This meeting has been called to consider the Revised Estimates for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Dáil ordered on 18 December 2013 that the following Revised Estimates for public services be referred to this committee for consideration: Vote 27- International Co-operation, and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade. I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello, and the senior officials, including the Secretary General, from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to this meeting of the select committee. The purpose of this meeting is for the select committee to consider the Revised Estimates for the Department. The select committee, when considering the Estimates, will do so under the following headings: context and impact indicators, key outputs, financial and human resource inputs;and a preliminary exchange on the allocations and targets. It is proposed that we begin with Vote 28 and that we examine it programme by programme and then proceed to Vote 27. I call the Tánaiste to make a short opening statement on Vote 28.
Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised)
I am pleased to present to the Chairman and the members of the select committee the Revised Estimates for my Department for 2014. I hope the committee will welcome and endorse the priorities and output targets we have set ourselves for 2014. In my remarks I will focus on Vote 28 and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, will address Vote 27.
I appreciate that a formal introductory statement is not required but with the Chairman's permission, I will confine myself to some initial comments outlining the situation facing the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at this juncture, before I introduce the various programmes managed by my Department. I also propose to address briefly yesterday's important announcement by Government of its decision to provide for a significant expansion of the State’s diplomatic and consular network.
For 2014, the committee will be aware that the overall Estimate for the Foreign Affairs and Trade group of Votes is €691 million. This compares with an Estimate of €714 million the previous year, and represents a reduction of the order of 3.2%. The allocation for spending on administration has decreased from €187 million to €175 million, a 6.2% reduction. Much of the decrease reflects the discontinuance of additional funding for EU Presidency costs, and I am satisfied that, despite the continuing tight budgetary situation, we can deliver our targets for 2014.
In the course of 2014, we will be building on Ireland’s success in exiting the EU-IMF programme. We have been working towards this objective for the past three years and its achievement is an important milestone on the road towards Ireland’s recovery. My Department has been centrally involved, in particular through the agency of our diplomatic and consular network abroad, in this achievement. The task of restoring our economic fortunes and of recovering lost ground internationally is not yet completed, however, and there is no room for complacency. At the same time, important opportunities and challenges are unfolding as we drive forward the process of economic renewal.
I will outline in a moment the steps I propose that will assist us in achieving our goal of sustainable economic growth into the future. It seems a long while ago, Chairman, since I met the select committee to present the Revised Estimates for 2013 – even if it was only July last year. I will be brief therefore in taking stock of our situation as we face into the challenges of a new year. I am pleased to report that we achieved our priorities and targets under Vote 28 within budget and that savings will be returned to the Exchequer. It bears repetition that Ireland’s Presidency of the EU was carried out very successfully and well within budget. The Presidency required an intensive effort on the part of the entire Government service. I again record my appreciation of all involved with “Team Ireland” in the delivery of that important task. The successful achievement of the Presidency – both in policy and organisational terms – is compelling evidence that Ireland remains an effective and constructive member of the EU family. It is a further important step in restoring our international reputation and one that provides us with strong momentum as we begin 2014.
Similarly, as we face the next stage of the process of economic growth and renewal, let me recall the very successful meeting of the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin in October. The meeting made many valuable proposals that will be followed up on this year. An underlying theme in our contacts with the global Irish community is that if Ireland wishes to be successful, we must go out to meet and engage with the world. We cannot afford the luxury of waiting for the world to come to us. In this regard also, I congratulate you, Chairman, and your colleagues on the report of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, The Contribution of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to Economic Recovery, which was published just before Christmas. The report is an excellent and timely contribution that will inform our work programme for 2014 and beyond. Its overall theme is consistent with our views and its recommendations are being taken on board to the greatest extent possible.
I hope you will allow me to mention also, Chairman, the review of Ireland’s foreign policy and external relations that we are now undertaking. Ireland’s foreign policy is an essential element of Government. Through it we pursue our economic prosperity and promote peace and security in Ireland and the wider world. The Department and our embassy network play a key role in promoting our values and interests abroad and in ensuring Ireland is a respected international actor. The review of our foreign policy and external relations, which I launched last October, is examining how we continue to derive the maximum benefit from international engagement. I know that committee members have been considering some of these issues and I look forward to receiving their input to the review in due course.
Before I proceed to introduce the individual programmes under Vote 28, I wish to refer to yesterday’s announcement by Government of its decision to expand the State’s diplomatic and consular service. This is the moment, given our exit from the EU-IMF programme, to take stock of the role and potential of our embassy network to serve the State in meeting our strategic interests – including our economic interests – into the future. The expansion announced by the Government yesterday will maximise potential in the areas of trade, investment, tourism and educational exchanges, all of which will be the drivers of economic growth into the next generation. On foot of the Government’s decision, eight new missions will be added to the existing network of 73 missions abroad. This takes account of the scale of the existing network, which is much smaller than many similar-sized countries with which we must compete. The expansion addresses obvious gaps and is targeted at locations where the missions can have greatest impact. The new missions are put forward under three broad headings: economic, trade and cultural significance; maintaining our influence with EU member states and; reorienting the geographic focus of our aid effort. The new missions will be small operations and there will be no additional net cost to the Exchequer. The expansion will be accommodated within existing financial resources.
The new missions will include, in the Far East, embassies in Thailand and Indonesia which are strong emerging economies that have recorded impressive growth rates in recent years. In addition, a consulate general is proposed in Hong Kong, which is a leading international trading and services hub and plays a key role in China’s modernisation programme. In Latin America, a consulate general is proposed in São Paolo, which is the commercial capital of Brazil, the world’s sixth biggest economy, and is of major interest to the State agencies. In North America, a consulate general will be opened in Austin, Texas. That will increase our capacity in another important region that cannot adequately be served from a distance. In Europe, Croatia is the EU’s newest member and the new embassy will be a channel for direct contact with its government and administration. In Africa, the new mission in Kenya - together with the upgrading of the office in Freetown, Sierra Leone - will enable Irish Aid to extend its reach and pursue the State’s aims in accordance with our new development co-operation policy: One World, One Future.
It is proposed also to close the embassy in Maseru, Lesotho, and to implement the aid programme there from the embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. Kenya is an important regional centre and, apart from its significance in terms of aid, presents significant economic opportunities. I said at the time that we closed the embassy to the Holy See that I would keep the matter under review. The time is now right to establish a modest embassy, staffed by one mid-ranking diplomat, with a particular mandate to follow the activities of the Holy See on the development and human rights front. My Department is now in the process of implementing the Government’s decision of yesterday, including with regard to seeking the approval of the relevant foreign governments in this matter. May I say that there are of course other locations – members will understand that I do not wish to list them – where, I greatly regret, it is not possible to open direct diplomatic relations at this time, due to resource constraints. We will, of course, keep the mission network under constant review.
The committee will note from our stated targets that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will, over the coming year, sustain our efforts with regard to promoting Ireland’s economic and trade interests; the achievement of reconciliation and co-operation on this island; advancing our national priorities for international peace security and human rights; the provision of passport and consular services to our citizens; and continued engagement with, and support for, the Irish community abroad. I now propose to introduce each of the programmes under Vote 28 which will include a brief overview of achievements in 2013 and our priorities for 2014. Do you wish me to proceed, Chairman?
I thank the Tánaiste for his introduction. Yesterday's announcement was good news for this country. It is welcome that in spite of the difficult circumstances that we have extended our embassies, in particular in Asia, and a new one in Zagreb in Croatia, as well as extending to the US and other areas. It is very good news despite the tight budgetary constraints that exist because there is no doubt that our embassies play a very important role in our economic recovery. We will move on to Vote 28. I call on the Tánaiste to make some brief introductory remarks on the promotion of Ireland's economic and trade interests in Europe and internationally.
My Department’s commitment to advancing Ireland’s trade and economic interests in Europe and internationally is set out under programme A. The amount allocated for the programme in 2014 is €48.1 million, a reduction of €6 million or 17% on the 2013 provision. As previously noted, this reduction reflects the discontinuance of additional funds that were allocated in 2013 for Ireland’s EU Presidency. I have addressed already the importance of the State’s diplomatic and consular network in advancing our economic and trade interests. I will now turn briefly to trade promotion which is a central element of this programme. Trade missions are an important element of the national promotional effort and, in 2013, a total of 18 ministerial-led Enterprise Ireland trade missions visited countries which have been identified as priority markets for Irish exporting companies. It is envisaged that this level of activity will be sustained in 2014. These trade missions are supported actively by our trade and promotion division at headquarters and by our diplomatic missions on the ground.
In 2013, ministerial-led trade missions secured more than €200 million in new or additional contracts for Irish business. This included an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Turkey, which I led in April, during which contracts worth more than €30 million were agreed. Similarly, the recent Enterprise Ireland trade mission to the Middle East, led by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, and supported by our embassies in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, saw the announcement of 95 new jobs in Ireland and new contracts and business developments worth €65 million. The St. Patrick’s Day period presents very important opportunities for promotional activity by the embassy network. Over the 2013 St. Patrick’s Day period, the Taoiseach and I, and 18 Ministers, travelled to 21 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia for a series of trade, investment and tourism-focused programmes. It is intended to maintain a similar level of promotional activity during the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day period.
