Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade whether he or his officials have met with peace activists or experts in the past 12 months; the date and agenda of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43716/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Promoting and sustaining peace is a signature element of Ireland’s foreign policy, as well as a key priority for our international development policy. Our commitment to peacebuilding is informed by our experience of conflict on the island of Ireland and the importance of developing inclusive approaches to conflict resolution through dialogue.

As part of our commitment to promoting and sustaining peace globally, I, and officials in my Department, engage with a large number of partners working to resolve conflict and to build sustainable peace. These partners represent a range of actors, from international organisations such as the United Nations, INGOs and specialist mediation organisations. All these partners work closely with local peace activists and mediators at grassroots level across the globe.

As part of our commitment to peacebuilding, my officials are in regular contact with these partners and various meetings and interactions are taking place on a weekly basis, at headquarters and throughout our mission network.

Ireland’s commitment to an inclusive and multilateral approach to peace, one rooted in the principles of human rights, equality and international law, is a central focus of all such meetings and our engagements in conflict resolution and peace building processes. Our membership of the European Union and the United Nations is important for maximizing the impact of our work for peace and for promoting our values.

Ireland strongly supports an inclusive approach to peace building, which involves the engagement of the widest possible range of actors, including civil society, local peacebuilders, and actors who have traditionally been excluded from peace processes, subject, where appropriate, to certain conditions.

Ireland is also committed to the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all aspects of peace processes, in line with the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and recognises the critical role of young people in preventing and resolving conflict as part of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.

Ireland recognises that promoting and sustaining peace requires the integration of peacebuilding with sustainable development processes and climate and humanitarian action. This is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. My officials and I will continue to engage broadly and proactively to support those working to resolve conflict and build peace at what is a particularly difficult and challenging time globally.