Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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215. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the definition of antisemitism given by an organisation (details supplied) was accepted by the Government in January of this year. [20186/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade who lobbied the Government to implement an organisation's definition of antisemitism (details supplied), both within Ireland and externally. [20187/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade who in Government decided that the definition of antisemitism given by an organisation (details supplied) was to be adopted. [20188/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the names and positions of elected and or unelected officials who signed off on the decision to implement a definition (details supplied). [20189/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 215, 216, 217 and 218 together.

I propose to take question 215, 216, 217 and 218 together.

Ireland has been a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) since 2011. Since the adoption of the non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism by the IHRA plenary in 2016, my Department has had frequent contact with other members of the IHRA on the question of the endorsement of the working definition of antisemitism. Similar discussions have taken place with the European Commission, in the context of the EU Working Group on Combatting Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, which Ireland attends along with all other EU Member States.

The European Commission Strategy on Combatting Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life (2021-2030) calls on Member States to adopt and use the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. A series of EU Council Conclusions and Declarations have also encouraged use the IHRA definition as a tool to counter antisemitism. Most recently, the October 2024 EU Council Declaration on Fostering Jewish Life and Combatting Antisemitism again invited EU Member States to use the IHRA definition as useful guidance for education and training purposes. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade engaged closely with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth during the agreement of this EU Council Declaration.

The decision to endorse the IHRA definition of antisemitism followed detailed consideration within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and consultation with other relevant Departments. It was also taken in response to concerns raised by Ireland’s Jewish communities, our broader EU commitments, and our longstanding commitment to freedom of religion or belief, equality and non-discrimination. Most importantly, the decision was taken in the context of a well-documented and concerning rise in antisemitism, which has been taking place globally, both online and offline. The decision was also in line with commitments in the Programme for Government, which includes an action to give effect to the IHRA Working Definition and to implement the EU Council Declaration.