John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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208. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the legal status of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Ireland and Europe; and whether she is considering proscribing that organisation. [38380/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy may be aware that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs has previously set out a number of concerns about Iran in relation to human rights, Iran's nuclear activities, support for Russia's unjust attack on Ukraine, and support for militant and extremist groups around the region. The Tánaiste has further indicated that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been closely involved in many of these areas of concern.

As the Tánaiste has indicated, Ireland and the EU continue to work closely with international partners to ensure that there is a coordinated and firm response to Iran, including the IRGC. This includes extensive EU sanctions which have already been placed on the IRGC based on nuclear and human rights concerns.

The Tánaiste has also indicated that the question of designating the IRGC as a terrorist organisation has been considered at EU level, in the context of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy. I am informed that such a designation in the EU is a legal process which requires unanimity and must be based on a legal designation as a terrorist organisation by a member state, and that there are differing views as to the value and effect such a move would have.

On the question of proscription under Ireland's terrorism legislation, the Deputy may be aware that Section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, which was enacted with particular application to international terrorism, ensures that any organisation which engages in terrorist activity or terrorist-linked activity is an unlawful organisation within the meaning and for the purposes of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. This is the case whether the organisation is inside or outside the State, or whether the terrorist activity occurs in or outside the State.