Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

121. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the recent engagement his Department has had with the EU regarding Russian aggression in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43462/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland’s support for Ukraine is steadfast and remains a key focus of my engagements with my EU counterparts, both bilaterally and in Brussels. This war, and the threat posed by Russia, is not only an existential issue for Ukraine, but a major challenge to the security of Europe. It is right, therefore, that support for Ukraine remains a top priority for the EU.

Russian aggression features prominently on the monthly agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council, where Ministers are regularly joined by Foreign Minister Sybiha to hear directly about the situation on the ground and Ukraine’s most pressing needs. On 15 July, the Council discussed coordinating a strong and united European response behind Ukraine, including by stepping up the EU’s political and military support. Minister Sybiha highlighted recent developments in Ukraine, including Russia’s escalating strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

It is clear that Russia is not engaging in peace talks in good faith, and maintains its maximalist demands. In this context, it is more important than ever that we bolster support for Ukraine across all work stands. I welcome ongoing discussions with EU Member States on stepping-up military support for Ukraine, playing a constructive role in any potential peace process, and contributing to security guarantees as part of a peace agreement.

I also welcome the adoption of the 18th package of EU sanctions designed to exert further pressure Russia. These measures target Russia’s energy, banking and military sectors, further limiting access to revenue and goods and technology used to wage its illegal war. Sanctions are having an impact, we need to maintain and build on this pressure.

Ireland’s commitment to Ukraine is shared across Government. Minister of State Richmond joined EU partners at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on 10 July. This annual event is important in terms of mobilising continued international support for the recovery, reconstruction, reform, and modernisation of Ukraine.

Minister Richmond also attended an informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Lviv on 9th May, as well as a Ministerial meeting of the Core Group for the establishment of a Special Tribunal to ensure that those responsible for Russia’s aggression face justice.

Foreign Minister Sybiha of Ukraine addressed the Global Ireland Summit by video-conference on 6 May and spoke of Ireland and the EU's solidarity and support for Ukraine. I met with Minister Sybiha in the margins of the Munich Security Conference in February.

In April, Minister of State Byrne visited Odesa to open an underground school shelter co-funded by Ireland and Lithuania, and travelled on to Kyiv for meetings with Ukrainian interlocutors focused on Ireland’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, including on its EU accession path.

Across these engagements, Ireland has underlined our commitment to working with Ukraine and our EU partners to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace that protects Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in line with the principles of the UN Charter, and provides the necessary security guarantees so that we do not see a return to Russian aggression in the future.

Ireland is playing its part. We have provided extensive political, humanitarian, non-lethal military and economic support to Ukraine since February 2022. This includes €138 million in humanitarian assistance and stabilisation supports. Recently, Ireland committed €100 million bilaterally in non-lethal military support to Ukraine.

I am committed to working with my EU partners in the period ahead to ensure Ukraine gets the support it needs to defend itself, for as long as is necessary.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

122. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on the engagement with the British Government on the case of the killing of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43540/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It has been the long established position of the Irish government that the Brown family must have access to a mechanism which is compliant with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This is something that has never been provided to them. The various investigations conducted since the murder have failed to provide the answers needed by the Brown family, and they have waited too long for the truth.

The courts in Northern Ireland have made clear their view that the Independent-Commission on Reconciliation and Information Recovery, as established by the UK Legacy Act, cannot offer that remedy and that a public inquiry is currently the only mechanism available which can do so.

I met Bridie Brown and her family in May. The family have shown enormous strength and resilience in pursuing this case and I commended them on their tireless campaign for truth, transparency, and accountability over the last 28 years. I reiterated to them that I will continue to use my influence and that of the Irish government to bring about a resolution that is acceptable to them. It is clear that the only adequate mechanism currently available is a public inquiry.

I have raised the case of Sean Brown with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regularly since I took up office as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in January 2025. The Taoiseach also raised the case with Prime Minister Starmer during their call on 18 July.

This case is exceptional in a number of respects. These include the rulings of the Northern Ireland High Court and Court of Appeal which identify a public inquiry as the only remedy; the material released by the Coroner's Court linking agents of the UK state to the murder; and the repeated frustration of a thorough investigation of the case by state agencies. My Department participated in the supervision of a review of the case, following the report of the Police Ombudsman, which did not receive the information subsequently found by the Coroner.

I will continue to support the Brown family in their calls for a public inquiry and to raise this case with the Secretary of State in my discussions with him.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

123. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on the engagement with the British government in relation to the legacy bill; the state of the interstate case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43541/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Intensive and constructive work has been ongoing since last autumn, at both official and political level, between the Irish and British governments to determine if we can find adequate common ground to move forward together on legacy.

The UK Legacy Act, as it stands, is not fit for purpose. In addressing the legacy of the Troubles, there is a need to develop fit-for-purpose mechanisms to seek truth and justice for victims and their families. We have committed to work towards this in the Programme for Government.

I have had a number of constructive discussions on this issue with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn since my first call with him in January, and it has been the focus of all our meetings and phone discussions over the last few months. I most recently spoke with Secretary of State Benn on 16 July, where we reviewed a potential package of measures to comprehensively address the legacy of the Troubles.

The Taoiseach and PM Starmer also had a constructive discussion on 18 July and agreed to engage further on legacy issues in the coming weeks.

In the ongoing discussions with the British government to see if adequate common ground on legacy can be found, care has been taken to ensure that these efforts are without prejudice to any submissions to be made by either Government in the inter-state case against the United Kingdom with the European Court of Human Rights.

The President of the Court gave notice of the application to the United Kingdom Government of the application on 18 January 2024, and has assigned this application to the First Section of the Court. Applications for leave to intervene as third parties in these proceedings have been made by a number of organisations and individuals.

On 1 July 2025 the Court decided to adjourn the proceedings in this case pending the final outcome of the case of Dillon and Others, which is currently pending before the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

If we can reach agreement on a shared way forward on legacy - and if this agreement is translated faithfully into amending legislation - we would hope to be in a position to revisit the issue of Ireland’s inter-State case.

Any agreement on legacy with the UK government must be one that provides viable routes to truth accountability and justice for families and victims. Compliance with the Convention, and the ability to command the confidence of families and victims, remain our key benchmarks against which to assess progress.