Helen McEntee
Meath East · Fine Gael · Ireland
“There are no new missions, so there is only so much we can partake in. In regard to UN requests over the past ten years, in September 2019, we had 14 Defence Forces personnel deployed to a UN mission in Mali as part of a joint operation with the German armed forces.”
“I thank the Deputy for his continued engagement on this matter. It is appreciated and I reaffirm our shared commitment to truth and justice, not least for Private Rooney, but in particular for his family.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I know he is committed to this issue; I am too. I have in recent months spent some time travelling to different barracks and Army bases and meeting with personnel. What I see all over the country is their professionalism, dedication and commitment.”
“I disagree that people are being pushed into the courts. The situation is exactly the opposite. I have said in the Chamber many times since I started taking these questions that the State Claims Agency is there and wants to mediate and work directly with people in order that cases do not go directly to the courts.”
“We are all committed to strengthening recruitment to and supporting retention in the Permanent Defence Force. The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,823 personnel on 31 May, the most recent date for which we have a figure available.”
“It is the case that no mission is the same, so it is also a matter for the Defence Forces to assess and scope out the mission and then to decide whether it is a mission we can partake in. A question keeps being asked about what it is we would not be able to be a part of if we were to keep the triple lock.”
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“It is important for all of us to be confident in the capacity of our Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána to defend this country and to make sure we have a successful Presidency. I certainly have confidence but again, there is more we need to do. Regarding the relationship between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, and I have spoken to the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces many times, including as recently as this afternoon, the Chief of Staff is in constant engagement with Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly.”
“We are seeing them happen more regularly and that is why we are taking them seriously. It is also important to stress that this was a successful visit. We did not close down airspace. There was not any issue in terms of the plane or visit itself. That in itself shows that we have the radar capacity to identify them but we know we need to enhance our capability. That is exactly why we are investing in the way we are now. We have capacity already but we know there are gaps and we need to enhance it. When António Costa visited Ireland last week, he was asked the question, "Do you have confidence in Ireland's capacity and capabilities?" and his very clear answer was "Yes".”
“I am responding to different questions. First, we all know there were drones. For anybody suggesting otherwise, we know that was the case. I repeat that at no stage did they compromise the security operation that was in place for President Zelenskyy's visit. I will say that we are taking this matter extremely seriously. That is why there is a review under way. That is why the Garda is conducting a review working with the Defence Forces. Of course, if lessons need to be learned about how different information was communicated and whether or not appropriate steps were taken. My understanding is that all appropriate steps were taken and all proper controls were followed. However, we need to make sure we can learn from any type of scenario like this because we are all aware that these types of incidents are not once-off.”
“It is exactly why a significant proportion of the €1.7 billion of our capital plan announced last week will be invested in our radar system. That is why we are bringing forward the counter drone technology to be in place before the EU Presidency next year. That is why we are doing everything to make sure that where we can put in place new measures that they are done as soon as possible.”
“I assure Deputies that the Defence Forces are working closely with An Garda Síochána in response to these potential incidents we are seeing happening quite frequently across the EU. In the past couple of weeks I have regularly sat with colleagues across the European Council. We hear from colleagues in Lithuania that they are having significant hybrid threats with balloons in airspace. We have seen in Poland where explosions have literally taken trains off tracks. If it were not for some not exploding, there could have been significant loss of life. We are seeing other countries like Denmark and elsewhere where these types of threats are occurring more regularly. We have to be live to the fact that we are not immune to this. That is exactly why we are investing in the radar system, in particular.”
“A project team comprising senior civil and military personnel is continuing to progress the radar programme. This programme of work is ongoing and good progress has been made. When fully delivered, the recognised air picture will incorporate this suite of military radar systems. It will have the capability to detect all aircraft traversing our airspace, including any that may be operating with their transponders turned off. Full delivery of the programme will be complex. The timeline at the moment is out to 2028 but I have brought forward the counter drone elements of it, which will be procured and in place next year before the EU Presidency. As announced today the programme is moving to the next stages. We look forward to working with the Government and with France to make sure we have that in place as soon as possible.”
