Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way Ireland is working with international partners to keep attention on the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66606/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has consistently condemned the gross, widespread and systematic human rights abuses by the Taliban across Afghanistan, particularly against women, girls and individuals from marginalised communities. This message was clearly reiterated by the Taoiseach in addressing the UN General Assembly last September when he called out the brutal Taliban for their denial of the most fundamental rights of Afghanistan's women and girls.

In line with the commitment in "Securing Ireland's Future", Ireland continues to play an active role in seeking to maintain EU and international attention on the appalling human rights situation within Afghanistan and, in particular, the utterly unacceptable restrictions imposed by the Taliban on Afghan women and girls.

I believe that the current dire human rights and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan clearly warrants a political level discussion within the Foreign Affairs Council, given that the last such discussion took place in March 2023. Ireland will continue to advocate for this within the relevant Council bodies. We will also continue to fully support the role of the EU, through its Special Envoy for Afghanistan, in working to address the human rights and humanitarian situation and to promote more inclusive and democratic governance within Afghanistan, including through the UN-led Doha process.

Along with other EU Partners, Ireland played a lead role in pressing for the establishment of an Independent Investigative Mechanism on Afghanistan at the most recent session of the UN Human Rights Council. Its establishment represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of truth, justice, and accountability for the people of Afghanistan as well as an essential part of building a future for Afghanistan rooted in justice, equality, and the rule of law.

Ireland also took a lead role in securing agreement within the EU Political and Security Committee earlier this year, tasking the EU External Action Service to propose further measures to improve EU leverage on the current situation.

Ireland will continue to remain active at EU and international level to ensure all possible pressure is maintained to bring about improvements in the dire political, economic and humanitarian situation confronting the Afghan people.