Written Answers - Departmental Bodies.
David Stanton
Question:
88
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the title, role and composition of all task forces, review groups, advisory bodies and any other agencies operating under the aegis of his Department; the date of establishment of each body; and the reports, if any, published by each group in the past 12 months.
[24878/98]
The information sought by the Deputy can best be presented under the following headings: State boards or agencies; interdepartmental groups and task forces and other bodies.
State boards or agencies
Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO)
ASPO is a state-sponsored body which was established in 1974 to promote and sponsor temporary personal service by skilled Irish people in developing countries. The focus of its work is increasingly on local skills enhancement in support of self-reliance and sustainable development. In the past 12 months, APSO has published "Social Accounts 1996", based on a relatively new methodology for measuring performance against stated objectives, and more recently its annual report for 1997.
The following is the current membership of the board of APSO which I have appointed: Dr. Anthony Clare (Chairman), Mr. Howard Dalzell, Ms Mairead Hayes, Fr. Des. McGillicuddy, Mr. Paul Cullen, Ms Anne Connolly, Ms Philomena Murnaghan, Ms Mary Sweeney, Mr. Robin Hanan, Ms Maeve Healy and Ms June Carr.
Cultural Relations Committee (CRC)
The Cultural Relations Committee (CRC) is a voluntary, non-statutory body, established in 1949. Its members are appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to advise on the distribution of financial grants from the allocation for cultural relations abroad made to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The purpose of these grants is to give support to Irish cultural activities of excellence in other countries. In deciding on the activities to be assisted, attention is also given to their potential to promote tourism and investment from abroad. Proposals are considered for events for, e.g. performances, exhibitions, lectures, the full costs of which are not available to those involved in their organisation or performance. Decisions on the disbursement of funds are made by me based on the Cultural Relations Committee's recommendations.
The Cultural Relations Committee is made up of persons of experience and expertise across the broad range of Irish artistic and cultural fields. Its membership for 1998-99 is as follows: Mrs. Ann Fuller (Chairman), Ms Siobhán Bourke, Mrs. Maureen Brennan, Mrs. Maureen Cairnduff, Ms Audrey Conlon, Mr. Desmond Egan, Ms Marie Heaney, Mr. T. V. Honan, Ms Fionnuala Hunt, Mr. Reamonn Keary, Mr. Declan Kiberd, Ms Jackie McKenna, Mr. Alf Mac Lochlainn, Ms Bernadette Madden, Mr. Patrick Mason, Mr. Chris Meehan, Mr. Peter Murray, Eamonn Ó hArgáin, Uasal, Ms Patricia Quinn, Mr. Alan Stanford and Mr. Mick Wilkins.
No reports have been published in the last 12 months.
Irish Aid Advisory Committee (IAAC)
The Irish Aid Advisory Committee was established in 1993. The functions of the committee are (i) to offer expert advice to me and to the Minister of State with responsibility for development aid on matters relating to development co-operation; policy aspects of Ireland's aid programme; particular issues which arise in relation to the operation, consolidation and expansion of the Irish aid programme; and other matters on which I would wish to have the commitee's views, (ii) to undertake research on issues of relevance to the Irish aid programme and, where appropriate, to arrange for publication of research findings. The committee has not published any reports in the last twelve months. The committee of IAAC which I appointed is as follows: Professor John Jackson (Chairperson), Ms Mary Ainscough, Mr. Jim Scally, Dr. Margot Anglim, Mr. Aiden O'Driscoll, Prof. Helen O'Neill, Mr. Terence McCaughey, Fr. Paddy Monahan, Mr. Seán Byrne, Dr. Margaret Fitzgerald, Mr. Tony Fahey, Mr. Noel McDonagh and Mr. Niall Tobin.
The National Committee for Development Education (NCDE)
The NCDE was established in 1994 by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs. NCDE aims to promote and support development education in all sectors of Irish society through co-operation with groups, schools, and other institutions with an involvement in education. NCDE administers a project grant scheme for organisations working in development. NCDE publishes an annual report. The 1997 annual report was published in September 1998.
