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Wednesday, 20 Feb 2013

Written Answers Nos. 61-69

Global Economic Forum

Questions (61)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

61. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide up to date achievements of the Global Irish Economic Forum; if any more progress been made in the creation of jobs through the connect Ireland scheme; if there are plans to hold a third Global Irish Economic Forum; and when the forum will take place. [8856/13]

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Written answers

The Global Irish Economic Forum held in 2009 and 2011 and the related Global Irish Network have made a substantive contribution to the Government’s jobs and growth agenda and to the restoration of our international reputation. The Progress Reports of the 2011 Forum, published in March and October 2012, highlight the wide range of outcomes progressed, including the following specific outcomes: The Gathering which aims to attract an additional 325,000 visitors to Ireland this year:

- The establishment of the Global Irish Contacts Programme which has already linked 20 Irish companies to 20 Global Irish Network members in key markets;

- The establishment of a series of advocates for Ireland across key sectors;

- The new Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad;

- The Invest in Ireland Roundtable hosted by President Clinton in New York in February 2012;

- The establishment of an strategic communications unit in the Department of the Taoiseach;

- Active involvement of Global Irish Network members in Trade Missions;

- Increased support for the SME sector through the Temporary Partial Guarantee Scheme;

- Improved access to Ireland for those who want to study and do business here; and

- The expansion of Bord Bia’s food networks abroad;

- Connect Ireland, which is working closely with Network members to create up to 5,000 new jobs in Ireland over the next 5 years.

I have decided to convene a third Global Irish Economic Forum in October of this year. The decision follows Government consideration of the matter at its meeting on 29 January 2013. I believe that a further Forum would continue the process of deepening our strategic engagement with the Diaspora and make a further direct contribution to investment and trade promotion.

The issue was discussed at the last meeting of the Global Irish network Advisory Group which took place in Farmleigh on 11 February. My Department is in ongoing discussion with other Departments and State Agencies as well as members of the Global Irish Network on the most appropriate structure and agenda for the event.

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Questions (62, 76)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

62. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of Trócaire’s 2013 Lenten campaign which shows the positive impacts for communities in the developing world when they are free to organise, operate and demand their rights, if he will, through both funding and diplomacy in Irish Aid’s priority countries, work to guarantee safe spaces for community organisations, leaders and local people to advocate for their rights. [8844/13]

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Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

76. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way he intends to invest in the security of the community sector in Irish Aid's programme countries; the way he intends to increase multi stakeholder, independent review mechanisms to assess the effectiveness of Government systems and its response to threats against civil society space; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9262/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 76 together.

I welcome the focus of this year’s Trócaire Lenten Campaign on the rights of citizens and community organisations to participate in and influence decisions that affect their lives. Civil society organisations play an important role in bringing citizens together to act collectively and participate in the development of their own countries and communities. They have a strong role to play in demanding better services from the state and holding governments to account.

In some developing countries, civil society organisations have come under increasing pressure in recent years as they seek to play their legitimate role in society. In these countries, dialogue with civil society organisations is limited and the space for civil society engagement remains narrow or is, in some cases, shrinking. This can severely limit the operations and effectiveness of organisations, notably those working on human rights and advocacy.

Ireland has a long tradition of supporting civil society engagement. In fact, Trócaire and a number of other organisations, such as, Christian Aid and Frontline Defenders, are specifically funded by my Department to promote and facilitate strong civil society engagement across a range of countries. In our nine partner countries, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance, we also provide funding to local civil society organisations. This enables their participation at local and national levels of decision-making and their work for the fulfilment of human rights, especially for the most vulnerable. Ireland’s partnerships in these countries are founded on respect for human rights, and we will continue to use every influence we have with partner governments to ensure that the role of civil society organisations is enhanced.

Ireland is also actively engaged at the international level in ensuring that the space for civil society is protected. For example, at the meeting of Development Ministers under the EU Foreign Affairs Council which I attended in Luxembourg in October last, I gave strong support to the new EU Council Conclusions on Europe's engagement with civil society. These commit Member States “to support and promote an enabling environment for an independent, pluralistic and active civil society in partner countries” .

Ireland’s membership of the UN Human Rights Council presents a valuable opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the promotion and protection of an enabling environment for civil society. We intend to advance the issue of civil society space during our term on the UN Human Rights Council and to continue championing the UN Universal Periodic Review mechanism which reviews all member states’ human rights records, including the treatment of civil society actors and human rights defenders.

