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Tuesday, 27 Nov 2012

Written Answers Nos. 180-202

Human Rights Issues

Questions (180)

Simon Harris

Question:

180. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether it is appropriate that Ireland continue to provide overseas aid directly to Governments such as the Ugandan Government which continue to propose laws that attach a person's human rights based on their sexuality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52481/12]

View answer

Written answers

The promotion and safeguarding of human rights, particularly those of minority groups, is a central element of Ireland’s foreign policy. I share the widespread concerns about the difficult situation faced by the LGBT community in Uganda and certain other countries in the region. I am particularly concerned about developments in relation to the draft Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which was presented as a private member’s Bill, and is currently under consideration at committee level in the Ugandan Parliament.

Ireland, together with other donor countries in Uganda, has engaged actively on this issue since it first arose in 2009. We continue to advocate strongly against the adoption of the proposed law. Our Embassy in Kampala has consistently made the case to the Government of Uganda, at all levels, that the passing of any such legislation would be in conflict with Uganda’s international human rights obligations and would have a detrimental effect on the country’s relations with its international development partners, including Ireland.

I raised the issue directly with the President of Uganda when I visited the country in July. I asked our Ambassador in Kampala to continue to follow developments closely. Last week, she and a group of EU Ambassadors outlined our serious concerns in a meeting with the Prime Minister of Uganda. The official position of the Government of Uganda on the Bill is that it is not part of the Government’s legislative programme. President Museveni has made a commitment to engage members of Parliament on the implications of this Bill for Uganda’s international relations and reputation. We, and the other international aid donors, remain committed to ensuring that the citizens of Uganda do not suffer violence or discrimination on the grounds of their sexual orientation. Our Embassy in Uganda will continue to monitor developments closely in the coming weeks.

Uganda is a priority country for Ireland’s aid programme, with a commitment to long term strategic assistance. As with the other priority countries, our programme is strongly focused on the fight to end poverty and hunger among some of the poorest people and communities, with assistance channelled through government systems, multilateral organisations and NGOs. We fund programmes through government systems in order to empower national governments to deliver and take ownership of the provision of services, which is essential if the improvements achieved are to be sustainable in the long term. Irish Aid funding through governments is for agreed programmes in the social, health and education sectors, which are regularly examined and evaluated to ensure we achieve effectiveness and value for money. In the case of Uganda, as the Deputy will be aware, I have suspended funding of Irish Aid programmes delivered through the Government as a result of the misappropriation of funds intended for the Peace, Recovery and Development Programme. This suspension will remain in place until the misappropriated funds are returned and we are fully confident that the Government has strengthened its internal financial controls and acted against all officials implicated in the fraud.

Overseas Development Aid Oversight

Questions (181)

Simon Harris

Question:

181. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of all the non-governmental organisations that received overseas aid funding from Ireland in 2011 and to date in 2012; the amount each NGO received and the specific purposes for which this overseas aid was provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52482/12]

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Written answers

The Government’s aid programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is sharply focused on the fight against global poverty and hunger.It is recognised internationally for its effectiveness, and for its concentration on some of the poorest countries and communities, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. Our partnership with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) represents a very important element of the aid programme. Ireland channels a higher proportion of ODA through the NGO sector than most other international donors. In 2011, the Government, through schemes managed by the headquarters of Irish Aid, provided over € 105 million for the long term development work of NGOs. Funding for NGOs is also provided for their work on emergency and recovery assistance, conflict resolution and peace building, and the promotion of human rights.

To date in 2012, Irish Aid has provided some € 95 million to NGOs in Irish Aid headquarters funding. Additional funding is provided to NGOs from the development programmes in Ireland’s country programmes where we have a commitment to long-term strategic assistance. Furthermore, a small grants programme is administered by 10 Diplomatic Missions accredited to countries in which Ireland does not have a bi-lateral development co-operation programme.

