Written Answers Nos 80-90
83. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total cost to the taxpayer of paying the aggregate fees, salaries and any other remuneration to directors of all State bodies, to include majority State owned banks, all public interest directors, all semi-State bodies, all State agencies and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15409/13]
View answerThere are no State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department.
84. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the results of the 57th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women held earlier this month; the actions and best practices outlined in the agreed conclusions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15430/13]
View answerThe United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global policy-making body on issues relating to gender equality and advancement of women. The 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place in New York from 4 to 15 March 2013. The priority theme for the session was the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. The outcome aimed for in this regard was a set of Agreed Conclusions, which are negotiated by all states and, in accordance with normal practice, adopted on the basis of consensus.
Ireland’s official delegation to the CSW was led by Ms Kathleen Lynch T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Health and the Department of Justice and Equality with responsibility for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People. It included officials from the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In addition, representatives from civil society organisations were part of the delegation.
The EU was represented in the negotiations on the Agreed Conclusions by the EU Delegation, supported by the Irish Presidency. Following extensive negotiations, consensus on the Agreed Conclusions was reached on 15 March 2013. Ireland, working closely with EU and other likeminded partners, contributed actively to what has been widely received as a positive outcome. Previously identified national priorities are clearly reflected in the Agreed Conclusions, including a strong condemnation all forms of violence against women and girls; recognition of the linkages with gender inequality and discrimination; a commitment to end impunity; and references to women, peace and security, women human rights defenders, and the need for coordinated, multisectoral services. New elements incorporated into the Agreed Conclusions include the role of men and boys in addressing the issue, and the role which victims and survivors can play as agents for change.
The Agreed Conclusions (currently in unedited format) are available on the website of the 57th Session of the CSW.
In addition to the negotiations on the agreed conclusions, the Minister of State chaired a number of side events. The first of these, entitled “Mobilising communities to prevent and respond to violence against women – lessons learnt from Uganda”, looked at Irish Aid’s work in Uganda. The second, entitled “Addressing Gender Based Violence in post conflict and fragile states – a case study of Sierra Leone”, presented the results of research carried out by the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence. The Minister of State also participated in a European Union event, at which she outlined the National Strategy developed by Cosc, and a side event organised by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Additionally, the Minister of State participated in a high-level consultation on “Accelerating Zero-Tolerance to Gender Based Violence through the HIV response” which was organised by UN Women and UNAIDS and co-sponsored by Ireland. Her programme also included a series of bilateral contacts with a number of other Ministers and officials.
Ireland also co-sponsored an event with Amnesty International and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights which focused on the risks faced by women human rights defenders and at which our Permanent Representative in New York was a panellist. We co-sponsored a further event organised by the Uganda-based NGO, Raising Voices, which looked at implementing an evidence-based approach in addressing violence against women and girls. An event supported by Australia, South Africa and Ireland explored the potential of new media in supporting survivors of violence against women. The range of side events contributed to raising awareness around these issues among those attending CSW while also showcasing Ireland’s engagement in efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls both domestically and internationally.
85. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consular or other assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15480/13]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that this Department through our Consulate General in New York has been in direct contact with the named person’s lawyer and the NGO Reprieve regarding this person’s application for Irish citizenship via the Foreign Births Registration. Once the Irish citizenship of the person concerned has been established, we will seek to offer all consular assistance possible. However, the opportunity to provide consular assistance for dual nationals may be sometimes be limited by the laws of the host country and by international law and practice.
As the Deputy will be aware Ireland is adamantly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and accordingly seeks its universal abolition. We continue to work in close cooperation with our EU partners in accordance with the common EU guidelines on the issue of the death penalty, to seek its universal abolition.
The EU guidelines, adopted in 1998, set out clearly the common EU position on the use of the death penalty. These guidelines seek, in the first instance, the universal abolition of the death penalty and state that where the death penalty still exists, the EU will continue to press for its use to be progressively restricted. The EU utilises every possible occasion to voice its concerns regarding the use of the death penalty and intervenes in cases which fall under the criteria set out in the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty. Ireland strongly supports these efforts.
86. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish passport applications that have been processed in Northern Ireland in the past three years; and if he will provide a breakdown by Post Office and District Council Area. [15489/13]
View answerThe Passport Service offers an express service through over 70 post office branches in Northern Ireland. Customers applying through passport express are given a commitment by the Passport Service that, where the application was properly completed, a passport will be returned to them within ten working days. The total number of passport applications processed for through these post offices in the period 2010 to 2013 is detailed as follows:
|
Year |
Applications |
|
2010 |
42,475 |
|
2011 |
38,416 |
|
2012 |
45,798 |
The information breakdown as requested by the Deputy by post office and district council area is not available.
87. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade noting on the tenth anniversary of the war and occupation of Iraq based on false claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, that unsubstantiated claims are currently being made by the US and Israel that Iran is developing nuclear weapons together with assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists and threats by Israel and the US to launch a military attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, if he will, in line with Ireland's commitment to the settlement of political disputes by peaceful means, make a public statement opposing the threats to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. [15663/13]
View answerI have repeatedly stated in public, including in reply to Questions from the Deputy and others, that the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme and the serious concerns which surround it can only be resolved by diplomatic means. I have made clear my view that military action would be very destabilising and harmful to regional stability and should be avoided. The nature of Iran’s nuclear programme, as well as the secrecy attaching to it, have given rise to widespread international concerns about the aims of the programme. It is difficult to understand many aspects of the programme and of the Iranian authorities’ actions in relation to it other than as an effort to achieve a covert nuclear weapons capability. Concerns about Iran’s intentions have been voiced not only by the United States and Israel but by a very wide group of countries including the member States of the European Union, Russia, China, and Iran’s Arab neighbours.
88. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the full cost of Ministerial transport and the breakdown of this cost between salaries, mileage allowance and other travel costs for Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15674/13]
View answerThe following table provides the cost of Ministerial drivers and ground transport for Ministers of State at my Department in 2012. My Department currently employs two Civilian Drivers.
|
Ministerial Transport Costs 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012 |
€ |
|
Driver salaries, including PRSI |
82,796 |
|
Driver subsistence |
2,201 |
|
Mileage payments to Ministers of State |
12,023 |
|
Total |
97,020 |
89. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the Parades Commission remit should be expanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10972/13]
View answer90. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he discussed broadening the role of the Parades Commission with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10970/13]
View answer91. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he discussed the Parades Commission and extending its role at his recent meetings with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10969/13]
View answer93. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with the First Minister and-or Deputy First Minister the need to bring clarity to the exact authority of the Parades Commission and its jurisdiction over non-notified parades as serious difficulties have emerged with non-notified parades recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9702/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 to 91, inclusive, and 93 together.
I have discussed the role of the Parades Commission in the context of non-notified parades and the upcoming marching season with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers on a number of occasions.
I have also discussed these issues in regular ongoing contacts with the party leaders in Northern Ireland, and most recently in Washington DC with the First and Deputy First Ministers.
I think it is important to put right the view that there is a legislative vacuum around the flags protest. This is not the case, as is illustrated by the fact that over 200 people have been charged with a variety of offences since the protests began.
There is however an ongoing debate regarding the extent, if any, to which existing legislation needs to be strengthened to enhance the remit of the Commission in these matters. There is no cross community consensus on this matter. Indeed, some unionist community representatives, far from wanting the Commission’s role extended, want it abolished completely.
What is important at present is that where the Parades Commission has jurisdiction all parties cooperate with it and respect its determinations. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I are fully in agreement on this issue. Furthermore, we are agreed that the police should be fully supported in their attempts to maintain public order.
My understanding is that the current debate will be further informed by the outcome of the recent judicial review proceedings which have been instituted by a resident in the nationalist Short Strand Community in Belfast – an area which has been greatly affected by the flags dispute. In the circumstances I think it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.
