absolutely no signs of willingness to negotiate a ceasefire, let alone a peace agreement. The conflict is becoming increasingly internationalised with external actors involved, refugee displacement and spillover risks, including in neighbouring Chad and South Sudan. Since the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Humanitarian Access (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: Ireland is gravely concerned by reports that arms continue to reach parties to conflict in Sudan despite existing UN and EU embargoes and sanctions. Specific allegations of embargo and sanction violations are primarily pursued through the appropriate multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council, the European Union and the relevant UN sanction committees. Through these channels,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Humanitarian Access (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: We have to raise it through the UN multilateral forums and all appropriate forums.

Irish Unity: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: It happens. I get called that regularly in south Dublin, where Deputy McDonald and I grew up-----

Irish Unity: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: -----but in east Belfast we were called much else. We were Lundys. We were Free Staters. We were Fenian scum. That was the language too many of us know in this House. I fear it is creeping back in. We need to take the responsibility, all of us who believe in a truly united Ireland, to call it out from all angles. It is important to acknowledge that we support the Good Friday...

Irish Unity: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Opposition for tabling this motion. Commitment to the reunification of the country is a founding principle of the Government. The Government holds an aspiration for a united Ireland in common with the Opposition and, in the spirit of this debate, I underline the fact that we are not opposing this motion. Every Irish Government must be guided by Article 3 of the Constitution,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 134 together. In line with the commitments in the Programme for Government, I am committed to facilitating the easier return to Ireland for our diaspora. I am currently hosting a series of consultations with Irish communities around the world to inform our new diaspora strategy. As part of these discussions, I always ensure that time is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: In Budget 2026 the Government has provided €840.3 million for the international development assistance programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This is an increase of €30 million on 2025. It represents the highest ever level of funding for the Irish Aid programme and is a clear sign of Ireland’s commitment to working in partnership to save and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (21 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: The Government remains committed to the target agreed at the UN to provide 0.7% of Gross National Income in Official Development Assistance (ODA). The commitment was reaffirmed in 2019 in A Better World, Ireland's International Development Policy, and again in the Programme for Government. Ireland’s ODA consists of funding from various sources, the principal of which is Irish Aid,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Budget 2026 (16 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: The provision of climate finance to developing countries is an integral aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy, and especially our international development cooperation. At COP26, held in Glasgow in November 2021, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland would provide at least €225 million in international climate finance to developing countries annually, by 2025. The target...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Trade Agreements (14 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I am very grateful to Senator Higgins for raising this Commencement matter. I genuinely welcome the opportunity to clarify the concerns raised by the Senator about information provided to the House in the debate on Commencement matters on 3 September. At that time, the Senator asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to update the House on Ireland's position regarding the amendment...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Trade Agreements (14 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: It is fair to say that the handling of this matter fell below the standard we would expect across these Houses and within the Government. The late submission of documents by the European Commission so close to the 4 October deadline left member states in a difficult position. I wish to reiterate to the Senator that Ireland's long-standing position on Western Sahara is one of full support...

Seanad: Support for Ukraine: Motion (14 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I sincerely thank the proposer and seconder for tabling this motion and Senators for engaging constructively with the amendments. I join in the welcome to our dear friend the Ukrainian ambassador, Larysa, and our friends from Tiglin in Greystones and beyond in the Gallery. They are welcome, not just Leinster House, the people's house, but also to Ireland for however long they need to be...

Financial Resolutions 2025 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Neale Richmond: I am due to be sharing time with other Deputies, who will no doubt be here imminently. We are splitting 25 minutes between four of us. On a serious note, before I commence this debate, I sincerely and personally commend the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who has left the Chamber. That sentiment was echoed by the Ceann Comhairle. Her closing line was an appeal to men of...