Set out hereunder is a table detailing funding to NGOs from Irish Aid headquarters for long term development projects and programmes in developing countries, emergency and recovery assistance, conflict resolution and peace building and the promotion of human rights, in 2011 and to date in 2012:

NGO Name

2011

To date in 2012

Purpose

ACTION AID

€1,275,000

€877,473

Long Term Development

ACTION LESOTHO

€90,000

Long Term Development

AIDLINK

€480,000

€548,398

Long Term Development

AIDS PARTNERSHIP WITH AFRICA

€195,300

Long Term Development

ALAN KERINS PROJECT

€21,500

Long Term Development

ANTI-SLAVERY INTERNATIONAL

€140,100

Long Term Development

A-Z CHILDREN'S CHARITY

€168,800

Long Term Development

BÓTHAR LTD

€100,000

Long Term Development

CAMARA EDUCATION LTD

€244,055

Long Term Development

CAMFED INTERNATIONAL

€200,000

Long Term Development

CHERNOBYL CHILDRENS PROJECT INTERNATIONAL

€277,677

Long Term Development

CHILDFUND IRELAND

€619,064

Long Term Development

CHILDREN IN CROSSFIRE

€501,520

€556,252

Long Term Development

CHRISTIAN AID IRELAND

€3,384,618

€3,896,288

Long Term Development / Emergency and Recovery Assistance

CHRISTIAN BLIND MISSION IRELAND

€194,682

Long Term Development

CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY IRELAND

€187,491

Long Term Development

NGO Name

2011

To date in 2012

Purpose

CIVICUS

€200,000

Long Term Development

COMHLÁMH

€403,395

€452,339

Long Term Development

CONCERN UNIVERSAL

€449,950

€250,000

Long Term Development

CONCERN WORLDWIDE

€24,611,610

€22,429,305

Long Term Development / Emergency and Recovery Assistance

CONNECT ETHIOPIA

€15,500

Long Term Development

CORK OMDURMAN PARTNERSHIP

€14,000

Long Term Development

CRISIS MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE

€50,000

Mediation and Conflict Resolution

DÓCHAS

€250,000

€250,000

Long Term Development

ECPAT INTERNATIONAL

€150,000

Long Term Development

ENT SURGERY FOR ZAMBIA TRUST FUND

€30,000

€29,000

Long Term Development

FRIENDS OF LONDIANI IRELAND

€192,000

Long Term Development

FIDH

€200,000

Human rights

FOUNDATION NEPAL

€30,000

Long Term Development

FRIENDS IN IRELAND

€79,539

Long Term

Development

FRONT LINE DEFENDERS

€225,000

€504,394

Human rights

GLENCREE CENTRE FOR RECONCILIATION

€293,000

€136,000

Conflict Resolution and Peace-Building

GLOBAL WITNESS TRUST

€199,800

Human rights

GOAL

€16,329,600

€14,304,185

Long Term Development / Emergency and Recovery Assistance

GORTA

€150,000

Long Term Development

NGO Name

2011

To date in 2012

Purpose

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

€20,000

€197,930

Long Term Development

HALO TRUST

€1,348,000

€1,637,739

Emergency and Recovery Assistance

HEALTH POVERTY ACTION

€194,100

Long Term Development

HELEN KELLER INTERNATIONAL

€575,000

€500,000

Long Term Development

HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL

€626,476

Long Term Development

HOPE FOUNDATION

€100,000

€117,054

Long Term Development

ICTU (IRISH CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS)