The Government’s trade strategy sets out targets in trade, tourism and investment to be met by 2015, as well as a programme of actions conducive to achieving these targets. My Department is leading a short, focused review of the Government trade, tourism and investment strategy in close collaboration with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, other relevant Departments and State agencies. The review is now nearing completion and it is envisaged that it will be presented in the coming weeks.
I thank the Tánaiste. I urge Members to keep their interventions brief and to ask questions.
We have to get through six or seven different sections, therefore, there will be ample time for questions. I will take questions on Vote 28, trade interests. I call Deputy Brendan Smith.
I thank the Tánaiste for his introductory remarks. I welcome the Government announcement yesterday on the expansion of the Irish diplomatic network, which is very important in terms of the locations that got either a new embassy or a new consulate.
With regard to trade promotion, is it only Enterprise Ireland trade missions that work in association with the Department? Is there a differentiation in regard to IDA Ireland trade missions?
When the Government Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy was launched in 2010, the lead Department was the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Is the Tánaiste's Department now the lead Department in that area? I heard mention of a 50% allocation from his Department in respect of the overall funding towards that work on trade missions.
I will begin by making a point I made this time last year. The Minister, the Minister of State and all the officials are present. They are the powers that be when it comes to foreign affairs but there appears to be a huge rush to get through everything that is before us. That does not sit easy with me when we talk about parliamentary oversight. The Minister comes in and presents, and I do not have any difficulty with what he is presenting, but it is almost as if this is a rubber stamp process.
In terms of the figures, and taking the first which refers to promoting Ireland's economic and trade interests in Europe and internationally, we do not have a specific idea as to where that money is going or what it is doing. General issues are referred to and I have a difficulty with that. We are in an era where we are examining so many abuses of Government funding and I do not want to be a member of a committee that discovers something like that. I do not believe we will but there is a need for in-depth oversight.
I, too, welcome the diplomatic missions that are being opened. As a member of the delegation that visited Iran, we are very disappointed that we have not reopened the embassy in that country. The ambassador was in this morning-----
We will have questions on that.
Yes, but I want to make a point. How much money is spent on having an honorary consul in a country as opposed to having a small diplomatic mission? It was a narrow view not to reopen that embassy. At every meeting we attended the people expressed regret that we do not have an embassy. If we want to trade and promote relations, and Iran is a main player in the region at other levels, we need an embassy in that country. I was disappointed to read about resource constraints in the Tánaiste's speech in terms of opening other diplomatic missions.
With other members I welcome the Tánaiste's announcement on the eight new embassies and consulates. He spoke about creating new influential trading relationships in emerging markets in South America, Africa and Asia but at the same time we are also involved in an ongoing review of foreign policy. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is requesting submissions from the public and civil society yet the Tánaiste made this announcement before the deadline at the start of next month. Will he not agree that this shows the Department is deciding its own policy and not taking on board the ideas and suggestions in the many submissions being received? A number of people telephoned me to say it is crazy that the Tánaiste made this announcement when we are in the middle of a review. I accept that embassies are a key part of foreign affairs but the argument could be made that the Tánaiste should have waited another two or three weeks if he was sincere about this overall review.
I am also disappointed about the decision regarding the embassy in Tehran. I regard it as an omission. There is no debate regarding the benefit of opening an embassy in these areas. That would be helpful as part of the overall discussion of the review. The fact that it is done and dusted is a missed opportunity if the Tánaiste is sincere about involving individuals, groups and parties in that regard.
The Tánaiste took note of the report we did regarding the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which is important for us.
I will begin by asking the Tánaiste why we heard of this announcement yesterday morning? He will be conscious that the members of this committee are dealing in depth with the suggestion that we review the foreign policy and external relations of the Department. I put that on the agenda but I woke up one morning only to read in The Irish Times, which is delivered to my home, that this policy review was taking place. What way is that to communicate to the committee? The committee is due to report in early February. I would hope that when we submit our report to the Tánaiste it will substantially support a verbal and written contribution that was made by Graham Butler, who is based at the University of Copenhagen. He told us that in many ways the Tánaiste and the Government are subservient to this committee. I was surprised to read that a substantial number of new embassies are to open and join with consulates general when we were bringing in expert witnesses to debate foreign policy and external relations.
I support what the Tánaiste is doing in opening the new embassies but I am sceptical that all of that work can be done within the existing budget. We talk about oversight but in terms of what we are supposed to be debating now, one would want a team of workers to try to read what is in this huge document. Is the Tánaiste aware that the administrative budget for 2014 is down 23% compared to 2008? We have this magnificent programme of expanding the services of the diplomatic corps, which is welcome, but the administrative budget is way down. How many of these embassies will be opened two, three, four or five years from now? Is this an overall plan that envisages opening the consulates general and the embassies? We told people in Tehran that the reason we closed their embassy was because of financial constraints but their ambassador woke up this morning to the news that not only is the position changed drastically but that all these additional embassies are to open. They would rightly argue that before the ink was dry on the report we will send to the Department, they persevered in Ireland, notwithstanding that we closed the embassy in Tehran, and provided excellent supports for the opening of the beef and sheepmeat industries. They are waking up this morning and wondering, having received an Irish delegation and given its members fulsome support in entering the arena of international diplomacy, why we are opening embassies in countries that do not even have an embassy in Ireland. I am sure they are of the view, rightly, that if we believe Iran is evolving and that it is the centre of a region with a population of 800 million people, it is worthwhile considering what they have to say.
Our report will be ready in early February. I hope it will be an important report but I would like to register my request for an explanation as to the timing of, first, the press statement from the Tánaiste's Department in The Irish Times that he was about to carry out the foreign policy and external relations review and, second, the announcement that all these embassies will open at no extra cost. All of them will be within budget, notwithstanding the huge cuts that have affected the Department's administrative budget.
The Tánaiste gave a good report on the visit to Turkey. Will he give us a report on the trade visit to India and whether it was successful?
I thank the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister of State for their attendance and the report the Tánaiste has placed before the House. I do not happen to live in a place in which The Irish Times delivers a copy-----
A country edition.
Can we please have questions, as otherwise we will be here all day?
This is related. While it could be an oversight on my part or that of The Irish Times, I compliment the Tánaiste and his colleagues on the success of the Irish Presidency. To what extent has the Department quantified the value of the Irish Presidency in the worldwide community in promoting Ireland Inc., its trade and trade potential? The point made by the Tánaiste on engaging with the world is of huge importance. Ireland should never remain stagnant in the way in which it engages with the world. In that regard, I welcome the extension of embassies and consular appointments worldwide on the basis of emerging world economies. Nothing remains as it is, nor should it. Arising from that point and having regard to performance in recent years, to what degree does the Tánaiste expect these new appointments to be of benefit to Ireland Inc. with regard to promotion of the economy? I welcome the reinstatement of the Vatican embassy, which is a positive decision. Everything changes; nothing is forever, which is the way it should be. Moreover, henceforth nothing will remain forever. There may be changes in the future to extend further diplomatic services worldwide, which would be of huge benefit to the country as a whole. In particular, it is important in diplomatic circles that Ireland respond to events around it in a positive way. This is what has happened and I compliment the Tánaiste in that regard.
The Tánaiste has referred to the need to compete and in the aftermath of the exit from the bailout programme, to what extent do he and his colleagues expect to be in a better position to compete worldwide? This has been the subject of many parliamentary questions I have tabled to the Tánaiste and his Cabinet colleagues in the past couple of years, particularly in the context of economic recovery in Ireland and the degree to which Ireland remains competitive. The Tánaiste has mentioned this and it is of huge importance.
The final point I wish to make concerns focus. The Tánaiste made a very important point on focus which I do not believe members fully understand or appreciate. I refer to the focus of this jurisdiction on its worldwide relations and worldwide economies, the opportunities that present themselves and the degree to which Ireland focuses on these opportunities as or, more importantly, before they emerge and putting in place the necessary provisions.
In respect of the diplomatic missions already undertaken and to which the Tánaiste also referred, to what degree can Ireland's diplomatic missions in the international arena be compared with those of other jurisdictions?
I presume the Deputy asked the last question as it relates to trade.
First, I thank members for their welcome for the Government's decision yesterday. That decision and my recommendations to the Government were greatly informed by the exchanges I had had with this committee in recent years. We have discussed a number of times the extent to which Ireland, when compared with other countries of similar size, maintains a small presence abroad. Ireland has a total of 73 missions, with 56 embassies, while the Netherlands has 58 missions, with 1,500 diplomats in the field, compared with Ireland's figure of slightly more than 300. We are in a competitive environment and one can make similar comparisons elsewhere. The Government has been putting a particular focus on what is called economic diplomacy, that is, promoting trade and, in particular, Ireland's economic interests abroad. That is the reason, when the Government was formed, the then Department of Foreign Affairs was given the added mandate to co-ordinate the trade effort across government. A number of Departments and Government agencies are involved in the trade efforts of the State. Obviously, these include the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Education and Skills and Transport, Tourism and Sport. The State agencies include IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland. That is quite a range of bodies and the Government co-ordinates all of this through the Export Trade Council, which I chair. It is responsible for the review of trade strategy and, as Deputy Brendan Smith noted, that strategy was published at the end of 2010. It is now being reviewed and I expect the outcome of that review will be considered at the next meeting of the Export Trade Council which will take place in February, following which I expect to bring a report to the Government.
