Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Future of Europe continues to be a priority issue within the European Union. The Conference on the Future of Europe was an initiative aimed at promoting greater citizen involvement in the EU via a wide-ranging series of Plenaries and citizen panel events held throughout the 27 Member States during 2021 and 2022. The final Conference report, outlining 49 proposals, was adopted on 9 May 2022. A progress report from the General Secretariat of the Council released in December 2023 demonstrated that the vast majority of measures are already in train.

There has been an increasing focus on the Future of Europe in light of the changed strategic context arising from Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, with the discussion evolving to include Enlargement of the Union and changes in decision-making processes within the EU. Ireland is a strong supporter of EU Enlargement and has been active in this discussion, including through becoming an Observer Member of the Group of Friends on QMV in the EU CFSP. I believe that reflections on absorption capacity and possible policy or institutional changes are both necessary and should facilitate rather than impede the overall Enlargement process. While recognising the need to consider the challenges of Enlargement, this debate should not obscure its many benefits, both principled and practical.

The issue of preparing the European Union for future Enlargement will also figure heavily in preparation of the next Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, setting out the EU’s overarching priorities for the next five years, which is due to be agreed at the June European Council. Ireland agrees that Enlargement and Reform should be a major priority for the EU in the coming years, alongside continued support for Ukraine, improving competitiveness and strengthening the Single Market, and upholding Rule of Law and our fundamental values.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland strongly condemns the violence perpetrated by Boko Haram and AlS habaab. We support European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and other international efforts to reduce the influence of Boko Haram and al-Shabaab, and to prevent their attacks, especially against civilians. Ireland continues to monitor the activities of these groups and to assist populations affected by their actions.

Since 2015, we have provided over €37 million in bilateral assistance for the Lake Chad region, where Boko Haram is active. This includes funding to Concern Worldwide, Goal, and Plan International Ireland, as well as to the International Committee of the Red Cross. In 2023, Ireland’s funding included €1 million for the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund, which provides assistance to communities affected by the conflict in the north east of the country.

Ireland is also contributing directly to peace and security efforts, as a member of the International Support Group of the Regional Stabilisation Strategy for the Lake Chad Basin, and at the Sahel Alliance. Both are forums which enable donors to coordinate support in addressing the challenges in Boko Haram-affected areas of the Lake Chad Basin.

Ireland continues to engage on Somalia, where Al Shabaab is active. Since 2018, we have provided over €40 million in humanitarian funding to Somalia, including over €6 million in 2023, primarily through UN partners and Irish non-governmental organisations on the ground. In the same period we provided over €7.4 million to development partners working on community resilience and peace and stability. Ireland also deploys personnel to EUCAP Somalia, one of the three EU Common Security and Defence Policy Missions in the Horn of Africa.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 145 together.

Ireland’s overseas aid responds to the most serious global emergencies through several channels. About one third of Ireland's overseas aid is provided through multilateral partners, including the European Union, the World Bank and UN Agencies. We also provide funding through trusted Non-Governmental Organisations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and pooled funding mechanisms.

Ireland ranks among the top twenty humanitarian donors. In 2023 we provided an estimated €300 million in humanitarian assistance. Ireland supports humanitarian assistance and protection in countries and regions such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, the Sahel and Ukraine.

Responding rapidly to sudden onset emergencies is a particular challenge, which Ireland addresses through our Rapid Response Initiative, our prepositioned global humanitarian funding, and our engagement through the UN and EU.

Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative includes two components: the provision of emergency supplies such as tents and blankets; and the deployment of humanitarian experts to UN agencies to support their humanitarian response. In 2023, Ireland provided 350 tonnes of relief items in response to earthquakes in Türkiye, Syria and Afghanistan, and conflicts in Sudan and Gaza. Ireland also deployed 23 members of its Rapid Response Roster to five UN agencies in 14 countries.

Ireland also provides funding to several global humanitarian pooled funds. These pre-positioned funding mechanisms are the most efficient means to quickly respond to natural disasters or sudden escalation in conflicts. In 2023, Ireland provided €14.5 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, €1.4 million to the START Fund, and €1.2 million to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Ireland also provides pre-positioned humanitarian funding to Irish Non-Governmental Organisations through Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership.

