Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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262. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to reports of migrants that are eligible for international protection and are seeking refuge in Europe being abandoned in the desert in the south east of Libya by the Libyan authorities without access to water; if he will make contact with the European Union authorities regarding the situation in Libya pertaining to asylum seekers; if he will support an end to the European Union funding of the Libyan state for interception of migrants given the human rights abuses that are well documented there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5532/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is aware of the reports referenced by the Deputy. Ireland is deeply concerned by the human rights abuses against civilians in Libya, including migrants and refugees. An important area of EU support to Libya remains migration management, including support to Libyan communities that host a particularly high number of migrants as well as to refugees and migrants themselves, and the protection of vulnerable groups. In strengthening the capacity of the relevant Libyan authorities, the focus of the EU is on training in Search and Rescue as well as in Human Rights.

In March 2022, the EU launched EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI to contribute primarily to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya, however it also contributes to the disruption of the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks through information gathering and patrolling by planes. Ireland currently has three Defence Forces personnel deployed in staff office posts at the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) of EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI in Rome. In addition, the European Union Integrated Border Management Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) was established in 2013. The protection and promotion of human rights is a central principle of EUBAM.

As well as support for migration and border management, important areas of EU assistance to Libya include protection of vulnerable populations; strengthening capacity for resilience; and recovery, stability and socio-economic development, including support to Libyan communities that host a particularly high number of people on the move as well as to refugees and migrants themselves. Key EU partners in Libya include UNHCR, the International Organisation for Migration and UNICEF.

Ireland condemns all human rights violations and abuses against refugees and migrants. At the 2019 Global Refugee Forum, Ireland undertook a number of pledges to help improve the situation of refugees and migrants, including yearly funding to the International Organisation for Migration, who are a key partner in the Libyan migrant response. We continue to work closely with our EU partners on issues related to migrants and asylum seekers in Libya and elsewhere, and to ensure that the lives, welfare and rights of migrants are protected.