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Written Answers 26 November 2020 Written Answers. The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised]. Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, answered orally. 26/11/2020WRA00400Israeli Settlements 26/11/2020WRA005008. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will re-examine the proposed legislation to ban the import of goods from illegal settlements in Palestine in view of recent attacks by the Israeli state there on human rights and the ongoing demolition of homes by the Israeli state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38339/20] 26/11/2020WRA00600Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Simon Coveney): The demolition by Israeli au- thorities of private property is of grave concern. Demolition and confiscation of humanitarian assets, including education infrastructure, is contrary to Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law, and in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention. I was deeply dismayed to learn of the demolition by Israeli authorities on 3 November of more than 70 structures, in the community of Humsa Al Bqai’a located in the northern Jordan Valley. I issued a statement on 6 November and Ireland’s Representative Office in Ramallah has visited the site of the demolitions. Ireland, the EU, and the wider humanitarian community are ready to support those impacted and the West Bank Protection Consortium, of which Ireland is a member, is providing emergency shelter and support to affected families. Ireland has a very clear position on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. They are illegal under international law and actively undermine the prospects for a Two-State solution. You raise the issue of a ban on import of settlement goods. Such a ban would not be compat- ible with EU law, and would not be implementable. This is the clear legal advice on this matter. The Government will therefore not be taking it forward. As it stands, however, EU law does already make a meaningful distinction between Israel, and settlements in occupied territory. This distinction has important practical effects. Since settlements are not part of Israel, the EU-Israel Association Agreement does not apply to them. This means that different tariffs apply to goods from settlements, and settlements are not eli- gible for participation in EU-Israel programmes. EU law and guidelines clearly differentiate between settlements on the one hand, and Israel, on the other. As such, they are an important part of the EU contribution to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemns the construction and expansion of settlements. Ireland will maintain its vigilance to ensure full implementation of these laws and guide- 1 Questions - Written Answers lines. Question No. 9 answered with Question No. 7. Questions Nos. 10 and 11 answered orally. 26/11/2020WRA00900Foreign Conflicts 26/11/2020WRA0100012. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he and his EU and UN colleagues are alert to the situation in Armenia, Azerbaijan, in respect of Nagorno-Karabakh and Ethiopia-Sudan horn of Africa; the degree to which initiatives have been taken to address the humanitarian issues arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38273/20] 26/11/2020WRA01100Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs(Deputy Colm Brophy): Ireland has consistently called for a cessation of hostilities and we welcome the agreement reached by Armenia and Azerbaijan to end the military conflict in and around Nagorno Karabakh. We re- main deeply concerned for the humanitarian situation in the region, where hostilities have had a devastating impact on local civilian populations. Ensuring access for humanitarian organisa- tions must be a top priority to avoid further catastrophe as we head into the winter months. Ireland and the EU will fully support efforts to help bring about a sustainable and lasting peace and we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance. In that regard, we note the key role that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees will continue to play. I am deeply concerned by the outbreak of armed conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, in- cluding the reported atrocities and ethnic profiling, and the humanitarian consequences. Ireland is actively supporting the efforts of the EU and wider international community to de-escalate the situation, including through engagement with the African Union which has appointed three Special Envoys. Minister Coveney has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and the commencement of a national dialogue to de-escalate tensions. Minister Coveney has also condemned the reported atrocities and identity-based attacks. It is essential to ensure that the human rights of all Ethiopians are upheld. I am gravely concerned by reports that Ethiopia’s federal military has said civilians should protect themselves from heavy artillery, in advance of a planned assault against the regional capital. I urge all parties to the conflict to respect interna- tional humanitarian law. Ireland is also a longstanding humanitarian supporter of the wider Horn of Africa region. In the context of the Tigray crisis my Department has reallocated €416,000 for the humanitarian response within Ethiopia and €500,000 to assist refugees in Eastern Sudan. 26/11/2020WRA01200Undocumented Irish in the USA 26/11/2020WRA0130013. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to enter discus- sions with the President-elect of the United States of America, Mr. Joe Biden, on the issue of the difficulties facing undocumented Irish persons in the United States and in particular the progression of the E3 visa Bill through Congress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38205/20] 26/11/2020WRA0140014. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will use the opportunity of the election of President-elect Joe Biden to make representations to the 2 26 November 2020 incoming Administration there around the plight of the undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States. [38301/20] 26/11/2020WRA0150023. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the way in which his Department is engaging with US Government agencies with regard to the undocu- mented Irish. [38082/20] 26/11/2020WRA0160030. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made to date on resolving the issue of undocumented Irish in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38208/20] 26/11/2020WRA0170046. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if progress has been made on establishing an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38209/20] 26/11/2020WRA0180056. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding proposed immigration reform in the United States with particular reference to the difficulties facing the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38291/20] 26/11/2020WRA01900Minister for Foreign Affairs(Deputy Simon Coveney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 14, 23, 30, 46 and 56 together. The issue of Irish immigration to the US, particularly the status of the undocumented Irish, has been a high priority for successive Governments and continues to be one of my key priori- ties. Immigration issues have been raised on an ongoing basis in our engagement with the US Administration and political leaders. I have raised these issues in recent contacts with Special Envoy Mick Mulvaney and with the US Ambassador, as well as with members of the US Ad- ministration and both Houses of Congress during my visit to Washington D.C. at the end of September. In the US, our Embassy and Consulates General across the country continue to monitor the situation closely and to engage with US officials on immigration issues, including with US Im- migration and Customs Enforcement. They also actively support Irish community groups that provide assistance and information to vulnerable Irish and the undocumented. Many of these community groups are members of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Cen- ters, which receives significant annual funding through the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme for their work. In 2019, over €3m ($3.7m) was allocated to 88 organisations across the US, including those that provide front-line welfare assistance to Irish citizens. Furthermore, and in response to the pandemic, a dedicated COVID-19 Response Fund for Irish Communi- ties Abroad was set up to help these organisations meet the needs of those who are particularly vulnerable. We maintain close relations with members of Congress and contacts from across the po- litical spectrum, and will continue to seek opportunities to deepen and strengthen our bilateral relations with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden. The President-elect has always been a stalwart friend and supporter of Ireland, and we look forward to working closely with him and the incoming Administration, as reaffirmed by the Taoiseach during their recent telephone phone call. Post-pandemic, we want to see people-to-people links strengthened and we look forward to working with the new Administration, as well as with the United States Congress, across the aisle, to pursue comprehensive immigration reform in the US. Our Embassy and network of Consulates General will continue to monitor the situation and stand ready to engage with any Federal and State initiatives on this issue. 3 Questions - Written Answers In terms of securing future pathways for immigration, we continue to prioritise the E3 Visa Bill which is currently before the US Senate, having been passed in the House of Representa- tives.
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