Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

253. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the work of the cross-departmental international sanctions committee, CDISC, which is chaired by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5338/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Cross-Departmental International Sanctions Committee (“CDISC”) monitors, reviews, and coordinates the implementation, administration and exchange of information on EU and UN sanctions in Ireland.

CDISC is chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and comprises officials from the various Departments and agencies that are responsible for Ireland's sanctions policy and domestic implementation. The members include the Departments of Agriculture; Enterprise, Trade & Employment; Environment, Climate & Communications; Finance; Justice; Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Taoiseach (National Security Analysis Centre) and Transport, as well as An Garda Síochána; the Central Bank of Ireland; the Financial Intelligence Unit; the Office of the Attorney General; and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Officials from other Departments and agencies join CDISC meetings on an ad hoc basis.

CDISC meets monthly. These meetings provide an opportunity for updates on new sanctions developments. They also provide a forum for CDISC members to coordinate and discuss solutions to implementation questions. Committee members lead on different areas of sanctions implementation (e.g., the Central Bank of Ireland leads on asset freezes, the Department of Justice on travel bans, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in conjunction with the Revenue Commissioners, on import and export controls).

Ireland recently undertook a review of the domestic implementation of sanctions to identify and address any gaps. This work continues, with a regular agenda item on monthly CDISC meetings to ensure continued progress in improving sanctions implementation in Ireland. In addition to the monthly meetings, smaller groups of CDISC members often meet for focused discussions on particular issues, reporting back to the wider Committee as appropriate.

In the past year, CDISC has been strongly focused on the development and implementation of EU sanctions introduced in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions are the most extensive in the history of the EU and have required an unprecedented level of coordination both among EU Member States and at national level. The European Commission set up a “Freeze and Seize Task Force” in March 2022 to ensure harmonised implementation of sanctions on Russia among Member States. The Task Force and its four sub-groups are serviced by CDISC members, who in turn report to the Committee and discuss the positions Ireland takes on various proposals, where necessary. The volume and variety of sanctions imposed on Russia have resulted in a hugely increased workload for all EU Member States. As such, CDISC’s activity has increased considerably in the last year.