Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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18. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of the engagement of the Foreign Affairs Council regarding the continuing humanitarian crisis in Yemen caused by extreme violence; and his plans to engage with those that oppose the death sentence facing a person (details supplied). [3666/18]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the United Nations Children's Fund’s (UNICEF’s) latest report Born into War and that more than 11 million children now need humanitarian assistance; his views on an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia and other necessary measures to create a peaceful political solution to the conflict; and the way in which his Department will respond to UNICEF’s appeal for US $312 million in 2018 to continue responding to the urgent needs of children in Yemen. [3644/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 46 together.

I am extremely concerned about the current situation in Yemen, which is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The war is now ongoing for over one thousand days, and has had devastating consequences for civilians, with allegations of violations of human rights international humanitarian law, and significant loss of life. I am aware of the UNICEF report referred to by the Deputy, and share his concern that children are bearing the brunt of the conflict in Yemen, with nearly every child in the country currently in need of humanitarian assistance.

Ireland has provided over €11 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen since 2015, and we are committed to maintaining support. In 2017, Irish funding of over €5 million was allocated to the UN’s Yemen Humanitarian Pooled Fund (YHPF), which supports NGOs and UN agencies, including UNICEF, which have the best capacity to deliver services on the ground. Furthermore, the EU is the largest humanitarian donor to Yemen and has provided over €170 million in aid since the conflict began, to which Ireland contributes via the EU Development Budget. In addition, Ireland provided €7.2 million in core global funding to UNICEF in 2017, and has pledged a further €7.2 million for 2018.

I believe that only way to bring about a long-term sustainable improvement in the situation for the Yemeni people is through a negotiated end to this conflict. Ireland fully supports the efforts of UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and his team, who are working towards a peace agreement.

With regard to an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia, Ireland does not have an arms industry and therefore does not export arms to Saudi Arabia. On the problems posed by arms transfers to conflict regions generally, our efforts are concentrated on universalisation and implementation of the 2014 Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which has been signed and ratified by all EU Member States. In addition, the EU’s Common Position on Arms Exports contains 8 risk assessment criteria that all EU countries must apply to their licensing decisions for exports of military goods.

My predecessor, Minister Flanagan, raised concerns about the conduct of the war in Yemen and the humanitarian impact with Ministerial counterparts in Saudi Arabia and UAE on a number of occasions. More recently, officials from my Department met with the Saudi Embassy in Dublin late last year, and passed on my strong concerns in relation to humanitarian access. There have also been EU contacts with Saudi Arabia on this issue. At the Foreign Affairs Council on 11 December, I urged stronger EU action on humanitarian access in Yemen, and I will continue to raise these concerns with all appropriate interlocutors whenever opportunities arise.

As regards the death sentence of a Baha’i individual to which the Deputy has referred, I am concerned that this person appears to have been sentenced on the basis of his religious beliefs. Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, and is unequivocal in its stance on the death penalty. Ireland calls on all parties in Yemen to immediately release all Baha’i detained due to their religious belief, and to cease the harassment to which they are subjected. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

I would like to assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to take every appropriate opportunity to press for a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Yemen, as well as respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, and improved humanitarian access.