Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up-to-date position regarding the possibility of the EU liquidating frozen Russian assets; the position Ireland takes on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20889/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 105 together.

In February 2024, the EU reached agreement clarifying the legal status of the extraordinary revenue generated from the immobilised Central Bank of Russia revenues and ensuring that such revenue is held separately from the assets themselves.

It is estimated that more than €200 billion of immobilised assets of the Central Bank of Russia are held in the EU as a result of sanctions. Irish institutions do not hold any assets of the Central Bank of Russia.

Since then, Ireland has been actively engaging in ongoing EU discussions on how this revenue can now be transferred and used to support Ukraine, including with a view to addressing its most immediate military needs, notably through the European Peace Facility.

This process has been coordinated with international partners, with consideration given to the complex legal and economic questions involved.

I welcome the progress that has been made on these proposals to date and would like to see agreement finalised as soon as possible. I have repeatedly emphasised that Russia should be held accountable for the appalling damage caused by its illegal invasion in Ukraine.

In addition to this, as a result of the restrictive measures adopted in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, approximately €21.5 billion in assets have been frozen as the EU. This includes over €1.9 billion of Russian funds frozen in Irish financial institutions. These funds relate to asset freeze measures for listed individuals and entities. As with all EU sanctions regimes, the measures introduced in response to Russia’s illegal aggression in Ukraine provide for the freezing of the assets for the duration of the sanctions regime rather than the seizure or confiscation of the assets.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has been consistent in the pursuit of accountability for Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. As the first permanent international court with the power to prosecute international crimes, the International Criminal Court (ICC), has a crucial role to play fighting impunity for international crimes that have been committed in Ukraine. In March 2022, Ireland was one of 43 states to refer the situation in Ukraine to the ICC in order to enable the ICC Prosecutor to immediately start an investigation.

On 2 April 2024, then Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Peter Burke TD underlined Ireland’s commitment to accountability at the Restoring Justice for Ukraine Conference in The Hague, by announcing a €1 million voluntary contribution to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC. This funding forms part of Ireland’s overall €3 million voluntary contribution to the ICC announced in November 2023 for all situations before the Court, including Ukraine and Palestine. This is in addition to the €3 million voluntary contribution to the ICC made in 2022 and to Ireland’s annual assessed contribution, which was €1.5 million in 2024.

The Government also supports efforts to ensure accountability of the Russian leadership responsible for the crime of aggression. Ireland is one of 40 states, plus the EU, in the Core Group for the Establishment of a Special Tribunal to Prosecute the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine. Ireland participates in regular meetings of the Core Group to address the complex legal and practical issues that arise in trying to establish a credible, legitimate and effective tribunal to deal with this crime.

Ireland, is also a founding participant of the Register of Damage, which will serve as a record of evidence and information on claims of damage, loss or injury caused by Russia’s actions in or against Ukraine. The Register launched its claims submission process on 2 April 2024. The Government view the Register as an important first step towards the creation of an international compensation mechanism to hold Russia accountable to victims of its aggression.