Written answers
Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
International Agreements
Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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289. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to list all international treaties to which the State has been a party from 1 January 2020 to date in 2025; to specify which of these treaties, if any, have been the subject of debates or scrutiny in either Dáil Éireann or the Oireachtas committees as to their contents, to which the Minister has contributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24329/25]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The following international agreements have entered into force for Ireland between 1 January 2020 and 10 May 2025. In respect of the years 2024 and 2025, the process of consulting all Departments in order to compile a definitive list is still ongoing and so the details provided are based on the information currently available to my officials.
As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I have certain roles and functions with respect to all international agreements to which the State becomes a party, including carrying out treaty actions, laying international agreements before Dáil Éireann and publishing those agreements in the online Irish Treaty Series. My Department acts as the lead Department with respect to those agreements that fall within the Department’s areas of policy responsibility, while all other Government Departments likewise have primary responsibility for operation and implementation of those agreements covering matters on which they have the policy lead.
Pursuant to Article 29.5.2° of the Constitution, the State shall not be bound by any international agreement involving a charge upon public funds unless the terms of the agreement shall have been approved by Dáil Éireann. Where a Dáil motion is required to approve the terms of an agreement before Ireland may become a party to it, this is arranged for by the relevant Minister in respect of those agreements for which his or her Department has lead responsibility. As part of the process of moving such a motion, the relevant Minister will participate in debate on the agreement concerned before the appropriate Oireachtas committee. If legislation is required to enable the State to become party to an international agreement, that agreement will also be the subject of Oireachtas debate as part of the legislative process.
In the list of international agreements below, it is indicated where my Department has had lead responsibility for an agreement. In respect of those agreements, I have also indicated if any prior Dáil motion was required to approve its terms, and the date on which this occurred.
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