Written Answers Nos. 43-51
43. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of his commitment to do so, he has made plans to visit the Short Strand community in Belfast, to discuss the experiences community residents had during violent flag protests. [8851/13]
View answerI am regularly briefed by officials from my Department who have visited the Short Strand regularly in recent weeks, and who continue to maintain close contact with members of the local community and to provide them with practical support. It remains my intention also to visit the Short Strand on an early suitable date as part of my ongoing programme for visits and engagements in Northern Ireland. In view of forthcoming parades passing Short Strand and other interfaces, both the Irish and British Governments are of the view that the Parades Commission needs to be strongly supported and that its determinations must be respected. I would encourage all parties to engage with local residents at interfaces to identify compromise solutions that respect the wishes of both marchers and resident communities.
Many local communities in Northern Ireland continue to be affected by the blight of sectarianism. This can be particularly pronounced for those living close to interfaces, such as in the Short Strand, and I am acutely conscious of the potential for further increased tensions during periods around contentious parades in particular.
Building relationships between divided communities takes time and sustained effort and investment. The recent violent street disturbances are a reminder that the challenge remains to build a society that can accommodate competing notions of identity.
There is ongoing reconciliation work taking place, in particular at community level, and including that supported by my Department through the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds.
We will continue our efforts and will support the efforts of the NI Executive and elected political leaders in Northern Ireland to formulate a strategy framework and vision for a united, peaceful and reconciled society. I will also continue to work closely with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP, in line with the shared responsibility of the two Governments to support the full implementation of the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements to achieve their vision of a peaceful and reconciled society in Northern Ireland.
44. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the recent EU budget discussions in particular in relation to the significant cuts to EU transport and communication networks and the potential impact on projects here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8738/13]
View answerThe European Council met on 7 and 8 February to agree the EU Budget Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2014-2020. In the course of negotiations on the MFF Ireland argued for a properly funded and properly functioning EU, with the right mix of priorities, fair allocation of resources and a focus on jobs and growth. Ensuring a properly-funded Common Agricultural Policy was central to this, as was ensuring that the EU’s regional policy addressed the real and current challenges we face, including unemployment.
The Commission proposal for the MFF would have seen spending of €45.7 billion on a special Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), including €24.8 billion on transport and €10.5 billion on telecommunications. However, the final MFF agreement was for a total CEF amount of €29.3 billion, of which €23.2 billion was for transport and €1 billion for telecommunications.
The MFF outcome was a compromise, and could not fully reflect the ambitions of all Member States. We would have preferred a larger overall amount, and explicitly argued for more spending on telecommunications. However, on balance the result was a good deal for Ireland, and a good deal for Europe.
Ireland will be eligible to apply for funding under the CEF once the Regulation, which covers the period 2014-2020, has been agreed. We intend to be very ambitious in terms of our objectives in that regard.
While the level of the proposed CEF allocation to the telecommunications and transport sectors is lower than the Government would have wished, I am hopeful that transport and telecommunications projects in Ireland will benefit from this new funding instrument in due course.
45. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the assassination of a Tunisian secular opposition leader; his views that Tunisia’s democracy is now under threat; and if he has discussed the matter with the Tunisian Ambassador accredited to Ireland. [8845/13]
View answerI have followed with great concern the latest developments in Tunisia and, in particular, the assassination on 6 February of the leader of the Unified Democratic Patriots Party, Chokri Belaid. This is an act of political terrorism which I unreservedly condemn. I join with High Representative Ashton in expressing the hope that the Tunisian authorities will conduct a full investigation into this assassination, so that those responsible for this terrible act are swiftly brought to justice. Having sparked the popular movements for change and reform across the region, Tunisia has already taken great strides in establishing the foundations of a functioning democracy. It was among the first countries to organise free general elections in October 2011. There is no denying, however, that the pace and scale of change have somewhat slowed down since, with delays in the drafting of the new Constitution, regular extension of the state of emergency and threats to public order, all compounded by a worsening of the socioeconomic situation. The violent activities of a number of extremist groups represent a particular concern and challenge in terms of the recent progress made. I encourage the Tunisian authorities to take all necessary steps to put an end to the actions of these extremist groups.
The transformation in Tunisia from an oppressive regime to a normal functioning democracy will inevitably take time, as is also the case in other countries in transition in the region. We need to be patient and, as the European Council commented recently, maintain our support for the processes of transition and economic development, with the clear understanding that the overall aim is to protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms.
While I had a very useful and worthwhile meeting with President Marzouki last February (when I visited Tunisia to attend the inaugural meeting of the Friends of Syria group), I have not had an opportunity since then to discuss the most recent events with the Tunisian Ambassador. I take note of Prime Minister Jelabi’s resignation on 19 February and hope the process of appointing a new Government will represent an opportunity to reach out to the opposition and, through a constructive political dialogue, to work for greater tolerance across all strands of Tunisian society and for the fulfilment of the democratic and economic aspirations of all Tunisians.
46. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the date on which his Department will conclude its review of the White Paper on Irish Aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8739/13]
View answerThe 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid set out clearly the basis and priorities for Ireland’s official aid programme, which is working on behalf of the Irish people to improve the lives of the world’s poorest people. The programme has been recognised internationally for its focus on poverty and hunger, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and for its leadership in making aid more effective.
The Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid is one of the commitments contained in the Programme for Government. We wanted to carry out such a Review to examine the progress being made by our aid programme, to assess the changed context, globally and here at home, and to set out our future priorities as the international community considers the framework for international development after 2015, the target date for the Millennium Development Goals.
A very vibrant public consultation was undertaken for the Review between February and April of last year, which was overseen by the independent Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group. We met over 1,000 people across Ireland and in our partner countries, and received a large number of written submissions. We also undertook consultation across Government Departments and in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Since then, we have embarked on a process of considering carefully the contributions made during the consultation period as well as the available evidence on what works best. Based on this we are now finalising a new policy on Ireland’s role in international development. This policy will be submitted for Government approval in the near future.
51. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has held with the Northern Executive and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding the activities of criminals, commonly referred to as dissidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8932/13]
View answerThe peace process and the Good Friday Agreement have resulted in a transformation of society in Northern Ireland, perhaps most visibly in the dramatic decrease in terrorist-related incidents and violence. There remains, however, a threat from paramilitary groups who are determined to impose a return to conflict on the people of Ireland. My Government colleagues and I discuss cross-border security issues and the threat posed by so-called dissident groups on a continuous basis with our partners in Northern Ireland. As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement we are keenly aware of our responsibilities in this regard. When I met with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Ms. Theresa Villiers MP on 11 February 2013 in Dublin we discussed the ongoing, cross-Border threat posed by certain groups.
In recent months our discussions with the British Government and the Executive, have been taken place against the background of the murder in November 2012 of Prison Officer David Black. The universal condemnation from across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland and the unified reactions from the two Governments underlined the solidity of the peace process. Public statements made by the Taoiseach, Minister Shatter and by myself reinforced the message of the two Governments standing together in solidarity with Prison Officer Black’s family and his colleagues in the Northern Ireland Prison Service. My colleague Minister Shatter attended Mr. Black’s funeral.
It is worth noting that a number of unsuccessful attempts to injure and kill members of the security forces in Northern Ireland have taken place since the murder of Officer Black and the Government is not complacent about the persistence of the threat.
In addition to discussions at political level, strong and deep cooperation exists between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland to counter such individuals and groups. The number of arrests in connection with paramilitary activity made in both jurisdictions continues to be significant. The Garda and the PSNI will continue to cooperate very closely to combat such activity on both sides of the Border.
