Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence debate -
Tuesday, 14 Feb 2023

Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)

Chairman

The Dáil has ordered that the Revised Estimates for public services in respect of the following Votes be referred to the committee for consideration, namely, Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs. On behalf of the select committee I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin. I also welcome from the Department Mr. Jonathan Conlon, Mr. John Conlan, Mr. Michael Gaffey and Ms Siobhan Byrne, none of whom are strangers to this committee. I thank them not only for the briefing we received for this afternoon's session but also for their ongoing engagement with the committee, which is much appreciated by members.

The proposed format for this section of the meeting is that the committee will deal with Vote 27 and then Vote 28. At the outset of the consideration of the Revised Estimates, I will invite the Tánaiste to give an overview on both Votes, outlining any pressures likely to impact on the performance of the Department or expenditure on the Vote for the remainder of this year, 2023. We will then open the floor for questions, submissions, observations and comments from members of the committee dealing, insofar as we can, with each Vote separately. When we have completed consideration of Vote 27 we will move on to Vote 28.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make that person in any way identifiable. I call on the Tánaiste to make an opening statement.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Micheál Martin)

I welcome this opportunity to present the 2023 Revised Estimates for the Foreign Affairs group of Votes, comprising Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs. I ask members to allow me to repeat our sincere sympathies to all affected by the earthquakes last week in Türkiye and Syria, including employees of the Irish aid agency Goal, and our recognition of all those still working night and day in the rescue efforts.

As the toll of deaths, injuries and destruction rises, I yesterday announced an increased contribution of humanitarian assistance. This brings to €10 million the total Irish response across both countries. The funding is being delivered through Irish non-governmental organisations, NGOs, the United Nations and the International Federation of the Red Cross to reach those most in need as quickly and effectively as possible. We are also sending Ireland's largest ever shipments of emergency stocks, pre-positioned in Dubai and Brindisi.

In my opening comments, I will focus on the key changes and developments in 2023 and will be happy to take questions afterwards. Members will have received the advance briefing notes provided by my Department on the two Votes, summarising the main activities and priorities under each expenditure programme. For 2023, the overall gross Estimate for the foreign affairs group of Votes is €1.057 billion, including a capital allocation of €25 million. This represents an increase of more than €135 million on the initial allocation of €921 million. With the agreement of the committee, I will start with Vote 27.

With the funding allocated to Vote 27, the Department delivers on its high-level goal of working for a more just, secure and sustainable world. We pursue this through our programme of official development assistance, ODA, known to the public as Irish Aid. In 2023, total ODA delivered across the Government will exceed €1.23 billion, an increase of over €188 million, or 18%, on the 2022 initial allocation. This is the highest level ever and the ninth consecutive year in which the overall allocation to ODA has increased. In 2023, just over 58% of total ODA is allocated to the Department to be managed through this Vote. The remainder is managed by other Departments, including Ireland's contribution to the EU's development budget. I should add that the first year of host country refugee costs count as ODA, as determined by the OECD. The significant funding across government to cater for the large numbers of refugees who have sought protection in Ireland had an exceptional impact on ODA levels in 2022 and, most likely, will do so again in 2023.

The allocation to Vote 27 for 2023 totals €715.4 million, representing a significant increase of €111.5 million on 2022 figures. The increased allocation for 2023 is a demonstration of the Government's commitment to reducing global poverty, alleviating suffering and improving the lives of some of the world's most vulnerable communities. International development is not simply the right thing to do but is also a clear and practical protection of our interests. ODA is an integral component of Ireland's overall foreign policy. A Better World, Ireland's policy for international development, continues to provide the framework for our development co-operation programme. It is a whole-of-government policy that affirms Ireland's commitment to realising the central pledge of the sustainable development goals, focusing on the need to protect the most vulnerable in society. We recognise that in a world beset by interlocking crises, fresh thinking is required to achieve these sustainable development goals, their transformative ambition and the call to leave no one behind and reach the further behind first.

Funding administered by the Department under Vote 27 is delivered through a wide range of partners, including NGOs, UN agencies, international organisations and humanitarian agencies. Funding is also delivered through programmes designed and managed by our missions in development countries. These programmes involve close engagement with local, regional and national government systems, aimed at building health, education and local government systems. Ireland's development co-operation will continue to have a primary focus on sub-Saharan Africa and the least developed countries.

Recent years have seen, as we know, a succession of major global shocks. In particular, Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine and the Covid-19 crisis have presented enormous development challenges. The steep increase in the price of food, agricultural and energy commodities resulting from these overlapping crises has exacerbated an acute global food security and nutrition crisis. Meanwhile, the adverse effects of climate change continue to intensify and global inequality continues to rise. In the face of these overlapping crises, it is appropriate that we target additional support in these areas.

The breakdown of the €111.5 in additional funding is as follows: some €75 million will be allocated to respond to the impact of the war in Ukraine, including the wider global impacts of the conflict. This will include almost €32 million in direct support to Ukraine and its neighbours. It also includes additional funding to address the deepening global food and nutrition security crisis, which is a priority issue for Ireland. Some €17 million will be allocated towards combating acute child malnutrition and wasting, with a geographical focus on the Horn of Africa and in collaboration with US aid and UNICEF. This is part of Ireland's recent three-year pledge of €50 million to support the global action plan on childhood nutrition and wasting.

Some €25 million of the new funding will be allocated for additional climate finance to address the worsening impacts of climate change and environmental degradation of the world's most vulnerable communities. This is a demonstration of our commitment to fulfil the pledge I made as Taoiseach at COP26 in Glasgow to provide €225 million annually in international climate finance by 2025. We recognise that climate change and extreme weather events are having a more pronounced impact on people and communities living in the least developed countries and other vulnerable contexts, including small island developing states, SIDS. Some €10 million in additional funding will be allocated for Pakistan in response to the continuing humanitarian disaster caused by major flooding last year. This funding is being made available now.

The increased ODA for 2023 will build on €60 million in Supplementary Estimates provided in late 2022. There will be €30 million for Ukraine and Moldova, through Vote 28, and €30 million for the food and nutrition crisis in the Horn of Africa. In 2023, the Department will seek to bring a more strategic focus to work on fragility, conflict resolution and peace and security through the establishment of a new unit, incorporating Vote 27 and 28 functions and expertise. We will also break new ground in our geographic focus, first through a Latin American unit, bringing together our ongoing work in Colombia with new activity in central America. We will also expand the scope of our regional approach in the countries of the Mekong delta. We will also pursue a new strategy for partnership with SIDS, building on the success of the 2019 SIDS strategy.

Ireland has built a distinguished track record in responding to global development challenges and delivering a high-quality, coherent and, crucially, untied approach to development co-operation. The vision outlined in A Better World of an equal, peaceful and sustainable global community reflects our best interests, as well as our values as a people. As a small country with an open economy in an ever more interconnected and uncertain world, our prosperity and safety is intertwined with global events and the fate of the global community. The Irish people can be heartened by what has been achieved by Irish Aid on their behalf in an increasingly challenging and complex global environment.

