34. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps Ireland is taking to support the Global Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, individually and within the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58493/26]

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai in 2023 (COP28), agreement was reached on the establishment of a new Loss and Damage Fund to support developing countries to respond to the effects of climate change. Ireland played a key role in the design, scope and structure of the new Fund. Ireland pledged a €25 million contribution to the Fund, demonstrating our support for its implementation. This pledge has been fully met, with the payment of €10 million in November 2024 and €15 million in June 2025.

Following the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund, Ireland was nominated to the Board in 2024 and shares an Alternate Board Member seat with the European Commission. Ireland’s key priority on the Board is to ensure that the Fund is fully operationalised and that financial and technical support reaches the countries that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

The call for proposals for the start-up phase of the Fund was launched at COP 30 in Belém last year. Ireland’s priority for this process is to guarantee that at least 50% of the initial $250 million is allocated to Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

Ireland was represented at the 9th Meeting of the Board of the Fund in Manila from 8-10 July 2026 where discussions focused on managing the pipeline of the 176 funding requests submitted. Ireland will attend the 10th Board meeting of the Fund in Manila from 15-18 December 2026 where it is anticipated the first formal funding decisions and allocations will be finalised.

European Union Member States currently hold seven of the twelve developed countries seats on the Board, with four Member States, including Ireland, acting as Alternate Board Members. All Board meetings are preceded by comprehensive constituency meetings where the European Union Member States and other developed countries coordinate unified policy positions.

Under Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will lead the European Union Delegation in Loss and Damage negotiations during COP 31 Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye in November.