The Government will continue to promote civil society-led initiatives and to support other arrangements at national and international level to promote and monitor an enabling environment for civil society organisations.

Question No. 63 answered with Question No. 9.
Question No. 64 answered with Question No. 21.

Northern Ireland Issues

Questions (65)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

65. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the continued detention by the British authorities of a person (details suppied), who is a qualifying prisoner under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement and the Weston Park Agreement; and if he has requested the immediate release of this person. [8958/13]

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Written answers

This case has been brought to my attention and I understand that it is due to be examined by the Sentence Review Commissioners in Northern Ireland. That being the case, it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further. The issue of prisons within Northern Ireland is a devolved matter to the Northern Ireland Executive and, specifically, to the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland, led by Minister David Ford, and the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

The various measures included in the package agreed at Weston Park in August 2001 addressed four issues to assist in the successful implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: policing, normalisation, the stability of the institutions and decommissioning.

Proposed draft legislation by the British Government to deal with this specific issue as referred to in paragraph 20 of the Weston Park accord was formally withdrawn by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain MP, on 11 January 2006. The draft legislation, the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill, had been opposed by the majority of the Northern Ireland Assembly parties and the Secretary of State was compelled to withdraw the legislation when the only supporting party, Sinn Féin, could not accept certain aspects of the proposed legislation. The Government remains committed to the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Questions Nos. 66 and 67 answered with Question No. 9.

Ministerial Correspondence

Questions (68)

Joe Higgins

Question:

68. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with his Spanish counterpart the policy of dispersal of Basque prisoners throughout the Spanish State and the consequent hardship on their families. [8954/13]

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Written answers

Policy on the placement of a country’s nationals in prison in the European Union is a matter for the democratically elected government and the relevant competent authorities in each Member State in accordance with domestic law and, as such, it would be inappropriate for me to comment.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (69)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

69. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent demolitions of Palestinian homes by the Israeli military in the Jordan Valley; his views that the demolitions are unlawful and amount to a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention; and if he has raised the issue with the Israeli authorities. [8858/13]

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Written answers

I have consistently drawn attention to demolition of Palestinian homes and property by Israeli forces, including in the Jordan Valley. This relentless process serves to poison relationships between the two peoples and is the exact opposite of what would be done by a government actively pursuing confidence building and reconciliation.

I am seriously concerned by a significant rise in these demolitions in recent weeks. Figures provided by the UN indicate that in January there were 139 demolitions of Palestinian structures including 59 residential structures and 80 animal shelters. The majority of these were in the Jordan valley. This represents a three-fold increase over the monthly average in 2012. These actions forcibly displaced 251 Palestinians, including 153 children, and affected many more. In some cases, troops returned days later to again destroy tents and temporary shelters supplied by aid agencies.

The main reason for these demolitions and evictions is to make room for the ongoing expansion of illegal Israeli settlements. In other cases the land is cleared for military use, including training ranges, or even for parks. It is clear that all of these are just variations of an intention to force Palestinians off the land, to leave it in undisputed Israeli control. This occurs principally in Area C, which includes the whole Jordan valley, and in east Jerusalem. Regular destruction of wells, cisterns and other water and power infrastructure has the same objective. The usual pretext for demolition is that the structures lack planning permission. However, the authorities systematically refuse planning permission to Palestinian applicants, while at the same time applying completely different standards and responses to building by Israeli settlers.

These policies are clearly in violation of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. International law accepts that occupation authorities sometimes may have to demolish buildings, but this is usually in the context of imperative military necessity or indeed actual combat, neither of which would seem to be relevant to these cases. In addition, these actions are carried out in many cases to facilitate the continued expansion of Israeli settlements, which is itself contrary to the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Ireland has consistently raised concerns about settlements and related issues such as demolitions, especially at EU level. The Foreign Affairs Council in May 2012 adopted detailed Conclusions on many of these issues, including demolitions and forced transfers. EU Missions on the ground are also actively engaged at present in exploring ways of helping the affected communities while our strong concerns and opposition to such practices have repeatedly been relayed to the Israeli authorities, both via our Embassy in Tel Aviv as well as through the Israeli Embassy in Dublin.

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