“The next stage is to engage in extensive and further detail with France. I will bring forward a further business case in the new year. On top of that, we will bring forward early next year the counter radar system, which will be up and running and in place before the EU Presidency next year. One of my key priorities as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained and developed in line with the Government’s decision to move to level 2 ambition as defined by the Commission on the Defence Forces. The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended the development of a primary radar capability to ensure that Ireland can maintain a complete recognised air picture. As I said, I brought this to Government this morning.”
“This is obviously a decision that has to be taken by those who are trained and who are dealing with the potential response. In the circumstances, the Deputies will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to comment further on operational decisions, particularly in relation to deployment of military capabilities. As Minister, I will prioritise the delivery of counter unmanned aerial systems capabilities for use by the Defence Forces - in other words, counter drone technology, which is an urgent operational priority. I can confirm that procurement of same is well advanced. Today at Cabinet, I brought forward a memo bringing forward such capabilities. We have approved the preliminary business case. I have said clearly that we will now be partnering with France, although a number of other countries have engaged with us on this.”
“Notwithstanding some suggestions, I will be clear that at no stage was the flight of President Zelenskyy compromised and the security operation, led by An Garda Síochána supported by the Defence Forces, was successfully deployed through multiple means, ultimately leading to a safe and successful visit to Ireland by President Zelenskyy, the first lady and their team. All of the circumstances, as you would expect after something like this, regarding the drone incident have been and are being investigated and analysed by the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána. At all times, the Irish Naval Service vessel operated within standard operating procedures, rules of engagement and the law of the sea and could have exercised the right to self-defence if it considered itself under threat.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 86 and 85 together. I thank the Deputies for their questions. As this is my first parliamentary question session as Minister for Defence, I look forward to working with them constructively at what we know is an important time in the world, particularly for Ireland's position on a range of defence matters. As Minister, I am committed to the ongoing transformation and modernisation of Óglaigh na hÉireann across land, air, sea and cyber domains. It is essential that we continuously strengthen our defence capabilities in light of what is a changed geopolitical landscape since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in particular. As the Deputy said, a widely reported incident occurred on Monday, 1 December, regarding drones operating in the vicinity of a Naval Service vessel in the Irish Sea.”
“At a time when free trade and the benefits it has brought to the Irish economy are under increasing pressure, it is important to state that Ireland is seeking to ratify these trade agreements, which will provide our companies and exporters with new opportunities to expand and grow trade overseas, at the same time making sure that we do everything we can to support our industries and address issues where there are significant concerns as part of those agreements. Enactment of this legislation and the subsequent ratifications will equally be a very important signal to Ireland’s partners of our continuing commitment to multilateralism, to the international legal order and to the deepening our bilateral relationships. I know that it will be welcomed in particular by our friends in Canada and in Chile.”
“The Bill addresses the findings of the Supreme Court in the Costello case by creating a procedural safeguard that deals with the enforcement of such awards in Ireland. Enactment of this legislation will enable Ireland’s ratification of CETA, the EU-Chile agreement, as well as other EU-third country agreements with similar models of investment dispute resolution provisions, such as those with Vietnam, Singapore and Mexico.”
“Subsection (6) deals with parliamentary oversight and provides that every order made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade under subsection (5) must be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either the Dáil or Seanad within 21 days on which that House sits after the order is laid before it, the order will be annulled. Section 5 of the Bill is a standard provision and provides that the Act will come into operation on such day or days as the Minister orders after consultation with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. While this is a short and technical Bill, it is a necessary step to enable the State to ratify international agreements under the EU’s new investment protection regime.”
“Subsection (5) empowers the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to make orders prescribing certain international agreements concerned with the protection of investment as ones to which the new section 25A will apply. These agreements will be EU agreements with third countries that include similar investment protection provisions to those set out in CETA. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade must consult with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration before the making of such orders.”
