Written Answers Nos. 52-59
52. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the recent report by the National Youth Council entitled Time to go - the Experience and Impact of Emigration on Ireland's Youth. [24467/13]
View answerI am aware of the “Time to Go” report which Marian Harkin, MEP, launched on behalf of the National Youth Council earlier this month. This is a very useful piece of independent qualitative research on the phenomenon of emigration in Ireland today. The recommendations in the Report are, however, outside the direct remit of my Department.
At a macro level the Government’s strategy is to re-build the economy and accelerate the transition to a sustainable, jobs-rich economy based on enterprise, innovation and exports. It is in this way that we will create the environment in which sustainable jobs will be created, living standards will be raised and Ireland will be regarded as an attractive location in which to live and work. We are doing this through the Action Plan for Jobs process and have already seen the positive results during 2012 of the collective action being taken across the whole of Government to support the enterprise sector to sustain existing jobs and create new ones.
We must also remember, though, that emigration has been a consistent feature of Irish life, and even during the Celtic Tiger years, Irish people chose to emigrate for career or personal reasons. Nevertheless the Government is committed to ensuring that emigration returns to being an option, not a necessity, and through the Action Plan for Jobs process, we will continue to strive to provide opportunities for employment in Ireland.
56. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the target of his Department and subsidiary offices throughout the country regarding employment of persons with disabilities in the special category; if the target is being achieved; the total number of employees in that category currently and the percentage of the total workforce in his Department that it represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24615/13]
View answerUnder the Disability Act 2005, Part 5, public service bodies are obliged:
to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities
to comply with the statutory Code of Practice
to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities and
to report every year on the achievement of these obligations.
Maintenance of records relating to numbers of staff with disabilities depends on a system of self-declaration. At the end of 2012, my Department employed 51 officers with a declared disability, representing 3.51% of total staffing at Headquarters and abroad.
The Department has designated officers in its Human Resources Section to act as Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) and Access Officer. The Department’s induction pack, which is provided to all new entrants, includes contact and role details for the DLO and a copy of the Disability census form for completion. The Department’s DLO is also an active participant in the Civil Service DLO Network.
The Department also has a dedicated Intranet page on disability issues. This acts as a central source of information for Departmental staff on all issues relating to disability.
The Department provides assistive technology and equipment to a number of staff with disabilities. Accommodations are provided as necessary for staff with disabilities participating in training sessions, seminars and promotion competitions organised by the Department.
57. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set out by country, the latest valuation of property assets owned by the State as part of foreign diplomatic missions, including embassies, consulates, chanceries and other diplomatic representation as well as residential property used by the State for its diplomatic activity, indicating the euro valuation and the year of valuation. [24699/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. However, I would caution that the valuation figures provided are subject to the price volatility of the current global property market.
The properties listed have been acquired in locations where the Government considers that the State should be represented and where there is a clear economic advantage to owning, rather than renting, accommodation. These premises provide platforms for the promotion of Irish values and economic interests and serve as showcases for Irish arts, crafts and products.