It may interest committee members, to get a flavour of the extent of the work done over the course of 2013, that under the trade strategy, 27 co-ordinated plans have been developed with the State agencies for Ireland's priority markets. We undertook 136 high level visits, with a significant economic and promotional dimension, across 52 countries last year. There were 656 events and engagements promoting Irish tourism and The Gathering directly to almost 300,000 people from the time of its worldwide launch in March 2012. There were 661 engagements to promote Ireland's economic positions to officeholders internationally. There were 734 specific engagements to facilitate trade and investment supporting Irish jobs. In the St. Patrick's Day period alone, there were 70 focused company engagements and business events involving more than 8,500 Irish and international company representatives. There were engagements with 1,152 representatives of the international media. Ireland was promoted directly to 778,000 people assembled in various audiences over the course of 2013. The promotion of economic messages through op-ed articles, interviews and media work was done to an audience estimated to have been in excess of 53 million. Moreover, access was renewed for Irish products to nine international markets, with a combined population of 1.5 billion people.
As for the specific questions raised, Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked about the control of expenditure. Apart from the presentation of the Estimates which is done by both the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello, and me, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade comes under the ambit of the Comptroller and Auditor General. It is subject to examination by the Committee of Public Accounts which the Secretary General attends as Accounting Officer. Moreover, in respect of the aid programme, we have an auditing system with which the committee is reasonably familiar. The Department is in the process of appointing a financial controller, which, again, will enhance its financial governance.
On the issue of Iran which has been raised by Deputies Maureen O'Sullivan, Seán Crowe and Eric Byrne, I gave consideration to the reopening of the embassy in Tehran. The Department's consideration of the review of missions and where they are located has been under way for some time. It has been under way over the course of the last year, in particular, especially since the completion of the Presidency. Tehran, obviously, was one of the capitals to which consideration was given. Were Ireland opening more embassies, we would be positive about it. The situation in Iran is changing and I greatly welcome what is happening on the nuclear issue. As members are aware, last Monday the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union relaxed the sanctions on Iran as a consequence of the progress that had been made.
I want to make it clear that we are positive about the prospects for reopening an embassy in Tehran. It is an issue to which I would like to be able to return as the situation improves.
Deputy Eric Byrne is correct that the administrative budget is significantly down since 2008. That is due to a combination of factors, the first of which is the reductions in pay and the number of staff in the Department. It is a case of the Department and its staff producing more with less. A great tribute is due to the staff of the Department who have done an outstanding job, particularly in the past couple of years when we have been in crisis and trying to get Ireland's message out.
The intention is that we will open the embassies this year. This is the programme for 2014. As Deputy Eric Byrne will be aware, in some cases we must rent accommodation. The agreement of the host countries where the embassies and consulates will be located will be have to be secured also. Barring any unforeseen obstacle, our intention is to do this in 2014.
As I said, this is an exercise that has been under way for some time and it has been informed. We have published the review of aid policy, by which the exercise has been informed. It has also been informed by the committee's report on the work of the Department in the economic area which was presented before Christmas. It has been informed by the discussions I have had here. I also have available to me the draft review of trade policy and I am in a position to see where it is going. We will look at it again in the light of the overall review of the country's foreign policy, something that is down for later in the year.
On the Irish Presidency, in response to Deputy Bernard J. Durkan, it is difficult to quantify the value achieved because reputational value is difficult to measure and has a long tail. The cost of the previous Irish Presidency in 2004 was €110 million. We set out to do it for half that figure in the case of the Presidency in 2013. As it turns out, we have done better than this. We estimate that the total cost of the Presidency was €42.5 million, 40% of the cost incurred in 2004.
I thank the Tánaiste.
Will the Chairman allow brief supplementary questions? I only have one.
We have five more sections to deal with.
May I ask one supplementary question?
Okay, but only one, if the Deputy does not mind.
Of course, we welcome the opening of the embassies and consulates general. If it is all to happen this year, presumably, the Department must start to recruit senior men and women for these posts.
Yes.
Given the staffing numbers in the Department and the relevant qualifications and experience required, can it all be done within the year?
Yes. If the Deputy recalls, last year the Government decided to recommence recruitment in the civil and public service, including the recruitment of additional third secretaries to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. That recruitment process is under way and being conducted by the Public Appointments Service. For some time we have been looking at embassies and consulates on what we call the light model. In other words, there is one diplomat and a small number of support staff. We will see much more of this happening. We have reached agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the staffing implications of the increased number of missions.
Deputy Brendan Smith also has a brief supplementary question.
The Tánaiste mentioned that the Vatican embassy would have one mid-ranking diplomat. What number of support staff is likely to be allocated?
One, perhaps two.
We will move on to programme B - consular, passport and services for the Irish abroad. I call the Tánaiste to make some brief introductory remarks.
Under programme B, the Department provides vital passport and consular services, as well as outreach services, for Irish communities abroad. The passport service issued more than 631,000 passports in 2013, generating revenue of €38.1 million. It strives to provide a quick, secure and affordable passport service. With up to 90% of applicants in the State now using the Passport Express application process, we have been able to meet a high level of demand with quicker turnaround times. An ongoing programme of investment in passport machinery and technology is under way, with new contracts for passport booklets, passport production machinery and passport application forms awarded in 2013. I was pleased to launch the newly designed and security enhanced passport booklet in September. The committee will note a €3.3 million capital allocation for further investment in 2014 in new technology. This is intended to streamline the application process and enhance further the security and integrity of the passport application process.
The number of citizens travelling has increased in the past decade, with over 6.3 million visits abroad in 2013. The increased volume of overseas travel has seen a growing need for consular assistance and support for citizens when they meet difficulties overseas. During 2014 we expect a similar level of consular assistance to be required to last year, when over 1,500 citizens were assisted. That assistance was provided following serious consular emergencies, including deaths, arrests, kidnappings, accidents, child abductions and hospitalisations.
The Emigrant Support Programme provides funding for non-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. I am pleased to say the same level of funding is provided for in 2014 as last year, that is, €11.6 million. The organisations funded provide a range of services, from informal community networking groups for seniors to outreach services and advice in accessing entitlements. The programme also supports projects aimed at creating practical results-orientated links between Ireland and the global Irish. Projects that emerged as a consequence of the Global Irish Economic Forum, for example, include the development of Irish business networks.
Of the 631,000 passports issued last year, what proportion were issued abroad, for example, in Britain or the United States? The honorary consul service which is under review is extremely important and a service we all underestimate. Does the Tánaiste envisage that the review will advocate a substantial extension of the consulate service, in particular, throughout the United States?
Some 90% of passport applications are made through the Passport Express system. I note that one of the footnotes on programme B, on page 6, in terms of key output targets, identifies that 83% of Passport Express applications to receive passports within ten days are successful. There is a gap in that regard. I assume that the idea is that the expenditure on new technology this year will seek to address that gap and further enhance the Passport Express service. Is that the case?
I welcome the investment in passport machinery and advanced technology. If we are to deliver the service to a wider community and larger population, we need to realise we must invest on an ongoing basis. Has the investment to date achieved the proposed targets, with particular reference to the time within which a passport can be issued?
In respect of consular assistance, has demand increased in recent years? If so, having regard to past experience, is it expected that the consular assistance programme will be sufficient to meet requirements?
Having experience with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in a previous incarnation, I strongly support the programme for giving assistance to Irish communities overseas. Recognition is given to them and liaison is established with them. Is the Tánaiste satisfied with the adequacy of this recognition and support given the degree to which the Irish community overseas has expanded in recent years due to the downturn in the Irish economy?
I have a similar question. Since the number of citizens travelling abroad has increased, there are further demands on the consular service. Has the Tánaiste noticed an increase in the number of requests for assistance by those who have been forced to emigrate as opposed to those on holiday abroad?
With regard to the supports for Irish emigrants, do we fund or support the emigrant service by bringing people home permanently? I refer not only to people in distress but also to those who wish to return here to live?
The emigrant support programme is particularly welcomed by organisations in America that are doing excellent work. In addition to providing a welfare element, has the Department considered the ability to engage with the diaspora in a more constructive way in so far as emigrants might be able to vote in elections such as presidential elections? It is very common in other countries, including those we criticise all the time, such as Ukraine and Moldova. Has the Tánaiste been in a position to calculate the cost of affording all the Irish in America the right to vote? Would our embassy system be capable of managing them? Has preliminary work been done in the Department on calculating the cost involved in allowing emigrants to vote?
With regard to consular support, most parliamentarians and citizens expect there to be support for people in difficulty abroad, particularly where a loved one is killed or murdered. If someone's loved one is killed abroad and he or she feels there is a lack of support, what can he or she realistically expect from the embassy in the country in question? Are there robust structures in the Department to handle complaints or difficulties people have when dealing with embassy staff abroad?
I will address the questions thematically rather than in the order they were asked.
With regard to Deputy Smith's question, of the 630,000 passports issued last year, approximately 40,000 were issued through missions abroad. Approximately 40,000 were issued in London and a further 40,000 were issued in Northern Ireland.
