Wednesday, 16 Jan 2013

Written Answers Nos. 24-47

Middle East Peace Process

Questions (25)

Seán Crowe

Question:

25. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of the concern over the possible likelihood of an armed conflict between Israel and Iran, he shares the concerns of many of those who want to see a peaceful resolution to conflict in the Middle East, that the increased militarisation of the region is increasing the likelihood of this conflict; his views on whether the export of Dolphin Class military submarines by Germany to Israel possibly breaches Criterion Four of the EU rules governing the exports of military technology and equipment. [1657/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Government, along with its EU and other international partners, strongly supports the achievement through diplomatic negotiations of a solution to the major concerns which exist in relation to Iran's nuclear programme. It is deeply regrettable that, despite nine years of diplomatic efforts, Iran has so far been unwilling to engage with the necessary seriousness and commitment in negotiations on the issue. I hope very much that this will change and that Iran will work urgently with others to bring about the diplomatic solution to this crisis which is long overdue.

The Israeli Government has indicated publicly that it may feel obliged to take military action against the Iranian nuclear programme. It has said that it is prepared to allow time for diplomatic efforts to succeed but that time is not unlimited. I encourage Israel to recognize that a viable solution to this problem can only be achieved through diplomatic negotiations and that resorting to force would pose huge and incalculable risks for the entire region.

I have dealt with the issue of the supply by Germany of submarines to Israel in my reply to Question 9 (ref 44808/12) on 17 October last.

Middle East Peace Process

Questions (26)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

26. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that in the long term interest of peace in the region, Israel should urgently place its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards as required by UN Security Council resolution 487, which was adopted unanimously on 19 June 1981 and endorsed by the UN General Assembly on 3 December 2012 by 174 votes to 6; and if has raised this matter with the Israeli authorities. [1659/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ireland has for some time called upon Israel to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) without further delay and to place all of its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. We have repeatedly called for universality of the Treaty in national as well as EU statements, and also through our participation in the New Agenda Coalition. Ireland has also played an active role in promoting a Middle East free of all Weapons of Mass Destruction – nuclear, chemical and biological. We would see this as a priority objective, not just in terms of promoting longer term peace and stability in the region, but also in terms of protecting the NPT, with which Ireland is closely associated. The NPT is acknowledged as a cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. In 1995, the Treaty was extended indefinitely in a package of agreements that also included a Resolution on the Middle East which envisages a zone free of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the region. It is important for the Treaty that the Middle East resolution is fully implemented.

At the 2010 NPT Review Conference Ireland brokered agreement on some practical next steps towards a Middle East zone free of Weapons of Mass Destruction, including a Conference to be attended by all States of the region. This agreement represented the first real progress towards implementing the 1995 Resolution in the fifteen years since it had been agreed, and Ireland’s role in this has been acknowledged.

Israel has never officially declared itself to possess nuclear weapons and maintains a policy of opacity about its nuclear capabilities. It remains one of just three states not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Deputy can be assured that Ireland will continue to call on it and the two other states not party to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear weapons states without delay and to conclude a full scope safeguards agreement with the IAEA. The Deputy can also be assured that universal adherence to, and full implementation of, the NPT will remain key foreign policy objectives for the Government as we approach the next NPT Review Conference in 2015.

Question No. 27 answered with Question No. 10.

Question No. 28 answered with Question No. 14.

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Questions (29)

Michael McGrath

Question:

29. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set out on a country basis a breakdown of the planned distribution of Irish overseas development aid; the percentage year on year change in overseas development aid to each recipient country since 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1587/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Joe Costello)

Ireland has long term, strategic development partnership programmes with a small number of developing countries, called Programme Countries. These are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia in sub-Saharan Africa, and Timor Leste and Vietnam in Asia. Timor Leste has now ceased to be a Programme Country. In these countries we aim to build government and institutional capacities to deliver the essential services that their populations need – mainly in the areas of health, education and food security. We also work in areas such as governance, gender equality, the environment and HIV and Aids, building systems of accountability that will ensure lasting development results.

For 2013 the Government has allocated €623 million to Ireland’s programme for Official Development Assistance (ODA). €498 million will be managed under Vote 27 International Cooperation through the Development Cooperation Division of my Department – known to the public as Irish Aid. We are currently in the process of finalising the 2013 detailed budget allocations across the aid programme and anticipate that we will allocate approximately one third of the total Irish Aid 2013 budget directly to Programme Countries.

