Parliamentary questions

229. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of his phone call discussion with US Commerce Secretary (details supplied) on 24 March 2025; whether the Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 was mentioned during that phone call; and, if so, the discussions regarding the bill. [15356/25]

230. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of people employed in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU for each of the past five years; the number of vacant posts, for each of the past five years; and the average staffing level for each European country’s Permanent Representation office to the EU. [15376/25]

231. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of his engagements with the government of Pakistan and its embassy regarding the arbitrary detention of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15397/25]

232. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of his engagements with the government of Turkey and its embassy regarding the arbitrary detention of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15398/25]

233. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade considering that Article 18 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states that civilian hospitals may in no circumstances be the object of attack, and considering the attack on Nasser Hospital and other healthcare centres, the actions the Government are taking in diplomatic engagements to ensure compliance with Articl…

234. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade considering Article 20 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states that medical personnel must be respected and protected in all circumstances, and taking into account the very difficult position faced by medical and nursing personnel in the Palestinian Nasser Hospital, which was subject to bombardment, the specific…

235. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade considering that Article 55 of the Fourth Geneva Convention requires that an occupying power ensure adequate food and medical supplies for civilians, and given that reports from Gaza describe a near-total blockade of medical aid, the steps Ireland is taking to demand full access for humanitarian and medical aid…

236. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade considering that a disproportionate number of children have been injured and killed in Gaza due to airstrikes, the specific measures the Government is pursuing to protect injured children and ensure their access to medical care, and push for an immediate halt to actions that result in mass child casualties; and…

237. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to confirm that his Department are in contact with Irish medical professionals and other volunteers in Gaza; how often this contact is made; the measures in place to ensure the safety of these citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15413/25]

238. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recourse open to Ireland should a review of Israel's human rights obligations under the EU Israel Association Agreement not be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15467/25]

239. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if discussions have begun on the appointment of the new Irish Ambassador to the United States. [15476/25]

240. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has ever been given around political appointees as Ambassadors. [15477/25]

241. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to appoint special envoys to the US for trade, culture and other shared interests between Ireland and the US. [15478/25]

242. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport application (details supplied) can be escalated as the application has passed the target issue date and the applicant’s travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15573/25]

243. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to reaffirm Ireland’s opposition to the current Mercosur trade deal in accordance with the Programme for Government; to outline the details of engagement with EU partners in opposing the deal since December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15580/25]

244. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is considering prohibiting the use of Shannon Airport by the United States military given the recent threats by President Trump to remove Palestinians from Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6082/25]

245. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 11 February 2025, the actions taken arising from his follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem; an…

136. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 54 of 22 January 2025, if he will provide a list of acceptable test providers for the examination of DNA evidence in support of a passport application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14665/25]

137. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on Ireland’s obligations to comply with international law with regard to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, particularly with regard to the Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 and the use of Shannon Airport for transporting military aid for Israel; the steps he is taking to meet these obligations; and if he…

138. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of actual and attempted cyberattacks on his Department during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, the countries of origin of those attacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14691/25]

139. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total sum spent on cybersecurity measures within his Department during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. [14673/25]

140. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 would include a ban on trade in services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14759/25]

6. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an update on the outcomes of recent discussions between Ireland and the United Nations concerning the facilitation and delivery of food aid to Gaza, especially in light of the severe restrictions reported by humanitarian organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14389/25]

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific measures has Ireland advocated for at EU level to ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, into Gaza, considering the blockades preventing the delivery of much needed supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14390/25]

8. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs given Ireland’s recent pledge of €20 million to UNRWA to provide additional humanitarian aid to Gaza, to outline how this funding will be effectively implemented in light of the growing difficulties in delivering aid to Gaza; the steps being taken to ensure that this aid reaches those most in need, given the obstacles and …