An estimated 4,500 people have been reported killed during the latest round of protests in Iran. This figure could be more than 12,000 when all the figures have been checked. This follows 2022 protests when 551 people, including 68 children, were confirmed killed. In 2019, up to 1,500 people were killed. In 2017-18, 41 protesters were killed. In 2009, 70 protesters were killed. These are only the numbers of those killed in documented protests and crackdowns by this murderous and undemocratic regime. It does not include executions after unfair trials or political prisoners' deaths in custody.

Iran has significantly increased its executions in recent years and now reportedly carries out more than half of all executions in the world outside China. Last year saw a record number of executions and it looks like this number could be dwarfed this year, even with some of the recent postponements. This regime is brutal and, for example, recently took part in a raid of the Imam Khomeini Hospital, carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, which answers directly to the Ayatollah. A nurse on site shared information that the IRGC beat patients who were wounded, staff and families with batons. The glass entrances were smashed and they stormed the wards with tear gas. Children in the paediatric wards also suffered intense beatings. This attack on the hospital is one example of a crime against humanity.

I note that Ireland raises the issue of the death penalty privately and bilaterally in contacts with Iranian leaders and officials in Ireland and Iran, including in the last round of political consultations with representatives of the Iranian foreign ministry held in 2024. We also do so publicly and multilaterally and in the UN General Assembly Human Rights Council, but now it has gone to another level. In this context, it is good to see the European Parliament has a forthcoming plenary vote on a resolution concerning the repression of protesters in Iran. Will the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach be asking Irish MEPs to support this resolution?

I also note that recently the accreditation ceremony for the new Iranian ambassador was postponed. Will it be postponed indefinitely, given the situation? On a related note, I would also like to know what contacts, if any, the Irish Government has with opposition groups based in and outside Iran, including those who claim to be in a position to form a provisional government pending free and fair elections.

Has the Irish Government called for the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, unilaterally or in an EU context? The Iranian people I have met are a warm, friendly and inclusive bunch. They, unfortunately, followed one murderous dictatorship with another theocratic brutal regime. None of the elections held in recent years were free or fair in any way. In this context, it is important for the international community to take a stand.

I agree with the Deputy. I am also grateful to him for raising the issue of Iran. It is not raised nearly often enough in this House. The brutal, disgusting repression we have seen of the brave Iranian protesters should be called out, as should the heroism of those protesters, who are standing up for their future and the aspiration they rightly have to live in a free, safe and democratic country and to have a better future for them, their children and grandchildren. It is an aspiration shared by every political party in this House and by the people of Ireland. We stand in solidarity with the brave protesters of Iran and will work at all levels, nationally and internationally, through all multilateral institutions and through our membership of the European Union to continue to shine a spotlight on the horrific brutality of the Iranian regime and the importance of standing in solidarity and support, and looking for demonstrable ways to show our support for those exercising their right to protest. In this country, we stand for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and access to information and these rights must be fully respected. The brutal regime in Iran can cut the Internet, but the genie is out of the bottle. The people of the world have seen the brutality of the Iranian regime. It is there for all to see. While it has tried to silence the protesters, it has failed and will fail.

We call on the Iranian authorities to refrain from violence, to immediately restore communications and to uphold the fundamental rights of all Iranians, but we say so knowing this is not a regime that has shown any interest in doing that. That is why the Iranian ambassador designate was invited to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 12 January, for our concerns to be strongly conveyed to the regime in Tehran. We remain concerned about Iran's malign role in the region, specifically its support of armed non-state actors, or terrorists, such as Hezbollah, the militias in Iraq and the Houthis. Ireland is also concerned about Iran's ongoing weapons and weapons-technology transfers to Russia in support of its war of aggression in Ukraine. Sometimes things can seem far away and distant, but there is a direct correlation between Iran providing technology to Russia, which is carrying out a war on the continent of Europe, and all the disruption it is causing and the fundamental violation of rights.

In common with the international community, Ireland wants to see a negotiated settlement that addresses worries about Iran's nuclear programme. There are already significant sanctions in place on Iran in relation to nuclear activities, the supply of weapons to Russia and specific human rights violations. The EU continues to review its sanctions policies. I would encourage an active review of the sanctions policy to see what more we can do at a European level. In principle, Ireland will support any additional sanctions for any violation of human rights and continue to review those proposals.

On some of the specific questions, I will ask the Minister and the Department of foreign affairs to come back to the Deputy with any detail. However, I share the Deputy's view. The Iranian community in Ireland wants to see a better future for their country and I want them to know the people of this country stand with them.

As the Tánaiste correctly said, this despotic regime funds terrorism and murder across the globe, including against our neighbours in Ukraine who have been subject to attacks by drones produced in Iran. I am conscious of the geopolitical context for any US Administration or Israeli attack. We have had lots of discussions about the occupied territories Bill and the genocide in Gaza and I have spoken on those, but Iran tends to get ignored in this context. The European Union needs to be careful about how we frame things. When the Cypriot ambassador was making a presentation to the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs yesterday, he pointed out the Middle East is one of Cyprus's priorities during its Presidency. Given our historic neutrality and our peacekeeping missions throughout the world, could Ireland continue this focus on conflicts in the Middle East, not only in Palestine, but also in countries like Iran and Sudan?

Absolutely. I forgot to say in my first answer that I will take a look at the wording of the European Parliament resolution because I am not familiar with it. However, the Deputy is right that when we talk about peace and stability in the Middle East, it is hard, or almost impossible, to have that conversation without also looking at the situation in Iran. While Ireland is neutral and will remain neutral, that means we are militarily unaligned. The principles we have in relation to international law, human rights, democracy, freedom of expression and support for freedom of assembly are not in any way in conflict with our military neutrality. In many ways, they are complementary to it. The Deputy can therefore be assured that as we prepare for our Presidency, one of the many tracks we will pursue - the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will be working up our programme for the track in relation to our values in international law - will involve keeping a firm focus on the Middle East, standing up for human rights and international law and ensuring we continue to call out the brutality being shown to peaceful protesters assembling for a better future for them and their families.