“This subsection addresses the constitutional impediment identified in the Costello judgments and sets out a safeguard that complements the new enforcement procedure introduced at subsection (2). This subsection thus provides clarity on specific circumstances in which an award would not be enforceable in this jurisdiction. Subsection (4) provides that there is no appeal from the High Court to the Court of Appeal on any determination by the High Court in relation to an application to enforce an award, but that an appeal to the Supreme Court may be made if the Supreme Court accepts the appeal in accordance with Article 34.5.4° of the Constitution.”
“Subsection (2) provides that awards made pursuant to an international agreement to which the section applies will be enforceable in the State by leave of the High Court in the same manner as a judgment or order of the High Court. This reflects the requirement in the relevant international agreements that “execution of the award shall be governed by the laws concerning the execution of judgments" or awards in force where the execution is sought. Subsection (2)(b)(ii) specifies that these awards are only enforceable in the State under section 25A. Subsection (3) declares, for the avoidance of doubt, that such an award is not, and never was, enforceable in the State if enforcing the award would compromise the constitutional order of the State or the autonomy of the legal order of the European Union.”
“Section 3 provides for the amendment of section 23 of the Act to reflect the position that awards made pursuant to CETA, the EU-Chile agreement and any other agreement prescribed under this Bill may only be enforced in Ireland pursuant to that new section. Particular attention is drawn to section 4 of the Bill, which amends the Arbitration Act 2010 by inserting a new section 25A after section 25. The new section 25A has six subsections that will establish a new procedure for the enforcement of awards made under relevant international agreements in the State. Subsection (1) of the new section 25A provides that the section applies to CETA, the advanced framework agreement between the European Union and its member states of the one part and the Republic of Chile of the other part, and international agreements prescribed by ministerial order.”
“That means the right of the Irish Government and this House to take measures to achieve legitimate public policy objectives, for example, environmental protections, consumer rights or food safety. I cannot be clearer about this point. I understand that Members have been circulated with a copy of the Bill. This is a short and technical Bill that consists of five sections and, as noted, amends the Arbitration Act 2010. I will now go through the various sections. Section 1 is a standard definitions provision. Sections 2 and 3 of the Bill make technical amendments to the 2010 Act to reflect changes that will be effected by the present Bill.”
“To overcome these perceived shortcomings, the European Union and its member states put forward reforms addressing these concerns head on. The reforms include: standing two-tier tribunals established under each agreement as opposed to the ad hoc establishment of ISDS panels; cases randomly allocated so that the disputing parties do not know in advance which tribunal members will decide their case; strict rules on qualifications and independence for members of the tribunals, with detailed rules set out in a code of conduct and a procedure for disqualification; detailed transparency rules; and provisions to prevent abuses, including early dismissal of claims that are manifestly without legal merit will be included also. These are clear provisions preserving the parties’ right to regulate for public policy purposes.”
“This new system introduces crucial reforms to address concerns raised regarding the ISDS and is intended to replace the old-style ad hoc arbitration model of ISDS with a new investment court system, ICS, contained in relevant EU trade agreements. I draw to the attention of Deputies that, to date, no cases have been decided under ICS as none of the trade agreements containing this new dispute resolution system have entered into force. The shortcomings attributed to the old ISDS system include a perception that the ad hoc tribunals provided under other forms of investment agreements and treaties lack predictability, legal certainty, transparency, independence and impartiality, and that there is a risk of regulatory chill, which is the reluctance to amend regulation for fear of being sued by an investor.”
“It is important to emphasise at this stage that the investment dispute resolution provisions in this new generation of EU trade agreements differ significantly from the long-standing investor State dispute settlement system, ISDS, that is included in most bilateral investment treaties. Given that Ireland does not have any bilateral investment treaties, there are some misconceptions in how these tribunals operate. However, in light of the shortcomings that have been identified in cases brought under the old ISDS system, the EU and its member states have developed a new system of investment dispute resolution, which is embedded in the newer EU free trade and investment agreements.”
