Amnesty International Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice

Intent: Call on Ireland to ensure that the EU and its Member States reverse course on efforts to deport people to Afghanistan, which cannot be considered safe for forced returns. Any engagement on readmission cooperation with the Taliban de facto authorities is unconscionable and ignores the EU’s international refugee and human rights law obligations, and any future engagement must remain principled and centred on ending the ongoing, widespread and systemic human rights violations in Afghanistan.

Methods: EmailLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: Given its EU Presidency, call for Ireland to facilitate EU discussions on measures to support the ICC and the broader international justice ecosystem, including, for example, putting the issue on the agenda of upcoming COREPER and Gymnich meetings

Methods: EmailLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Mairéad Farrell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Share information on relevant international legal obligations of the Irish state and its organs, including the Central Bank of Ireland, in particular pertaining to the situation of ongoing genocide by Israel against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip; and how any decision by Ireland to approve or transfer approval of Israel bonds in the EU is in violation of international law, and risks rendering Ireland complicit in Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. Recommended actions are included.

Methods: SubmissionEmail

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Transport; Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: Express deep concern that, almost four months after we and Human Rights First wrote seeking answers to our detailed questions, we have not received responses from either Minister; and again call on Ireland to take measures to ensure that the Trump administration's unlawful and inhumane mass deportation campaign is denied any form of facilitation, cooperation or tolerance by Ireland.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Finance; Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: Request that the Ministers clarify their positions on the issues raised, including Ireland's risking complicity in genocide, and describe the measures taken to ensure proper human rights compliant due diligence in approving the Israel Bonds prospectus as required by the EU Prospectus Regulation, the transfer of the approval to the CSSF in Luxembourg in 2025, and the fact that Ireland remains the ‘EU home state’ for these bonds. Responses were also sought to a set of detailed questions.

Methods: LetterEmail

Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Martin (Taoiseach), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs; Thomas Byrne (Minister of State), Department of the Taoiseach

Intent: Urge the Government to put human rights, justice and accountability at the centre of EU foreign policy, including by ensuring the EU-Israel Association Agreement is suspended; lead on effective and sustainable asylum and migration policies, centred on human rights; uphold human rights and rule at law across the EU ensuring people can live in dignity, equality, and security; and strengthen technology safeguards, prevent harm, and ensure corporate interests do not override people’s rights.

Methods: EmailLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: Request that the Irish Government call on the EU Commission to propose a Regulation to prohibit trade with Israel's illegal OPT settlements under Article 207 TFEU before the 13 July Foreign Affairs Council ;and should the Commission refuse to propose such a measure, encourage Ireland and other member states to consider litigation before the CJEU to ensure compliance with EU and international law

Methods: EmailLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Pat Casey (Senator), Seanad; Aisling Dempsey (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joanne Collins (Senator), Seanad; Joe O'Reilly (Senator), Seanad; Ann Graves (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Garret Ahearn (Senator), Seanad; Rónán Mullen (Senator), Seanad; Patricia Stephenson (Senator), Seanad

Intent: Urge Ireland's PACE representatives to raise the concerns and recommended action on matters before PACE as set out in this human rights update submission

Methods: EmailSubmission

Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Martin (Taoiseach), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: Share key concerns and immediate steps Ireland should urgently take towards ending Israel’s escalating ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank

Methods: EmailLetter

Politician(s) lobbied: Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Foreign Affairs

Intent: Outline our concerns relating to the Board of Peace and the situation in the OPT and Israel, and our recommendations for the EU and member states; urge Minister to ensure that the EU and member states centre Palestinians’ human rights and international law in all their engagement and discussions.

Methods: EmailLetter