€40,000

Long Term Development

INTERNATIONAL ALERT

€100,000

Peace-Building

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS

€9,150,000

€8,800,000

Emergency and Recovery Assistance

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP

€100,000

€100,000

Conflict Resolution – Policy and Advocacy

INTERNATIONAL FED. OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT

€3,125,000

€3,000,000

Emergency and Recovery Assistance

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE - UK

€914,706

Emergency and Recovery Assistance

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

€150,000

Long TermDevelopment

INTERPEACE INTERNATIONAL PEACEBUILDING ALLIANCE

€50,000

€50,000

Peace-Building

IRISH FAIR TRADE NETWORK

€3,774,000

Long Term Development

IRISH FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION

€200,000

Long Term Development

IRISH FRIENDS OF ALBANIA

€55,080

Long Term Development

IRISH LEAGUE OF CREDIT UNIONS INTL DEVT FOUNDATION

€74,000

Long Term Development

INTERNATIONAL UNION CONSERVATION OF NATURE

€50,000

Long Term Development

JAPANESE RED CROSS SOCIETY

€1,000,000

Emergency and Recovery Assistance

KNIGHTS OF ST COLUMBANUS

€4,500

Long Term Development

LINK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

€88,128

Long Term Development

LIVABILITY IRELAND

€100,000

Long Term Development

MARTIN ENNALS FOUNDATION

€40,000

Human rights

MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIERES

€900,000

€900,000

Emergency and Recovery Assistance

MENINGITIS RESEARCH FOUNDATION

€10,600

Long Term Development

MERCY CORPS SCOTLAND

€250,000

Long Term Development

NGO Name

2011

To date in 2012

Purpose

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YMCA'S IN IRELAND

€78,338

€74,983

Long Term Development

OPERATION SMILE IRELAND

€36,600

Long Term Development

ORBIS IRELAND

€200,000

Long Term Development

OXFAM IRELAND

€2,600,000

€2,676,738

Long Term Development / Emergency and Recovery Assistance

PAMODZI - PROMOTING THE RULE OF LAW

€30,000

Long Term Development

PARTNERSHIP AFRICA CANADA

€200,000

Long Term Development

PEACE BRIGADES INTERNATIONAL GUATEMALA PROJECT

€40,000

Long Term Development

PLAN IRELAND

€1,498,965

€2,583,274

Long Term Development

PLAYING FOR LIFE

€148,000

Long Term Development

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND BOARD OF MISSION OVERSEAS

€164,500

Long Term Development

Progressio Ireland

€281,487

Long Term Development

RAISING VOICES

€75,350

Long Term Development

RÉALTA GLOBAL AIDS FOUNDATION

€73,189

Long Term Development

SELF HELP AFRICA

€2,800,000

€2,575,215

Long Term Development

SERVE IN SOLIDARITY IRELAND

€355,855

Long Term Development

SIGHT SAVERS INTERNATIONAL

€1,572,908

Long Term Development

SKILLSHARE INTERNATIONAL IRELAND

€117,436

Long Term Development

SOCIAL & HEALTH EDUCATION PROJECT

€122,346

Long Term Development

SPECIAL OLYMPICS IRELAND

€33,750

€37,500

Long Term Development

STICHTING MAMA CASH

€240,000

Long Term Development

SUAS EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

€100,000

Long Term Development

TEARFUND - UK

€136,500

Long Term Development

TEARFUND IRELAND

€194,600

€200,000

Long Term Development

THE CARTER CENTER INC.

€200,000

Long Term Development

THE HAVEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

€333,951

€250,000

Long Term Development / Emergency and Recovery Assistance

THE IRISH AMERICAN PEACE FOUNDATION

€30,000

Conflict Resolution and Peace-Building

THE LEPROSY MISSION IRELAND

€303,030

Long Term Development

NGO Name

2011

To date in 2012

Purpose

THE MARY ROBINSON FOUNDATION

€100,000

Long Term Development

THE MINES ADVISORY GROUP

€200,000

Emergency and Recovery Assistance

THE MINORITY RIGHTS GROUP

€200,000

Human Rights

THE ROSE PROJECT

€200,000

Long Term Development

THE SOUL OF HAITI

€200,000

Long Term Development

THE SUPPORT AFRICA FOUNDATION

€200,000

Long Term Development

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL

€200,000

€200,000

Long Term Development

TRÓCAIRE

€18,519,676

€18,064,458

Long Term Development / Emergency and Recovery Assistance

UPR INFO

€40,000

Long Term Development

VALID NUTRITION

€270,000

Long Term Development

VALUE ADDED IN AFRICA

€78,000

Long Term Development

VITA

€350,000

Long Term Development

(VIVA) VOLUNTEERS IN IRISH VETERINARY ASSOCIATION

€35,574

€50,000

Long Term Development

VSO IRELAND

€480,000

€531,460

Long Term Development

WAR ON WANT NORTHERN IRELAND

€200,000

Long Term Development

WOMEN'S WORLD BANKING

€197,000

Long Term Development

WORLD VISION IRELAND

€2,333,719

€2,602,820

Long Term Development / Emergency and Recovery Assistance

Total

€105,134,403

€95,011,967

Exports Data

Questions (182)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

182. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a breakdown of Ireland's exports to Israel in tabular form; if he will provide a breakdown of which State bodies and semi-State companies are involved in trade with Israel; if he will provide details of the value of these exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52510/12]

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Written answers

Ireland’s exports to Israel currently amount to nearly €900mn per annum. Israel is an important trading partner. Under its trade promotion strategy, the Government is committed to growing Ireland’s exports in all foreign markets and expanding our trade footprint outside our main trading partners. All relevant state agencies and semi-state bodies are thus engaged with Israel as they would be with any other market. The total export and import figures are laid out below.