Table 1 provides details of the final budget allocations to Programme Countries for 2011 and 2012 together with the percentage year on year change. The final allocation to Programme Countries for 2012 was reduced as a result of the decision by the Tánaiste to suspend all funding through Government system in Uganda following the discovery of significant misappropriation of Irish Aid, and other donor, funding within the Prime Minister's Office. We are currently assessing the various options for future programme engagement in Uganda following the full restitution of the funds by the Government of Uganda.

Table 1

Programme Country Allocations

Figures in € 000’s

Programme Country	Budget Allocation 2012	Budget Allocation 2011	% Change
Ethiopia	25,770	25,990	-1%
Lesotho	7,440	10,440	-29%
Zambia	14,580	16,415	-11%
Malawi	12,500	11,455	9%
Mozambique	37,000	37,000	0%
Tanzania	29,728	30,700	-3%
Timor Leste	3,510	2,720	29%
Uganda	16,000	32,750	-51%
Vietnam	12,000	12,000	0
Total Programme Countries	158,528	179,470	-12%

EU Enlargement

Questions (30)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

30. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he held talks with the Turkish Minister for Europe when he visited Dublin; the agenda that was discussed at these meetings; if Ireland’s Presidency of the EU will include any talks on the barriers to Turkey’s accession to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1663/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I met with the Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mr. Egemin Bais, during his visit to Ireland on 17 – 19 December 2012. The Minister also met with my colleague the Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton T.D. While there was no set agenda for my meeting with Minister Bais, our discussion centred on the prospects for reinvigorating Turkey’s stalled EU accession process. This was also the main item of discussion for Minister Bais and Minister of State Creighton.

EU enlargement is a priority for the Irish Presidency. We see it as a vital tool for promoting reform, democracy and stability in Europe. During our Presidency Ireland will work to facilitate and advance the process for Turkey, as we will for all other candidates and prospective candidates.

In that regard I welcome the December 2012 European Council Conclusions on Turkey, which are constructive and balanced, and which recognise that it is in the interests of both parties that accession negotiations regain momentum soon. The Conclusions call upon Turkey to further build on its progress to date on reforms, including in the area of fundamental rights and the rule of law, and to commit itself to good neighbourly relations and to the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Both Minister of State Creighton and I conveyed to Minister Bais that Ireland would hope to be in a position to open a negotiation Chapter with Turkey during our Presidency. However we also conveyed to him that whether concrete progress proves possible will depend on the willingness of all parties, both the EU Member States and Turkey, to facilitate this through working together in a positive and constructive atmosphere, and, on the part of Turkey, through implementing the necessary reforms.

We also touched upon some recent developments, notably in respect of Syria and the Kurdish issue, human rights as well as on bilateral relations.

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Questions (31)

Niall Collins

Question:

31. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the aid that he has distributed to the Gaza strip following the conflict in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1570/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Joe Costello)

The recent conflict in Gaza has exacerbated the already difficult humanitarian situation on the ground and increased the vulnerabilities of many families. Prior to the recent hostilities, Gaza was experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis due to the economic blockade and the effective isolation of the territory from the outside world. As a result, people in Gaza face high unemployment, and their situation in terms of food security, health and water/sanitation remains extremely difficult. It is estimated that around 80 per cent of Gaza households are dependent on food aid and more than 300,000 refugees in Gaza live below the abject poverty line and are unable to meet their basic food needs.

Ireland has responded to the current crisis by providing additional funding of €2.14 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to support their Gaza Emergency Appeal. UNRWA, the UN agency charged with responsibility for the welfare of all Palestinian refugees, helps to provide basic education, health, relief and social services for some 5 million registered Palestinian refugees. The importance of the Gaza Appeal, particularly in providing food aid for vulnerable refugee families was highlighted by UNRWA’s Commissioner General during his visit to Ireland last October.

This funding support is in addition to Irish Aid’s broader programme of assistance to the Palestinian people and brings our total funding support in 2012 to €11.47 million. This includes support to UNRWA’s general fund, the Palestinian Authority and civil society organisations.

Ireland's response underlies our continuing commitment to meeting the emergency needs of the Palestinian people as we have done for many years.

Question No. 32 answered with Question No. 19.

EU Presidency Expenditure

Questions (33)

Dara Calleary

Question:

33. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of additional staff hired by his Department for the duration of the Irish Presidency of the EU Council; the total anticipated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1566/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade received a temporary reprieve from the impact of the Government’s Employment Control Framework and was also allocated 50 temporary extra posts for 2012 and 2013 in order to enable it to plan and fulfil its EU Presidency responsibilities and activities in the first half of this year. The sanctioned additional staff are now in situ and have been assigned as appropriate, either to front line Presidency-related activities or to back-fill positions vacated by experienced officers redeployed to Presidency roles.

