Máire Devine (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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226. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government will support the reappointment of UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese; the Government’s position on the Dutch government’s opposition to Ms. Albanese’s reappointment as Special Rapporteur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17005/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ireland supports the essential role that UN Special Procedures mandate holders play in the international human rights system. Their work contributes to the development of international human rights standards and helps to raise public awareness on human rights issues. Both I and my officials will continue to defend the important role undertaken by all such mandate holders.

The Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts, working in their personal capacity. The independent status of the mandate holders is vital for them to be able to deliver on their mandate, and fulfil their functions, with impartiality.

Ireland greatly values the work of Special Rapporteurs, and I welcome their engagement and interest on issues of importance in Ireland. Our support to the Special Procedures is based on the respect for the independence of their work. That independence, and respect for such, extends to appointment and reappointment of these mandate holders. There is no direct role for states in the reappointment of mandate holders.

Ireland regularly engages with the current holder of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, in the context of the UN Human Rights Council and the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, including alongside EU partners. The urgent need to address the conflict in the Middle East remains a priority for Ireland in our work at the UN. The immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing hostilities to an immediate end and for all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal. Our focus must also be on the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza at scale, and the release of the remaining hostages. Ireland remains convinced that the implementation of the two-State solution is the only way to establish lasting peace and security for both Israel and Palestine, and the wider region.