Finian McGrath
Ceist:36. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the developing peace process in Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48862/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraInternational Relations
Ceisteanna (36)
Freagraí scríofa
The start last month in Norway of peace negotiations between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is a positive development that I warmly welcome. The next round of the negotiations will take place in Cuba. This peace process represents an important opportunity to bring an end to the long conflict that has caused much suffering in Colombia and to provide the people of that country with the peace and stability that they deserve. We in Ireland understand very well the challenges, the opportunities and the imperative of peace building. We appreciate the responsibility that rests on the parties to these negotiations and wish them success in their important work. We also support the Governments of Cuba and Norway that are, on the request of both parties, acting as facilitators to this process. If invited, we are ready within available means to assist the parties to the talks and the facilitators, particularly as regards advice on the lessons learned from our own peace process.
International Relations
Ceisteanna (37)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:37. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason that he is not actively supporting a peace process in Syria in view of the fact that it appears that Ireland is siding with one side of the conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48863/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ever since the Syria crisis erupted 20 months ago at the beginning of a violent conflict that has so far claimed the lives of more than 20,000 people, Ireland has called consistently for an immediate end to the violence from all sides as a prelude to a necessary dialogue among all Syrians that should pave the way towards a peaceful and orderly resolution of the conflict. As I made clear when I addressed the UN General Assembly last September, what is happening in Syria is an affront to humanity, involving indiscriminate violence on an appalling scale which is not just confined to one side.
However, I equally made clear in my UNGA address that if events in the Arab world over the past two years have taught us anything, it is that leaders who deny legitimate demands for greater political and economic freedom, and who instead resort to waging war on their own people, will inevitably lose the right to rule. This clearly applies to Bashar al-Assad and the actions of his regime. It will ultimately be for the Syrian people to determine their own political future. The international community must encourage all possible steps to end the violence and to initiate a genuine, inclusive political process within Syria in which all Syrians can freely participate.
Ireland is fully supportive of the efforts being made by the UN/League of Arab States Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, to promote a political settlement. Mr. Brahimi enjoys the full confidence of the EU and of the international community as he endeavours to broker an early cease fire and to build on the earlier peace efforts undertaken by his predecessor, Kofi Annan. He is continuing to work closely with all members of the UN Security Council and with regional actors in an attempt to devise a political way forward. He has also recently met with Syrian Government and Opposition representatives.
There will also need to be accountability for the very many serious human rights violations and war crimes committed during the conflict. The latest report of the UN Commission of Inquiry has clearly recognised that opposition forces are also guilty of committing gross human rights violations, though to a lesser extent than the Syrian Government. Ireland has consistently and strongly condemned all abuses and crimes and has called for the perpetrators, no matter who they are, to be brought to justice. That is why I continue to support the calls which have been made for the situation in Syria to be referred by the Security Council to the International Criminal Court.
Ultimately, it remains for the Syrian people themselves to determine who should lead a new democratic, inclusive and pluralist Syria. Ireland and its EU and international partners will continue to support all efforts to end the violence and suffering of the Syrian people and to promote the earliest possible political settlement and transition within Syria.
International Relations
Ceisteanna (38)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:38. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the Argentina Republic on the issue of sovereignty of the Malvinas and to challenge the United Kingdom refusal to resume negotiations on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48864/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) has been the subject of resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, as well as its special committee on decolonisation. In its most recent resolution, adopted on 14 June 2012, the committee expressed its regret that, in spite of the widespread international support for negotiation between the two Governments, implementation of General Assembly resolutions on the question had not yet started. The Governments were requested to consolidate the current process of dialogue and cooperation through the resumption of negotiations in order to find as soon as possible a peaceful solution to the dispute relating to the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), in accordance with resolutions 2065 (XX) and 3160 (XXVIII), among others. I would encourage the UK and Argentina, two countries with which Ireland has excellent bilateral relations, to pursue a peaceful resolution of their differences on this matter, based on the relevant UN resolutions.
Pension Provisions
Ceisteanna (39)
Joe Carey
Ceist:39. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence regarding early access to pension funds (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48859/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am aware of the proposal from IBEC for pre-retirement access to be allowed for individuals to certain forms of pension saving arrangements, subject to conditions. This proposal is being examined although there are various difficulties associated with permitting early access to pension savings to which I have referred in previous replies to parliamentary questions on this issue. It is not clear to me, however, based on the details supplied with the Deputy’s question, that the early access proposal would necessarily assist in the case of the specific example of the individual outlined.
VAT Rates Application
Ceisteanna (40)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:40. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance the impact on the tourism industry in 2012 of the temporary reduction to the VAT rate that applies to tourism products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48909/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Finance (No. 2) Act 2011 provided for a second reduced VAT rate, of 9%, on a temporary basis in respect of certain tourism-related services and goods for the period 1 July 2011 to 31 December 2013. This measure is aimed at contributing towards boosting tourism and the creation of additional jobs in that sector. Initial analysis of the impact of 9% VAT rate indicates that employment numbers in the tourism and restaurant sector have increased and prices have reduced. In this context, I provided assurance to the tourist industry that the 9% rate will continue throughout 2013, as currently legislated for.
Insurance Costs
Ceisteanna (41)
James Bannon
Ceist:41. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Finance the progress he is making with insurance companies to ensure that reasonably priced flood insurance is provided for families and businesses in high flood-risk areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49023/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
At the outset the Deputy should note that individual decisions on pricing and underwriting are a commercial matter for insurance companies and neither I, nor the Central Bank, has any influence over this matter. I have been informed that each application for flood cover is considered on a case by case basis, as this allows an insurance company to properly assess the risk it is accepting. The significance of these risks is reflected in the fact that the IIF has indicated that the cumulative cost of the eight major flood events since the year 2000 has been €697 million.
The State has made a significant contribution to reducing the threat of flooding through a very significant investment in major urban flood defence schemes since 1995 and this has been hugely beneficial in terms of properties protected and losses avoided. It is estimated that almost 8,000 properties have been protected to date and the value of the benefit deriving from that is of the order of €800 million.
The approach agreed by the Government in order to ensure reasonable priced flood insurance is provided is twofold and works to improve the availability of flood insurance cover by (a) continuing prioritising spending on flood relief measures by the OPW and relevant local authorities, and (b) improving channels of communication between the OPW and the insurance industry in order to reach better understanding about the provision of flood cover in marginal areas and how this can allow more effective insurance cover.
Continued communication between the insurance industry and the OPW is critical to ensure that individual underwriters are aware of what is being done in different parts of the country to address flooding problems including time scales, completion of flood prevention measures, level of expenditure and likely completion dates. In the same way a flow of information from the insurance industry will undoubtedly help the OPW and local authorities prioritise remedial works which in turn should provide greater reassurance to the industry that problem areas are being addressed in a structured way and this should lead to a greater willingness to provide cover in marginal areas.
As part of this, officials in the OPW have been working on developing a system for presenting information on flood defence schemes to the insurance industry to meet the technical requirements set out by the industry for risk assessment purposes. On 5 July 2012, the OPW made a presentation to the IIF and a number of the main insurance companies on a proposed template for providing the required information. The essential focus and objective of OPW's work has been in putting flood defence information on a GIS platform. This means that the information will be accessible and viewable in a mapping environment.
I understand that the IIF has indicated that it is in the process of collating the responses it has received from its members on the OPW information and it hopes to be in a position shortly to formally respond on this. I note that the Chief Executive of the IIF stated in a recent presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht that "one of the positive developments over the past couple of years is that there has been much more engagement on a bilateral basis with the OPW". He acknowledged that the flow of information is much improved and that the insurance industry is much more involved in the process.