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Wednesday 31 May 2023 Dublin: 14°C

# Foreign Affairs

Last month
May 2023
# National Security
'No need' for Coveney to correct Dáil record on RAF deal but Tánaiste giving issue 'ongoing reflection'
Previously Simon Coveney, as then Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, denied there was a deal.
Last year
2022
# high explosives
Russia refused to engage with Irish diplomats on declaration to stop bombing of civilian areas
Irish diplomats led on efforts to get nations to adopt the Declaration on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.
# Sanctions
Russia bans Taoiseach, Tánaiste and 50 other Irish representatives from entering the country
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued an entry ban on three ministers and dozens of members of the Oireachtas
# Foreign Affairs
Coveney summons Iranian ambassador over events in Ukraine and Iran
Russia fired waves of drones over Ukraine this week that are believed to have been Iranian-made.
# Africa
Conflict, climate change and pandemic led to boost in Irish foreign aid
Last year the Department of Foreign Affairs allotted €967m in overseas development aid.
THE MORNING LEAD
Tuxedo rental and novelty socks: The €175k cost of the Govt's St Patrick's Day trips this year
A report by
Stephen McDermott
The annual junkets returned in March after a two-year hiatus.
Figures released under FOI show how the Government paid to promote Ireland abroad last March.
Members of Cabinet and over 40 civil servants visited 28 countries as part of the annual visits this year.
The total cost was around €85,000 cheaper than the last pre-Covid programme in 2019.
# Ukraine
Irish embassy reopens in Kyiv after working remotely for six months of war
The embassy, which only opened for the first time in 2021, will be functioning with “very limited capacity”.
# Foreign Affairs
Breakfasts, photos & cancelled hotels: how Government spent almost €500k on travel in two years
The highest spender was the Department of Foreign Affairs, spending €166,553 on foreign travel since the Government was formed.
# United Nations
Irish diplomats work to broker nuclear weapons deal in high-level New York talks
Irish diplomats are involved in the month-long talks on the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
# Oireachtas
Coveney tells committee that new Defence Forces funding will be 'about people'
“I don’t believe that it’s possible to deliver something more ambitious,” Coveney said this evening.
# Surrogacy
Supreme Court to hear appeal in case brought by fathers seeking Irish passport for their son
The boy has UK citizenship, and it is his fathers’ wish that he get an Irish passport.
# Ukraine
Ukraine nuclear plant: Russia denies shelling to Security Council; Coveney warns of 'new red flag'
The Foreign Affairs minister spoke ahead of a meeting of ministers to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
# russian invasion
Taoiseach says Ireland's non-lethal military support for Ukraine is 'sufficient' as EU members are sending weapons
Micheál Martin said it would be “unthinkable” for the EU not to send arms to Ukraine.
Micheál Martin said it would be "unthinkable" for the EU not to send weapons to Ukraine.
Both An Taoiseach and Minister Simon Coveney said there were currently no plans to expel the Russian ambassador.
Martin also cast doubt on whether Ukraine could join the EU "immediately".
Ukraine calls for immediate ceasefire as talks with Russia begin in Belarus
Missiles hit radioactive waste disposal site in Ukraine’s capital
# Foreign Affairs
Richard O'Halloran says he felt abandoned by the Irish government while he was stuck in China
O’Halloran believes Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney “didn’t engage” with his case on the advice of senior advisors.
# champagne gate
Coveney says Foreign Affairs gathering was 'a serious mistake that shouldn't have happened'
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said the review of the gathering published last night is “insufficient” and called for an independent investigation.
# Foreign Affairs
DFA secretary general gave staff go-ahead to gather 'in the thick of it' to watch UN vote
The go-ahead was communicated in an email from Niall Burgess’s private secretary the day before the gathering.
# Foreign Affairs
Simon Coveney orders investigation into department lockdown gathering
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has ordered an investigation into a gathering of his officials in June 2020.