At headquarters, nine staff have been redeployed to my Department from other Government Departments and Offices, to which they are scheduled to return in summer 2013. Ten administrative and 11 clerical staff have also been engaged on fixed-term contracts through the Public Appointments Service and 9 Interns have been recruited on the same basis directly by the Department. Furthermore, a small number of staff have been temporarily seconded to the Department from other EU Member States and from the EU’s External Action Service, at no cost to the Exchequer, and one retired officer has been temporarily re-engaged until July 2013.

As regards Missions abroad, the majority of Presidency-related posts have been assigned to the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels, with smaller numbers allocated to other Missions including the Permanent Missions to the UN in New York and Geneva and that to the OSCE in Vienna. The Presidency staffing plan for the Permanent Representation in Brussels was prepared following a carefully coordinated inter-departmental needs evaluation. Overall, the staffing of the Permanent Representation has been temporarily increased by 80 officers in various grades, with the majority of staff assigned by other Departments and Offices at their own expense and from within their own staffing resources and some 30 administrative and clerical staff temporarily locally recruited.

Expenditure on salaries and related costs for these additional Presidency staff amounted to €1.169m in 2012. A budget of €2m has been allocated for the same salary costs for 2013. This allocation will also be used to meet overtime costs occurring in relation to Presidency events, including those taking place in Ireland.

Question No. 34 answered with Question No. 10.

Question No. 35 answered with Question No. 19.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (36)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

36. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the remarks by Israeli Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, that the goal of Israel’s recent military action against Gaza was to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages; and if he has raised the issue with the Israeli authorities and his colleagues in the European Union. [1661/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am aware of the comments referred to. Minister Yishai is a member of a small ultra-religious party. He does not have responsibility within the Israeli Government for Israeli foreign or defence policy. Nor is he a member of the Cabinet subcommittee which decides on security issues. While remarks such as these are clearly unhelpful and provocative, and serve merely to inflame thinking in both communities, they do not constitute official Israeli Government policy and in my view do not merit a response. This is also the view taken by Ireland’s EU and other international partners.

Question No. 37 answered with Question No. 18.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (38)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

38. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the raid at 3 am on 11 December 2012 by Israeli military forces on the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights office in Ramallah in which the office was ransacked and valuable equipment including four laptops were confiscated; and if he shares any concerns on the matter. [1658/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I was deeply concerned at the raid which took place on the Addameer office in Ramallah on 11 December 2012. Ireland has provided annual support to Addameer since 2007, including a recent contribution of €60,000 in 2012. The organisation works to assist prisoners and their families through the provision of free legal advice and representation in Israeli military courts. Addameer also documents human rights violations and conducts regular prison visits.

On the morning of 11 December 2012, soldiers of the Israeli Defence Forces raided the offices of three Palestinian non-governmental organisations in Ramallah: the Union of Palestinian Women Committees, the Palestinian NGO Network and Addameer. I understand that hardware, legal files and other material were removed from the Addameer offices during the raid. While the hardware has already been replaced by a donation, work to replace the files and to resume normal day-to-day activities will be heavily time-consuming and costly for the organisation.

Following the raids, the EU Delegation to the Palestinian Territory issued a strong statement expressing its concerns and that of all EU member States. Such incursions by Israeli forces into Palestinian cities, where the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords assumes the powers and responsibilities for internal security and public order, put in jeopardy the internationally recognised success of Palestinian institution-building efforts. Ireland fully supports this statement.

We will continue to work closely with our NGO partners in Palestine, including Addameer, to ensure that they can carry out their work safely and effectively to protect human rights in Palestine.

Question No. 39 answered with Question No. 19.

EU Presidency Expenditure

Questions (40)

Michael McGrath

Question:

40. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the tender contract awarded for the establishment of a website for Ireland's Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1133/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

In September 2010, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade went to tender for the redevelopment of its websites to include the Department’s own website, the website for Irish Aid and, as an option, the development of a website for the EU Presidency. The tender was advertised through the e-tenders portal as an EU-wide procurement. The winning tender was from Terminal4 in collaboration with iQContent, and a contract was agreed in October 2011.

In line with the communications strategy for the Presidency, the Department decided to exercise the option for a Presidency website and Terminal4 were asked to submit proposals. After further negotiations, a programme of work was agreed and a supplementary contract was signed in December 2011. In planning the Presidency it was agreed that responsibility for the website development project sat best with the Department of the Taoiseach, and in line with provisions in the contract, the project was formally assigned to that Department in February 2012.

