Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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101. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail the human rights, anti-racism, academic and civil society groups his Department engaged with in relation to the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism; the groups or individuals that proposed its introduction to him; if consideration was given to adopting the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, and the reason that was ruled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48735/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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. All EU Members States have endorsed the definition.

Ireland's endorsement of the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism was announced on January 16th by the previous Tánaiste. The decision to endorse the IHRA definition of antisemitism followed detailed consideration within the Department of Foreign Affairs, and consultation with other relevant Departments. The decision is 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.

This decision was taken following careful consideration, including alternative definitions, in the context of Irelands longstanding commitment to supporting freedom of religion or belief, equality and non-discrimination. Our membership of the EU, the IHRA, the Council of Europe and the OSCE played a role in the decision to endorse the definition. 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. In this context, the views of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland were also taken into account when reaching a decision to endorse the definition