I will move to Vote 28. For 2023, the total gross expenditure allocation is €340.6 million. This is an overall increase of just over €24 million, or 7.6%. The total allocation is distributed between five strategic programmes and each programme includes pay and non-pay administration costs as well as programme costs. Programme A, which has an allocation of €107 million, an increase of 9.2%, covers many key operational and policy areas for my Department and includes the provision of passport and consular services for our citizens, emigrant and diaspora supports and work to sustain peace and enhance reconciliation and political progress in Northern Ireland, and to increase North-South and British-Irish co-operation. Under this programme, the Department is again being provided with an allocation of €10 million from the Covid contingency fund for the passport service. Demand for passports continues to be strong and following the issuing of an unprecedented 1.8 million passports in 2022, we expect 2023 to be a similarly busy year. In January, the passport service received in excess of 148,000 applications. This is the second highest monthly figure on record, only surpassed in February 2022.

Despite this high demand, all turnaround times are currently at their target level and there are no backlogs. Over the past months my Department has been planning to ensure target processing times are maintained throughout the year. Staffing at the passport service continues to be a priority for my Department and has been kept under constant review. The Department ran 15 competitions over the past two years to address staffing needs in the service and it is actively working to assign new staff. Approximately 100 successful candidates from a temporary clerical officer competition run by the Department are currently going through the Garda vetting process. Furthermore, in the context of the national development plan, the Department continues to modernise and improve the Irish passport as well as the systems that underpin production and service delivery for our citizens. The passport reform programme will encompass the redesign and modernisation of the passport book and card as well as the replacement of existing high-security printing machinery required for passport personalisation. A central project for passport reform is the implementation of a new passport issuance processing system, known as PIPS. This will ensure the passport service remains resilient and agile in response to future passport demand. We are also working on an upgrade to the passport online portal to provide a more user-friendly experience for citizens. We are continuing efforts to significantly reduce the processing times for foreign birth registration applications, which was severely impacted by the pandemic and the high demand for passports. Some 35,000 foreign birth registration applications were processed in 2022 and the processing time was reduced from more than two years to 10 months.

Under this programme additional funding of €500,000 has been provided to establish a new shared island civic society fund. This includes €300,000 transferred form the shared island fund administered by the Department of An Taoiseach. This new initiative aims to promote practical North-South co-operation and end engagement across a range of sectors and themes consistent with the objectives and commitments of the Good Friday Agreement. Some civic society organisations are constituted on an all-island basis such as the major sports governing bodies. Others have formed strong cross-Border partnerships or have members in both jurisdictions. However, in many areas cross-Border civic society interactions are limited or non-existent notwithstanding common circumstances, concerns and interests. The 2023 allocation for Irish immigrant services is increased by €1.3 million to almost €13.9 million. Primarily to take account of the impact of inflation on the operational costs of partner organisations overseas. The immigrant support programme supports the welfare of the Irish abroad with priority given to organisations that support the most vulnerable and marginalised. It also supports cultural, business, and other community activities.

Programme B, which has an allocation of €44.3 million plus 13.3% supports the development of strong relationships with the European Union institutions and other member states aiming, inter alia, to safeguard Ireland's interests in the broad context of Brexit. The programme is also used to ensure Ireland's values and interests are reflected in the development of the EU's common foreign and security policy. In 2023 the budget allocation for EU engagement has been increased by €1 million to just over €2.2 million. This is to fund a programme of events and initiatives around EU 50 marking the historic and transformative decision 50 years ago to join the Union, in addition to increased funding support to European Movement Ireland. We have also allocated an additional sum of €500,000 to an initiative that to seeks to increase the numbers of Irish personnel in EU and international institutions, bringing the total to €3.5 million. It is vital Ireland is represented across the EU's institutions to the largest extent possible and this initiative is designed to double the numbers seconded to the Union over the next three to four years.

Programme C, which has an allocation of almost €64.6 million, that is, plus 3.6%, aims to advance key foreign policy goals of a more just and secure world. It enables us to meet our commitments to fund various regional and international organisations of which Ireland is a member. It allows us to promote human rights globally including to promote conflict resolution, post-conflict reconciliation, and a meaningful engagement of women, youth and civil society in these processes. The bulk of current expenditure under this programme of €40 million is accounted for by contributions to international organisations made by my Department on behalf of the State. Contributions to the UN represent the largest single set of contributions. UN contributions run on a three-year payment cycle and are not evenly spread over the three-year cycle. This year is the second year of the current cycle, which means payments will be somewhat lower than in 2022. Payments to the European Peace Facility, EPF, an EU instrument, to finance actions in the fields of security and defence, are also paid from this subhead. Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has seen the unprecedented mobilisation of the EPF, with member states agreeing to date to approximately €3.5 billion in commitments to Ukraine under the facility. Ireland's commitment in this regard stands at approximately €77 million limited to non-lethal equipment. Our payments are spread across the life cycle of the EPF, which runs up to 2027. To date, we have contributed approximately €22 million to EPF assistance measures and we estimates that payments totalling approximately €6.8 million will be made in 2023. These figures cover my Department's total contribution to the EPF, including in respect of Ukraine. At this point I have to remind us all that over the past 12 months we have witnessed the most brutal and illegal invasion by Russia of Ukraine with civilian infrastructure decimated and an estimated 14 million people displaced, which is quite a shocking figure when you reflect on it. For the Department of Foreign Affairs this has required significant re-prioritisation and reallocation of resources. Working alongside other parts of government we moved to ensure the swift implementation of unprecedented EU sanctions on Russia. We moved also to deliver urgently needed financial support to Ukraine. We supported Ukraine's application for Union membership and the provision of support to the Ukrainian armed forces via the EPF. We used our seat on the Security Council to push back against Russian disinformation, to defend Ukrainian sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and to demand Russia end its illegal war. We pushed strongly for accountability for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. We are also providing increased financial support to the International Criminal Court for its work on all situations before the court including its significantly increased workload on Ukraine as well as supporting Ukraine's cases before the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.

Programme D, which is an allocation of €47.8 million, plus 7.8%, is focused on leveraging the Department's resources to drive job creation, exports and inward investment, as well as the promotion of Ireland as a destination for tourism and education. The 2023 allocation will allow the Department and its mission network to continue to raise Ireland's profile internationally, support local and regional trade and economic initiatives and organised cultural activities. We will continue to collaborate closely with other Departments and State agencies in this regard. Our annual St. Patrick's Day programme also comes under this programme.

Programme E, which is an allocation of €54.2 million, plus 8.5%, seeks to strengthen our corporate performance or effectiveness with a view to improving public services and supporting departmental staff and their families who are serving the State abroad. The programme also covers communications by the Department of its policies, its objectives and activities to our citizens. The resources for the implementation of the global Ireland 2025 strategy are managed under this programme with additional funding enabling us to strengthen and deepen headquarter support. Last year, new consulates were opened in Miami, Toronto and Lyon. Just last month we established a new embassy in Dakar, Senegal, which provided key support to the recent successful visit by President Higgins to Senegal. Work is advancing on other new missions that have been announced in Islamabad, Milan, Munich and Tehran, to be opened over the coming years.