Some 90% of applications are now coming through the passport express service. The objective is to have passports issued within ten working days through the passport express process. Currently, the timeframe is six to seven days. That is probably a seasonal figure because demand is not as high this time of the year. In the past, including last year, there were periods when it took 11 to 12 days during the peak season. The objective is to have passports issued within ten days and this is largely being met.
One area we are examining at present, and to which I ask the committee to give some thought, concerns the circumstances of somebody who needs a passport in a hurry. There are a number of arrangements in place in this regard. Where there is a death or family tragedy and a family member’s passport is out of date, there is an arrangement whereby a passport can be issued in a hurry. Consider, however, the circumstances that often arise in which a family going on holiday discovers on a Saturday morning or Friday evening that the passport of one family member is out of date. I have much sympathy for those in such circumstances. It presents a difficulty in that there is not an immediate emergency. We have been giving some consideration to how we might deal with this. Two difficulties arise for the passport service. First, if one prioritises such cases, it means those queuing by normal means are pushed back a bit. The second consequence concerns staffing and the associated costs. One measure we are considering is having a system whereby, if somebody is in the circumstances described, there would be an emergency service with an additional charge. It would be helpful if the committee were to give some thought to this. Let us have the benefit of the committee's views.
It is probably fair to say the demand for consular services changes. Our experience is that the biggest demand is in holiday destinations. Spain comes to mind very quickly as a country in which there is quite a demand for consular assistance. It is mainly tourists who are involved, and to some extent new emigrants, particularly in very tragic cases.
Our consular service has a very good reputation. Cases vary. There was a recent very high-profile case involving a young Irish citizen arrested on drug charges in South America. We had to arrange for an officer from our embassy in Mexico to travel to the location in question because we do not have a resident mission there. Some cases arise where there are deaths and the remains need to be repatriated. We provide assistance in that area. In many cases, people get into trouble, for one reason or another, with the law in a particular country. Our embassies work with the families concerned to ensure they have legal representation and know their rights in the country in question. Some cases involve the visiting of Irish people who are incarcerated abroad. A broad range of circumstances is covered. We are very grateful for the work of our honorary consuls, as has been mentioned.
We are currently conducting a review of the honorary consul network. Work on that review began towards the end of 2012. There has already been wide-ranging consultation involving the Department, State agencies, our missions and the honorary consuls. A draft report was submitted to my Department's management advisory committee for consideration. Consequent to this, a list of draft recommendations has been compiled. The review covers a number of key areas, including the extent of the network, possible expansion, the range of work covered by honorary consuls and the possible expansion of that role, training and resources, and financial considerations. One likely outcome of the review is guidelines on the expansion of the role of honorary consul to ensure far greater involvement in trade promotion. Once the review has been completed and recommendations are agreed, the consular division will work on implementing those recommendations in conjunction with the relevant divisions and agencies.
Deputy Durkan asked about Irish communities overseas. On the emigrant support programme, almost €6.2 million, 57% of the total, was disbursed to 110 organisations in Britain. Key recipients included the London Irish Centre, the Irish in Britain - formerly known as the Federation of Irish Societies - and Irish Community Care Merseyside. In the United States, some €1.6 million was provided to 27 organisations, the largest single recipients being the Irish International Immigrant Center in Boston, the Emerald Isle Immigration Center in New York and the Chicago Irish Immigrant Support organisation. Almost €2 million was provided to 12 organisations in Ireland, including Crosscare Migrant Project, which helps prepare Irish emigrants for life overseas as well as returning Irish emigrants. Funding is also provided for the Safe Home Programme and the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas. The GAA also received €921,000, which included €600,000 for the redevelopment of facilities at the GAA headquarters in Ruislip in London.
In response to Deputy Eric Byrne, following on from the Global Irish Economic Forum in October we are conducting a review of our diaspora policy. That is under way and due to be completed by the middle of the year. I believe that covers all the questions.
On the issue of the emergency passport response, consideration should be given to emergency response for a fee. However, it is important to pitch that fee at the correct level. If a family is going on holiday it can happen that one member of the family has an out-of-date passport. This can result in the person staying at home or the entire family staying at home. The critical issue is the extent of the fee charged. Is should not be prohibitive - it should cover the cost of the emergency passport facility but should not be so high as to close the whole thing down.
On the Irish overseas, I welcome the funding to the GAA. What about rugby, soccer and other Irish bodies abroad? Do they benefit to the same extent or to any extent? Hockey is becoming a very prominent issue.
We are talking about promoting Irish games.
I accept that, but we are talking about the Irish community abroad and games, including soccer, Gaelic games, rugby, hockey or another batting sport which has emerged in prominence I recent times.
I call Deputy Smith and ask him to be brief as we have three more issues to deal with.
I support Deputy Durkan's call for not placing a prohibitive cost on issuing a passport at very short notice. I came across a case last year where a young man was offered an interview abroad at very short notice. He had applied for his passport and it was due to be issued on the day he needed to travel. He contacted the Passport Office but was quoted an exorbitant fee - I cannot recall the exact amount - if it was to be brought forward by a day. We got it sorted through the Minister's office and he did not have to pay. Ability to pay depends on the individual's financial circumstances. If somebody is ill or there is a death in the family people are vulnerable at the time and they do not need additional costs if they can be avoided.
We are considering the matter and the committee might give some thought to it. It would be helpful to have the committee's view, first, whether we should have a system whereby an emergency passport can be secured for a fee and, second, its views as to the level at which it should be pitched.
The reason for funding the GAA is that the GAA and the clubs run by the GAA in Britain and elsewhere have in recent years particularly become the first place of call for many of the new Irish emigrants going abroad. The funding we are providing is obviously helping in the promotion of Gaelic games and the work being done by the GAA in many Irish communities abroad, but it is also providing a network particularly for new emigrants. We have a very good close collaboration with the GAA in this area. I commend the GAA, its clubs and the GAA councils abroad on the excellent work they are doing, not just in promoting the games but also in how well they work with our embassies and consulates in providing a network particularly for new Irish emigrants.
The Tánaiste should not forget the other element of cricket, soccer, etc., which also have networks. To what extent has that been considered?
It is not exclusively for any sport. The size of the commitment to the GAA is largely because of the networking arrangement, services and facilities it provides for emigrants. We integrate the emigrant support work with the good work and collaboration with it.
I wish to pay tribute to our honorary consuls. The committee has used the services of our honorary consuls on a number of occasions when we do not have a resident ambassador. I am talking about people such as Mr. Ramsey Khoury in Jordan, Mr. John Kane in Texas and the honorary consul in Tehran, Mr. Feizollahi, whom I met last week. These people do a wonderful job on behalf of our country and we should pay tribute to them. It is not a paid job and they do it for Ireland.
Yesterday we met Mr. Brian O'Dwyer from the Emerald Isle Immigration Center in New York and he was very thankful for the funding provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
I thank the officials in the passport office for the work they do. The new appointment system in that office is working extremely well. None of us have the level of problems we had with the passport office in the past. There will always be emergencies, and in those cases the officials in the passport office do their very best to assist those affected. The head of the Passport Office, Mr. Joseph Nugent, will appear before the committee on Wednesday, 29 January. We can take the opportunity to ask him about what was discussed today.
I thank the Tánaiste and I ask the Secretary General to thank his officials in the passport office for the great work they do; it is a very good system.
We move to programme C, which is reconciliation and co-operation on this island. I call the Tánaiste.
Programme C deals with matters relating to Northern Ireland and delivers funding for projects to bolster peace and reconciliation on this island. The maintenance of peace and stability in Northern Ireland remains an absolute priority for the Government. We intend to continue with a similar level of engagement in 2014 as last year when some 16 official visits were held. On the east-west relationship, it is our objective to maintain a strong Irish-British partnership in support of reconciliation and recovery. Overall, our contacts with the British Government remain good, with 22 official visits to London and regional priority locations in 2013. A similar level of engagement is envisaged for 2014 with the addition of the highly significant State visit in April.
The reconciliation and anti-sectarianism funds strengthen the foundations for the peace process through increased mutual understanding and reconciliation on the island. The allocation for 2014 is €2.7 million, which is the same as in 2013. In 2013, a total of 267 applications for funding were received. The 2013 allocation was fully disbursed and grants were awarded to support some 152 projects.
The objectives of the International Fund for Ireland are in line with the high-level goals of the Department to promote the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement by supporting the effective operations of its institutions; strengthening North-South co-operation; and working for lasting reconciliation.
The allocation for 2014 is €150,000, the same level as last year.
Why is there a substantial increase in subhead A.2 for non-pay for administration?
Is it possible to divert more moneys to particular initiatives to assist North-South co-operation? We all have been in community and resource centres and facilities in Belfast and elsewhere which have been funded by the taxpayer. It is most unfortunate agreement has not been secured on the Haass proposals. When I met some groups recently, they suggested the proposals should have had some specific investment initiatives centred on the interface areas. We know there are so-called dissidents exploiting the situation in these areas. We would all be concerned if there were any going back to the bad old days and violence increasing. In 2013, we saw the thuggery and violence on the streets of Belfast which did all of this island serious damage. I welcome the provision of funding of last year’s level. If it could be increased, I could see great return on it. It is important to maintain contact with the different communities across all the Six Counties, not just in Belfast and Derry but in the rural communities as well.