The Committee comprises a chairperson and 16 representatives from organisations in the development, education and development education sectors. The committee members, who are appointed by me, are as follows: Mairead Foley (Chairperson), Ms Philomena Murnaghan, Mr. Seán McNamara, Ms Berni Brady, Ms Penny Cabot, Ms Deirdre Farrell, Mr. John Lynch, Mr. David Joyce, Mr. Michael O'Sullivan, Mr. John Hammond, Ms Heike Vornhagen, Ms Bet Aalen, Ms Annette Honan, Dr. Colm Regan, Ms Freda Swords, Mr. Paddy Reilly and Mr. John Healy.
The Refugee Agency
The Refugee Agency was established in 1991 by the Government, under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs, to co-ordinate arrangements for the admission, reception and resettlement of programme refugees admitted into the State under Government decisions. Programme refugees have been mainly Vietnamese and Bosnians. In the past 12 months, the Refugee Agency has published the results of a survey of the Vietnamese and Bosnian refugee communities in Ireland and its annual report for 1997 is expected shortly. The board of the agency is appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs for a two year period. The current membership is: Mr. Paddy Dillon Malone (Chairperson), Ms Noreen O'Sullivan, Mr. Jim Mitchell, Ms Mary Aylward, Ms Mary Lally, Mr. Seán McGabhann, Mr. Jack Killane and Mr. Brian McCabe. Observer members: Mr. Michael Lindenbauer, Ms Sheila Callan, Ms Nadette Foley, Dr. Wendy Cox, Sr. Phil Sinnott and Rev. Dermot Clifford.
Joint Department of Foreign Affairs/NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights
In recognition of the important role played by the NGO community in the human rights area and as a reflection of the growing level of contacts taking place between the Department and NGOs, the Joint Department of Foreign Affairs/NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights was set up in 1997. It is comprised of representatives of human rights NGOs and experts, as well as officers of the Department (see membership list below). Two seats are reserved for solidarity groups on a rotational basis. The head of the Department's human rights unit serves as chairperson of the committee.
The purpose of the committee is to provide a formal framework for a regular exchange of views between the Department and representatives of the NGO community. Issues which have been addressed to date include,inter alia, refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland, the human rights aspects of the British-Irish Agreement, children's rights, and pressing regional issues such as Kosovo and Sudan.
The committee has not published any reports in the last 12 months.
The membership of the committee is: Ms Karen Kenny; Ms Niamh Reilly; Dr. Gerard Quinn, Law Reform Commission; Mr. Tom Hyland, East Timor-Ireland Solidarity Campaign; Ms Mary Lawlor, Amnesty International-Irish Section; Ms Mary McEvoy, Banulacht; Rev. Michael Begg, Christian Aid Ireland; Mr. Howard Dalzell, Concern; Sr. Majella McCarron, Dóchas; Mr. John O'Shea, GOAL; Mr. Jerome Connolly, Irish Commission for Justice and Peace; Mr. Michael Farrell, Irish Council for Civil Liberties; Ms Maura Quinn, Irish National Committee for UNICEF; Dr. Brian Scott, Oxfam Ireland; Ms Maura Leen, Trócaire; Ms Anne McCluskey, Kurdistan Information Network.
Interdepartmental Groups and Task Forces
No reports have been published by the following committees in the last 12 months:
Interdepartmental Development of Battle of Boyne Site
An interdepartmental committee on the possible development of the Boyne site was established in March 1998 at my behest to examine how best to encourage and facilitate an understanding of the historic Battle of the Boyne in the context of promoting reconciliation and mutual understanding on the island of Ireland.
The committee comprises representatives of the Departments of the Taoiseach, Foreign Affairs, Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Environment and Local Government, Office of Public Works and Bord Fáilte.
