I rise to seek clarity from the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the Government’s response to the European Parliament’s recent designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. This decision reflects serious concerns about the IRGC’s role in repression in Iran and its activities beyond the country's borders. Given the gravity of that assessment, it is important for this House to understand Ireland’s considered position.

First, what assessment has the Department undertaken on the implications for Ireland’s foreign policy position? Do we continue with diplomacy as usual, even as the EU identifies a core organ of the Iranian state as a terrorist entity?

Second, what assessment has been carried out on the implications for Ireland’s sanctions regime? Listing the IRGC is not merely about words on paper, it carries operational consequences such as asset freezes and criminalisation of material support. Ireland cannot simply hope someone else enforces these measures. We must know whether our own financial systems, regulators and law enforcement agencies are prepared to implement them in full.

Third, what does this mean for Ireland’s diplomatic engagement? We maintain relations with Tehran and host diplomatic staff, but the IRGC is deeply integrated into the Iranian state apparatus.

Where does that leave us? What risk assessments have been completed? What measures are being taken to ensure Ireland is not a soft entry point for influence operations, intimidation of dissidents or the misuse of diplomatic cover?

Fourth, what assessment has been taken regarding national security? While we do not have publicly reported IRGC activity in Ireland, the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Europol has warned for years of IRGC extraterritorial activities. Other EU states have uncovered plots, surveillance operations and targeted threats on their soil. Have we examined whether similar risks exist here? Have our security services issued guidance, undertaken reviews or strengthened monitoring?

Finally, will Ireland support, advocate for or implement further EU-level or domestic measures arising from this designation? The time for ambiguity has passed. The Irish people deserve clarity, Iranian dissidents deserve solidarity and the international community deserves a partner, not a bystander.

I thank Members for their patience; there was a vote in the Dáil just now. I thank Senator Keogan for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for foreign affairs and for Defence, Deputy McEntee.

At the January Foreign Affairs Council, EU ministers discussed the current situation in Iran, particularly the EU’s response to Iran’s brutally violent repression of protesters. The Council agreed unanimously to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. This decision was taken in response to the IRGC’s central role in the violent attacks on street protesters. The Council also agreed on additional sanctions being placed on persons directly involved or complicit in the attacks on protestors, including the Minister of Interior. Other sanctions were brought against those involved in Iran’s continuing support for Russia's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, and expanded export controls. Both the Government and the European Union have condemned the actions of repression. Full information is emerging only slowly because of the authorities’ continuing restrictions on communications in Iran, but it is clear that many thousands have been killed and many more injured and imprisoned.

Following political agreement at the council, the formal procedures for designating the IRGC as a terrorist organisation are now being worked through, and this should be completed quite quickly. This designation of the IRGC will introduce an asset freeze, a prohibition on providing funds and a travel ban on IRGC personnel. Many members of the IRGC are already subject to these restrictions under other EU sanctions regimes, including under the headings of global human rights, Iran’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, and Iran’s nuclear programme.

All three of these sanction lists are kept under constant review, with names of key individuals and entities, including those in the IRGC, added as appropriate. There may well be further listings in relation to the recent violence, as further perpetrators are identified.

The IRGC is a central pillar of the Iranian regime and the designation may well negatively impact on EU-Iran relations and member states' bilateral relations. We hope this is not the case. It was not agreed lightly but the actions of the IRGC have been a major concern for many years. It is its actions and those of the Iranian authorities, more broadly, which have made this step unavoidable.

As the EU High Representative has stated, it remains essential to engage diplomatically with Iran to try to resolve the very many areas in which Iran's actions are a serious concern. The Minister welcomes engagement between Iran and the United States and hopes it will lead to agreement on how to address the legitimate concerns of the international community regarding the nature of Iran's nuclear programme. The EU and its member states remain open to dialogue with Iran on these and other issues. No EU member state has indicated any intention of breaking diplomatic relations with Iran. We intend to maintain relations with Iran, including resident embassies in both capitals, and to use these channels and other forums, such as the UN Human Rights Council, to press our concerns upon Iran on these issues of concern to encourage those who oppose repression and violence.

Ireland will continue to monitor the situation in Iran. We call for the end of further violence and the full restoration of communication services. The Government will remain in close co-ordination with our EU partners on this issue.

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that the Foreign Affairs Council is working through the sanctions that will be introduced and that it takes times. However, while I speak and representatives of the US and the Islamic regime are in Geneva, people are being shot for protesting on the streets of Abdanan in Iran. The IRGC is a terrorist organisation and the Iranian Government is a terrorist government. It must be replaced immediately. The IRGC has tentacles that stretch into Gaza with Hamas, into Lebanon with the Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen and in Syria with Bashar al-Assad. These guys know nothing about diplomacy. All they know is the barrel of a gun. That is their diplomacy so the sooner they are replaced, the better.

I am really disappointed with President Trump. He told the people of Iran that help was on its way. I hope he sticks to his word and brings that help to the Iranian people because they are crying out for it on the streets of Iran.

Again, I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Helen McEntee.

Ireland supported the decision to designate Iran's IRGC as a terrorist organisation in response to its role in the violent attacks on street protestors. The final enactment of this designation should be completed in only a few weeks. Implementation of this measure will be done in the same way as existing sanctions. Many members of the IRGC are already subject to these restrictions under other EU sanctions regimes. Designation of the IRGC may well negatively impact on EU-Iran relations and our bilateral relations. However, a clear political statement was needed in response to the IRGC's brutal involvement in the repression of Iranian citizens, both during the protests and for many decades. Iran knows what to do to improve relations.

We remain ready, both nationally and with our EU partners, to ensure that diplomatic channels with Iran remain open, as there remain many issues for which we need to find negotiated solutions. Dialogue is the only way to achieve this. I hope the Iranian authorities will seize the opportunity for meaningful dialogue to address the legitimate concerns of the international community.