Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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24. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in relation to Ireland's announced endorsement of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism, that endorsement includes endorsement of the illustrative examples that accompany the definition, which the Government had not previously considered to be an integral part of the definition, and which he has previously expressed concerns in relation to. [2133/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has endorsed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism as adopted by the IHRA plenary in Bucharest on the 26 May 2016:

This Definition states:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."

As the IHRA notes, the purpose of the non-legally binding illustrative examples, which accompany the working definition, is to guide the organisation in its work, such as its core mandate of addressing contemporary challenges related to the Holocaust. Ireland acknowledges the examples as useful guidance for identifying instances of antisemitism, including in the context of the commitment made in the Programme for Government.

The decision to endorse the IHRA’s non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism was taken against the background of a disturbing global trend of rising antisemitism, and as a follow up to the recently adopted EU Council Declaration on fostering Jewish life and combating Antisemitism.