# Foreign Affairs

Last month

September 2023

# Building Bridges

'It matters to me personally': Micheál Martin sought to make hope and history rhyme in Israel

The Tánaiste paid a three-day trip to the Middle East this week.

12.1k

Sep 9th 2023, 6:30 AM

# Foreign Affairs

Micheál Martin heads to Israel and Palestine to discuss politics and human rights in the region

The visit comes amid escalating violence between the two sides.

6.3k

Sep 4th 2023, 6:00 AM

This year

2023

# Sahel

DFA 'carefully monitoring' situation in Niger as European partners launch rescue mission

The unrest comes as Niger is the latest country in the African region of the Sahel to suffer a coup along with Mali and Burkina Faso.

7.3k

Aug 1st 2023, 4:16 PM

# 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.

10.3k

May 16th 2023, 7:28 PM

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.

20.7k

Updated

Nov 18th 2022, 4:00 PM

# 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

35.5k

Nov 16th 2022, 12:54 PM

# 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.

14.7k

Oct 19th 2022, 9:15 PM

# 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.

4.5k

Oct 18th 2022, 6:00 AM

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.

25.1k

Sep 21st 2022, 12:05 AM

# 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”.

14.3k

Aug 22nd 2022, 2:10 PM

# 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.

24.1k

Aug 16th 2022, 12:05 AM

# 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.

22.2k

Aug 13th 2022, 6:30 AM

# 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.

9.0k

Jul 12th 2022, 5:38 PM

# 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.

44.6k

Apr 14th 2022, 6:54 PM

# 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.

33.1k

Updated

Mar 4th 2022, 6:18 PM

# 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".

51.0k

143

Updated

Feb 28th 2022, 1:36 PM

# 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.

48.6k

Feb 12th 2022, 12:52 PM

# 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.

20.8k

Feb 1st 2022, 8:53 AM

# 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.

14.8k

Jan 27th 2022, 7:56 AM

# 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.

20.9k

Jan 17th 2022, 6:41 AM

# 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.

34.3k

Jan 7th 2022, 10:26 PM

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.

8.4k

Nov 2nd 2021, 6:00 AM

# Kabul Airport

Irish evacuation mission from Kabul Airport ends with rescue of 36 people

At least 60 Irish citizens remain in Afghanistan.

96.0k

148

Updated

Aug 26th 2021, 6:07 PM

# Afghanistan

Nations warn of terror threat at Kabul airport

Nearly 90,000 Afghans and foreigners have fled Afghanistan via the US-led airlift.

19.5k

Aug 26th 2021, 7:24 AM

# Afghanistan

Army Rangers being sent to Kabul to help with evacuation of Irish citizens

They are expected to arrive into Kabul on Thursday.

60.2k

Updated

Aug 23rd 2021, 8:56 PM

# 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).

12.2k

Aug 23rd 2021, 6:51 AM

# 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.

73.4k

Updated

Aug 19th 2021, 7:20 PM

# 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.

16.9k

Aug 13th 2021, 5:55 PM

# 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.

28.9k

Updated

Jul 5th 2021, 8:50 PM

# 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.

10.6k

Dec 13th 2020, 8:35 AM

# 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,

17.9k

Dec 2nd 2020, 10:00 PM

# 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”.

13.5k

Oct 9th 2020, 10:11 AM

# 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.

67.4k

Apr 1st 2020, 6:45 AM

# 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.

37.4k

Mar 28th 2020, 2:18 PM

# Simon Coveney

Peru gives go-ahead for Irish citizens stranded in Peru to be flown home

Tánaiste Simon Coveney and Peruvian Foreign Minister

21.4k

Mar 27th 2020, 9:17 AM

# 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.

56.2k

Updated

Mar 25th 2020, 9:36 PM

# 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.

38.4k

Feb 15th 2020, 7:30 AM

# 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.

14.8k

Jan 18th 2020, 8:00 AM

# 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.

15.3k

Dec 18th 2019, 12:03 PM

# Brexit

Leo Varadkar and Boris Johnson spoke by phone this evening and hope to meet this week

Tusk made his comments on Twitter.

21.4k

Updated

Oct 8th 2019, 6:15 PM