That was a brief overview of the main activities to be funded from additional resources provided to us in 2023. Of course, there are many areas of work I have not touched on. The scale of the challenges facing the global community and the desire to deliver excellent public services to our citizens means that this year will be at least, at a minimum, as busy as 2022. I welcome any comments or questions from committee members.

Chairman

I thank the Minister. That covers a wide range of pursuits within the Department. I propose, with the assent of committee members, to divide the questions between Vote 27 first on the international co-operation, and then Vote 28, which is more general.

I propose that we do not - as we have done in past years - divide the discussion on Vote 28 into the different programmes. We will keep that more general, unless it is inconvenient to the Tánaiste, but I suspect that he will not mind. Is that okay for members? We will deal with Vote 27 first, perhaps for 15 or 20 minutes, and then we will go to the more general discussion on Vote 28, unless members would like to do it the other way around. We will discuss Vote 27 first and then Vote 28, and we will not divide Vote 28 into the specific programmes of A to E. We will deal with it more generally. Is that agreed? Agreed. I call on Deputy Brady to speak on Vote 27.

Deputy John Brady

I will begin by offering my condolences to the people of Türkiye and Syria in what has been an horrific eight days. More than 35,000 people have been killed in both countries. I offer my condolences also to GOAL, which has lost 27 of its members, and there may still be some people missing also. Again, I offer my condolences. It is extraordinary that seven survivors have been pulled from the rubble today in different parts of Türkiye. It is eight days on and people are still being rescued. This highlights the need for a huge effort from the international community to get as much humanitarian assistance and rescue assistance into both countries. Unfortunately, it is a glimmer of light that is quickly going out.

I welcome the funding of the initial €2 million that was given. It is now up to €10 million and I welcome that. I listened to the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Fleming, in an interview last week. The Minister of State said that the Department needs to be cautious about spending all the money straight away. If a request came in from other organisations additional funding would be granted. I welcome the fact that the additional €8 million has been granted. The Minister of State said there was a pot of €10 million there in total. Obviously, that had to get the Department through the rest of the year if there were any similar events like that. I just have a concern about that. Is the pot now spent? Would there be additional money if there are other major events such as this? I hope there is more money because, unfortunately, there may be other tragedies over the course of the year and there must be funding for those also.

On the €10 million in funding that has been given to the organisations, some concerns have been expressed around some of the aid getting into parts of Syria. I am aware that some changes have been made with two additional cross-border points being approved to open up, which has to be welcomed. There are huge challenges especially in Syria with the rebel-held areas and Government-held areas. I have heard some people talking about the impact that sanctions are having on some of that humanitarian aid getting into some areas, and particularly Government-held areas in Syria. I believe that some changes have been made there and that the US has loosened up on some of those sanctions to allow some of the humanitarian aid to get in. Is Irish humanitarian aid getting into some of those Government-held areas in Syria where there is a critical need for those supplies? This applies also to the situation in some of those rebel-held areas such as Idlib.

I welcome the increase in budget 2023 for the overseas development aid, ODA, fund. What is the Government's approach? There is a commitment going back to 1970 by the UN General Assembly for countries to reach 0.7% of gross national income, GNI, but unfortunately we seem to be getting further and further away from that objective, despite there being a commitment by the Government to achieve that by 2030. I have looked at the graph contained there and see that it is now at 0.3%. That is fairly static because last year it was 0.31% and the year before that it was 0.32%. It has more or less flatlined since 2015. If we look back to 2009, however, we were actually closer to achieving that target when we were at 0.59% of GNI. Was that the Tánaiste in 2009?

Deputy Micheál Martin

It was, yes.

Deputy John Brady

The Tánaiste has set a parameter for himself and hopefully we will see it.

We seem to be going backwards. What is the approach and where is the roadmap for us to achieve that very legitimate objective of reaching 0.7% of GNI? Perhaps the Tánaiste will touch on that.

I also want to address an issue that I brought up with the Tánaiste on the floor of the Chamber last week, which is the destruction of aid that has gone to Palestine and the West Bank. We are aware that Ireland is part of the West Bank Protection Consortium where we have lodged a claim for the destruction of a fairly substantial amount of aid that was given to the Palestinian people and has been destroyed by Israel. There were EU-funded schools and other structures, and farm solar panels. It was very graphic last year when photographs emerged of aid that had been given, and which still had the Irish Aid stickers on it, and a lot of the materials that had been destroyed by Israel. This claim lodged by the West Bank Protection Consortium goes back a number of years. What measures or actions are being taken in this regard? Getting compensation is tokenistic in many cases, unless greater action is taken against Israel. They are willing to sustain any small little financial penalties but even at that they are not paying out the compensation. What action is being taken to hold Israel to account for the destruction of Irish Aid and donor-funded structures and projects such as that?

There is a commitment within the programme for Government about the recognition of Palestine. When will the Government actually move ahead and honour the express wishes of the Dáil, which took a decision back in 2014 to recognise the state of Palestine? Given the unfortunate trajectory in the area, with an extreme right-wing Government in place in Israel that is committed to destroying more Palestinian homes and to displacing more Palestinians from their land, there is now a policy of apartheid in place by Israel. Many of the well-respected human rights organisations, from Human Rights Watch to Al-Haq, and the UN special rapporteur, Professor Michael Lynk, to Amnesty International, have called it out as apartheid. When will Ireland officially recognise the state of Palestine? What are we going to do other than the tokenistic stuff around the West Bank Protection Consortium, important and all as it is? Greater action needs to be taken to hold Israel to account. What is the Tánaiste's view on the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018? Fianna Fáil did support the Bill when it was introduced and came to Second Stage in the Dáil.

What is the Tánaiste's view now in relation to the occupied territories Bill? Is now the time-----

Deputy Micheál Martin

Which Bill?

Deputy John Brady

The occupied territories Bill. Is now the time to take action and to hold Israel to account? Unfortunately, the two-state solution is quickly diminishing. Palestinians are no longer looking at that as a viable option, unfortunately. I ask the Tánaiste for his view on that.

It ties in with Vote 28 as well, but on this particular Vote in relation to Palestine, what analysis has been done with a view to establishing a full Irish embassy in Palestine? Is that something that can be moved and given effect? I will come back in more broadly on Vote 28 and expanding our footprint.

Chairman

I will take contributions on Vote 27 from other members if they wish to make them now.

