Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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4. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the contingency plans in place for any potential evacuation of Irish citizens from Lebanon should there be an escalation in hostilities there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27725/24]

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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I am sure the Tánaiste and the Minister of State have been tracking the concerning developments on the Lebanon-Israel border. Will they update the House on what contingency plans are in place, or what planning has been done, for any potential evacuation of Irish citizens from Lebanon in the coming weeks should that scenario materialise?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I am deeply concerned by the rising tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. It is vital all parties work to de-escalate the situation. We strongly support international efforts to mediate a resolution between Israel and Hezbollah. Since October, I have raised my concerns and the need for urgent de-escalation on several occasions with regional leaders and members of the Lebanese Government, including during my visit to Lebanon in May.

My Department has undertaken significant contingency planning to prepare for a possible consular crisis as a result of an escalation in Lebanon. In October, my Department updated its travel advice to strongly advise against all travel to Lebanon. We continue to advise Irish citizens to leave Lebanon by commercial means while it is still possible to do so. We reiterated this advice earlier this week.

The Department has undertaken an extensive review of our citizens' register for Lebanon, including an outreach exercise to establish contact with citizens, confirm their stratus as present in Lebanon and reiterate our travel advice. We are in regular contact with those registered Irish citizens who remain in Lebanon. Of the Irish citizens remaining, many are long-term residents and do not plan to leave unless the situation deteriorates significantly. This does not include Irish military personnel assigned through UN tasking as UNIFIL. An evacuation of civilians, including Irish citizens, from Lebanon is likely to be a complex and difficult operation and will require extensive co-operation with key partners.

My Department is working closely with EU and other partners to exchange information and co-ordinate our consular response to emergencies, including for Lebanon. As part of our contingency planning for the evacuation of Irish citizens from Lebanon, my Department has also been working with colleagues in the United Kingdom, with whom we expect to co-operate closely in the event of an evacuation.

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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I thank the Tánaiste. I appreciate the response. It is reassuring to know there is a citizens' register in Lebanon. The Tánaiste may not have these details to hand, but approximately how many Irish citizens are there? Are we talking hundreds or thousands?

An interim arrangement is in place in case the Government needs a jet to go to Brussels or wherever, as is completely appropriate. Has consideration been given to extending that interim arrangement to have some kind of aircraft available to get to Beirut if necessary?

In case civilian airspace is closed and only military aircraft are allowed to land in Beirut, has consideration been given to preparing an Air Corps aircraft on the military register to be able to be deployed if appropriate or if it becomes necessary?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On citizens, our advice is clear that people should leave Lebanon. There is an ongoing danger of significant escalation. An estimated 100 Irish citizens and dependants remain in Lebanon, many of whom are long-term residents and, as I said, do not plan to leave unless the situation deteriorates significantly. If it does deteriorate significantly, in essence if there is a war between Hezbollah and Israel, our aircraft options will be very limited, by definition, because that could become a war zone very quickly. Part of the co-ordination and the work that is under way is looking at all mechanisms and approaches that could be taken. That is working with all our partners, such as the Government of Cyprus, which has activated its ESTIA action plan, which puts in place the mechanisms needed for Cyprus to act as a transit hub for third-country nationals fleeing Lebanon, and we also have memorandums of understanding with the UK and other countries. This will be a co-ordinated approach.

Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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As the Tánaiste knows, I always recognise progress when I see it. I recall that some months ago he signed a €68 million contract for a new military transport aircraft, which is being built in Spain as we speak. It was initially expected to be delivered to Baldonnel in 12 months, which was positive enough. I assume that is still on schedule. Does the Tánaiste have an update on it?

It looks as though an escalation is likely to happen, and we should make maximum use of the available time between now and everything kicking off. I am reassured to hear that at least some contingency planning is taking place. In the medium term, it is good that we will have that military transport aircraft, the Airbus C-295, in 12 months but we need to work on some kind of more formal interim arrangement in order that we will not be caught unprepared if something kicks off.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have no updates on the procurement of that aeroplane, which is on schedule as far as I know, given that I have heard nothing to the contrary. Again, because of the nature of Lebanon and of any attack that could take place if a war happened, it seems the air option would be very limited because of the dangers and so on. The best advice, therefore, that we can give to citizens is to leave through commercial options now while they have the opportunity and to register with us, and we are continuing that outreach with Irish citizens in Lebanon. Of course, many of them have made their lives there and so forth.

Everybody is aware of what could happen and the potential for something happening. There is increased concern now about the possibility, from which, by the way, I would urge both sides to step back. There has been enough killing, death and destruction and it is civilians, such as women and children, who suffer the most. The last thing Lebanon needs now is a war. We are working with EU partners and the United Kingdom to make sure we can get out our citizens.