The website is available both for desktops and in a mobile form, and in four languages (English, Irish, French and German). It is the portal for all media and official accreditation, streams major events live, and is also used to showcase Ireland to international audiences. It is the key communications tool for the Irish Presidency of the EU.

With over 2,500 pages on the site, eu2013.ie is the primary source of information for all of the high-level meetings held in Ireland and Brussels and for breaking news during our Presidency. It was launched on 17 December 2012 and in its first four weeks it received around 80000 visits, while the associated Presidency Twitter account already had 3870 followers.

Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union represents an enormous opportunity for our country to take a leadership role in Europe and the Government is determined to conduct an efficient and cost-effective Presidency. The Presidency also offers a great chance both to promote Ireland (we will welcome over 15,000 official visitors to nearly 180 events over six months), and to explain the work of the EU, and of the Presidency, to a domestic audience. The website is at the heart of all these efforts.

Regulatory Impact Assessment Numbers

Questions (41)

Niall Collins

Question:

41. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of regulatory impact assessments that have been carried out by his Department in the past twelve months and the list of regulatory impact assessments carried out within his Department in the past twelve months. [57761/12]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am fully committed to achieving the goals set out in the Action Plan for Better Regulation and believe that improvements in regulation can have a positive impact on the quality of engagement between the public and Government. As no new regulations were introduced by my Department, there were no Regulatory Impact Assessments required by my Department in the past twelve months.

Exports Data

Questions (42, 78, 79)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

42. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding Irish export levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57794/12]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

78. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he expects an improvement in trade with various countries throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America in the coming years with particular reference to the need to use such trade as a vehicle for economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1945/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the countries worldwide with which Ireland recorded greatest improvement in the expansion of trade and commercial activity in 2012; his objectives in this regard in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1946/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 78 and 79 together.

In 2011, total exports (Services and Merchandise) reached over €174 billion, a 6.5% increase on the 2010 figure. Total services exports increased by €7.1 billion (9.5%) to €81.4 billion while total merchandise exports increased by €3 billion (4%) to €92.7 billion.

In 2012, merchandise exports for the first 10 months reached €77.5 billion, up 2% on 2011; while services exports for the first nine months reached €66.46 billion, up 11% on 2011.

Europe accounted for just over 59% of merchandise exports for the first 10 months of 2012 and exports increased by 4.3% when compared to the same period in 2011. Notable growth was achieved in merchandise exports to Great Britain (11%), Germany (24%) and the Netherlands (7%). Exports to Canada increased by 24% in the ten month period, albeit from a lower base. Similarly, exports to Japan and Switzerland increased by 20% and 26% respectively. Total merchandise exports to the BRICS group were up by approximately 1% for the period, due mainly to strong growth in exports to Russia (+18%) and India (+12%). Services exports to non-EU markets for the first three quarters of 2012 increased by 23% and to EU markets by 3% when compared to the same period in 2011.

While the majority of Irish services and merchandise exports go to Europe and the US and we must continue to cultivate these markets, the Government is strongly focused on the further development of trade ties with Latin America, Africa and Asia. Eight of the 27 priority markets identified under the Government Trade Strategy are in Latin America, Africa and Asia (Brazil, South Africa, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea). For the first 10 months of 2012, total merchandise trade with each of these countries was as follows; Brazil, €706 million; South Africa, €355 million; China, €4.3 billion; India, €513 million; Japan, €2.4 billion; Malaysia, €391 million; Singapore, €678 million and the Republic of Korea, €576 million.

Under the oversight of the Export Trade Council which I chair, we will continue in 2013 to boost bilateral trade with these countries, as well as other key markets in Latin America, Asia and Africa. In relation to Africa, my Department’s targeted Strategy is aimed at exploring new sectors and markets in that continent that have particular potential for Irish companies and we are working closely with the state agencies and Irish companies on its ongoing implementation.

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Questions (43)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

43. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of the countries to which Ireland provides financial assistance through its overseas development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57832/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Joe Costello)

Ireland’s aid programme prioritises the fight against global poverty and hunger. The programme is central to our foreign policy, has an enviable international reputation and enjoys consistently high levels of public and political support.

For 2012 Ireland provided €639 million to Official Development Assistance (ODA). This funding was directed to development programmes and providing life saving emergency humanitarian assistance to many of the world’s least developed countries.

Ireland has long term, strategic development partnership programmes with a small number of developing countries, called Programme Countries. These are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia in sub-Saharan Africa, and Timor Leste and Vietnam in Asia. Timor Leste has ceased to be a Programme Country in 2013. In these countries we aim to build government and institutional capacities to deliver the essential services that their populations need – mainly in the areas of health, education and food security.

