3. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland will be represented at the emergency ministerial conference in defence of international law and the rights of the Palestinian people on 15 and 16 July 2025 in Bogotá. [38024/25]
Sentiment score: -0.10
An emergency meeting next week in Bogotá has been called by the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of South Africa. It will be attended by a variety of countries concerned at the current situation and the breaches of human rights. They include Spain, Portugal, Uruguay and many others. It has been called in response to the escalating violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory. Will the Irish Government be represented?
Sentiment score: -0.18
I welcome that. I thank the Department and the Tánaiste for ensuring that is the case. It is important. The approach required is to ensure Ireland is using its voice collaboratively with countries internationally and individually. The Tánaiste has articulated that in the past. There are far more actions domestically that we could take undoubtedly, and we have had many discussions on that, but the international component is vital. The Tánaiste made the point in relation to the occupied territories legislation. Many countries attending that event would be sympathetic to potentially advancing legislation of this kind that might expand the potential impact of that type of legislative approach. One of the biggest issues at the moment, although far from the only one, is the killing of people who are waiting for humanitarian aid. It is appalling. That accounts for about 80% of the people who have been killed in recent weeks. I regret to say that some cover was given to the Israeli Government by Kaja Kallas a number of months ago by her attitude towards UNRWA, which was reprehensible.
Sentiment score: 0.07
I would nonetheless make the point that the rhetoric employed by her and her office at that early juncture gave political cover to the Israeli Government and the US to undermine the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, UNRWA, and put in place their own position. I welcome the fact we will be attending the emergency meeting because it is important to work with other countries. I will ask the Tánaiste to respond to two final points. I know the granting of visas is strictly a competency of the Department of justice but they are processed through the Department of foreign affairs. It is disappointing that the visas for the representatives of the Lajee Cultural Center and GAA Palestine have not been processed. Some of this is about political will and involves contacting the organisation, working through whatever issues exist and ensuring they are worked through quickly. That must happen in the context of the appeal because these are vitally important initiatives. I urge the Tánaiste to work through that with the Department of justice. I ask the Tánaiste to respond to the extraordinary announcement last night by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in respect of sanctions on the UN special rapporteur, Francesca Albanese. That kind of direct attack on a UN special rapporteur is appalling.
Sentiment score: 0.23
5. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position regarding potential increased tariffs with regard to the US; and the preparations being made for same. [38025/25]
Sentiment score: 0.09
Another week has brought another dramatic statement from President Trump. It is hard to interpret what will happen with his announcement of potential 200% tariffs on pharmaceuticals. We can all guess and gauge how accurate it is. People who work in pharmaceutical companies, life sciences and all these sectors are concerned. The direction of travel is in a particular direction. It is vital that we are alive to it and respond to it. What is the Government's response in preparation for the potential impact of tariffs and retaliatory measures?
Sentiment score: 0.07
That is very important. A related but not identical by any means sector is life sciences and orthopaedics. This is another sector in which Ireland has a very significant footprint and which, unlike pharmaceuticals, is already affected by the 10% in that area. I would ask whether that has had an impact as of yet. I will briefly flag two sectors which, because they involve items that are on the shelf, do not have the same lead-in and are probably particularly vulnerable in the short run, that is, agrifood and, in particular, dairy products, and drink, including whiskey. They are very vulnerable sectors as well to any potential impacts. In terms of the reciprocal tariffs, some progress has been made on the dairy side but perhaps less so on the whiskey side. Preparation on this needs to step up. The examination of potential supports for individual businesses is needed, whether it is export facilitation or whatever. Where is that at?
Sentiment score: 0.07
I will raise two more issues, the first of which I have raised in briefings with the Tánaiste's officials and, in fairness, they are well aware of the importance of it. From an Irish point of view, the potential for distortions between North and South is a very particular risk that we face. It is not in anyone's interest. We could have a seesaw-type effect that might favour one side of the Border at another stage but, ultimately, it would create a distortion because that could flip. Many products travel across the Border multiple times before they hit the shop shelves. The other issue is one on which to proceed with caution and with our eyes wide open because of the fraught history relating to it. When these functions were still with the Department of enterprise, the Minister of State at the time, Deputy Calleary, responded to a question on export credit insurance and whether there was a need for a State-backed scheme. Ireland is unusual in not having this for historical reasons. At the time, the position was that the private market was covering enough. The situation has changed a bit in the past three or four years. What is the Government's position on such insurance?
Sentiment score: 0.07