Country Profiles
Ireland
Context
Significant gains with respect to both domestic and ODA policy on SRHR were made during the previous two governments (2016 to 2020 and 2020 to 2024), which both reiterated Irelands’s support for human rights, multilateralism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following a general election in November 2024, the two major centre-right parties Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, will once again form a coalition, with either another smaller party or a group of independents. At the time or writing, negotiations are ongoing.
A Programme for Government will be published once formation talks are completed, most likely in early 2025, and new ministers and Oireachtas (parliament) committee will be appointed.
Policies & funding
In September 2023, and in fulfilment of the commitment set out in Ireland’s policy for international development, A Better World, Tánaiste Micheál Martin approved a new initiative on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (SRHR) with up to 25 million Euros of funding for new and scaled up partnerships over the period of 2023 to 2025. This includes a three-year funding agreement with IPPF and increased resources for UNFPA.
From the 2023 Irish Aid annual report:
“Ireland’s policy statement for Gender Equality in a Better World [Ireland’s 2019 policy on international development] includes a commitment to develop a new initiative around sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), recognising that SRHR is necessary to secure better health outcomes for women and men, and is a precursor to full gender equality. In September 2023, we fulfilled this promise when Tánaiste Micheál Martin approved a new initiative on Sexual and Reproductive Rights. Ireland has demonstrated strong alignment with SDG commitments on SRHR, in particular around reducing violence against women and girls, improving maternal health, and combatting HIV and AIDS. Our new initiative retains this focus while expanding our efforts to reduce unmet need for family planning; reduce adolescent birth rates; and increase the number of countries that guarantee access to sexual and reproductive health care, information and education.
“Specifically, we will scale up action to reduce unmet need for contraception amongst adolescent and young women. We will consolidate current engagements with a revitalised focus on crisis settings. Priority interventions include greater support for comprehensive sexuality education, and financing for family planning supplies. Key partners for this include UNFPA, UNESCO, and WHO, along with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, and the Population Council.
To complement these actions, we will participate in key UN-led processes, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Population and Development, the UN General Assembly, UN Human Rights Council, and the World Health Assembly. Within these, and EU spaces, we will work to expand our influence, leveraging Ireland’s experience and expertise.”
Accordingly, in 2023 Ireland increased its support to SRH/FP by 11% and to SRHR by 30% compared to the previous year, as shown in the tracking analysis.
Internationally vocal
Successive ministers for development and foreign affairs have made political commitments to ICPD in parliamentary speeches and debates. This commitment has been reaffirmed at the Nairobi Summit (2019), and the Commissions on the Status of Women (CSW) and on Population and Development (CPD), with particularly strong statements on the part of Ireland at the CPD.
