Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Provision of assistance to refugees through the United Nations remains a critical part of Ireland's policy. This assistance is provided through a wide range of agencies (including UNICEF, OCHA, UNRWA, WFP, WHO etc.) but it is the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees worldwide and safeguard their rights and well-being. UNHCR also assists former refugees who have returned to their homeland, internally displaced people, and people who are stateless.

UNHCR's Global Appeal for 2022 seeks $8.9 billion and shows the number of persons of concern to UNHCR is expected to reach over 100 million.

In 2021 Ireland pledged contributions of €17 million to UNHCR but actual contributions exceeded €19 million. This total comprised of €10.5m in core funding (up from €9m in 2020), as well as specific contributions to UNHCR’s work in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Jordan, Bangladesh (Rohingya crisis) and in response to the Venezuela crisis. Ireland has made a pledge of €18 million to UNHCR for 2022.

I was delighted to be able to participate in a High Level Meeting in December which took stock of progress made in achieving the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees, including through the pledges and contributions made and initiatives announced at the first Global Refugee Forum in 2019. I noted that - in addition to fulfilling our pledges to support UNHCR - we had progressed our pledges in other areas including:

- We are implementing our pledge to address the root causes of displacement through support of €4.5m for global peacebuilding initiatives. Since 2020, Ireland has contributed €4.5 million to the UN Peacebuilding Fund and last year Minister Coveney pledged to increase Ireland’s funding to €10 million over the period 2020-2024.

- Our core funding pledge to the International Organisation for Migration has been fulfilled with €1 million per year provided and maintained.

- Ireland has fulfilled and exceeded its pledge to increase support for education in emergencies and protracted crises.