Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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256. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the matters he discussed recently with other EU foreign affairs ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5204/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The 23 January Foreign Affairs Council on addressed a number of important issues, in particular the ongoing war in Ukraine, human rights violations in Iran, and the EU’s relationship with the Palestinian Authority. We took a number of decisions in relation to these issues and others. 

The Council was addressed by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, who updated us on Ukraine’s needs. The Council endorsed the provision of a seventh €500 million package of support for Ukraine under the European Peace Facility. As before, Ireland’s contribution of €11 million will go towards non-lethal elements. This will bring Ireland’s total contribution to Ukraine under the Facility to €77 million.  We also agreed to continue coordination of our work on ensuring accountability for war crimes. We also agreed to support implementation of Ukraine’s ten step initiative for a just peace. 

The Council met with the Palestinian Prime Minister to discuss how the EU could build its relationship with the Palestinian Authority at a critical moment. I reaffirmed our support for a two-state solution and the need to undertake action in support of it. I also underlined our full support for work towards an Association Agreement between the EU and the Palestinian Authority and recalled that Ireland is urging Israel not to impede upon the critical human rights, humanitarian and development work of Civil Society Organisations in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ministers agreed to set up an annual high-level political dialogue between the EU and the Palestinian Authority.

We discussed the repression of protestors in Iran, as well as the transfer of weaponry to Russia. The Council has responded to these unacceptable Iranian actions by adopting a fourth package of EU restrictive measures, sanctioning a further 18 individuals and 19 entities. We also discussed the issue of Iran’s practice of arbitrary detention of foreign citizens, including dual nationals. 

Over the course of the Council, we also discussed the EU’s engagement in the Sahel and coastal countries of West Africa, established a civilian CSDP Mission in Armenia, exchanged on how the EU can contribute towards implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Ethiopia, and discussed the EU response to unacceptable actions by the Taliban in Afghanistan, amongst other issues.