Has the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade proposed any new initiatives in the area of reconciliation to bed down the peace process this year? Does he see the Narrow Water bridge project as an important initiative in bringing communities together, as well as opening up that whole area?
I take it the reason the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade did not answer my question on the costs for the honorary consul in Teheran is because there is a review under way. I will wait until he has all the information on that one.
There is no doubt there is increasing tension in areas in Northern Ireland. I have discussed the prisoner issue with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade before. What we are seeing on our prison visits to the North is an increase in the number of prisoners left on remand for a lengthy time. That is not doing the peace process any good. We have met loyalist prisoners too and they also have issues. Is there anyone working on these issues? Is there any way our office can be more proactive on this issue before it gets out of hand?
In 2013, some 267 applications for funding were received for the reconciliation and anti-sectarianism funds with grants awarded to support some 152 projects. What criteria are used to determine which applications are accepted and those which are not?
It is hard to imagine in this modern age that people would be still fighting over emblems and flags, but that is Northern Ireland. Is the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade confident that the moneys he is putting in to create reconciliation and break down sectarianism, moneys divided between the loyalist and republican-Nationalist communities, are not actually reinforcing sectarianism and division? Has he any notion as to what kind of middle ground is being gained by the moneys that have gone into Northern Ireland since the peace process? It is one matter getting the guns and bombs off the street but another getting people to recognise a society which is not based on being either a Protestant or Catholic.
This is one of the most important parts of our foreign relations and national programmes. I strongly support pursuing all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement vigorously, ensuring we maintain a hands-on approach, establishing new contacts, as well as embellishing existing contacts, and that we continue the targets set out. To break down sectarianism, suspicion, hatred and tradition is a mammoth task. It takes a significant amount in financial and physical commitment. I hope this will continue and be accelerated for the simple reason that we get only one shot at these matters. We asked the people, both North and South, to support the Agreement through a referendum which they did. If we fail as a society to respond adequately to these issues that present themselves, regardless of their origin, then we will have failed. In future, consideration should be given to responding to an even greater extent than we have done so far and adopting a more hands-on approach. We must ensure that at ground level, where reconciliation is hugely important, that the communities which find themselves in disparate - sometimes even desperate - positions recognise help is at hand.
The goals of the International Fund for Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement need to be reviewed. In the aftermath of Haass, there is a need for a review of the objectives of the peace process, the emerging challenges and the extent to which the Irish and British Governments can get involved without off-siding the communities in Northern Ireland. It is important for us to realise that this problem will not go away unless we assist the process already in place. That means we must evolve the process and stick with it. If we do not do that, we will be criticised for it in the future.
The increase in the non-pay subhead is in anticipation of the forthcoming State visit to the UK and the new consulates, such as the one in Austin, Texas.
We want to ensure the reconciliation fund is targeted in support of an agreement. We will also support the International Fund for Ireland work, which has a role to play. In last year’s European multi-annual financial framework, we secured agreement on the PEACE IV programme which will provide €150 million. We will be deciding how to target this programme over 2014.
The Government and the Northern Ireland Executive continue to support the proposal for the Narrow Water bridge project. I understand that this is now back with the local authorities for revised design work. We will have to see what the outcome of that process will be.
The honorary consuls are not paid.
It is unpaid, honorary work. They retain a portion of the visa fees they get. The Deputy asked about a particular honorary consul. I do not have the answer here but I will get it and reply to the Deputy by letter.
In respect of Deputy O'Sullivan's question about prisoners, it is fair to say that some progress has been made. Some of the people about whom we were talking in the early part of last year have been released. It is obviously something we continue to work on. Our Anglo-Irish division and the Belfast secretariat work on this issue. Our officials here and in Belfast and in London on occasions work on the issue of prisoners.
The criteria for reconciliation funds are published online and are available to all the organisations. The applications must satisfy those criteria. Some of the applications that have come in do not satisfy the criteria, which explains why they do not get through. We explain the criteria to the organisations as the need arises.
In response to Deputy Byrne, we are very conscious of the risk that any funding provided through our Department would be used to reinforce divisions. We co-ordinate very closely with other funders to ensure that funding is directed at reducing the impact of sectarianism and division. If one looks back over 2013, one can see it was the disturbances on the streets and problems over flags and parades that hit the headlines, usually where there are division issues. However, there is a considerable amount of good work being done. I met women's groups in Derry working on a cross-community basis to deal with issues relating to drug abuse and the kind of social problems that we all know about and experience in our own constituencies. A great deal of work is being done on a cross-community basis. One can see it in the work being done in the Skainos centre in east Belfast such as courses in the Irish language and Irish culture. Quite an amount of work is ongoing on a cross-community basis and we work very strongly to support that in every way we can. We are going to continue to work with the British government. I speak regularly with Theresa Villiers, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, about our work together. I spoke to her as recently as last Sunday and a few times last week. We are in regular contact with her and the Northern Ireland Executive. Deputy Crowe mentioned new initiatives on reconciliation. We launched a very exciting project recently that was hosted by Google. It involves the digitisation of First World War records for the entire island. I was pleased to launch that with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. I thank the members of the committee who were present on that occasion.
I thank the Tánaiste. We wish President Higgins well on his state visit to the UK next April. The trade mission between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland, which was announced yesterday, is an important initiative.
Justice for the Forgotten appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement last week. Its representatives highlighted the difficulty it faced with regard to funding and spoke about the Irish and British Governments looking at the difficulties faced by victims in this part of the island. It sees itself very much as a victims' group but it is outside the parameters of funding under PEACE IV. Perhaps that is one of the new initiatives that could be looked at.
I compliment the Tánaiste on his speech to the North-South Interparliamentary Association in Cambridge last year. It was an excellent performance.
I thank Deputy Durkan for that compliment. I will now address programme D - international peace, security and human rights. My Department's commitment to international peace, security and human rights is channelled through programme D, which has a total allocation of over €74 million. This represents an increase of €4 million over last year. It is anticipated that in 2014, there will be increased expenditure on the mandatory contributions to international organisations of which Ireland is a member. A total of €46 million is allocated in respect of contributions to international organisations such as the United Nations, including in support of peacekeeping operations.
We will continue to advance human rights priorities through our membership of the UN human rights council in 2014 building on our solid record of achievement last year. In 2013, we had a highly visible and active first year on the council. Important resolutions were adopted pursuant to Irish national initiatives on creating and maintaining a safe and enabling environment for civil society and on a human rights–based approach to preventable mortality for children under the age of five. As part of our EU Presidency, we also led on a number of important resolutions that were adopted, including on the rights of the child and freedom of religion or belief.
We will continue to promote international peace and stability, including through the development of the EU common foreign and security policy, CFSP, in 2014. This will build on the very great effort invested by our Presidency teams in Dublin and Brussels on CFSP matters last year. A number of high level and working group meetings were hosted very productively in Dublin, including the informal Foreign Affairs Council in March.
We continue to engage closely with the UN and to contribute to its work in targeted policy areas such as disarmament and Security Council Resolution 1325 on women and peace and security. We will continue our efforts to make the UN and other multilateral institutions more effective in facing global regional and development challenges. Disarmament and non-proliferation issues will remain a priority in 2014 building on our active participation in the international disarmament and non-proliferation process up to this point. This includes our co-chairing discussions on clearance issues under the convention on cluster munitions last year. We also participated actively in negotiating the new arms trade treaty which was adopted by the UN General Assembly last April and signed on behalf of Ireland by my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for trade and development, Deputy Costello, on 3 June. We expect to deposit our instrument of ratification in March.
Does Deputy O'Sullivan wish to speak?
Not just yet.
Is our contribution to international organisations based on our GNP at a particular time or do we have any input into determining the amount we pay to international organisations? When we are talking about international organisations, it would be remiss of us if we did not mention the desperate humanitarian situation, loss of life, murder and mayhem in Syria. Perhaps it is a matter we can discuss with the Minister of State with responsibility for trade and development as well. The pictures we saw late last night through some of the international television channels were really frightening. Talk about inhumanity. The Tánaiste assured us during Question Time that he will continue to highlight the urgency of reaching a resolution regarding the Syrian crisis at each Foreign Affairs Council meeting. I am sure the international community would be critical of the UN and the lack of a Security Council resolution. It is an issue we need to keep highlighting, as well as the non-functioning of the UN at certain times during humanitarian crises throughout the world.
Does Deputy Byrne wish to speak?
No comment.
The European Council was mentioned during discussions in the Dáil yesterday. One issue that was raised concerned the development of drones. Is any of this funding going towards these organisations and the development of that within Europe? Does the Tánaiste see Ireland as having a role in the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons? For many years, there were initiatives on this between Russia and the US.
Nuclear weapons have spread to other countries. Will Ireland be taking any sort of initiative in this regard? A group of Irish NGOs came together last week to work on the issue of nuclear weapons and to consider how Ireland can progress the campaign to remove these weapons of mass destruction from the face of the earth.