“This Bill has been drafted to ensure compliance with the Constitution and the international obligations that Ireland would assume upon ratification of the relevant international agreements. I draw to Deputies’ attention that passing this Bill does not ratify CETA nor the EU-Chile agreement, as these will require separate Government decisions and Dáil motions. However, by dealing with the constitutional concerns identified in the Costello judgments, enactment of this Bill is an essential step towards ratification of these agreements. Statutory instruments under the Bill will be required to prescribe other EU-third country agreements containing similar models of investment dispute resolution provisions, such as those with Vietnam, Singapore, and Mexico, before those agreements can also be ratified.”
“The Supreme Court in the Costello case not only identified constitutional concerns that prevented the ratification of CETA as Irish law stood, but the majority also identified a legislative path for curing the concerns that had been identified. The Government has carefully considered the Supreme Court’s findings in the case and the legislation we are discussing here today is its response. The Bill will amend the Arbitration Act and introduce a procedure in Irish law for the enforcement of awards rendered by tribunals established under CETA and similar international agreements, which addresses the concerns identified by the Supreme Court in the Costello judgments and specifies applicable safeguards.”
“There are, of course, further opportunities for Irish companies to expand their footprint in Chile in Latin America, in particular in services linked to the digital economy, as well as in agritech. As Deputies are aware, in November 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in the Costello case by a narrow four to three majority that the Constitution precluded the Government and Dáil Eireann from ratifying CETA, as Irish law then stood. The Supreme Court also ruled by a six to one majority that the concerns identified by the previous majority could be cured if amendments were made to the Arbitration Act 2010. This is exactly why we are here today. The Costello judgment has, to date, prevented Ireland’s ratification of CETA and other mixed EU trade agreements containing similar investment dispute resolution provisions.”
“At a combined €187 million of exports and imports, Ireland has a relatively modest level of trade in goods with Chile compared to our engagement with Canada, but Ireland’s goods exports to Chile have grown 24% over the period 2014 to 2024, and reached €100 million in 2024. Medical and pharmaceutical products constitute 45% of Ireland’s total goods exports to Chile. Ireland’s import of goods from Chile has remained relatively static at a low level since 2014, with Ireland importing €86 million of goods from Chile in 2024. Unsurprisingly perhaps, wine remains the most important Chilean export to Ireland, followed by fruit and vegetables. Services exports to Chile have grown steadily over the past ten years, reaching €851 million in 2023. Business services, including operational leasing, constituted 77% of Irish trade in services to Chile.”
“Chilean deputy foreign minister Gloria de la Fuente visited Dublin in May 2025. Chile is one of South America's most stable and prosperous countries. It leads the Latin American region in human development, competitiveness, income per capita , and economic performance. In May 2010, Chile became the first South American nation to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD. Chile is an essential actor in the world economy, supplying 27% of global copper as the number one supplier in the world, and 32% of lithium, making Chile the number two supplier in the world. It also has world-leading potential in renewable energy.”
“The status of our ratification is regularly raised bilaterally by Canada, but also by the European Commission. The Bill also includes the EU-Chile advanced framework agreement. Bilateral relations between Ireland and Chile are excellent and have been strengthened significantly since the opening of the Irish Embassy in Santiago in 2019 as part of our Global Ireland programme. The delivery of commitments set out in Ireland’s first strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean is being supported. This was launched in 2022. There have been regular contacts between Irish and Chilean political leaders in recent years. Former President Higgins and President Borić met en marge of the UN General Assembly in September 2024, and the then Taoiseach Simon Harris met President Borić at the Ukraine Peace Summit in June 2024.”
