Tuesday, 11 Jun 2013

Written Answers Nos. 114-133

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Questions (114)

Brendan Smith

Question:

114. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the costs of repair and maintenance by country, 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 the costs of any improvement works carried out on those buildings in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. [27072/13]

Written answers

Deputy Eamon Gilmore

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade currently utilises 138 properties abroad in pursuit of its mission on behalf of the State, which includes promoting Irish economic interests, providing services to the public and representing Ireland in international organisations. 35 of these properties are owned by the State and the balance are rented. They are used primarily as office premises and official residences of Heads of Mission. They provide platforms to enable our Missions to project a positive image of Ireland overseas and fulfil their varying responsibilities. The costs requested by the Deputy in relation to repair, maintenance and improvement works to such properties in 2011, 2012 and 2013 (end of April) are attached.

REPAIR, MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT COSTS AT IRISH DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS ABROAD BY COUNTRY

COUNTRY	MISSION	2011	2012	2013 (end April)
SWITZERLAND	BERNE	€23,531	€13,352	€1,507
GERMANY	BERLIN	€19,284	€16,816	€5,893
USA	BOSTON	€505	€618	€189
BELGIUM	BRUSSELS (EMBASSY)	€13,366	€13,188	€2,998
BELGIUM	BRUSSELS (PERM REP - EU)	€126,956	€96,564	€21,029
ARGENTINA	BUENOS AIRES	€14,958	€8,581	€4,327
EGYPT	CAIRO	€14,925	€6,537	€1,034
AUSTRALIA	CANBERRA	€42,452	€35,586	€16,073
USA	CHICAGO	€66,635	€1,022	€356
DENMARK	COPENHAGEN	€36,225	€12,278	€3,716
SWITZERLAND	GENEVA	€11,271	€7,577	€1,359
THE NETHERLANDS	THE HAGUE	€102,317	€157,078	€31,886
HOLY SEE	HOLY SEE	€116,976	€0	€0
NIGERIA	ABUJA	€63,423	€272,078	€69,266
PORTUGAL	LISBON	€31,687	€34,359	€14,356
UK	LONDON	€748,430	€153,941	€31,559
LUXEMBOURG	LUXEMBOURG	€5,398	€8,390	€1,377
SPAIN	MADRID	€18,928	€18,000	€5,615
RUSSIA	MOSCOW	€29,371	€18,469	€7,411
INDIA	NEW DELHI	€36,990	€232,349	€96,774
USA	NEW YORK - PMUN	€49,610	€35,885	€7,108
USA	NEW YORK - C.G.	€16,550	€9,509	€2,993
CANADA	OTTAWA	€9,013	€13,437	€2,030
FRANCE	PARIS	€68,564	€70,656	€31,260
ITALY	ROME	€11,355	€281,283	€37,982
USA	SAN FRANCISCO	€1,422	€1,397	€402
SWEDEN	STOCKHOLM	€3,363	€309	€63
IRAN	TEHRAN	€6,500	€1,280	€0
JAPAN	TOKYO	€4,021	€10,853	€793
AUSTRIA	VIENNA	€47,133	€28,214	€3,178
USA	WASHINGTON DC	€88,799	€196,626	€18,897
NORWAY	OSLO	€90,112	€58,620	€5,090
FRANCE	STRASBOURG	€13,440	€6,652	€485
SAUDI ARABIA	RIYADH	€105,280	€17,220	€6,298
GREECE	ATHENS	€18,468	€16,773	€5,841
CHINA	BEIJING	€25,394	€13,839	€3,796
NORTHERN IRELAND	BELFAST SECRETARIAT	€132,284	€46,342	€13,131
KOREA	SEOUL	€5,718	€6,597	€2,021
POLAND	WARSAW	€9,358	€9,556	€2,742
FINLAND	HELSINKI	€2,440	€2,264	€1,719
SOUTH AFRICA	PRETORIA	€27,794	€22,644	€7,667
CZECH REPUBLIC	PRAGUE	€51,614	€19,727	€4,040
MALAYSIA	KUALA LUMPUR	€10,658	€11,876	€3,872
HUNGARY	BUDAPEST	€3,372	€8,216	€745
AUSTRIA	OSCE - VIENNA	€7,635	€2,236	€599
ISRAEL	TEL AVIV	€15,439	€10,835	€5,647
SCOTLAND	EDINBURGH	€6,323	€5,046	€1,335