International peace, security and human rights are current issues because wherever one looks there are problems leading to human rights abuses, deprivation and atrocities. I agree with Deputy Smith's comments on the efficacy of the UN. Ireland has an exemplary record in this area but some of our colleagues at the UN, as well as certain of the agencies with which we operate, appear to have lost their ability to respond to situations. The UN is no longer capable of dealing with some of the threatening forces that have emerged, with the result that such forces believe they can operate with impunity. Our first experience of this issue was during the war in Bosnia, when the international community was challenged by a particular individual who knew the international community was powerless to deal with him. It so happened that it was possible for America to intervene through NATO, however. To what extent can we focus on the international situation and, mindful of the danger of intervening in the affairs of a sovereign state, undermine the ability of certain actors to violate human rights with impunity? How best can we focus our attention on that area?
We make mandatory contributions worth €46 million to international organisations. Have we any say in how this money is allocated and is it spent in ways that are in keeping with our values? The bureaucracy of an organisation like the United Nations must give rise to massive administration costs, as opposed to money that could be given in direct aid. When we negotiate trade agreements, human rights and workers' conditions have to be included. We must do our best to lead by example on those issues.
A number of speakers referred to the contributions we make to international organisations. Ireland's payments to the United Nations comprise mandatory contributions to the regular budget, the capital master plan, the International Criminal Court, the peacekeeping budget and tribunals. Countries' payments to the UN are based on a formula for the scale of assessment for member states which is reviewed at three yearly intervals. For the period 2013-15, Ireland's scale of assessment decreased from 0.498% to 0.418%. This reduction in our assessment by 16.1% reflects our economic contraction of recent years. The formula is based on GNP, and different formulae apply in respect of other international organisations. We can provide a briefing on the matter if members wish.
On the issue raised by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, our view is that any money we contribute to international organisations should be used for the purpose for which it is intended. Clearly we want to see efficiency and reform apply to international organisations, just as it does to our own public service. I will ask the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Costello, to deal with the humanitarian dimensions.
In regard to Deputy Durkan's question on impunity, we have made it clear that the individuals who have committed atrocities or are responsible for war crimes in Syria should be brought before the International Criminal Court. We were glad that progress was made by the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons, OPCW, on dealing with chemical weapons in Syria. I will be in The Hague this Friday to meet the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs and I will use that opportunity to discuss with the OPCW what it has been doing in Syria. We support its work in this regard and have made a financial contribution towards it.
On nuclear weapons, Ireland has long been a leader in the campaign for nuclear disarmament. We are known for our position and we play an active role in this regard at the United Nations. On the issue of drones, unmanned aircraft can be used for peaceful and useful purposes, such as surveillance and search and rescue, as well as in warfare. We can be proud of the role we play at the United Nations, particularly in respect of our peacekeeping efforts. I pay tribute to the men and women who are serving abroad on peacekeeping work, including the members of the Defence Forces who took over responsibility for the UNDOF mission in the Golan Heights in the latter part of last year.
We will proceed to deal with the final part of Vote 28, which is programme E, appropriations-in-aid.
The primary source of income for the Department comes from passport applications, which amounted to €38 million in 2013. Total income under appropriations-in-aid was €47 million last year, including receipts in respect of visas and other consular services. We anticipate a similar level of receipts in 2014.
On appropriations-in-aid, the return to the Exchequer is not available to the Department. Given that the level of fees in respect of passports and visas, which make up the vast bulk the revenue, is set out in statutory instruments, it is unlikely that members have questions in this area. As that completes Vote 28, we will proceed to deal with Vote 27, international co-operation and poverty and hunger reduction. I invite the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to make a brief opening statement.
I welcome this opportunity to present the 2014 Revised Estimate for Vote 27, international co-operation. I will briefly outline our plans for 2014. Vote 27 covers the main elements of the Government’s international development assistance programme, commonly known as Irish Aid. The Vote provides the funding necessary to achieve the second of the Department’s high level goals, namely, to contribute to the reduction of global poverty and hunger, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa.
For 2014, the Government has provided almost €600 million for official development assistance, ODA, of which €479 million will be administered under Vote 27 and the remaining €120 million through contributions to international development by other Departments and Ireland’s share of the EU development co-operation budget. The 2014 ODA allocation represents a further significant contribution by Ireland to international development. Over the past several years, and despite the very challenging economic circumstances facing our country, the Government has largely managed to protect and stabilise the ODA budget. We are proud of this major achievement, which is a firm indication of our commitment, and indeed that of the Irish people, to the aid programme.
The Government is committed to increasing our aid spend, measured as a percentage of gross national income, GNI, when economic circumstances allow. In 2014 it is expected to be approximately 0.43%. Our development co-operation programme is guided by our policy on international development launched last year, One World One Future. Our focus will be on the three goals of hunger reduction, sustainable growth and good governance across six priority areas for action, namely global hunger, fragile states, climate change, economic growth, essential services, and human rights and accountability. This programme will continue to save lives and build a decent future for some of the world's poorest people.
During the first half of this year, we will undergo a searching peer review of our aid programme by the OECD. This arises approximately every five years and provides a valuable international, independent assessment of our performance against established international best practice. It also serves as a mechanism of public accountability and institutional learning. Ensuring a successful outcome of the peer review is a key objective for the Department for 2014. On the last occasion in 2009, the OECD concluded that Ireland was a champion of international development co-operation globally. Other priority areas for 2014 include: reviewing our engagement with multilateral organisations to ensure that their priorities are aligned with ours; enhancing our economic links with African countries, particularly our key partner countries; and continuing to strengthen our systems across the programme to further improve management, accountability and transparency.
Ireland’s aid programme has often been praised by this committee, and deservedly so. Development co-operation is at the heart of Ireland’s foreign policy. Our key objective for 2014 is to continue delivering a world class programme, aimed at some of the world’s most vulnerable and marginalised people, helping to save lives and build livelihoods. We appreciate the continued strong support and engagement of the committee in this regard. I would welcome comments and questions from committee members.
I welcome this programme, its continued success and everybody who contributed to it, the people and NGOs who are out in the field working in very difficult circumstances. Could the Minister of State and the Tánaiste elaborate on Syria, particularly on the humanitarian pledging conference that took place recently? The early indications were that the pledging was not up to the level expected or needed.
When the Department applies different reductions in expenditure to different programmes within the overall Irish aid programme, what are the criteria for making such decisions and a variation in the type of reduction to the different programmes? Has emergency aid been cut by more than 2% or has the education programme been cut by more than 2%? They are obviously of key and critical importance in trying to assist in the many challenges that face so many countries today.
Could the Minister elaborate on the relationship between his Department and the €1.7 million to third-level institutions, universities and co-operative programmes? Does the Minister not think it is time, given the shortage of funding, that the office that was stupidly transferred to Limerick be transferred back to Dublin? That must save money. It is disturbing that with the expansion of the services, the numbers on supervising the aid that is being administered are not great. Could the Minister update us on what he did about the Uganda thievery? Was all the €3 million was returned to us? Have we reinstated any funding streams to the programmes in the Gulu province? Has anybody gone to prison as a result of the attempted fraud?
I record my sadness at the closure of the embassy in Lesotho, a most magnificent and beautiful country with which I am very familiar. I am very familiar with some of the programmes that had been initiated in Lesotho by Irish Aid, not least the cross-breeding of the Lesotho pony with the Connemara pony. The women I met in Lesotho many years ago were making the most magnificent hand-made Aran sweaters for themselves and for tourists, because it gets cold at night. The aid programme to Lesotho is very important. It was more important during the Apartheid era when it was an isolated nation. Now that the Minister is moving the embassy to South Africa, how will the relationship of the Irish Aid programme with Lesotho be carried out? Will it be carried out through the Embassy in South Africa and will that create communication difficulties for the Lesotho NGOs or government people who are handling our aid? Can the Minister confirm that the aid programme will continue, notwithstanding the closure of the embassy in Lesotho?
This is the seventh consecutive cut to the ODA budget. I understand the background to it, the economic crisis and so on. However, we have internationally committed to the target of 7% of GNI for ODA by 2015, and last year the Government acknowledged that it is unlikely to reach this. Are we working to a particular plan or is there a vacuum there? How does the Minister see us eventually reaching that target? The Irish Aid programme funding scheme has been cut by 2%. Regarding what Deputy Smith talked about, what criteria are being used for that? The NGO part of the Irish Aid programmes is the most poverty-focused and result-oriented part and there should be extra protection in times of budget reductions. Are the recommendations on where the cuts should be and in what areas the knife should fall?
On the multilateral funding, the ODA is spent through different sources. It is an important part of the aid package but one of the difficulties is that some of the work is being undermined by donors in other areas. The fight against inequality and poverty is about much more than aid. It is also about a whole-government approach. We raised this before regarding whether we will follow a human-rights approach in all our dealings with multilateral agencies and organisations. Will there be a whole-government approach to aid, trade, development and human rights in all the Government's affairs?