“Provisional application is an important mechanism that allows companies and consumers to benefit from a trade agreement at an early stage, as the completion of national ratification procedures across all 27 member states can take a number of years. There are approximately 42 member state national and regional parliaments with democratic control over the ratification of agreements such as CETA that contain provisions beyond trade as defined by the EU treaties. The agreement in its entirety can only be fully applied once all internal processes are complete, and this stands for the trade components as it does for the investment protection parts of the agreement. It cannot be argued successfully that we have secured the trade aspects of the agreement and, therefore, do not need to ratify the agreement in full.”
“It also highlights the potential to increase traded goods between our two countries by €1.2 billion annually, a 34% rise, and to expand trade in services by almost €500 million, which is a significant increase on what has already been a substantial increase. Both countries have made known their desire to leverage opportunities to diversify export markets, with Canada aiming to double non-US exports in the next decade. There have been a number of claims made that we should not be concerned with ratifying CETA as the parts that provide for more open trading are already provisionally applied. Provisional application, however, is simply not the same as ratification.”
“CETA has already contributed to a significant increase in Ireland’s bilateral trade in goods and services with Canada since its provisional application in 2017. That trade increased from €3.2 billion in 2016 to more than €10 billion in 2023, supporting thousands of jobs and benefiting large and small businesses and people the length and breadth of our country. A report on further deepening trade between Canada and Ireland was launched by the Taoiseach during his Ottawa visit. It shows significant potential for further trade and investment co-operation. The report points to the strength of the existing two-way economic relationship. Canadian companies employ more than 22,000 people in Ireland, while Irish companies employ more than 19,000 people in Canada.”
“Canada has both an historical and a more recent Irish diaspora. Over 4.4 million Canadians - more than one in ten of the population - claim Irish ancestry, making Irish the third-largest ethnic group in Canada. When the Taoiseach was in Ottawa in September, he invited Prime Minister Carney, who is himself one of those Canadians with Irish heritage, to visit Ireland in 2026. We look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister next year and building on those economic, political and cultural connections. Under the Government’s Global Ireland strategy, we have significantly increased our diplomatic presence across Canada, and we continue to invest in partnerships at city, provincial and federal level. Canada is a key export market for Ireland, and an important focus for Ireland's new market diversification strategy.”
“Together, investment liberalisation and protection ensure a business-friendly environment and provide a stable legal framework that encourages investment flows between the EU and third countries. One such agreement, which combines more open trading alongside investment protection provisions, is the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA. It is one of the most important trade agreements concluded by the EU in recent times and it has already proved enormously beneficial for citizens and businesses in the EU and in Canada, a country that has consistently shown that it shares the core values and beliefs of the EU. Ireland enjoys particularly strong political, economic and cultural ties with Canada, based on a shared history and a shared commitment to democracy, human rights and a rules-based international order.”
“Through the EU, we have been part of an expanding network of free trade agreements that create those opportunities for exports and investment, support jobs and growth at home, and uphold EU standards in food safety, animal and plant health, and environmental protection. These agreements help promote EU values globally, from labour standards to human rights to climate action. Recent EU trade agreement negotiations have included dedicated chapters or stand-alone agreements providing for the protection of investment. As such, EU trade agreements include investment liberalisation commitments, which provide an important advantage to EU companies accessing third country markets. Investment protection provisions, including investment dispute resolution, are a logical complement of the liberalisation provisions.”
“Our economic success has been built on our capacity to sell goods and services to the rest of the world. We have created the conditions within Ireland to support significant jobs growth. Since the action plan for jobs was first launched in 2012, over 1 million extra people are currently at work. This level of jobs growth is very significant and has also led to a very significant increase in our tax revenues, which in turn has allowed us to invest in vital public services, like our schools and our hospitals, and in so many other areas. A strong economy is essential to building a strong society. We cannot be complacent, however. The international environment, as we all know, is more volatile, more unpredictable and more transactional than at any time in recent decades.”