€m

Services

Imports

Merchandise Imports

Services

Exports

Merchandise Exports

Total

Trade

2007

66

83

189

219

557

2008

83

72

199

199

553

2009

72

83

271

197

623

2010

95

71

360

248

774

2011

109

68

417

475

1,069

Ireland’s principal merchandise exports to Israel are: electrical machinery; office machines and automatic data processors; essential oils, perfumes and products; miscellaneous edible products; chemical materials; and medical and pharmaceutical products.

Irish Red Cross Funding

Questions (183, 184)

Finian McGrath

Question:

183. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the level of engagement between his Department and the Irish Red Cross; if he is satisfied that problems related to the internal governance and financial management of the Irish Red Cross have been satisfactorily resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52529/12]

View answer

Finian McGrath

Question:

184. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding given by his Department to the Irish Red Cross for each of the past two years 2011 and 2012; the purpose of such funding; if he is satisfied that the Irish Red Cross has a fully professional overseas relief and development department within its headquarters; the number of staff employed in this Department; the current number of Irish Red Cross delegates serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52530/12]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together.

My Department is aware that the Irish Red Cross has recently undertaken a comprehensive reform of its internal governance structures. However, as the Deputy will know, issues related to the internal governance of the Irish Red Cross fall under the mandate of my colleague, the Minister for Defence, Alan Shatter, T.D. The engagement of my Department, through the Irish Aid programme, with the Irish Red Cross is focused upon the work of the International Department of that organisation.

Funding provided to the Irish Red Cross is channelled exclusively through the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) under a Partnership Agreement signed between Irish Aid and the IFRC, initially in 2010 and renewed again in 2012. Under this agreement, the IFRC allocated a total of €800,000 to the Irish Red Cross for its overseas operations in 2010 and 2011. Of this sum, €700,000 was provided in support of an ongoing livelihoods, food security and capacity building programme in Niger, whilst €100,000 was allocated to health and education programmes in Malawi.

In 2012, as part of the wider Partnership Agreement with the IFRC, the Irish Red Cross received €400,000 for its activities in Niger, one of the poorest and most vulnerable countries in Africa. The programme continues to prioritise activities to reduce food insecurity, whilst also addressing water, sanitation and hygiene issues. A key element of this programme is to build the preparedness and response capacity of the Niger Red Cross and vulnerable communities, including through the implementation of preparedness and disaster management initiatives.

The International Department of the Irish Red Cross is small but effective, currently staffed by six officers at headquarters, including one part-time staff member. There are also five Irish Red Cross delegates deployed overseas in South Sudan, India, the Maldives and Niger. The Irish Red Cross also employs a number of local staff to assist in its operations in Niger, where it works in close partnership with the Niger Red Cross.

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Questions (185)

Seán Crowe

Question:

185. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form, the number of staff in their Department, or in bodies which fall under the remit of the Department, whose annual remuneration including salary, pension and benefits at 31 December 2011 fell into bands of €400,000 and above, between €300,000 to €399,999, between €200,000 to €299,999 and between €150,000 to €199,000; if he will provide a breakdown of the positions held by the staff in the relevant pay brackets. [52545/12]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.

Annual remuneration of staff at 31 December 2011

Number of staff

Grades

Salary Bands

None

-

€400,000 and above

None

-

€300,000 - €399,999

1

Secretary General

€200,000 - €299,999

7

2  Second Secretary

3  Deputy Secretary

1  Chief Adviser to the Tánaiste

1  Economic Adviser to the Tánaiste

€150,000 - €199,999

There are no State agencies, offices or bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Questions (186)

Seán Crowe

Question:

186. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made any contacts requesting staff whose annual salary is in excess of €200,000 in their Department or in any body under the remit of their Department, to waive 15% of their salary or such amount in excess of €200,000 whichever is the lesser; if he has, the date on which he first made this contact; the number of staff whose annual salaries were in excess of €200,000 at that date; the number of staff who acquiesced to the request for the waiver; the number of staff who refused the request for the waiver and the number of staff who have not responded to the request for the waiver [52546/12]

View answer

Written answers

The Secretary General of my Department is the only member of staff in my Department with a salary exceeding €200,000. He voluntarily surrenders €15,590 of his notional annual salary of €215,590. He does so without me having spoken to him on the matter. There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (187)

Finian McGrath

Question:

187. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the FARC cease-fire in Colombia, and ensure that this peace initiative is not jeopardised over the next two months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52736/12]

View answer

Written answers

I am aware of the recent announcement by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) of a ceasefire for a two month period as of 20th November 2012. We in Ireland appreciate the responsibility that rests on all parties to these negotiations. We understand very well the challenges, the opportunities and the imperative of peace building and welcome any action taken to spare the Colombian people from violence.

