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

Next year, my Department is prioritising to a number of policy and legislative areas, framed by our commitments under the Programme for Government and the Departmental Statement of Strategy.

Delivery of services to Irish citizens will remain central to the work of my Department, as we will continue to operate high-quality Consular and Passport Services. The Emigrant Support Programme, established in 2004, continues to operate successfully. By the end of 2023 the ESP will have disbursed close to €240 million to Irish communities over the last two decades. ESP20 in 2024 will represent a major milestone marking the twentieth anniversary of the programme.

The promotion of international peace and security will remain core to Ireland's foreign policy in 2024. We will continue to stand with Ukraine by providing humanitarian and stabilisation support, supporting the strongest sanctions against Russia, and engaging with international partners to ensure accountability for any crimes committed in Ukraine. We will stress the need for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and Israel and highlight the importance of developing a credible process leading to a two-state solution.

The full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the promotion of reconciliation on this island will remain a major priority for me in 2024. We will also continue to work to ensure the Windsor Framework is implemented fully and in good faith, including by engaging with EU partners.

At EU level, we will continue to deepen our relationships and influence across Europe. We continue to prepare with partners across Government for Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2026.

2024 will see yet another increase in the Department of Foreign Affairs’ development assistance budget, allowing Ireland to help many more people, particularly those impacted by climate change, food insecurity and humanitarian crises around the world. €776.5m will be allocated to Irish Aid, the highest ever level. This represents an increase of €60m, or 8.4%, on the 2023 allocation, and is indicative of this Department’s commitment to assisting those most in need around the world. This funding includes €30 million for international climate finance and €30 million for an ambitious and targeted response to humanitarian crises, prolonged acute food and nutrition insecurity and the impact of the war in Ukraine. With estimates of 345 million people facing acute food insecurity my department will continue to support both humanitarian food assistance and the longer term transformation of food systems through a variety of global initiatives in 2024.

My Department will support and promote Irish culture, business and investment opportunities through the implementation of the Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy and the Global Ireland Strategy.

2024 will see the further expansion of our diplomatic network, as we will open an Embassy in Islamabad and Consulates General in Munich and Milan. This will be a significant milestone in the ongoing implementation of the Global Ireland strategy, and will bring our total number of missions to over 100.