“Unlike nations whose wealth is rooted in vast natural resources or the legacies of conquest, Ireland’s prosperity comes from something different, namely, the talent of our people, our capacity for innovation, high-quality agricultural produce and an outward-facing economy that looks to the world rather than to itself. We are a small country with a global voice, a trusted partner known for being honest, principled and constructive. Our membership of the European Union is central to that story. It amplifies our voice, strengthens our influence and enables us to advocate for solutions that work for Ireland, Europe and the wider global economy. As a small, open economy, we have built a strong enterprise base, which is based on our exports and innovation.”
“I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Bill is being brought forward to amend the Arbitration Act 2010 in order to enable the ratification of international agreements concerned with the protection of investment, containing the European Union’s new investment dispute resolution regime. Before turning to the specific provisions in the Bill, it is important to outline the wider context of Ireland’s and the EU’s trade and investment policies. Trade and our trading relationships with partners around the world is a central feature of the Irish economic model. Ireland’s story is one of openness, that is, openness to the world, trade and new ideas and partnerships.”
“There has been a huge amount of engagement between this Government, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the UK Government to bring about the framework, which was agreed in September. The framework strikes a very fine balance in making sure the most important thing happens here, namely, that families get the truth. Any information here will be fed into the overall work that is being done with the framework but the legislation will go through the Houses-----”
“At the outset I thank the Kenova team for its service, initially under the leadership of Jon Boutcher and, subsequently, Sir Iain Livingstone. People who have an opportunity, if they have not done so already, to read the report today will see it certainly makes for interesting reading. There are shocking claims of collusion. Paramilitary groups were regularly supplied with intelligence by members of security forces. However, it is also very critical of the Provisional IRA, referencing the wanton use of torture and murder in its own community. This is a really important piece of work that has been done. The Deputy is wrong in saying that there has not been a priority or a focus put on this by the Government.”
“We will continue and I, as Minister for foreign affairs, will continue to play a proactive role on the international stage, including at the EU level, in raising the plight of the Sudanese people.”
“In the short to medium term, irrespective of any progress in peace negotiations, Ireland will continue to advocate for the de-politicisation of humanitarian assistance, the lifting of restrictions to allow for humanitarian access to reach those most in need, the safe passage of humanitarian workers and the protection of humanitarian space. Reaching those furthest behind first will continue to be our core guiding principle in providing humanitarian assistance to civilians in Sudan and those displaced in neighbouring countries. Sudan must not be forgotten, condemned to rise and fall on global news cycles, gaining visibility only in moments of catastrophe.”
“I fundamentally believe that to have a stronger, more inclusive and more durable peace, a broad range of civil society actors must be meaningfully involved. Therefore, Ireland fully supports a continuation of this vital dialogue and any other efforts that aim to include a diverse range of civilian voices in discussions on ending this devastating conflict. Once peace is restored, we are committed to supporting a robust, Sudanese-led post-conflict recovery to ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for the people of Sudan. However, we cannot wait for peace to act when it comes to addressing the humanitarian needs of Sudanese civilians.”
“Ireland remains committed to working with our EU partners and the international community to bring decisive pressure to bear on the warring parties to engage in genuine dialogue and agree to a sustained cessation of hostilities. This must be followed by a negotiated, permanent, peaceful and civilian-led political settlement that respects the territorial integrity of Sudan. This must include full, equal and meaningful participation of women, young people, marginalised groups and Sudanese civil society actors in the political process. Ireland and the EU are supportive of the African Union high-level panel and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, IGAD, in facilitating a number of meetings of Sudanese civilian actors, providing that vital platform for civilian dialogue.”
“At the May 2025 meeting of the EU-Gulf Co-operation Council political committee, Ireland, speaking on behalf of the EU, stressed the need to use every influence to prevent external actors from providing arms to combatants and to unite in favour of peace. In the statement by the EU's High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy released this month, the EU reiterated the message set out clearly in the October Council conclusions on Sudan and called on all external actors to take the necessary measures to end the sale or supply of arms and related material to all parties, in accordance with the UN arms embargo. Ireland, with the EU, will continue to call for the expansion of the UN arms embargo on Darfur to the whole territory of Sudan.”