I hope that the ongoing peace negotiations will result in an end to the long conflict that has caused much suffering in Colombia and provide the people of that country with the peace and stability that they deserve.

Passport Applications

Questions (188)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

188. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding an application for a passport in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52764/12]

View answer

Written answers

This passport was produced on 15 October 2012 and is in the Passport Office Molesworth St awaiting collection.

Middle East Peace Process

Questions (189)

Finian McGrath

Question:

189. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he would support the plight of the Palestinian people and to work at ending the slaughter that is happening in Gaza right now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53032/12]

View answer

Written answers

In statements on 15 and 18 November, I expressed my deep concern at the upsurge of conflict in and around Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and an ending of attacks in both directions.

On 19 November, I discussed the situation in Gaza with my EU colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council, and the Council issued Conclusions on this issue. The Council also supported the efforts of the Government of Egypt and others to talk to both sides and bring about a restored ceasefire.

Thankfully, unlike on some previous occasions, these intensive efforts bore fruit fairly rapidly and a ceasefire came into effect last Wednesday evening, 21 November. At present, this appears to be holding.

I have emphasized before that the underlying problems of Gaza must be addressed if conflict of this kind is to be avoided in future. The present ceasefire agreement amounts essentially to a truce. It includes, however, provision for discussion of these wider issues. This would hold out hope for a substantial relaxation of the blockade of Gaza, something approaching normality for the lives of its citizens and in return a genuine and lasting end to attacks directed from Gaza against Israeli towns and cities.

I very much hope that these provisions will be acted on urgently and creatively, so that the newly achieved cessation of violence can be more than just a pause and lead instead to a lasting improvement in the security and other conditions under which the people of both Gaza and Israel live.

Tax Code

Questions (190)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

190. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the transfer of land in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52334/12]

View answer

Written answers

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Stamp Duty is chargeable at the rate of 2% (non-residential) on the open market value of land, which is being transferred. However, the transfer between a parent and child currently qualifies for consanguinity relief (i.e. half the normal rate of duty that would otherwise apply), and accordingly the effective rate of tax in this case is likely to be 1%. Other reliefs may be available subject to certain conditions. It is suggested that the person in question should contact Dublin Stamping District, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, telephone 01 – 8589393 who will outline the conditions that must be met before these reliefs can be granted.

Customs and Excise Controls

Questions (191)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

191. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance if he will invest in more sniffer dogs to fight the war against the illegal importation of drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52394/12]

View answer

Written answers

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that their Customs Service currently deploys 15 detector dog teams at strategic locations throughout the country. This figure includes two new teams, which are in the course of being commissioned and which will be fully operational from December 2012. The dogs are used to detect drugs, tobacco and cash and are used at ports, airports, mail centres, express courier depots and are also used to assist in the course of certain investigations. Passive response’ dogs are used as this maximises their capability, enabling the screening of passengers in addition to merchandise and baggage.

The Deputy may also be interested to note that where previously dogs were trained and deployed to detect only one commodity, where feasible newly deployed dogs are now trained to detect more than one.

The current number of teams, including the 2 new teams about to be deployed represents an increase of 25% in the number of dog teams deployed by Revenue since 2007 and an increase of 150% since 1993. There are no immediate plans for a further increase but the commissioning and deployment of dog detector teams is subject to ongoing evaluation by Revenue.

Disabled Drivers Grant Eligibility

Questions (192)

Arthur Spring

Question:

192. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance if the disabled drivers medical board of appeal, when dealing with primary medical certificate appeals, should be allowed to permit exceptions for persons who do not meet the strict criteria currently laid down in regulations but endure the same medical restrictions and disabilities as those who do meet the strict criteria as a result of a combination of extraordinary medical conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52588/12]

View answer

Written answers

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT (up to a certain limit) on the purchase of a car adapted for the transport of a person with specific severe and permanent physical disabilities, to those who meet certain disability criteria.

