Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether that the Russian Federation should be designated a terrorist state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48891/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Since Russia commenced its unjustified and unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, I have consistently expressed Ireland's unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

We have used our voice at the UN Security Council, UN Human Rights Council and other multilateral fora to call for accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine. Ireland has pushed for the Security Council to hold Russia accountable, to urge it to end its war in Ukraine immediately, and to call out Russia’s cynical attempts to use the Council and other UN bodies to spread disinformation. Ireland has also voted to exclude Russia from the UN Human Rights Council and has co-sponsored three resolutions on Ukraine at the UN General Assembly, condemning Russia’s aggression and calling for humanitarian access.

We supported the Decision by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe that the Russian Federation should cease to be a member of the Council of Europe as from 16 March 2022. Ireland also submitted a request for leave to intervene as a third party in the proceedings brought by Ukraine against Russia before the European Court of Human Rights. We joined 38 other member states of the ICC in referring the situation in Ukraine to the Office of the ICC Prosecutor and Ireland is providing additional voluntary funding of €3 million to the ICC. We have also filed a declaration of intervention at the International Court of Justice, in Ukraine’s case against Russia.

On 30 September, Ireland voted in favour of a Resolution at the UN Security Council condemning the Russian Federation’s organization of sham referenda in regions within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. We categorically reject the so-called results of those illegal and illegitimate referenda, and announcements purporting to annex Ukrainian territory. They have no legal effect.

Ireland has no legislation which would permit the designation of Russia as a terrorist state. While the issue has been discussed at EU level, I am not aware at this stage of any other Member State that intends to move forward on this basis.