Written Answers Nos. 48-52
48. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his previous proposal for the introduction of an automatic reminder service that would notify people when their passport is due to expire in view of the large numbers of people who have difficulty travelling after discovering that their passport is out of date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23102/13]
View answerA passport reminder service is available on the Passport Service website www.passport.ie. The reminder service sends an e-mail, to those who have registered three months before a passport is due to expire. Registration is simple and merely requires those interested to record their name, e-mail address and the expiry date of the passport. It is possible to register a number of different passports (e.g. all members of a family) using the one e-mail address with the reminder e-mail detailing which passport registered is about to expire. The reminder e-mail also provides details of how to renew the passport, where to obtain passport application forms, etc.
49. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent decision by the UN Security Council to adopt Resolution 2099, which extends the peacekeeping mandate in Western Sahara MINURSO for one more year and if he believes there should be a human rights monitoring and a reporting element for MINURSO.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23216/13]
View answerI welcome the extension of the mandate of the MINURSO Mission in Western Sahara, in the context of the key role being played by the UN in the efforts to bring about political dialogue between Morocco and the Polisario in Western Sahara. We have consistently supported for some time the proposal that there should be a specific human rights monitoring and reporting element forming part of the MINURSO mandate. This would allow MINURSO to report on the human rights situation not only within Western Sahara itself but also within the refugee camps situated in Tindouf, Algeria. I therefore very much welcomed the fact that, in his most recent report to the Security Council on the mission, Secretary-General Ban drew attention to the need for “independent, impartial, comprehensive and sustained monitoring of the human rights situations in both Western Sahara and the [refugee] camps”.
I understand that Secretary General Ban’s report and recommendations were extensively discussed within the Security Council prior to the adoption of Resolution 2099 last month which extended MINURSO’s mandate for a further 12 months. I regret that it did not prove possible on this occasion for the members of Security Council to agree to include a specific human rights monitoring element within the MINURSO mandate, in response to the Secretary General’s clear encouragement for such a provision. I would hope that renewed consideration can be given to the inclusion of such a human rights component when the MINURSO mandate next comes up for renewal.
50. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions taken by his Department to ensure that Irish teachers facilitating the sitting of the Leaving Certificate examination in Malta by students from Libya are paid for their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23186/13]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 98 of 15 May 2013, which was as follows:
"I understand that the teachers’ dispute with the ISM in Tripoli has been ongoing for some time. The case, however, has only been brought to the attention of my Department in the past week. The issue is currently being handled by the Department of Education and Science and the State Examinations Commission, which has been in direct contact with the ISM in Tripoli regarding the unpaid monies. Officials from my Department have also been in touch with the SEC regarding the matter and to offer whatever assistance may be considered helpful."
51. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his interaction with the Northern Ireland Executive. [22454/13]
View answerI am involved in ongoing and frequent North-South engagement, with extensive contact with the Northern Ireland Executive. The Irish Government has no better or stronger relationship than we do with the Northern Ireland Executive. I met with the First and deputy First Ministers in Belfast on the 29th of April where we discussed a range of economic and political and security issues. My colleagues in Government and I are committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive and continue to meet regularly with our Northern counterparts, including in the various North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) formats. In the past year Irish Government Ministers have met with their Northern Ireland counterparts in the various formats of the NSMC on over 50 occasions and that despite the pressures of the EU Presidency.
Northern Executive Ministers have also been invited to a wide range of EU Presidency events. This has facilitated engagement between Irish Government Ministers and their Northern counterparts on matters of shared interest.
52. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Tanzanian Government to order thousands of Masai tribes persons to leave their traditional grazing lands to make way for what the Government says will be a conservation site; the negative effects this could have on the Masai community and the delicate ecosystem; and if he has raised it with the Tanzanian Government [23228/13]
View answerTanzania is one of the nine key partner countries for the Government’s development cooperation programme, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. The issue of land rights for pastoralist communities in Tanzania, such as the Maasai, is a complex one, which I take very seriously. I am aware of the specific land conflict referred to by the Deputy. It has remained unresolved for many years. Our Embassy in Tanzania, working with other EU Member States and UN agencies, is monitoring the situation closely and continues to raise the need for all parties, including the Government and the local community, to deal with the issue through open dialogue and constructive engagement.
Ireland has made a significant contribution to development and the fight against poverty in Tanzania. In the past decade Tanzania has recorded important improvements in human development, as measured by the UN Human Development Index. This progress, which has been made with Irish support and support from other donors, is a strong example of the success of international development assistance when delivered in partnership with a developing country Government. However, positive development results and respect for human rights must go hand in hand. Ireland remains strongly committed to helping build good governance and the rights of the most vulnerable in Tanzania and elsewhere. This will remain a clear priority area for the Government’s development policy, and our development assistance programme.