The disability criteria for eligibility for the tax concessions under this scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 353/1994). To get the Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be severely and permanently disabled and satisfy one of the following conditions:

a) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;

b) be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;

c) be without both hands or without both arms;

d) be without one or both legs;

e) be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;

f) have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.

Appeals which are heard by the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal are interpreted within the terms of these Regulations. I would also point out that the Board of Appeal is independent in the exercise of its functions.

Credit Availability

Questions (193, 195, 255)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if in response to the lack of adequate credit to the hotel industry, he has had any discussions with the lending institutions with a view to addressing this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53074/12]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which a lack of credit to the transport and tourism sectors is currently deemed to negatively affect national economic performance; if he has in mind any specific proposals to address any such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53078/12]

View answer

Brendan Griffin

Question:

255. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the lack of credit availability in the economy; the measures he will take to rectify this fundamental problem in the economy; if his attention has been drawn to the public fury regarding the failure of the banks to release credit despite the huge sacrifices by the Irish people here to bring about a properly functioning banking system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52937/12]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 193, 195 and 255 together.

The Government has imposed SME lending targets on the two domestic pillar banks for the three calendar years, 2011 to 2013. Both banks were required to sanction lending of at least €3 billion in 2011, €3.5 billion this year and €4 billion in 2013 for new or increased credit facilities to SMEs. Both banks achieved their 2011 targets. The Head of the Credit Review Office (CRO), Mr John Trethowan, stated in his recently published ninth quarterly report that “€3.5bn of sanctions for each bank is a very challenging target, however the remaining five months typically show more lending activity and I am of the view that, after a slow start to the year, the targets will be a challenge but still may be achieved.”

As the Deputies are aware, one of the key priorities of the Programme for Government is to ensure that an adequate pool of credit is available to fund SMEs in the real economy during the restructuring and downsizing programme. The Economic Management Council meets the banks on a regular basis and discusses the key issues pertaining to this priority.

In addition to the lending targets imposed on the banks, the pillar banks are required to submit their lending plans to the Department and the Credit Review Office (CRO) at the beginning of each year, outlining how they intend to achieve their lending targets. My Department, in conjunction with the CRO, subsequently analyses the plans and meets the banks to discuss any issues of note. The banks also meet with my Department and the CRO on a quarterly basis to discuss progress. The monthly management meetings with the pillar banks also provide a forum for the issue of SME lending to be raised by my Department.

I should stress however that the Relationship Frameworks with the banks provide that the State will not intervene in the day-to-day operations of the banks or their management decisions including with respect to pricing and lending decisions. These frameworks are published on my Department’s website at http://banking.finance.gov.ie/presentations-and-latest-documents/.

In terms of rejection rates from banks, I would remind the Deputies that the CRO can review decisions by the pillar banks to refuse, reduce or withdraw credit facilities, including applications for restructured credit facilities, from €1,000 up to €500,000. The CRO is overturning 55% of the refusal decisions referred to them and I would appeal to SMEs and farmers who have been refused credit by the banks to avail of the services of the CRO.

The overall target for lending to SMEs includes lending to the tourism, transport and hotel sectors. The Government is conscious that these sectors need access to credit. In his seventh quarterly report, the Credit Reviewer notes that whilst each banks’ balance sheets have contracted recently, the monitoring of these figures show that no sector or geographic region has been adversely disadvantaged by either of the banks.

The Deputy should be aware that the Microenterprise Loan Fund Act provides for a scheme which will facilitate up to €40million in additional lending to microenterprises over the next five years. Furthermore, the Government is in the process of facilitating up to €150m per annum of additional credit through the Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme, designed for SME’s who, because of lack of collateral or because of the specialised sector they operate in, face difficulties in accessing bank credit.

It is vital that the banks continue to make credit available to support economic recovery. However, it is not in the interest of the banks, businesses or the economy for finance to be provided unless the business is viable and has the capacity to meet the interest payments and repay the sum borrowed.