In addition to these mechanisms, Ireland regularly engages through the EU and UN to encourage the rapid provision of assistance where it is most needed. For example, in 2023, Ireland joined the Advisory Board of the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). This will allow Ireland to influence a critically important UN humanitarian pooled fund. In 2023, the CERF allocated over $650 million to different humanitarian crises around the world.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have been engaging intensively with EU, regional and international partners since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. During all of these engagements I have conveyed the same message: there is an urgent need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and a significant scale-up of humanitarian access and supplies into Gaza. All of Ireland’s diplomatic efforts are focused on these two core needs.

It is also important that our efforts aimed at addressing the immediate crisis also lay the foundation for a pathway towards a sustainable peace in the long term. I will continue to underline this point in my ongoing engagement with EU, regional and international partners. I will continue to advocate for a clear position from the EU, which emphasises the need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and remains alive to the evolving situation.

Ireland’s focus is on seeking to find a way to change the reality on the ground and to protect and encourage a peace process that can deliver a two-State solution, which is the Government's priority.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and its mission network plays an important role in promoting Irish trade throughout the world.

Our approach is guided by the Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values for the World and the Global Ireland Strategy. In delivering on the priorities set out in these strategies, the Department of Foreign Affairs works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and other departments and our enterprise support agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland.

The location and priority themes for annual trade missions are selected within the framework of Departmental strategies and the strategies and objectives of the State Agencies. While the specific focus of trade missions will vary, the overarching aim is always to unlock new opportunities for Irish businesses aiming to grow business overseas, showcase opportunities for foreign direct investment in support of high-quality jobs and regional development throughout Ireland, strengthen Ireland’s reputation as a partner in education, science, technology and innovation, and/or promote our world class tourism and cultural offerings.

2023 saw a range of Government led trade missions to key and emerging markets including the US, Canada, France, Denmark, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Czech Republic, as well as the inaugural Team Ireland Trade Mission week to the Republic of Korea. Team Ireland Trade Mission Week, a priority outcome of the Trade and Investment Strategy, was led by the Taoiseach and sought to leverage the expertise of all Team Ireland partners for a sustained, coherent and impactful engagement with a key like-minded partner in Asia. 2024 has a similarly ambitious programme of trade missions.

Ministerial-led trade missions focus on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in a range of sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, agri-food, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and life sciences, and education research and innovation.

In key markets and geographical regions across the globe, our network of embassies, consulates and state agencies work together collaboratively as Local Market Teams (LMTs) or Regional Market Teams (RMTs) to plan and deliver trade missions and to follow up on actions and outcomes. The LMT/RMT model ensures that there is an ambitious and coordinated Team Ireland approach in-market, strengthens how Team Ireland cooperates, and ensures collective efforts are focused on areas of high potential benefit to Ireland.

Ireland’s markets for exports of goods and services continue to develop in a positive and sustainable manner. For the second year in a row, the value of Ireland’s global trade exceeded €1,000 billion in 2023. The very positive results are a testament to the resilience and vision in the Irish enterprise sector and the Government’s policy to assist Irish business in that vision.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The European Union is inherently a community of values. Collectively these values underpin the EU’s strength, integrity and coherence, particularly in the face of external threats. It is incumbent on all Member States to recognise where such core values are threatened and to engage constructively to address any issues. Ireland has consistently supported the European Commission in developing a comprehensive range of tools to reinforce rule of law standards across all European Union member states and address rule of law concerns where they arise.

Ireland recognises that protecting the rule of law also requires continual reform and objective assessment of rule of law standards across all EU Member States.

To this end, in December last year, Ireland supported the review of the Council’s annual rule of law dialogue and the subsequent Presidency conclusions on this topic, which were agreed to by twenty six EU member states. These conclusions have strengthened the Council’s annual rule of law dialogue as a valuable preventive mechanism in the EU’s rule of law toolbox by ensuring more EU member states’ Rule of Law country chapters are analysed and discussed annually. These conclusions also encourage more frequent exchanges within the Council, and with external stakeholders, as appropriate.

