Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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9. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he will push collectively at EU level to ensure that Iran’s financing of terrorist groups and warring factions such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Russian Military, and the Houthis can be halted or severely obstructed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27911/25]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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11. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland can formally designate an organisation (details supplied) as a terrorist organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27913/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 11 together.

The issues of Iran’s support for militant groups around the Middle East region, and its support for Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, are among the most pressing of the many concerns which Ireland and our EU partners have with Iran’s actions and policies. As frequently discussed in the Oireachtas, these concerns have been represented directly to the Iranian authorities both bilaterally and at EU level, and have been discussed many times by the Foreign Affairs Council and in relevant EU Working Groups.

The EU has imposed significant sanctions on Iran in connection with these policies, and continues to consider further measures. Improved relations between the EU and Iran, which the Iranian government says it is seeking, will be very difficult while these policies are maintained.

The question of designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of Iran as a terrorist organisation has been considered at EU level in the context of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. Such a designation in the EU is a legal process which requires unanimity and must be based on a legal designation as a terrorist entity by a Member State. The IRGC is already subject to extensive EU sanctions under other regimes and the matter will continue to be discussed.