Transport Costs

Questions (194)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent if any to which he has had discussions with the private transport sector in the context of possible measures to address the increased fuel or other costs; if he expects to be in a position to identify any alleviation measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53075/12]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy is aware a working group was set up between officials of my Department, the Irish Road Haulage Association and members of the Oireachtas. This working group had a series of meetings to discuss issues of concern to the haulage industry including the matter of an essential users rebate. I have received a submission from the group. I have also recently met with representatives of the IRHA. I am considering matters raised by the IRHA and the report from the group.

Question No. 195 answered with Question No. 193.

Promissory Note Negotiations

Questions (196, 198)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

196. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance the projected payment schedule of interest charges on the Promissory Notes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52180/12]

View answer

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

198. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the total amount of the interest payments scheduled on the Promissory Note which will be returned to the State that is, the total amount forecast to be paid, less the amount of this which will be used to discharge IBRC's liabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52182/12]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 198 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the Promissory Note repayments, both capital and interest, are made to IBRC. As IBRC is wholly owned by the State, any return to the State will be by way of dividends from IBRC or from the projected final net asset position for IBRC.

The bank previously informed me that the projected final net asset position for IBRC is considered both commercially sensitive and subject to material uncertainty given the current uncertainties in markets, the deterioration in asset values and the complexities, timescales and risks involved in deleveraging. Whilst significant progress has been made the final position will be driven by a number of variable factors against the assumptions in IBRC’s wind down plan. These factors include actual recovery rates achieved for assets, the performance of the domestic and global economies, and the prevailing interest rates in Europe over the duration of the plan.

The bank’s policy is that, due to the commercially sensitive nature of such information as noted above combined with the many external variables involved, it does not issue formal projections.

However, the Bank’s CEO has given an indication previously that the likely total cost for Anglo Irish Bank would be in the €25 - €28 billion region. The bank have informed me that since this time there have been a number of changes in market circumstance, the accelerated pace of asset disposal, and the acquisition of Irish Nationwide Building Society. While not issuing a revised projection as noted above, the bank remains of the view that there will be a small return to the State at full resolution, given the assumptions currently being used.

Further in relation to inclusion of interest in the projected ultimate outturn I have been advised that in calculating the projected final net asset position IBRC take into account interest from all assets including customers, securities and Promissory Notes.

As previously shared with the house, the projected payments on the IBRC Promissory Notes are set out below.

€bn

Total interest

Paid: A

Total Capital

Reduction: B

Repayments:

A + B

31/03/2011

0.55

2.51

3.06

31/03/2012

-

3.06

3.06

**

31/03/2013

0.49

2.57

3.06

31/03/2014

1.84

1.22

3.06

31/03/2015

1.75

1.31

3.06

31/03/2016

1.65

1.41

3.06

31/03/2017

1.55

1.51

3.06

31/03/2018

1.44

1.62

3.06

31/03/2019

1.32

1.74

3.06

31/03/2020

1.19

1.87

3.06

31/03/2021

1.06

2.00

3.06

31/03/2022

0.91

2.15

3.06

31/03/2023

0.75

2.31

3.06

31/03/2024

0.57

1.52

2.09

31/03/2025

0.45

0.47

0.91

31/03/2026

0.39

0.52

0.91

31/03/2027

0.33

0.58

0.91

31/03/2028

0.26

0.65

0.91

31/03/2029

0.19

0.73

0.91

31/03/2030

0.10

0.81

0.91

31/03/2031

0.01

0.05

0.05

16.8

30.6

47.4

* These numbers may not tot exactly as a result of rounding

** The March 2012 repayment was settled with a long term Government bond.

Budget 2013

Questions (197, 234)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

197. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance the analyses being done on Budget 2013 / Finance Bill proposals under his remit, for example poverty impact assessment and gender impact assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52181/12]

View answer

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

234. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if Budget 2013 will be subject to a process of Equality Budgeting outlining all impacts on citizens with lower incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52705/12]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 234 together.

With regard to budgetary matters, when focusing on the primary objectives of reducing the deficit and returning sustainability to the public finances, it has been of vital importance to the Government to spread the burden of the adjustments made in as fair and equitable a manner as possible, while also seeking to minimise their negative impact on economic growth.

The Deputy might be aware that the Programme for Government does contain a clear commitment requiring all public bodies to take due note of equality and human rights in carrying out their functions. I would also remind the Deputy that the State and its bodies must, of course, comply with all provisions of equality legislation in the development and delivery of policies and services.