Interdepartmental Steering Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
The Department of Foreign Affairs chairs the interdepartmental steering committee which has an overview function in regard to the implementation of the British-Irish Agreement. The committee also has representation from the Department of An Taoiseach, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Office of the Attorney General. It was established on 15 May this year and has not published any report to date.
A sub-committee is taking forward implementation of the North-South aspects of the Agreement. Representatives of the Departments of Foreign Affairs, An Taoiseach, Finance and the Office of the Attorney General serve on the sub-committee.
Interdepartmental Committee on Emigration
The Interdepartmental Committee on Emigration was established in 1989. The objectives of the committee are, in co-operation with Embassies and Consulates abroad, to:
(i) monitor developments affecting emigrants;
(ii) exchange information and ideas between departments and Government agencies, in particular regarding pre-departure advice and information as well as advice and information services for emigrants and prospective returnees from abroad;
(iii) co-ordinate relevant activities of departments and Government agencies;
(iv) develop an information base on emigration issues;
(v) identify matters about which action is necessary or desirable;
(vi) identify the department or Government agency responsible for action in a particular area; and
(vii) make recommendations for future action, if necessary through the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
It is chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and also comprises representatives of the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Social, Community and Family Affairs and Finance, the Embassy in London, FÁS and the Central Statistics Office, as well as representatives of other Departments, depending on matters being considered at meetings.
Interdepartmental Group on Enlargement of the European Union
The Department of Foreign Affairs chairs an Interdepartmental Group on Enlargement of the European Union. The group was established in April 1994. All Government departments are represented on the group.
Interdepartmental Group on Agenda 2000
The Department of Foreign Affairs chairs an Interdepartmental Group on Agenda 2000 whose role it is to consider Ireland's overall strategy in relation to the negotiations on Agenda 2000 and to report to the Ministers and Secretaries General Group chaired by the Taoiseach. The Agenda 2000 proposals cover the future financial framework of the European Union, including the Structural and Cohesion funds and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. The group was established in July 1997. In addition to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the group consists of representatives from the Departments of Finance, the Taoiseach, Finance, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Agriculture and Food. Other Departments can participate as appropriate.
Communicating Europe Task Force
The Communicating Europe Task Force was established on 18 February 1994. Chairmanship of the task force was transferred from the Department of the Taoiseach to the Department of Foreign Affairs in July 1997 and the task force has met six times since then.
Interdepartmental Committee on Ireland's Security Council Candidature
An interdepartmental committee on Ireland's Security Council candidature was established in October 1998 to support the Department of Foreign Affairs in the campaign for election to nonpermanent membership of the Security Council for the period 2001-2. The first meeting will take place on 30 November and all Departments have been asked to nominate a representative to serve on the committee.
Interdepartmental Committee on Human Rights
The purpose of the committee, which was set up in June 1997, is to consider all aspects of Ireland's international human rights obligations. The committee is particularly concerned with ensuring the timely preparation of comprehensive national reports under the various international instruments already ratified and with expediting the legislation necessary for the ratification of additional instruments.
The committee, which is chaired by the head of the human rights unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs, serves as a forum for co-ordination and co-operation between the Department of Foreign Affairs and other Government departments, together with the Office of the Attorney General, on human rights issues generally. The committee makes periodic reports to Government on its work through the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Other Bodies
The Irish-United States Commission for Education Exchange (Fulbright Commission)
The Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (also known as the Fulbright Commission) administers the Fulbright scholarship and fellowship exchange programme between Ireland and the United States of America. The commission was established under the Education Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America) Act, 1991. Under the Act the Minister for Foreign Affairs appoints the four Irish members of the commission and the United States ambassador to Ireland appoints the four US members. The list of members is as follows:
(Irish Citizens) Dr. Maurice Bric, Mrs. Helena Carty, Mrs. Ann Fuller and Mr. Mark Ryan.
(US Citizens) Mrs. Loretta Brennan Glucksman (Chairman), Mr. Dave Young, Mr. Richard Mills, Mrs. Barbara Scarlett.
No reports have been published by the commission in the last 12 months.