Deputy Sorca Clarke

I thank the Tánaiste's officials for coming in. I have some specific questions on Vote 27. An additional €25 million is being allocated to international climate finance. Can the Tánaiste highlight to the committee what the priorities are for the Department of Foreign Affairs climate unit for 2023? There is also an allocation for emergency response and humanitarian assistance. How is this funding going to be disseminated to Türkiye and Syria over the coming weeks? It is my understanding that while we have sent aid and we are making financial pledges of support, we have not actually sent any people that would have experience or a history of working in recovery post earthquake or disaster on such a scale.

I would also be interested in getting the Tánaiste's opinion on how we are progressing with the UN sustainable development goals. It is an issue that comes up quite regularly at committee meetings from various different angles. From the Tánaiste's perspective and based on what has been brought forward in the Estimates, how are we getting on, what are the areas for improvement, and where would the Tánaiste like to see improvement and progress being made for the remainder of the duration of this Government?

Deputy Cathal Berry

I thank the Tánaiste and his team for coming in. I have a few quick questions. Deliberations were taking place over the last few months in relation to the proposed Irish embassy in Tehran. When will we get a final decision on that? I think most members of the committee here would share my concern that this is not the appropriate time to be opening an embassy, considering what is happening in Iran at the moment. The second question doubles down on what Deputy Clarke said in relation to the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. Ireland sent money. Money is fine and it helps, but it does not pull people out from the rubble. Ireland was almost unique in being one of only three EU countries not to send search and rescue teams or medical teams. Even Ukraine sent a team and they have priorities of their own at the moment. The tiny state of Malta, with a population of 500,000, sent 30 people onto the ground there. Latvia is the only country, like Ireland, not to send anybody. Cyprus offered to send a team but the offer was declined because of tensions with Türkiye. We are a major outlier and I think we should set up some kind of international response search and rescue component with a HSE medical team that can be deployed for a week or two and come back. We do have the Rapid Response Corps within the Department of Foreign Affairs. Even that has not been deployed.

Deputy Micheál Martin

Search and rescue-----

Deputy Cathal Berry

Sorry?

Deputy Micheál Martin

I will come back to the Deputy, but there is no search and rescue expertise within that Rapid Response Corps. However, personnel within the Rapid Response Corps could yet be deployed for different tasks.

Deputy Cathal Berry

That would be an appropriate mechanism if there was a team embedded in that Rapid Response Corps so we could actually expand that. Rather than sending one or two members, we could have at least one search and rescue team and a medical team as part of the Rapid Response Corps. I think that is something that we should certainly look at. With the Airbus Defence C295 arriving in 2025, we will have the means to independently deploy teams as well. However, I do not think we should wait until 2025. We should be able to stand up these teams and deploy them using different aircraft if required. That is all I have to say.

Chairman

I am going to go back to the Tánaiste now. Notwithstanding the fact that some of the questions have strayed into the other Vote from Vote 27, I ask him to respond to the questions on Vote 27 posed by Deputies Brady, Clarke and Berry.

On Deputy Berry's reference to the opening of a new full-time residential embassy in Tehran, I must say that I share his concerns. I suggest that it might be appropriate to press the pause button on that for fear that the international community and indeed, our own community, might interpret the opening of a new mission as standing for or representing a constructive development between our two countries. Having regard to widespread human rights abuses in Tehran and across Iran which we have seen in pretty graphic terms on our TV screens and also contained in reports that we have received from Iran, and having regard to the instability and turbulence, I think it might be appropriate to pause matters. I would be keen to hear from the Tánaiste on that.

I also ask him to respond to the questions posed by Deputies Brady, Clarke and Berry on Vote 27.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I appreciate the concerns that all members have raised and sympathies that have been extended to the people of Türkiye and Syria in respect of the shocking earthquake and the impact of it, the appalling loss of life and the destruction of societies and communities within a very broad geographic area. To Ireland's credit, we have been one of the stronger contributors to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF. I think we contributed around €13 million to that fund. There was an immediate allocation of €25 million from that fund within days of the event.

One of the better initiatives that we have taken over the last decade or so was the decision to contribute significantly to that fund, which is a UN fund. That means that instead of asking for pledges or commitments from countries, the money is there to be allocated straightaway to the area through UN agencies, the Red Cross or other NGOs who would primarily be in the area and would have expertise and knowledge of the locality. That is the first thing.

The second thing is that we have always consistently provided materials and goods to the hubs in Brindisi in Italy and in Dubai, so that as soon as a crisis erupts anywhere, all sorts of materials, including for camps, tents and food, are pre-positioned so that they can go directly to the scene, which has happened on this occasion. That is over and above the €10 million allocated. That strategic approach is essential.

On the allocation of the €10 million and whether the pot is spent, in reality it is not. We announced €10 million in funding for Pakistan, which has been included in this year's Estimates, but we announced it before Christmas. If events arise, the Government responds, and we go to the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and across Cabinet and highlight that a terrible event has happened and we have to reach out in solidarity with fellow humanity in situations like this. That accommodation is always there within Government. Obviously, we have put a fund aside and a certain amount of money aside in the Estimates for such eventualities and occurrences. Government can respond to further emergency situations that may arise.

In respect of Syria, as the members will be aware, we have had an ongoing issue from our time on the UN Security Council in respect of humanitarian corridors to Syria. We were the co-penholders on the Security Council on the Syrian humanitarian file alongside Norway. We successfully led negotiations on the renewal of the vital Syria humanitarian cross-border resolutions 21 and 22.

That ensured the continued operation of the UN's cross-border aid operation at Bab al-Hawa on the Türkiye-Syria border; that was just one crossing. In July, that was renewed and the Syrian leader, President Assad, has agreed to open two border crossings to allow in a greater volume of emergency aid. There is a three-month limit on the opening of the crossings, which we must work on. It is not sustainable as the humanitarian needs of the people of this part of Syria will continue well beyond May. We will work with our European Union partners to ensure humanitarian exemptions to sanctions are understood and used. In my recent phone conversation with the Turkish foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, he made it clear that political considerations can play no part now in ensuring access to humanitarian aid. He specifically welcomed Ireland's allocation, at that time, to the Syrian side of the catastrophe. He was forthright and frank about the need to put aside any political issues as regards the allocation of aid and ensuring access to that aid. We will continue to work on that.

Regarding recognition of the state of Palestine, I work with like-minded countries in the European Union which have similar positions to Ireland concerning the two-state solution, supporting Palestinian rights and endeavouring to have all accords agreed adhered to, particularly United Nations resolutions regarding settlements and territory. The situation is grim right now. There has been an escalation of violence to an unacceptable level in the West Bank and in Israel. Terrible atrocities were carried out against Israeli and Palestinian civilians. Our first priority is to de-escalate. During my recent visit to Washington D.C., I spoke to State Department officials about this issue. We favour recognition and a two-state solution. The programme for Government is clear that we will honour our commitment to recognise the state of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict - that is how it is worded in the programme for Government - or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a two-state solution or protect the integrity of the Palestinian territory. What we mean by that is anything we deploy on this issue must be optimally deployed. All of us can make a gesture or a grand declaration. We can do it in isolation but doing so could reduce any influence we may have on the situation if we do it prematurely. It is a judgment call at some stage. We want to work with other member states, at a minimum in the European Union, to try, at least within the European Union, to get some critical mass of member states to focus on this issue. The recent presentation of the Palestinian Prime Minister and foreign minister to the Foreign Affairs Council lunch was useful and effective. We believe there should be elections in the West Bank and in Gaza, although they are saying they cannot have them because of Israel prohibiting elections in East Jerusalem. I think there is a yearning for elections within Palestine, which must be said. It is a question of when we call this. I believe in the Palestinians' right to a homeland, a Palestinian state and a two-state solution.

