Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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537. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions taken by Ireland on the UN Security Council to progress the holding of an independence referendum in Western Sahara. [17591/21]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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538. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the appointment of an UN special envoy to Western Sahara. [17592/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 538 together.

The former Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Horst Köhler, stepped down in 2019 for health reasons and the role has been vacant since. Ireland believes appointing a new Personal Envoy will be essential to the efforts to re-engage both parties in UN-facilitated talks and to assist the conflict parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.

The Secretary-General remains committed to appointing a new Personal Envoy and his efforts in this regard are active and ongoing.

The Security Council will hold consultations on the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) in April (precise date to be confirmed). This will provide an opportunity for the Council to review progress and recent developments in the non-self-governing territory.