# Foreign Affairs
Coveney dodges questions on lockdown-breaking champagne bash at his department
The Foreign Affairs Minister has refused to answer questions about the party held by officials in June 2020.
All time
# Simon Coveney
Simon Coveney to raise settlement and evictions during Israel-Palestine trip
The Minister for Foreign Affairs will meet with UN officials and civil society groups during four-day Middle East trip.
# Kabul Airport
Irish evacuation mission from Kabul Airport ends with rescue of 36 people
At least 60 Irish citizens remain in Afghanistan.
# Afghanistan
Nations warn of terror threat at Kabul airport
Nearly 90,000 Afghans and foreigners have fled Afghanistan via the US-led airlift.
# Afghanistan
Army Rangers being sent to Kabul to help with evacuation of Irish citizens
They are expected to arrive into Kabul on Thursday.
# Kyiv
Coveney to open new Irish embassy on trip to Ukraine
Coveney will represent Ireland at the inaugural summit of the International Crimean Platform (ICP).
# Irish in Afghanistan
Taliban escorted Meath woman to Kabul airport as 36 Irish citizens remain in Afghanistan
Aoife MacManus, one of the three Irish people who has left Afghanistan, spoke to Nuacht RTÉ this evening.
# Foreign Affairs
Dept Foreign Affairs 'gravely concerned' over Taliban's offensive in Afghanistan
The Taliban have taken four more provincial capitals in sweep across Afghan south.
# Lebanon
Coveney visits Irish troops serving with United Nations in Lebanon
He will also meet with political leaders, including the Defence Minister and acting Foreign Affairs Minister.
# Brexit
Brexit trade talks deadline arrives as key issues still remain
Boris Johnson is due to speak with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen later today.
# Brexit
UK breaching Northern Ireland Protocol would be a 'really big mistake', Coveney says
The British government is poised to reintroduce elements of its controversial Internal Market Bill next week,
# Cross border
Simon Coveney: UK has given assurance that there is no block of Covid-19 Northern Ireland funding
Coveney said that he was told by Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis that “finance from London shouldn’t be a problem”.
# Flying home
Coronavirus: Several thousand Irish people could return from Canada in the coming days
The government is warning Irish people on short-term visas to strongly consider coming home.
# Panama
Irish citizens confirmed on board cruise ship where four people have died from flu-like symptoms
Two people on board have reportedly been diagnosed with coronavirus.
# Simon Coveney
Peru gives go-ahead for Irish citizens stranded in Peru to be flown home
Tánaiste Simon Coveney and Peruvian Foreign Minister
# stranded abroad
'This eclipses the shutdowns following 9/11': The battle to get 2,000 Irish citizens home
The majority of stranded Irish citizens are in Australia or New Zealand, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
# LE Aisling
Department twice failed to act on UN letter asking how former naval vessel ended up being used in Libyan Civil War
The LÉ Aisling was sold by the Department of Defence in 2017 for €110,000 to a Dutch company.
# Foreign Affairs
Diplomat rents, the rising dollar and a Brexit-inspired passport boom behind DFA request for extra €50 million
The Department also looked for €2 million to bolster Ireland’s bid to become a member of the UN Security Council.
# Malaysia
Parents of Nora Quoirin meet with Irish Government officials over her death in Malaysia
The parents of the 15-year-old believe there was a ‘criminal element’ involved in their daughter’s disappearance.
# Brexit
Leo Varadkar and Boris Johnson spoke by phone this evening and hope to meet this week
Tusk made his comments on Twitter.
# picking up the tab
Just under €2 million was spent on roof repairs at the Irish Embassy in London last year
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was a “significant project” at the building on 17 Grosvenor Place.
# Travelling
Lose a passport abroad? Getting temporary documents will now be easier
Meanwhile, a €12 million contract to provide a passport processing system in Ireland is being put out to tender.
# Banged up abroad
Irish embassies provided help to 344 citizens arrested abroad during a busy 2018
Consular assistance was provided to Irish citizens in a range of circumstances this year.