John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details on developments by the United Nations Security Council to resolve the disagreement between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia in relation to the construction and filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam by Ethiopia. [47097/21]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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As a member of the UN Security Council, and through our bilateral relations with Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, Ireland has been closely monitoring efforts to facilitate dialogue on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Ireland recognises that the GERD is of critical significance for the three countries. As a result, its construction and filling has been the cause of escalating tension between Ethiopia on the one hand, and Sudan and Egypt on the other. Against the background of new conflict dynamics in the Horn of Africa, this dispute poses a potential challenge to regional peace and security.

Ireland views the African Union (AU)-led negotiation as the best framework within which to address the concerns of the parties and develop a comprehensive agreement on the GERD. We actively support the role played by the European Union in bolstering this process, particularly through the engagement of the Office of the EU Special Representative on the Horn of Africa.

In July 2021, a second filing of the GERD took place in Ethiopia, leading Sudan and Egypt to increase diplomatic efforts to secure Security Council engagement. The Council discussed the issue on 8 July, at the request of Tunisia. This was followed by a Presidential Statement, adopted on 15 September, which reinforces the key role of the AU in facilitating the parties to reach a mutually acceptable and binding agreement.

Ireland will continue to monitor the situation closely through our missions accredited to Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, and look for ways to continue to support the AU-led process on the GERD, including through EU engagement as an observer to the talks.