Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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43. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which this country continues to respond to the needs of poorer communities, often beset by war, famine and national disasters; the extent to which Ireland’s membership of the UN Security Council is being used as a means of accelerating help that is needed in such challenging situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27529/24]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The United Nations estimates that over 305 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across 71 countries. Conflict, climate change and economic shocks are combining to drive increasing levels of need. Disasters, often induced by climate, are increasing in intensity and frequency.

Ireland has stepped up and responded to support communities in need. Our humanitarian assistance has increased consistently over the last five years. In 2023 Ireland's humanitarian spend reached a record €300 million. Already in 2024 Ireland has responded to multiple crises including to the suffering caused by the conflict in Gaza. Since 7 October, the Government has provided €40 million in humanitarian assistance to support people in need in Gaza.

In the last few months Ireland has also responded through trusted partners on the ground to natural disasters in a number of countries including flooding in Somalia and Kenya and drought in Zimbabwe.

Ireland's humanitarian assistance is focused both on the most severe humanitarian crises such as in Syria, Sudan and Ukraine and those crises that often do not receive the same level of international attentions, such as in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Yemen.

During our tenure at the UN Security Council, in 2021 and 2022, Ireland advocated for urgent action to address humanitarian crises across the globe and we continue to do this, including as Co-Chair of the UN Group of Friends on Conflict and Hunger.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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45. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has engaged with his Greek counterpart in response to reports of the Greek coastguard having deliberately drowned migrants. [27494/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The loss of life by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean is a great tragedy. Such tragic events highlight the urgent need to deal with migration in a comprehensive and holistic manner. Ireland regularly engages with Greek officials, as well as officials from all EU Member States, working in partnership to ensure humanitarian and international legal obligations are upheld. The protection of life and safety at sea remains paramount, irrespective of the circumstances that lead to people being in a situation of distress.

With respect to the specific allegations pertaining to the Greek coast guard, I note that Greece's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy has said these allegations are being investigated by the country’s independent National Transparency Authority. It is important that Greek authorities take the necessary steps to ensure the delivery of justice in any instance where wrongdoing is found to have been committed.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his efforts to provide for self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. [27492/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s long-standing position on Western Sahara is one of full support for the UN-led process, including the MINURSO Mission, and the efforts of Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to achieve a political solution to this long-standing dispute. I hope that these efforts will help achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

UN Security Council Resolution 2703, adopted on 30 October 2023, extended the mandate of the MINURSO Mission by one year, until 31 October 2024. As per this, and previous Resolutions, I call on all parties to the dispute, and on the wider international community, to support and assist the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara as he continues his engagements with the parties to the dispute. I welcome the visits and consultations he has undertaken to the region.

I also support the call in the UNSC Resolution on all parties to cooperate fully with MINURSO in carrying out its important mandate.

My officials, at HQ and in our Mission network, are in ongoing contact with all relevant and interested parties in support of efforts to achieve a solution to this long-standing dispute.