Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to reports that an Irish aid agency (details supplied) has been ordered to cease working in Pakistan; if he has raised this issue formally with Pakistani officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42795/18]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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In December 2017, a number of international NGOs, including the NGO in question, received notification from the government of Pakistan to cease operations. This decision was appealed by the organisation. However, on 4 October 2018 the Pakistani authorities said that the appeal had been rejected and that it, along with a number of other reputable international NGOs, must cease operations within 60 days. My Department has liaised closely with the organisation in question since the issue of its registration in Pakistan was first raised, and continues to do so. I, together with officials, met senior representatives of the organisation on Tuesday last, 16 October, and this issue was discussed.

Ireland has made a number of high level representations on the organisation’s behalf to the government of Pakistan, including through the Embassy of Pakistan in Dublin. After news of the latest decision was notified, a meeting between officials of my Department and the chargé d'affairesof the Embassy of Pakistan took place. Furthermore, the Irish Embassy in Ankara, which is accredited to Pakistan, is in close contact with the EU and other diplomatic missions in Islamabad to support joint advocacy on this matter. Our responses are calibrated in liaison with the organisation in question with a view to achieving the most positive outcome possible.

A key element in our dialogue with Pakistani counterparts is that the organisation in question serves no agenda other than promoting human dignity and that it complies with Pakistan’s national laws and policies. Furthermore, we have highlighted the organisation’s track record implementing high-quality humanitarian and development programmes.