2025-12-16

I am grateful to the Minister for being present to deal with this matter. I want to declare an interest in that, as the convener of the Ireland-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship Group, this is an issue in which I am keenly interested. Will the Minister provide an update on Ireland's stance on the question of Western Sahara in the context of the recent developments at United Nations level? This 50-year-old dispute remains one of the longest standing issues on the agenda of the UN. Despite successive UN efforts to facilitate a negotiated settlement, the situation has continued to evolve, shaped by developments on the ground and by broader dynamics in the region. Since the 1991 ceasefire and the establishment of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, MINURSO - to which Ireland contributed peacekeeping personnel until 2021 - efforts to implement the original settlement plan, which consists in the organisation of a referendum, proved unworkable between 1991 and 2004 due to the inability to agree on an electorate. Recognising this impasse, the Security Council shifted course in 2004 and called instead for a political solution. In response, Morocco presented its autonomy initiative in 2007, a proposal that successive UN Secretaries General and Security Council resolutions have acknowledged as serious, credible and realistic. Ireland has consistently demonstrated its commitment to multilateralism, the peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for international law, notably through its support for UN-led processes, peacekeeping operations and dialogue-based, negotiated solutions. On 31 October 2025, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2797 by 11 votes in favour, including three permanent members. The resolution takes note of the support expressed by many member states for Morocco's autonomy proposal, presented on 11 April 2007 to the UN Secretary General, as a basis for a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the dispute. It affirms that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute a most feasible solution. It calls upon the parties, namely Morocco, Algeria, Polisario and Mauritania, to engage in negotiations without preconditions, taking as a basis Morocco's autonomy proposal. It recognises that genuine autonomy could represent a most feasible outcome and encourages the parties to submit ideas to support a final mutually acceptable solution. It expresses appreciation to the United States for its readiness to host negotiations in furtherance of the personal envoy's mission to achieve a solution for Western Sahara and the region. In his written reply of 5 November on Resolution 2797, the Minister's predecessor stated, "Ireland is considering the implications of the mandate renewal." Given Ireland's long-standing support for UN-led political processes, our commitment to regional stability, and our interest in a strong partnership with a key EU neighbour and strategic partner in North Africa, clarity at this stage matters. In that context, will the Minister provide an update on Ireland's position on Western Sahara in light of the UN Security Council Resolution 2797? Will she clarify the Government's position on the Moroccan autonomy initiative, particularly in light of the growing international consensus explicitly mentioned in the last Security Council resolution? A clear Irish stance, aligned with the UN, consistent with our principles and attentive to regional security realities would strengthen the prospects for a realistic and durable resolution to this long-running conflict.

I apologise for delaying everybody. I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the subject of Western Sahara. As we have heard, the House is aware that since 1975, Western Sahara has been the subject of a territorial dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front. The United Nations recognises Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory under international law. In 1991, MINURSO was established by Security Council Resolution 690, in accordance with the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity settlement proposals accepted by Morocco and the Polisario Front. The referendum has not taken place. However, MINURSO has continued to perform tasks entrusted to it by the UN Security Council. In November 2020, the UN-mandated ceasefire collapsed and low-level hostilities resumed along the 2,700 km-long sand berm that separates Polisario and Morocco-controlled territory. Actual hostilities remain at a low level at the moment. As the Deputy has pointed out, on 31 October, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2797, extending the MINURSO mandate for one year, until 31 October 2026. The resolution received 11 votes in favour and three Council members abstained. Ireland is not currently a member of the United Nations Security Council, although we have been in the past. As set out in the text of the resolution, the UN Security Council "expresses its full support for the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in facilitating and conducting negotiations taking as basis Morocco's Autonomy Proposal". It does so "with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable resolution to the dispute, consistent with the UN Charter, and welcomes any constructive suggestions by the parties in response to the Autonomy Proposal;" Ireland is still considering the implications of the MINURSO mandate renewal following its adoption. Our position on Western Sahara has been, and continues to be, guided by the aim of achieving a just and lasting political solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Our engagement on this issue will also continue to take account of the role of and the insights provided by the personal envoy of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. Following the adoption by the Security Council of Resolution 2797, which the Deputy referenced, the personal envoy outlined that the Resolution provides a framework for negotiations. To quote the statement of the personal envoy, the resolution "does not prescribe an outcome ... which will, as always, in order to be sustainable, be the result of negotiations conducted in good faith." The personal envoy also stated that engaging in negotiations "does not mean automatically to accept an outcome." The personal envoy plans to call all parties to submit proposals and suggestions in order to allow the UN to develop a broad agenda for direct or indirect talks on the most relevant issues. In accordance with the resolution, the parties are Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria and Mauritania. Officials at the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and in the mission network continue to be in contact with relevant parties in support of efforts to achieve a solution to this long-standing dispute. As Ireland considers the implication of the mission mandate renewal and efforts to resolve this long-standing dispute, I assure the Deputy and this House that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and I as Minister will continue to keep any relevant developments under review, including in the context of EU and UN discussions. I am happy to talk further with the Deputy on all of this.

I thank the Minister for that response. It has to be accepted that, I think, we are building an ever stronger relationship between Ireland and Morocco. We have opened our embassy there. Our ambassador, Helena Nolan, is doing a superb job for us in Rabat. We all know the Moroccan ambassador to Ireland because he is ever present in this House and never loses an opportunity to promote his country. We know that many Irish people travel there regularly, that business and trade are increasing and that Morocco is a developing, progressive country that represents for us in Europe the gateway to Africa. I will put it to the Minister that she recognises that a process is under way. Over 100 countries have now committed themselves to the resolution as set out by the UN. We have a deep and fundamental commitment to the work of the UN and I would urge the Minister to conclude the review she is doing when possible and ensure that Ireland gets on board with the process. Most recently our EU neighbour, the Netherlands, has committed itself to this process. Many - I think over 20, in fact - of our EU colleagues have done likewise. We do not want to remain the odd one out. We want to be seen to be participating in the efforts to find a solution to a 50-year-old intractable problem that leaves everyone the winner, with a better opportunity for the future of the Sahrawi people and for progress in Algeria and Morocco.

On the Deputy's initial point, interestingly, today in Cabinet, we brought forward a review of Global Ireland 2025, which has been our strategy for a number of years. While the objective within that was to enhance, grow and double our footprint, within that, if you dig down into it, it is about enhancing and strengthening relationships, linking in with our Irish diaspora and seeing how we can grow those connections and use our own experience, expertise and knowledge to support other countries. Morocco is no different and there are many other countries as well. As we look to our Global Ireland 2040 plan, which I hope can be published before the Presidency next year, we will build and grow on that huge amount of work that has been done. Of course, when it comes to the UN as an organisation, it has to be something that we look to, support, strengthen and enhance in the years ahead because there are many challenges. As an organisation, it faces many challenges in the very important work it does. I would restate in regard to this issue that in our own engagement on this, we have to continue to take account of the role of the insights provided by the personal envoy of the UN Secretary General but it is very much our hope that the efforts of all involved here will help achieve a just and lasting political solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Ireland's position continues to be guided by that aim. I know of the Deputy's interest and through the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and in other ways, my officials in the Department and I are happy to work with him and engage with him on this matter, as hopefully we can reach a solution and a conclusion that is suitable for everyone.