I acknowledge what the Deputy said. I said at the European Council that the facts on the ground are changing to such an extent that it may make the attainment of a two-state solution impossible. That represents a very serious situation long-term. It seems to me that it is in the best interests of Israel, as it is for the Palestinians, that the voices of moderation are enhanced, encouraged and promoted such that it guarantees overall security. Many of us are worried about where this will go. This year, the violence in January alone has been at a higher level and the violence in 2022 was the worst in a long time. The numbers of people who died in Palestine and in the West Bank are at a very high level. We have been strongly supportive at the UN, as the Deputy knows, in recent decisions and we have condemned Israeli announcements on the legalisation of settlement outposts, of which there were nine recently. We are continuing to keep this under review. The issue is in the space of recognition. I understand the rationale behind the occupied territories Bill and we supported the principle behind it but there are legal constraints on that as regards the EU having legal responsibility for trading arrangements. I think where the meat is politically is in the recognition issue. Meanwhile, we continue to support the Palestinian population through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA. We allocated about €8 million to UNRWA in 2022 and about €16 million overall to broader Palestine in terms of the authority, not counting the European Union contribution to UNRWA and Palestine. The situation is not good but I think we have to deploy whatever measures we want to adopt wisely and judiciously to get the best outcome, to get justice and to try to advance and save the prospects of the two-state solution, because the current situation is not good. The full Irish embassy is related to recognition. We have a very active and proactive situation in Ramallah, as I think Mr. Jonathan Conlon can attest to, having been there. I have been there and I think they do very good work.

On the wider issues Deputies raised on future openings etc., I take on board the concerns they raised regarding the commentary on Tehran. I spoke to the minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian recently about the issues raised regarding human rights issues and, crucially, dual Irish citizen Bernard Phelan. My priority is to seek his release from Iran. He is not well and has many challenges. He has been imprisoned by the Iranian Government. We have made very strong representations on that front. I have spoken to his family as well, which we will continue to do. We will maintain contact with the Iranian authorities on that front, as well as raising all of the issues raised. That issue is under constant review.

Deputy Clarke raised the issue of climate finance and priorities. The idea of climate finance and preparing countries that are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and providing greater funding for adaptation assumed a much stronger dimension from COP26 on. We saw that in very stark terms last year in Pakistan. I met the President of Pakistan at COP27 in Egypt and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, which has equally had terrible impacts from climate change. The first initiative we took was to support the German initiative, called the global shield. It is fair to say there is work to be done to develop projects and how best to allocate funding under climate finance. Some of the initial tranche of allocations will go to UN agencies in the first lot. We have made a commitment to get to €225 million; there is €25 million this year and I will do more next year in the 2024 Estimates because we must get to €225 million. I have told everyone in the Government that. There was an issue about capacity to draw it down, which is why the Germans took an initiative based on providing supports to countries where they take out insurance so they have some chance if a disaster happens and they have some funding to deal with that disaster, not just in adaptation but also recovery.

In terms of aid and how it is being distributed, I think I gave the outline of that in my opening comments. It is being done through agencies, the UN agencies and NGOs like GOAL.

GOAL is our agency and is based in this area. GOAL has experience of this area but has suffered terrible losses with 27 of its employees losing their lives and some of their families as well, which is quite horrific. I can get the Deputy the full range. I have mentioned the International Federation of the Red Cross, the Turkish Red Crescent, the United Nations and various NGOs. It is being done through both Irish NGOs and international agencies. I can get the full list as we draw up terms. It will be the largest ever deployment of emergency stocks. Blankets, solar lamps, tents, water cans and hygiene kits are in position in Dubai and Brindisi. They have all been sent and are being sent. I will get the list of all the various agencies to which the aid has been allocated. Deputy Barry has suggested that we should build up the capacity of search and rescue teams. We should do this but only in a professional manner. They need to have capacity and so forth. We have a rapid response corps, which comprises different disciplines and strengths. We will look to see if any of its personnel can assist in the next phase of helping the people in the area to recover and rebuild.

Deputy Clarke mentioned the priorities of the sustainability goals. Globally, we have fallen behind and it is not a good story. We had a very good story up to 2017 or 2018. The world was going in a good direction but it is now going in a bad direction. I attended COP27 in Cairo where I heard a very articulate presentation made by the World Food Programme, which cited terrible figures in respect of where we were four or five years ago, when 40 million people faced terrible hunger, and mentioned that the figure had increased so now there are more than 200 million people in the world at starvation level. What is my priority? It is food security. Recently I had a telephone conversation with Samantha Power who is very pleased with Ireland's efforts in this area. We will do a joint partnership with US aid in respect of world hunger and food.

Unlike many countries, Ireland has not pulled back. We have increased funding dramatically because of Ukraine. We have not used the war as an excuse to pull back our normal funding. We have continued to increased our ODA, which is an issue raised by Deputy Brady. Our spending on Ukraine, because of the OECD calculations, will count. So the upfront costs in 2022 and 2023 will count towards ODA, which is massive, but that is a once-off. We have not stopped growing non-Ukraine ODA.

I have always viewed the percentage as a target. I can recall the 2000 period when we dramatically increased the actual funding but the percentage climbed upwards. One year we reduced funding and the percentage went up again because it is a function of GDP or GNI. We have high GNI in this country so we grow faster than most other countries in Europe. This means we must always race to catch up and we end up allocating a lot of the money to existing UN agencies and so on. Like any funding operation, you always want to build up capacity to make sure the funding is well spent, there is value for money and the funding is not abused. In the morning, if you were to allocate 0.7%, you would struggle to make sure that the allocations would be proper and available to be drawn down. That said, we are at the lower end of the spectrum right now so we have to increase the percentage. I think we are at 0.3%.

Deputy John Brady

Yes. I hear what the Tánaiste is saying about what would happen if we gave it all now but I beg to differ.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I do not mean that the situation will always be like that.

Deputy John Brady

We need a path and I want to know how we can get one, which I think is what the NGOs want to see. A commitment has been given that we will achieve our target by 2030. We lack a clear pathway and I want to know how we will get there while building capacity.