For 2012 we allocated €158 million to our Programme Countries. Comprehensive details of how Ireland’s total ODA, including funding allocated directly to Programme Countries, was spent are currently being compiled and will be published in the Irish Aid Annual Report which will be available on the Irish Aid website www.irishaid.ie. Comprehensive details of all countries that benefited from Ireland’s aid programme in 2011 can be found in the 2011 Irish Aid Annual Report which is currently available on the website.

Departmental Bodies Abolition

Questions (44)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

44. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the number of agencies, bodies, boards, quangos or other entities, which are financed from, answerable to or established by his Department that have been abolished, merged or re-organised since this Government took office; the savings that have been realised since the changes were made; the level of staff reduction that has been achieved; if he will provide details of further agency reductions that he intends to pursue in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57879/12]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group was established in 2010. Its role is to offer independent expert advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister of State for Trade and Development on the strategic direction of the aid programme. The administration of the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group is serviced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from the Department’s overall budget. The Group does not have any whole time equivalent staff. There are seven group members, including one Chairperson and one ex-officio member. The Development Education Advisory Committee has been in place since 2003. Its role is to offer policy advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister of State for Trade and Development on development education and on ways of increasing knowledge and understanding of development issues in Ireland. The administration of the Development Education Advisory Committee is serviced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from the Department’s overall budget. The Group does not have any whole time equivalent staff. The committee is made up of nine members and a Chairperson.

The Development Education Advisory Committee was identified as a candidate body for critical review as part of the Government's Agency Rationalisation Programme under the Public Sector Reform Plan. The role of DEAC was reviewed in the context of the recent Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid. A decision on the Development Education Advisory Committee will be made when the outcome of the Review, a new policy on global development, is submitted for Government approval in the near future.

Election Monitoring Missions

Questions (45)

Michael McNamara

Question:

45. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when interviews will be held to put in place a revised roster of election monitors of Irish Aid with his Department; the delay in revising this roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58030/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Joe Costello)

International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of observers for election monitoring missions. We aim to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation missions for both elections and constitutional referendums. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. However, they have also been involved in missions organised by the Council of Europe, the United Nations and the Carter Centre.

The electoral observation roster is now being reviewed with a view to the establishment of a new roster of individuals with the right mix of skills and experience to ensure that Ireland can consistently nominate the best qualified people for missions. We will shortly be issuing a call for applicants. Applications will be short-listed against published criteria and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. I expect that these interviews will take place by the end of April 2013.

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Questions (46)

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

46. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount it costs for Ireland to affiliate to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1142/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ireland was one of the founding members of the OSCE in 1973. It is the world's largest intergovernmental regional security organisation, comprising of 57 member states dealing with a range of issues in the areas of democratisation, human rights, arms control and economic and environmental security. Building on our own experience in peacemaking, peace building and security issues Ireland is committed to and places a strong emphasis on conflict prevention and resolution internationally and values the OSCE as a forum in which all European states (and the US and Canada) can participate on the basis of full equality. Ireland is a modest contributor to the OSCE and makes a contribution in two parts every year in order to remain affiliated to this organisation.

In 2012 EUR 566,531.15 was received on 18 January 2012 and EUR 525,870.62 received on 10 April 2012 this resulted in a total of EUR 1,092,401.77 contributed to the OSCE in 2012.

Middle East Peace Process

Questions (47)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

47. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will encourage the formation of an EU Committee for Middle East Affairs in the coming Presidency of the European Union and if he will help relieve the suffering of the people of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1240/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

There are three permanent Working Groups of the Council already in existence to deal with Middle East issues. One covers North Africa and the Near East; one covers the Gulf and Arabian states; and one concentrates specifically on the Israeli-Arab conflict and related issues. The work of these Groups, on which all member States are represented, prepares and feeds upwards into discussion at Ambassador level and ultimately into the Foreign Affairs Council. All three Groups are very active. My Department provides a strong Irish input into their work and into the formulation of EU policy across the wide range of issues which they cover, including those relating to Palestine.

In 2012 Ireland contributed €11.47 million in humanitarian assistance and civil society support in the Palestinian Territory. This included funding of €6.34 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency which is responsible for the provision of basic services such as education and health to Palestinian refugees, including within Gaza. This was broken down as follows: €4 million to the UNRWA General Fund; €2.14 million to the UNRWA Gaza Appeal; and €200,000 to the UNRWA Syria Appeal.