Furthermore, Cabinet procedures require that proposals put to Government indicate clearly whether there is any impact of the proposal on, amongst other things, gender equality, persons experiencing or at risk of poverty or social exclusion and people with disabilities.

The Deputy might also be aware that a distributional analysis of proposed budget measures is performed each year based on various income levels for the different categories of income earners, for example single individuals, married one-earner couples with no children and married one-earner couples with children. A distributional analysis which models the impacts on disposable income by income decile using SWITCH, the ESRI Tax-Benefit model, is also undertaken in evaluating various budgetary options. Illustrative examples are contained in the Budget 2012 document.

It is also worth acknowledging that Ireland has been consistently assessed highly by the OECD for the progressivity of our taxation system. In the OECD rating system on the progressivity of taxation, where less than 100 is regressive and above 100 is progressive, most EU countries had a progressivity rate of between 120 and 140. Ireland, in comparison, had a progressivity rate of 182 (OECD Taxes and Wages 2010-2011) which was the most progressive tax system of the EU members of the OECD.

Question No. 198 answered with Question No. 196.

Bond Redemption

Questions (199)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

199. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance the information he has on the level of insurance held by the purchasers of senior unguaranteed bank bonds, in the event that they were not paid back in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52184/12]

View answer

Written answers

Unlike in the case of shares, the holders of banks senior and subordinated debt instruments are not subject to a disclosure regime. When a bank issues a bond, whether by private placement or public issue, it would be usual practice for these to be settled through intermediaries and held by custodians, for example Clearstream or Euroclear.

These securities are traded in the open market and settled by clearing house systems. An issuer does not have any access to the records of the clearing house and as such, cannot identify the underlying ownership.

Therefore, I can confirm that neither the banks nor the Government have an accurate means of establishing the underlying ownership of securities issued by the banks at a particular point in time.

Equally therefore, I cannot advise the deputy in respect of the levels and types of insurance, individual bondholders may maintain in respect to particular bonds held by them.

Bank Debt Restructuring

Questions (200)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

200. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider legislation to compel all banks to disclose their guidelines for what they will leave borrowers with when restructuring unsustainable debts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52185/12]

View answer

Written answers

It is a matter for the borrower and lender, in the contract agreement for credit or in any subsequent agreement to change or revise that contract, to agree the terms of that arrangement including, as appropriate, the repayment provisions of the loan having regard, inter alia, to the circumstances of the borrower. Any guidelines that a lender may develop to assist it in making commercial decisions in this area is a commercial matter for the individual lender and I do not propose to specifically legislate in this area.

However, as the Deputy is aware, significant reforms are being proposed to personal insolvency law in Ireland and that a Personal Insolvency Bill, which was published last June by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, is now at an advanced stage in the parliamentary process. This Bill, which provides for new more effective insolvency frameworks to enable debtors and their creditors, in either a Debt Settlement Arrangement or Personal Insolvency Arrangement, to agree a sustainable arrangement. The Bill proposes that any such arrangement shall allow for the reasonable living expenses of the debtor and his or her dependants and it also provides that the Insolvency Service may, inter alia, publish guidelines on this matter.

Pension Provisions

Questions (201, 202)

Robert Dowds

Question:

201. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the financial emergency measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 to include the staff of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Allied Irish Bank and Irish Life under the provisions of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52259/12]

View answer

Robert Dowds

Question:

202. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide figures, in tabular form, on the amount of revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer if the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 was amended to include the staff of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, Allied Irish Bank and Irish Life respectively under the provisions of the Act. [52260/12]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.

The legislation the Deputy refers to – the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 (No 38)implemented a reduction in public service pensions to certain retired public servant pensioners.

It only applies to members of public services pension schemes and does not apply to semi-states or the private sector. Irrespective of the State’s shareholding in the institutions cited by the Deputy no public service pension schemes exist in those institutions and therefore the pension reduction does not apply.

As the Deputy will be aware the Government has commissioned a Remuneration Review across the Covered Banks and this is designed to inform future policy recommendations in this area.

I have committed to publishing the details underpinning the review in view of the public interest in the matter. The report will provide a comprehensive and professional analysis of remuneration structures and levels across the Covered Banks both now and before the onset of the banking crisis.

The further more detailed information sought in his question is not available to my Department and the compilation of this information is likely to delay completion of the Remuneration Review which is a Government priority.

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