Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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183. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the production of a film (details supplied), which pertains to the issue of forced child marriage; the actions he is taking to raise this issue at an EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56573/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The troubling practice of child, early and forced marriages is one the Government is committed to ending both at home and abroad. Ireland works both within the EU and with partners in multilateral forums on this important question. Ireland continues to use every opportunity to call on States to eliminate harmful practices such as child, early or forced marriage.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is central to the protection and promotion of children’s rights on a global level. The Convention contains many clauses protecting children from child, early and forced marriages.

Within the EU, Ireland has a leadership role on negotiating UN Resolutions on the Rights of the Child in Geneva and New York. Ireland is also a traditional co-sponsor of the UN Resolution on the issue of child, early and forced marriage. This Resolution recognises that child marriage is a human rights violation that disproportionately affects girls and that it perpetuates other violations of human rights. It urges States to enact and enforce laws to ensure that marriage is entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses and to raise the minimum age for marriage.

Internationally, Ireland has supported a number of UN partners such as UNICEF, UNFPA and also the IPPF who engage on awareness raising and influencing on harmful practices, including child marriage. In 2025 Ireland provided a core contribution of €4.5 million to UNFPA and an uneamarked contribution of €1.3 million to IPPF.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade partners with Plan International Ireland’s “Safe, Quality, Resilient, and Inclusion-Based Education” programme, which focuses on empowering girls and adolescents with knowledge in order to reduce child, early, and forced marriage and unintended pregnancies.

I thank the Deputy for highlighting this film, the Department of Foreign Affairs was invited to join the premiere film screening of "Nawi: Dear future me" on the 9 October 2025, as part of Plan International Ireland’s event to mark International Day of the Girl which was attended by officials.