“We welcome the ongoing work of the Quad, including these efforts to negotiate a three-month humanitarian truce. Resolving this conflict requires significant and sustained political will. It is incumbent on all of us to redouble our efforts in support of the Sudanese people. There must be substantive political engagement and co-ordination between the EU, the African Union, AU, the Quad and other international actors on de-escalation and mediation efforts. For this conflict to end, external interference and the provision of military support to the parties to the conflict must also cease. This was raised earlier this morning. The conflict would not have persisted if it was not being fuelled by arms and fighters from outside of Sudan.”
“Ultimately, there must be a durable peace if the humanitarian crisis and the immense suffering of the Sudanese people are to end. There has been renewed momentum internationally to push for a solution to the conflict, which is welcome. The Quad, comprising the USA, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE, released a joint statement in September, following visits by the US President’s special adviser, Massad Boulos, to key countries in Africa. This created the impetus for a recent meeting in Washington focused on reaching agreement on a humanitarian truce. The RSF released a statement on 7 November agreeing to the proposal, although there appears to be a lack of any meaningful implementation thus far. Meanwhile, the SAF has rejected the proposal, vowing to continue its military campaign against the RSF.”
“On the issue of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, there is a responsibility to prevent and investigate, and to hold perpetrators accountable for all forms of gender-based violence in conflict. There can be no impunity for these crimes. All justice and accountability processes must be survivor-centred and survivor-led. A survivor-centred approach must guide us. It must be one that listens to survivors, takes their experiences seriously and upholds their rights and needs. If we are to take seriously the fact we are on day 13 of 16 days of activism, when all individuals across the globe can highlight, raise and put a focus on domestic and sexual violence, we need to make sure, when we respond to incidents and atrocities like this, that we are taking serious action and putting survivors' needs front and centre.”
“As a member of the Sudan core group in Geneva, Ireland led on the adoption of a resolution on the situation in El Fasher at the special session of the Human Rights Council, HRC, on 14 November. The resolution requests the fact-finding mission to conduct an urgent inquiry into the violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law committed in and around El Fasher. The fact-finding mission must be fully supported in carrying out this vital work. We remain committed to ensuring that Sudan is consistently raised and addressed within the Human Rights Council and other multilateral forums. The environment of impunity in Sudan must end.”
“To this end, Ireland continues to support the important work of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, IIFFM. We welcome the recent extension of its mandate and underline the need for all parties to the conflict to provide unhindered access to the fact-finding mission. Ireland supports expanding the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, ICC, to the whole of Sudan, as recommended by the fact-finding mission. This is to ensure the perpetrators of international humanitarian and human rights violations and abuses across the country are held accountable and brought to justice. Ireland works closely with like-minded states to promote accountability for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and to ensure that those responsible will be brought to justice.”
“Safe passage must also be provided as a matter of urgency for those fleeing violence. All parties to the conflict must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of front-line humanitarian actors and local responders. We need to do everything possible to ensure the protection of principled and depoliticised humanitarian space so that humanitarian assistance and services reach those in dire need. The parties to the conflict must facilitate rapid, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access, particularly in the greater Darfur and greater Kordofan regions. Another key priority for the Government is ensuring accountability and justice for the atrocities committed. It is crucial that we, the international community, collectively support efforts to document, investigate and address these crimes.”
“We also successfully called for Sudan to be placed on the agenda at this month’s EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, which I attended last Monday, with a focus on the implementation of the Council conclusions. The Council adopted restrictive measures against a senior RSF commander. We would welcome discussions on further sanctions in line with the Council conclusions, which state that the EU will continue to employ and, where possible, intensify the use of the full range of foreign policy instruments at its disposal, including, where appropriate, targeted restrictive measures to achieve a peaceful resolution to the crisis. We are clear on our immediate priorities. Civilians must be protected, particularly women and girls who remain at grave risk of sexual and gender-based violence.”