Ireland also welcomes the objective assessment of our own record in the area by the Commission. We recently met with officials from the Commission, during their virtual visit to Ireland, where they conducted their annual objective assessment of the Rule of Law in each of the EU’s Member States.

Ireland also regularly contributes to Rule of Law discussions at the Council in Brussels and will continue to work closely with other EU Member States to protect and uphold rule of law standards across the EU.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The International Criminal Court, which is an independent international body with close links to the United Nations, was established as the first permanent international court to end impunity for the perpetrators of international crimes. The Court was established in 2002 with the entry into force of the Rome Statute. Ireland is a party to the Rome Statute. The Court promotes and upholds the rule of law and provides a means to bring to account the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, including war crimes. In this way it contributes in a most fundamental way to the cause of international peace and justice.

While the ICC is central to the overall framework for international criminal justice, it is a court of last resort. The ICC does not substitute for national judicial systems. States bear the primary responsibility to investigate the most serious international crimes.

Referrals to the International Criminal Court may only be made with respect to crimes under the jurisdiction of the Court namely: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and in certain circumstances, the crime of aggression. The Court’s jurisdiction is limited to the territory or nationals of States Parties to the Rome Statute, States that have accepted the Court’s jurisdiction on an ad hoc basis and situations referred to it by the Security Council of the United Nations. This jurisdiction must be triggered in one of three ways: a situation may be referred to the Court by a State Party to the Rome Statute; a situation may be referred to the Court by the United Nations Security Council; or the Prosecutor may commence an investigation at his own initiative into crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court. Referrals by the Security Council are made pursuant to Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and must receive nine affirmative votes at the Council. Any one of the five permanent Council Members (P5) has the power to veto a proposed referral.

Ireland, together with its EU partners has been, and continues to be, a consistent and strong supporter of the International Criminal Court. Ireland strongly believes that the ICC should have sufficient resources to meet its many operational challenges. The Government announced in November a voluntary contribution of €3 million to the ICC in support of its important work across all situations, including Ukraine and Palestine. This is in addition to the voluntary contribution of €3 million made to the ICC in 2022 and Ireland’s assessed contribution to the Court’s budget, which was €1.5 million in 2024.

Ireland was also one of 34 states that signed the Ljubljana–The Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and other International Crimes on 14 and 15 February 2024. The Convention, provides for international co-operation mechanisms to strengthen the fight against the most serious international crimes. This includes mutual legal assistance, extradition and transfers of sentenced persons, to facilitate the investigation and prosecution at the national level of these crimes. It will enter into force three months after it has been ratified by three states. Ireland's signing of the Convention underlines the Government's support for efforts to ensure accountability for the most serious international crimes.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's international development programme is focused on support for countries and communities most seriously in need. The Government's policy for international development, A Better World, provides the framework, with the objective of reaching the furthest behind first and addressing the needs of those living in some of the world’s poorest or most climate-exposed countries and those living in areas affected by conflict.

The Government delivers this support through our bilateral development programme, channelled through Irish Embassies in relevant countries, through civil society and humanitarian organisations and through multilateral organisations, including the United Nations.

The most important criterion for decisions on which channel to use is the ability of the partner to reach those most in need in the most effective way possible. These partners are particularly important in the context of delivery of essential assistance in countries facing humanitarian crises, food insecurity and climate shocks.

Ireland's total Official Development Assistance for 2024 will be just under €2 billion. €775.3 million has been provided for the international development assistance programme managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the highest ever allocation.

The most recent OECD Development Assistance Committee Peer Review of Ireland, found that is a strong development cooperation provider with many areas of excellence, and a leading advocate for multilateralism. The Review also noted that the clear focus of Ireland’s programme enables Ireland to exercise leadership and make a visible difference.

In its follow-up Mid Term Review last year, the OECD commended Ireland's cross-government engagement and policy coherence, and our continued strong partnership with civil society.