International Relations
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-17
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Kieran O'Donnell (FG), Limerick City

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.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:38+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-17