|
Property |
Valuation € |
Year |
|
Argentina Residence |
935,000 |
2005 |
|
Australia combined Chancery/Residence |
3,427,0000 |
2005 |
|
Australia Deputy Head of Mission Residence |
642,000 |
2005 |
|
Brazil Residence |
1,015,440 |
2007 |
|
Canada Residence |
2,203,718 |
2005 |
|
Czech Republic Residence |
2,000,000 |
2005 |
|
Denmark Chancery |
878,000 |
2005 |
|
Denmark Residence |
1,284,000 |
2005 |
|
Ethiopia Chancery |
2,250,000 |
2010 |
|
France (Paris) combined Chancery/Residence |
45,000,000 |
2011 |
|
France (Strasbourg) Chancery |
1,214,342 |
2006 |
|
Germany Residence |
4,000,000 |
2005 |
|
Greece Residence |
3,500,000 |
2005 |
|
Ireland (Belfast) Residence |
2,580,905 |
2005 |
|
Italy combined Chancery/ Residence |
18,446,400 |
2011 |
|
Mexico Residence |
1,200,000 |
2007 |
|
Mozambique Chancery |
2,815,000 |
2005 |
|
Netherlands Chancery |
2,021,616 |
2006 |
|
Netherlands Residence |
2,250,000 |
2005 |
|
Norway Residence |
2,800,000 |
2005 |
|
Portugal Residence |
1,600,000 |
2005 |
|
Saudi Arabia combined Chancery/ Residence |
2,630,000 |
2005 |
|
Slovenia Residence |
1,742,757 |
2006 |
|
South Africa Residence |
1,323,009 |
2008 |
|
Spain Residence |
6,000,000 |
2005 |
|
Sweden Residence |
2,054,000 |
2005 |
|
Switzerland Residence |
2,583,000 |
2005 |
|
Tanzania Chancery |
1,404,959 |
2005 |
|
Tanzania Residence |
1,239,669 |
2005 |
|
Turkey Residence |
954,463 |
2006 |
|
USA (Washington) Chancery |
2,647,000 |
2005 |
|
USA (Washington) Residence |
4,181,000 |
2005 |
|
USA (NewYork PMUN) Residence |
5,709,342 |
2011 |
|
Zambia Chancery |
476,605 |
2008 |
|
Zambia Residence |
235,537 |
2005 |
58. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will set out by country for each of 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013, the proceeds from the disposal of property assets owned by the State as part of foreign diplomatic missions, including embassies, consulates, chanceries and other diplomatic representation as well as residential property used by the State for its diplomatic activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24700/13]
View answerOne such property was disposed of by my Department during the period in question. The residence of the Ambassador to Belgium was sold for € 2.2 m in 2012 and the proceeds of the sale were paid into central funds.
59. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the reason goods from Israeli settlements are to be labelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24709/13]
View answerIt is already contrary to existing EU regulations for labelling of products to be misleading to consumers. Products coming from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian Territory clearly should not be labelled as produce of Israel, since the settlements are not in Israel. There has been a growing demand in a number of EU and other countries for rules or guidelines to make this clear to importers and retailers. A number of countries, such as the UK and Denmark, have responded to queries from consumers or retailers by issuing such guidelines on a national basis.
I believe that many consumers would wish to be able to distinguish between produce from Israel, produce from Palestinians, and produce from settlements. Indeed, there is anecdotal evidence that some consumers may be reluctant to buy entirely legitimate produce from Israel because they cannot at present be confident that it does not include settlement goods.
There is also a broader political dimension to this issue. Israeli settlements in occupied territory are illegal in international law. Products from those settlements are to a large extent produced using land, water, minerals and other resources which properly belong to the Palestinian people, and in many cases have been actively expropriated from them. It is questionable if such products should in fact be admitted to the EU at all.
The EU has identified settlements as a major obstacle to the achievement of peace in the Middle East. Their continuing expansion intrinsically involves the continued seizure of Palestinian land, eviction of families and the destruction of their homes. Ireland considers settlements to be a major driver of the continuing conflict, and the main sticking point among the several core issues still to be resolved.
The EU has expressed these concerns on many occasions, notably in the Conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council in May 2012. The EU and other international voices have also pointed out that the continued expansion of settlements is now close to the point where it would be physically impossible to create a viable Palestinian state on the ground, thus permanently (and intentionally) making impossible a two-state solution to the conflict, something which Ireland has supported for over 30 years.
The EU has made clear its deep concerns about settlements. Earlier this year High Representative Ashton wrote to EU Foreign Ministers stating that she was working with the External Action Service and the European Commission to produce EU-wide guidelines on place of origin labelling for goods from settlements. Along with 12 fellow Foreign Ministers, I replied to the High Representative welcoming and encouraging this move. What is likely to emerge in due course is EU labelling guidelines, identifying settlement products as such, for use where place of origin labelling occurs – be it mandatory (for some products) or voluntary. It is not expected that this will introduce a new mandatory labelling requirement for all goods, unique to settlements.
I believe consumers will welcome this move, and many legitimate Israeli producers may also benefit. In addition, it will send an important political signal that the EU is serious in its concerns about settlements.
Should action at EU level prove impossible for any reason, I will proceed to re-examine the question of labelling at national level.