Deputy Micheál Martin

For obvious reasons many countries are under pressure due to the war in Ukraine and they decided to hold back their ODA but we did not. We did both so there is a very clear commitment. We gave a clear pathway and figure for climate finance. I take the point made by the Deputy and I have had these discussions. We have said publicly that we would get to €225 million and I have said that to everyone in government who needs to know. I sometimes would prefer a financial target because GNI can increase or decrease. It would be great if I could incrementally increase both the bilateral programmes and the programmes of assistance. We are climbing and we will have a percentage equivalent at some stage. I hear what the Deputy is saying. We can get there but a lot depends on where the economy is in 2028, 2029 and 2030. God forbid but if there was a massive decline in GNI in three years' time, we would be in a much healthier position but would we be happy?

Deputy John Brady

Once the funding is not cut.

Deputy Micheál Martin

No, but you would get a false presentation. You would get a percentage that is higher, which we actually could cut. We are talking theoretically here but, in real terms, every year we must incrementally increase the allocation because it matters to Ireland's security. In this country we are having a wider debate on inward migration and all of that but we must tackle issues at source.

To go back to what Deputy Clarke said about sustainable development goals, if people are hungry in countries or if climate change has impacts on countries, people will migrate. There are 1.5 million people from Syria in Lebanon, which has a population of over 5 million, and there have been huge migratory trails into Jordan. Apart from being humanitarian, providing assistance is the right thing to do. We need to help people, and help them at source in their own countries to create stable societies. The way the world is going at the moment is very challenging and the evolution of power politics is back. Just look at what is going on in Mali and elsewhere in Africa where there is a push for power, influence and so on. The global order is splitting somewhat and one can see that at the UN Security Council.

I think I have said enough. I heard what the Deputy said in respect of the embassy. I will keep the matter under review.

Chairman

I thank the Tánaiste. Vote 27 has been put in terms of questions. I add my voice to that of Deputies in offering our continued good wishes and support to Mr. Gaffey and his team in Irish Aid who work in hugely challenging circumstances. In some instances, like the earthquake, they have no notice. In others, they work in long-standing areas of seemingly intractable conflict. Of course the work on the SDGs has been adversely impacted by Covid. From an Irish perspective it is always gratifying, as indeed it is important, to see the Irish Tricolour and the Irish footprint in these areas of great challenge. I say well done to everybody in the international co-operation team.

I call on Deputies to put their questions on Vote 28, starting with Deputies Clarke and Brady.

Deputy Sorca Clarke

I apologise for having to leave shortly as the Dáil is running an hour ahead of schedule. I have two short questions for the Tánaiste. One of my questions concerns an issue that I think he touched on in his opening statement. I stand to be corrected but I believe we did not get a copy of his opening statement. The foreign birth registration application process has caused and is causing profound hardship for people. Like most people, I understand that at the height of the demand on the Passport Office, staff needed to be moved into the area but that led to a backlog of foreign birth register applicants. I would appreciate if the Tánaiste's Department could examine the issue and the resources available.

My second question somewhat straddles two stools.

I read about the North-South Anglo-Irish co-operation budget being increased by 10%. That is to be welcomed. No doubt, there will be plans for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. With that said, I am still somewhat perplexed by the reluctance to open a passport office in the North, given that additional Passport Office space was made available in Balbriggan. We should bear in mind that those who are democratically elected in the North do not have a direct line like the Oireachtas line into the Passport Office in Dublin. It is a little bit of an anomaly to say there is no demand and that everything is moving online but then provide additional office space in Balbriggan and not even offer those elected in the North some type of a priority line to the Passport Office. What are the Tánaiste's plans around that? What is his opinion on it? Would he be open to running a few costings as to what the actual financial implications would be of opening a passport office in the North?

Chairman

I will take some questions from Deputy Brady.

Deputy John Brady

Ms Siobhán Byrne is no stranger to the committee and I commend her and the team in the Passport Office. There were huge challenges last year and extraordinary work was done. Processing 1.08 million passports is a phenomenal achievement. This year I think we are going to be up there again. There were 148,000 applications in January, which is second only to February of last year. We know what way applications are going. It is good to hear there is a plan in place and that the staff are being hired. At the height of the season last year, we were still looking. Temporary staff were being redeployed and all that. I ask for an update on all of that. Hopefully everything is on track and we will have all the staff needed well in advance of the peak season, which we are probably heading into now if those figures are anything to go by.

Hopefully a lot of the bottlenecks and challenges that presented last year have been ironed out. I do not want to rehash them all here but there were issues around gardaí ringing witnesses and all of that and not getting through, causing untold difficulties for people. We might get an update on that. There were also other major challenges with regard to applicants getting to speak to a real person. The hub and the portal and all of that was good but people need to be able to talk to a real person. We have listened to many of the concerns and criticisms from last year, taken those on board and put more people in place to answer phones because that is a critical part of the process. People need real live information. Another major bone of contention last year was the fact that documents were only being checked a couple of days prior to the expected delivery date of a passport. That caused difficulties and problems for people. A lot of people said that a system should be devised so documents could be checked as early as possible once received in the Passport Office, rather than leaving them there for a couple of weeks before getting to them a couple of days before the expected delivery date. Hopefully some of those issues have been listened to and measures put in place to prevent them.

I echo what Deputy Clarke said about a passport office in the North. The Tánaiste's predecessor as Minister said he would look at carrying out some analysis of an additional passport office somewhere in the State. I contend that it would have to be somewhere on the island and I agree that an office in the North would be the right way to go. Will the Tánaiste commit to carrying out that analysis of costings and have a look at the need or potential for a new passport office? I hear all the arguments that we are pushing people online. That is fine but there are always emergency passports and people who want to walk in and make their applications. It is a huge issue for people in the North to have to travel down to Dublin. I ask that that be looked at.

The point was made there about public representatives in the North being in a position to make representations on their constituents' behalf with regard to passports. We have been told that as part of the new hub or portal there would be some mechanism to allow public representatives in the North, whether MLAs, MPs or the like, to make representations on their constituents' behalf. The then Minister gave that commitment last year. I ask for an update on that because that would be really useful. At the height of the crisis last year I was getting hundreds of representations from citizens in the North directed towards me because their MLAs or MPs could not make representations on their behalf. That is something that needs to be looked at. It has been looked at and we were told a mechanism or procedure would be put in place. I would just like an update on that.

The other major bugbear of mine was the foreign birth registrations. I am glad to see there has been considerable progress there. At our meeting on the Estimates last year, the target turnaround time was two years. I am glad to hear it is down to ten months. It is clear there has been some investment made there with redeployment or new staff put in. There is potential to get that down further. I ask for an update on that.

Regarding embassies and ambassadors, I have travelled a little bit over the last year and between this committee and the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs have had a lot of engagement with our diplomats and ambassadors abroad. I commend them, their skill and their dedication. The role they play in representing Ireland on the international stage is second to none. I just want to put that on the record. They are doing phenomenal work representing Ireland abroad. According to the supporting documentation, we are potentially going to open new embassies, which is welcome. I agree with what was said about Iran. There are major concerns that moving ahead there would send out all the wrong messages in terms of the gross human rights violations that are taking place there. There is potential to open other embassies outside of the countries that have been listed, such as the likes of Cuba given the long relationship we have had there. I have submitted some parliamentary questions on the potential of opening an embassy in Cuba and I would like the Tánaiste's view on that.