On the one hand we are pumping money into this area, for example Ireland gives €23.7 million to the European Development Fund, but at the same time the EU is pushing policies that are possible undermining human rights in some areas. It is pushing ahead with a free trade agreement with Colombia, one of the most dangerous places in the world. The EU's fisheries agreement with Morocco allows EU ships to plunder the fisheries wealth of the occupied territories of Western Sahara. We put aid in one area but our other policies undermine that. There needs to be a joined-up approach on that. How does the Minister see the Irish Government's role in that, particularly among those organisations to which we are committed? One could argue the same about the Palestinians. We are putting money in there, but at the same time a huge amount of their infrastructure is being destroyed by the so-called Israeli Defence Forces. We are doing positive work, but one hand is doing one thing and the other hand is doing the other. I do not know if the Minister shares that view, which is my view as an outsider looking in.
I acknowledge that the ODA allocation has been maintained, despite the recession, but it is disappointing that we are moving further away from the aid target of 0.7% of GDP. As a member of the committee and as chairman of the Irish section of AWEPA, I have had the opportunity to visit a number of aid countries and I must compliment the work of our ambassadors and their staff and the way in which they have added to Ireland's reputation, which was started by our missionaries. I am particularly pleased with the Sierra Leone office, which is all female. This has been upgraded in status and that is welcome. I pay tribute to the work the staff has done. We had a wonderful ambassador in Lesotho. I hope he will not be put out to pasture and will be given another important role because of his hands-on approach.
Our reputation is excellent and the more I travel abroad and meet people, the more I realise that. As Deputy Crowe said, there are contradictions. We are proactive on the hunger issue but we have fallen behind on the biofuels issue. We cannot give with one hand and take with the other. There is no doubt our relationship with African countries is changing. It is no longer a donor relationship and we are in a strong position to secure trade agreements. I hope they will be reputable and that the tax issue will be included. We will support tax justice and oppose illicit capital flight.
I support the aid programme but human rights are abused in some of the recipient countries. Our embassies and ambassadors can make these issues known in diplomatic circles. There was a problem with the provision of aid in Uganda but there are serious issues for homosexuals in Uganda and the way in which they are treated. These issues should be taken on board through diplomatic contacts.
I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister about South Sudan recently. The embassy in Ethiopia could have a role to play in reconciliation. I visited Mozambique recently as part of a joint monitoring team and tensions are reappearing between Renamo and Frelimo. Some of those we met said Ireland has a role and it could be a strong voice and give a strong lead in reconciliation.
I thank the Minister for his response to the international requirements that arose during the year. Many unforeseen emergencies occurred to which Ireland responded. The Minister and the Minister of State responded admirably even in the current difficult economic circumstances. It is important to recognise that we hope to return as quickly as possible to working towards the target of 0.7% of GDP in our contribution to international aid but we must work within the budget we have. It is most important to ensure the aid goes to those for whom it was intended and there are no circumstances in which other parties can benefit from funds intended for a particular objective.
I agree with my colleagues regarding Lesotho, which was a great example of how successful Irish Aid can be in a bilateral aid programme. Ireland undertook the sponsorship of the programme in a one to one fashion which was easy to monitor and it was easy to ensure the funding was properly focused. This is being replicated elsewhere.
The integrity of international aid is hugely important and the degree to which we can be certain that we have adequate checks and balances in place to ensure the moneys collected at this time go to where they are intended and that nobody cynically decides to intervene negatively, which would lead to an undermining of public confidence in the aid programme.
I agree with the upgrading of facilities in Sierra Leone and the new status of the mission and so on. The staff should be acknowledged and complimented for the work they did in the past in difficult circumstances. Their commitment to the cause has been impressive. When we visited the embassy last year, we were greeted by an all-female staff. This was not the average downtown office with all the facilities and services laid on such as the Internet, street lighting, footpaths and community services. There is serious social deprivation in the area. There are no footpaths, sewerage schemes or public lighting. Nothing has changed since the British left in the early 1960s. It was a challenging scenario in which to deploy our diplomatic service. The staff improvised and they had a significant positive impact in challenging circumstances, which should be recognised.
It is incumbent on me to add to the praise of the three ladies based in Sierra Leone. Members of the diplomatic corps love to get placements in New York, London or Brussels. Those women worked in the most incredible conditions. It was impressive to see them interacting effectively with Ministers. One of them went jogging with the Minister for Education-----
Irish Aid workers do not work in London. That is their job.
With all the new promotions-----
The Deputy can discuss that with the Minister privately. I thank the Minister of State and the director general of Irish Aid for facilitating a visit by a committee delegation to Ghana last year. I also visited Nigeria in my capacity as Chairman to address a conference. Ambassador Fay put his best foot forward to assist committee members on both occasions. I thank him and his team in Abuja for their hospitality and for the work they do on behalf of the Government. They do a fantastic job, as do all our embassies. I am delighted Kenya has been selected as a location for an embassy. It is an important hub in west Africa and it has an embassy in Ireland. It is good that our mission in Sierra Leone has been upgraded to an embassy.
I agree with the Chairman regarding the great work being done by our embassies and diplomatic personnel abroad. I also thank the committee members for their constant unanimous support for what Irish Aid is doing. Without that, it would be difficult for us to maintain the level of aid we provide. This year's allocation is approximately €600 million, which is a 4% reduction but, nevertheless, in the most difficult circumstances, it is being maintained at a high level.
The commitment based on the programme for Government has been to move towards the 0.7%. That clearly has been very difficult in present circumstances, but as the situation recovers the commitment is that the curve will move in the right direction. We will be looking forward to improvement in the years to come.
Deputy Smith and others asked about Syria. We had a humanitarian pledging conference in Kuwait the week before last. It realised €2.4 billion and the overall target was €6.5 billion so clearly we were short of the amount that was being sought. Ireland made a contribution of €12 million. This is the second pledging conference and last year we made a contribution of, I believe, €4.7 million, but then in the course of the year that increased to €14 million. When one considers the circumstances in Syria, it is the direst conflict that is taking place at present with 130,000 people killed in less than three years and more than 3 million people are refugees or displaced internally. Some 9 million to 10 million, which is nearly half the population, are in serious difficulty on a humanitarian basis. Many of us saw last night's programme which highlighted the executions and deaths of detainees who had been tortured and-or starved in many cases. That may only be the tip of the iceberg and many other atrocities may have yet to come to light. It is an incredibly dire conflict and extremely complicated. Today talks are commencing in Geneva and we are hopeful that some progress can be made.
As an afterthought, regarding the Chairman's trip to Tehran, I met the Iranian Foreign Minister at the pledging conference in Kuwait. He specifically asked to meet me to discuss matters. I asked him to use the good offices that Tehran had with the regime in Syria to allow humanitarian aid freedom of access, which is one of the major problems at present. All of the contributions referred to that. Hopefully some progress can be made in that respect. However, it remains a very difficult situation. There is a difficulty with the quantity of funding required because of the enormity of the problem and the difficulty of the international donor community being able to provide it. That could create a crisis in its own right and the United Nations is very concerned in that respect. Of course the impact on surrounding countries is colossal. These are small countries such as Jordan and Lebanon, which I have visited in recent weeks, as well as Turkey which the Tánaiste visited late last year. These countries and to some extent Iraq and Egypt have all had an enormous burden imposed on the infrastructures of what are already fragile countries, particularly Lebanon and Jordan. All of that creates a very volatile mix on top of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
I was asked about reductions in the Irish Aid budget. The reduction is 4% but we have endeavoured to keep it as fair and even as possible. Members will notice that the reductions are pretty much between 2% and 4% across the board in each area. We have sought to lengthen out and refocus on areas some of the priority issues with which we deal so that no area is excessively damaged. The largest quantitative cut will be in the area of the funding that is used bilaterally through our embassies in the various partner countries and also regarding the various NGOs with which we deal. We are very anxious to retain emergency aid and we have been one of the very strong contributors to emergency aid throughout the world both in areas of immediate need and also in areas with long-term and forgotten conflicts.
Deputy Eric Byrne asked about the €1.7 million going to our universities. The relationship between our third level institutions and colleges abroad, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is substantial and it is important that we maintain that. We also have the young scientist of the year in Tanzania, which is an extraordinarily successful initiative. I am contemplating extending that to other sectors in Africa. I believe it is extremely important to retain our emphasis on the links between the educational systems in the various countries.
In Uganda the money has all been restored - there is no question about that. In October 2012 the Tánaiste suspended more than €16 million of assistance that was due to be channelled through the Government of Uganda, as a result of the discovery of fraud in the office of the Prime Minister. The full funding that had been misappropriated was restored to Irish funds by Christmas. I compliment our director, Mr. Brendan Rogers, on the urgency with which he pursued the matter. Subsequently we pressed the Government of Uganda for concerted action following the fraud. To date the Ugandan director of public prosecutions has opened 99 case files and Irish Aid will be following these very closely. The cases are with the director of public prosecutions and the will obviously be following due process.
In 2014 the aid programme will be delivered through non-governmental partners as well as ongoing support to the office of the auditor general to strengthen its forensic investigation and special audit functions. We have taken very strong action in that respect. When I was in Uganda in November I met the auditor general and his officers. We, of course, have been contributing to the strengthening of the capacity of the auditor and his officers. That office has the country divided into six sections and has recruited approximately 400 people allowing it to move into all the different areas on the ground. They gave the impression of having a detailed and intensive operational capacity at this point.
