I want to ask the Government, particularly the Minister for Foreign Affairs even though he is not present, about the proposal that is still on the cards to reopen the embassy in Iran in 2023. Almost 560 people have lost their lives since the outbreak of the most recent protests last September and over 20,000 people have been arrested. Four or five Iranians have been executed for having the temerity to protest against their government. The previous Minister for Foreign Affairs was adamant that the reopening should go ahead. I fully accept the bona fides of the Irish Government and others as regards the importance of having diplomatic relations with all regimes, but how can we justify what is effectively tacit support for what has been happening in Iran for the past five or six months by continuing with the plan to reopen the embassy in 2023?

I thank Deputy Phelan for raising this important issue. On behalf of the Government, I want to reiterate our unreserved condemnation of what is happening in Iran, particularly the execution of people who are protesting against the regime there. We stand with the people of Iran in their demands for women's equality, for LGBT rights, for democracy and also for religious freedom.

It is the view of the Government that diplomatic channels should remain open in order to relay these concerns and deal with other important regional issues. In 2021, the Government decided to re-establish a diplomatic presence in Iran. This is now in the form of a chargé d'affaires, who is present in Tehran. For now anyway, the Irish Embassy in Ankara remains accredited to Iran. We have no date at the moment for the establishment of a permanent embassy.