On programme C, regarding Vote 28 and funding, I just want to question the level of funding we have given to the International Criminal Court, ICC. Does the Tánaiste have a figure for that? I know there is a commitment by Ireland to hold Russia to account for its war crimes in its illegal invasion of Ukraine. It is critically important that the ICC can get on with doing its work and gather the evidence but it is also tasked with investigating alleged war crimes carried out by Israel in Palestine. I would like to see the same emphasis being put on that investigation. What sense of urgency has the Tánaiste expressed with regard to that investigation? Is there specific funding for that investigation or is it just one overall sum that goes to the ICC for its investigations?

Chairman

I thank Deputy Brady. I think we are heading towards a conclusion. I thank the Tánaiste for his answers to date.

I join Deputies Brady and Clarke in raising the passport issue. For Siobhán Byrne and her team last year was obviously a most eventful one. As part of our outside engagement we had a field trip to the Passport Office and undoubtedly it was an urgent political priority when it came to our work as a committee and to the constituency work of most, if not all, Members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. We had a very positive and comprehensive briefing and we saw first-hand the huge work under way under the bonnet, if you like, in the Passport Office. I am pleased to note there is a further level of investment this year in the context of the national development plan. It is a major investment in the future of the passport service and the replacing of what is described here as the core technology. All this is very positive. I acknowledge the work of the Minister's team in challenging circumstances and the progress that has been made.

This brings me to part B of the matter, which is the one raised by Deputies Brady and Clarke, namely, foreign birth registration. It has been an issue that has gone under the radar where our work is concerned. I was surprised to note a volume of 35,000 for 2022. I cannot recall what the figure was five or ten years ago but is it true to say the trends with registration are very stark? It has become an issue. While the timeframe has been reduced considerably from two years to one, a year is still a long time.

Deputy Micheál Martin

It is ten months.

Chairman

It is ten months, but that is a challenge for the parents of any child born now who want to travel with them to any part of the world in the next ten months. We live in a global world, ease of travel has returned post-Covid and so many Irish people are working in every corner of the world, so that is a challenge. I am pleased it has been raised.

My final point is on the matter of new missions, which was referred to by Deputy Brady. I was disappointed to learn from a reply to a parliamentary question that we do not have any plans for places like Lebanon. There might not be a huge Irish footprint there but the Tánaiste has referenced it a couple of times in the context of its strategic position in an area where Ireland is particularly engaged, for a number of reasons. If it is not on the radar now can it be placed on a long-term footing? The distance from Cairo to Lebanon is considerable, where any form of engagement is concerned. We have opened a new full-time mission in Jordan. We are represented in Israel. Palestine has been referenced. Türkiye is to the north. I would like to think that maybe at some stage in the future an increased presence in Lebanon might be on the radar.

Continuing on consular offices, I note the Tánaiste did not mention Perth in western Australia in his overview. I understood it was on a list somewhere. It seems to have gone down the priority list and I hope it could be restored because, again, I am sure there is quite a substantial Irish presence in Perth. Indeed, it is an increasing one, especially with respect to people in the medical profession. Australia being the vast territory it is I would have thought a consular office in Perth is something careful and due consideration would be given to.

Subhead A8 is Diaspora Affairs. I inform the Tánaiste parliamentary diplomacy is a very important aspect of diaspora affairs. There is in the Department the global parliamentary register, which I am sure is updated. This committee is very keen to ensure we can play a key role in Irish parliamentary diplomacy and where the global parliamentary register is concerned, we are always available here to receive parliamentary delegations involving members of the parliamentary and indeed business diaspora. Similarly, we are willing to assist the Tánaiste's Department to ensure parliamentary diplomacy and its importance is high on the radar. We are keen to continue to play our part in that regard. It is an important part of our diaspora strategy that is probably understated and underplayed.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I will deal first with foreign birth registration, which he and Deputy Clarke have raised in particular. Some 35,000 were processed in 2022, which is an extraordinarily high number, and the processing time was reduced from over two years to ten months. I was talking to officials last month and they believe we can realistically get that down to six months. We will then be into the actual nature of applications, the types of cases that come in and the complexities associated with them. Doing them in six months would be a good outcome. Obviously we could improve upon that but the target initially is to get it down to six months. I am informed that prior to Brexit we were looking at 5,000 per year. It is quite extraordinary. We are now at 35,000 per year. Covid created backlog situations but Brexit created a new dynamic and impact on the passport service with respect to passport applications and foreign birth registrations.

Chairman

The Tánaiste is saying it has exploded over the last decade.

Deputy Micheál Martin

It has. There is no question. I take on board what the Cathaoirleach said. We want to be as efficient as we possibly can because that is part of our mission statement. These are services to the citizens and we have got to be as efficient and optimal as we can be, within reason. In that respect, when it comes to the passports, we now have about 815 staff in the Passport Office, which is the most ever. We are continuing to recruit, with 50 staff appointed so far this year and 100 staff going through the Garda vetting process. Some will be temporary and some permanent but that is very high. To Deputy Brady's point, all documents are currently being checked with one week for renewals and two weeks for first-time applicants. The phone line was opened in October 2021 for Oireachtas Members, to help them query applications on behalf of citizens. It does not serve the function of expediting applications but at that time there were huge problems with people getting access to personnel, staffing and all that. However, that is no longer the case and 100% of calls are now answered. Huge progress has therefore been made. We are looking at a phone portal for MLAs. Strangely, our MEPs were not involved in the phone access but they are now. There are only 15 in any event but nonetheless they are Members of the European Parliament. We are testing out the MLA situation in terms of the technology and that.

On the broader question of having a Passport Office in the North, very clearly it is a digital-first strategy. I stress that. It is the quickest, most efficient, most convenient and least expensive channel for applicants. It has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing and greater efficiency for customers of the service. To Deputy Clarke's point, we did expand capacity at Balbriggan where there are now 500 staff but it was the digital-first strategy that enabled us to do that and centralise functions there.

A total of 90% of applicants last year applied for a passport online. That figure will continue to grow as the passport service's digital-first media and communication strategy is rolled out in the coming months. Demand for passports from Northern Ireland remains steady. It represents approximately 11% of total applications received by the passport service, and 87% of applicants from Northern Ireland applied through passport online.

The Passport Office on Mount Street in Cork has a public counter. It offers an urgent appointment service for those who wish to renew their passport urgently, but the majority of all online renewal applications are now being processed in three working days or less, meaning that, for many, the passport online service is even faster than the four-day urgent appointment service at our public counters. Due to the necessity of the security checks carried out on all first-time applications, regardless of their origin, these applications cannot be processed through the urgent appointments system at our public offices. Applications processed by public counters in Dublin and Cork amount to approximately 1% of the total of all passports produced by the passport service in 2022.