I further indicated to the auditor general that I would invite him to come to Ireland at an appropriate time in the first half of the year to address this committee and to address other functions so that we could bring to the attention of the people the steps that have been taken by Irish Aid and the capacity that was now being created in Uganda and other countries in which we are engaged to ensure that matters of this nature do not recur. We also want to highlight that when this occurred the office of the auditor general had the capacity to go right up to the office of the Prime Minister and investigate what had happened.
A number of Deputies expressed sadness at the closure of our embassy in Lesotho with which we would all agree. It was opened in 1974 and is our oldest programme - now partner - country.
At the time of apartheid there was no direct relationship between South Africa and Lesotho. We do not in any way intend to detract from our engagement in terms of the quantity of aid and this commitment will remain. Lesotho and South Africa have a customs union. Lesotho is a middle income country and much progress has been made. Of course we are nostalgic for the Irish ponies coming from Connemara and the good work done in years gone by, but there will be no diminution and this will continue. In many ways it will be enhanced because we will engage with South Africa as well as the Government in Lesotho on Irish Aid. The aid programme will continue.
Deputy Crowe mentioned this is the seventh cut to overseas development aid and I spoke about this originally. Unfortunately overseas development aid has decreased by approximately one third since 2008. The Tánaiste and I hope this will be the last cut, but we must see the economic recovery which takes place and we must be cognisant of Irish citizens because it is taxpayers' money. We cannot remove ourselves from the citizenry who pay the bills and they must come with us all the way. We must be very sensitive on these matters. We have endeavoured to keep the cuts to the minimum and we would like to begin to move the curve in the other direction as we move into 2015.
Ireland is the largest contributor per capita in the world to non-governmental organisations and we engage to a great extent with our international non-governmental organisations, such as Trócaire, GOAL, Oxfam and Concern. Much Irish aid is given through these trusted international organisations. They have people on the ground and know what the situation is and we relate to them very well.
Deputy O'Sullivan expressed concern that some of the work we do might be undermined by a lack of human rights in countries in which we are engaged or a lack of European Union policy. Human rights are at the very core of our participation and we make this very clear. We would never go on a mission anywhere without meeting human rights organisations and civil society and we would never go anywhere without raising such issues where they need to be raised. The homosexuality legislation introduced in Uganda has not been signed by the President and it is not likely to be signed by the President. Much of this has been due to the hard work done on the ground by the Irish Embassy and other like-minded people in Uganda. Much good work is being done, although some of it may not appear out front.
Israel, Colombia, Morocco and Western Sahara were mentioned. Free trade agreements signed by the European Union always contain a condition on human rights. With regard to Israel we were very upfront in arguing the case that any upgrade in the relationship should be in line with human rights commitments, particularly in the Mediterranean agreement originally signed in 1995. During the Irish Presidency we pressed for and managed to achieve agreement on the passage of a directive on multinational companies dealing with mining, oil and timber logging and the engagement between developing countries and the European Union so there is transparency in the manner in which multinational companies engage with regard to the type of funding contributions made and how various licenses and services are paid for. This is a major step forward in transparency in EU engagement with developing countries.
With regard to biofuels we argued for a reduction, and a compromise arrangement was reached, as is very often the case. The amount of biofuels to be used for transport purposes was changed from 10% to 7% and we had sought 5%. It was a considerable reduction given the original decision. We did our best in this respect.
Tax justice is always a major issue with regard to the relationships. Progress has been made in Bali by the World Trade Organization and this will be beneficial to developing countries. We seek to make progress on economic partnership agreements with various regional groupings throughout Africa, which is where the negotiations are taking place. Much of this is being dealt with by Commissioner De Gucht and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. We have been anxious to push it on to reach agreement because we have been waiting since 2000 to progress them. Ireland was one of the countries which wrote a letter to the Commissioner in November seeking maximum flexibility by the Commissioner on the economic partnership agreements, so if countries feel industries need protection for a period of time, exemptions can be made in this respect. We would like flexibility to be the basic principle in this regard. We are working with the OECD to try to reach agreement on the overall global taxation system. It cannot be done by one country alone; it can only be done globally and multilaterally. During our Presidency of the European Union we pushed to get the OECD to sponsor this approach.
Ireland has much to offer South Sudan in terms of working for peace. Our new policy will contribute enormously to our engagement at this level as it focuses very strongly on fragile countries. The decision by the Tánaiste to locate an embassy in Kenya, which is the hub for east Africa, will allow much easier access to Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. We will engage with fragile countries. We have always indicated our focus is on countries with the greatest needs and no countries are in greater need than the fragile countries. Figures indicate that of the countries in the world whose populations will live on $1 a day in 2015, 50% are fragile countries. None of the fragile countries is going any way towards meeting the 2015 millennium development goals and we have serious problems in this regard. Other countries have neglected hidden conflicts such as that in the Central African Republic, but we have always contributed to the common humanitarian fund of the United Nations for hidden conflicts.
The situation in the Central African Republic has blown up into a major conflict. If underlying problems have been festering for decades, for example, poverty and underdevelopment, they eventually blow up and come out in the form of ethnic and religious conflict, which is how the situation is presented to the world, but basic poverty is the real issue. We have been trying to keep these matters in the limelight for a long time. I would like to see us proceeding in that direction and perhaps leading a group of like-minded countries to focus on hidden conflicts that suddenly blow up and leave people wondering what has been happening and operating in the belief that it is all about religious or ethnic struggles when the real underlying cause is neglect. We have fragile states and peacekeeping to a greater degree in mind.
I thank Deputy Durkan for his congratulations on our response to various humanitarian issues. We have been very good. Irish Aid is extraordinary, quick and urgent in all of its responses. Consider the Philippines, where we were the first to arrive. Per capita, we have made the largest contribution to the Philippines. We sent our rapid deployment force and four airlifts of essential goods as early as possible. We also sent engineers to deal with infrastructural problems. We consider the hidden conflicts, outbreaks, humanitarian crises and tsunamis, but we also carefully consider the sustainability of the Philippines. I expect to visit that country before too long to determine how to progress our work over the next couple of years. We will not forget about it.
Deputy Durkan raised the issue of Lesotho and the fact that we will leave it. We are upgrading in Sierra Leone. It is a fragile country, it is just exiting a conflict. There are child soldiers and significant gender issues arising from what happened during the conflict. We have been to the forefront in working on gender issues, both with men and women, and issues involving children. Our new policy on sustainability and fragile situations will help. Through the Irish Presidency, it was incorporated in the agenda for change, which is the EU's core policy.
The EU has been considering it. The other matter that we have managed to get the EU to agree on is the overall framework for the post-2015 negotiations. This is the other side of much of our work this year. We are a member of the open working group with Denmark and Norway. Shortly, I will visit New York to discuss one of the group's later meetings. We are coming to a conclusion on many matters. The high-level panel has reported. Prime Minister David Cameron and some other world leaders chaired it. Another major conference to be held in Mexico will put much of the substance together. We will feed into it in September 2014. Our embassy in New York enjoyed considerable success in co-chairing the summit last September, when we achieved agreement on a document and further negotiations on the 2015 millennium development goals, which will lead into a final conclusion in September 2015. We are still involved in all of these initiatives after having established the framework and played a major role in the progress to date. Our new policy reflects all of this.
The Chairman remarked on the committee's work. I seldom go anywhere where the committee on foreign affairs has not left its footprint. If it has not-----
The Chairman is usually there before us. I saw his photographs.
I hope they were good.
People had nothing but good things to say about him. He will be pleased.
I thank the Deputy.
If the committee has not been somewhere before me, it will be there after me. It has done good work, for example, its fantastic initiative in going to Iran. This was reflected in the Foreign Minister's complimentary remarks when he spoke with me. The committee has done tremendous work all over Africa. Mention was made of Nigeria and the work done by the ambassador there. That has added to the Irish Aid side of the equation and the transition from aid to trade, which forms a major part of our new policy. We are a global leader in this regard. We are teasing out and establishing principles under which aid can transition to trade. We are putting these into practice. Progress is moving strongly. Nigeria is one of the countries with which we are engaged in this regard.
I thank Deputies for their questions. There may have been others.
I asked about the Limerick office, or is it too sensitive an issue?
Everyone cannot pack inside the Pale and get newspapers delivered every morning.
We are proud of the Irish Aid office in the mid-west region.
As to the Limerick office,-----
The city of culture.
Let us stick to the Limerick office. We are about to share it with the Department of Social Protection, which is in the process of renovating certain sections of our premises. Obviously, our costs will be substantially reduced.
Is Deputy Byrne happy with that response?
I am never happy.
May I ask a question?
Briefly.
When we were in Iran and met its Minister for Foreign Affairs, points were made about the need for humanitarian aid, humanitarian corridors and Iranian support for same. Interestingly, his own background is in human rights. It does not make sense that Iran, which is a main player in this regard, was invited to the peace talks but then had its invitation withdrawn. It was a pity that the Minister of State could not tell the Minister when he met him that our embassy would be reopening in Tehran.
That is not-----
The Government representatives were keen to assure everyone we met in Tehran that it would happen.
Yes, but we did not say when.
The representatives gave the impression that it would be sooner rather than later.
The Tánaiste made it clear today-----
-----that there would be positive news when the time was right. Is that not right?
I thank the Tánaiste and the Minister of State for their comprehensive answers to all of the members' questions. I thank members for their co-operation.