The overwhelming majority of applications now apply online. The considerable benefits of passport online for all our citizens are there to be seen, and because of all of that, a business case cannot be made for opening an additional Passport Office, be it in Galway or, as Deputies have asked for, in Northern Ireland. We will continue to work on ways of improving the service for citizens, but we have to take those realities on board and the future direction of travel, excuse the pun, with regard to the digital-first approach.

With regard to the opening of new embassies-----

Deputy John Brady

Before we move on from passports-----

Deputy Micheál Martin

I will add to the query on Garda witnessing. The temporary system was established between the passport service and An Garda Síochána during the peak period in 2022 to verify applications in cases where the Garda signature could not be verified by calling to the Garda station. This new system assisted in reducing the number of applications that were delayed due to a failure to verify witness details. That system was paused at the beginning of September 2022. In the event it is required during the peak season of 2023, the passport service, jointly with An Garda Síochána, will consider reintroducing the system. The passport service is continually looking at ways to make it easier for applicants.

Deputy John Brady

I appreciate there is a phone service for Members of the Oireachtas. That was not my concern. It was members of the public and their ability to talk to a member of staff in the Passport Office. It posed serious challenges last year, with people phoning and unable to get hold of someone. Have additional resources, that is, more people, been put in place?

Deputy Micheál Martin

They have been, with the result that we are on target. People are being answered every day. There are same-day responses. Calls are answered in less than a minute.

Deputy John Brady

The calls are answered in less than a minute. I hope-----

Deputy Micheál Martin

We should never say that, because someone will ring "Liveline" in the morning and say he or she was ten minutes on the line.

Deputy John Brady

I have reason to testify. My son had to renew his passport and the turnaround took slightly longer than two or three days. It was approximately ten days, which is good.

Deputy Micheál Martin

The key to this is we are at the optimum staffing level. I have discussed this with officials with regard to the balance between temporary and permanent. Competitions through the Public Appointments Service, PAS, and so on are necessary, but we have to make sure we have a critical number of staff that can do all of this. We have the budget for it. While obviously the pandemic was a big factor and there were considerable backlogs, those running and in charge of the service feel we should be tapering down to more normal levels in 2024 or 2025. The sense within the Department and the passport service is that we are over the hump. We are not quite over the hump, because we think 2023 could be like 2022, but the resources are now in place.

Deputy John Brady

I know there is a PR campaign. The system online is efficient and quick. I appreciate and acknowledge all of that, but a greater PR campaign is needed to direct people to the online service. I am not sure what resources are put into that, but a concerted effort to run a PR campaign would be money well spent.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I agree with that. We all know, from people who contact us, to check expiry dates and everything else a month or two before getting on the plane. It can happen. It is human nature. People are very anxious as well. It is their holiday, which is a big event for the family, or it may be a job. There is total understanding of where people are coming from. We just have to respond as efficiently as we can. We have the staff and capacity in place now.

There is a programme for embassies. To be fair, there has been a very significant expansion of consulates and embassies in the past ten years. That has to be acknowledged and accepted. I will have a review of the next stage with regard to where we go. I referred to those that have been announced already. Some people might have issues with Cuba. I have been to Cuba. I believe I was one of the first foreign ministers, ten years ago, to go to Cuba. The lack of progress there with regard to various rights such as civil society, freedom of speech and so forth is disappointing.

On another day, we probably need to discuss the nature, purpose, function and role of diplomacy, because I have noted recently in the Dáil that very often the opening of an embassy is seen as an endorsement of a regime. It was never meant to be that. It now becomes a sort of a litmus test, politically, in that if a country is opening an embassy, it means one endorses everything that regime, country or government is doing. That is not the function, purpose or intent in creating what are essentially diplomatic channels which, ideally, even in time of war, should be kept open in order that we can organise peace or change or try to influence change. It might be time for us to stand back, because I have had a few calls, even as Taoiseach in the past two years, from people to close certain embassies because they do not like what the country is doing or not to open others. Meanwhile, consular issues can arise. If we do not have boots and people on the ground, we are depending on some other country that has an embassy on the ground to help us get Irish citizens out of a very difficult situation or to advocate on behalf of an Irish citizen.

With regard to learning about regions of the world, I take on board what the Chairman has said with regard to Lebanon. We have had a presence in Lebanon, wearing our defence hats, for well on 40 years. We regularly meet ministers of the Lebanese government, sometimes in very sad situations, as I had to recently with regard to the killing of Private Seán Rooney. I had to meet the ministers for foreign affairs and defence there. The thought struck me that different reason is rationale. That country has challenges and so on.

I would like if there could be non-partisan, non-political reflection on that at some stage, in the cold, cool light of day. It is very hard for us to do that with regard to the various atrocities and breaches of human rights that are going on, but we need to think about the purpose of diplomacy. What is its function? I have never seen it as an endorsement of a country or regime. There are certain parts of the world where we should be in order that we are better informed and we inform ourselves as opposed to using second- and third-hand information. We can make more informed choices as a result in the formulation of foreign policy and stances. That is off my soap box, but I take the Chairman's point. One is Cuba. The other is Tehran.

I think there is approximately €1.5 million core funding for all organs of the International Criminal Court, ICC, but we gave an additional €3 million last year with regard to Ukraine. We also gave additional moneys to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in acknowledgement of the considerable backlog of cases in that court. I met recently with the new president of the court, Síofra O'Leary, whose appointment is of great social pride to Ireland. The fact we have allocated that additional funding was welcomed.

There are things we can do well. We are not a military power but we can do a considerable amount for international accountability and helping the world with regard to global instruments such as the ICC in how we hold nations to account for breaches of the rules of law, the crime of aggression, the crime of genocide, where it is committed, and so on.

We will continue to see what we can do to support bona fide international organisations that do that kind of work. Deputy Brady mentioned Perth. I will follow those up and come back to him. He also referred to parliamentary diplomacy and the Global Parliamentary Network. If he believes we can be of any further assistance in that regard, he should come back to us on that because the role of parliamentarians in the monitoring of elections, diplomatic outreach and so on is very important.

Chairman

That is very positive. Are there any other questions? If there are no other issues, it only remains for me to offer my appreciation and thanks to the Tánaiste and to the officials for attending and dealing with the many queries that have been raised by members.

As we have now completed our consideration of the Revised Estimates in respect of Vote 27 and Vote 28, the clerk will send a message to that effect to the Clerk of the Dáil, in accordance with Standing Orders 101 and 102.

The only other item I have to deal with is to acknowledge the fact that I have been informed that Tommy Byrne, our clerical assistant, is leaving. It is with sadness that I receive that news because he has been a vital member of our team over the past year or more. While he is not leaving the Houses of the Oireachtas, he is leaving our committee and we wish him continued success in his career. We also thank him for a vital service he has provided to us over his time as a member of the foreign affairs and defence team.