TURKEY	ANKARA	€2,374	€21,899	€1,272
MEXICO	MEXICO	€13,797	€19,826	€5,671
NORTHERN IRELAND	ARMAGH	€39,750	€76,294	€6,530
AUSTRALIA	SYDNEY	€2,921	€4,285	€2,774
CHINA	SHANGHAI	€8,269	€1,014	€343
SINGAPORE	SINGAPORE	€20,154	€19,162	€3,978
REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY	RAMALLAH	€566	€8,544	€2,837
BELGIUM	BRUSSELS (P.F.P.)	€1,356	€353	€0
CYPRUS	NICOSIA	€7,795	€3,438	€301
SLOVENIA	LJUBLJANA	€104,885	€41,915	€3,652
ESTONIA	TALLINN	€91,606	€1,755	€434
SLOVAKIA	BRATISLAVA	€1,297	€1,713	€315
BRAZIL	BRASILIA	€17,548	€30,687	€4,097
ROMANIA	BUCHAREST	€8,590	€9,713	€2,282
BULGARIA	SOFIA	€467	€339	€103
LATVIA	RIGA	€2,074	€1,491	€404
LITHUANIA	VILNIUS	€5,511	€5,383	€1,442
MALTA	VALLETTA	€5,506	€20,120	€2,108
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	ABU DHABI	€1,380	€1,148	€408
USA	ATLANTA - CONSULATE	€1,080	€2,482	€583
ETHIOPIA	ADDIS ABABA	€1,732	€3,414	€1,615
LESOTHO	MASERU	€10,786	€18,428	€764
MALAWI	LILONGWE	€20,304	€8,748	€1,061
MOZAMBIQUE	MAPUTO	€64,031	€92,222	€10,413
SIERRA LEONE	FREETOWN	€18,141	€13,952	€0
TANZANIA	DAR ES SALAAM	€28,213	€28,423	€5,621
TIMOR LESTE	DILI	€4,043	€6,023	€0
UGANDA	KAMPALA	€4,860	€12,139	€641
VIETNAM	HANOI	€1,493	€194,107	€0
ZAMBIA	LUSAKA	€118,639	€31,208	€4,966
SOUTH AFRICA	CAPETOWN	€281

Overseas Development Issues

Questions (115, 116)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

115. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether there is a discrepancy between the conclusions at the 3241st meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council on 28 May, adopting the Annual Report 2013 of EU Development Aid Targets, and the indicative amounts contained in the annexe to those conclusions; if he recognises that the EU member states reiterate their promises to increase their overseas aid budgets in order to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals, but that the vast majority of those States have not made provisions for delivering the amounts of funding required to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27446/13]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

116. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will clarify the amounts indicated in the annexe to the conclusions at the 3241st meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council on 28 May; if he intends to drop overseas development aid levels to 0.44%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27447/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.

The Development segment of the Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended in Brussels on 28 May, adopted Conclusions on the 2013 Annual Report to the European Council on EU Development Aid Targets.

The Conclusions note a decrease in collective EU Official Development Assistance (ODA) from €56.2 billion in 2011 to €55.2 billion in 2012. This represents a reduction from 0.45% to 0.43% of EU Gross National Income (GNI). The Conclusions also note that, despite continued budgetary constraints across the Union, the EU remains the largest provider of development assistance globally, accounting for over half of total ODA provided to developing countries.

The Council reaffirmed the commitment by the European Council in February this year to respect the EU’s formal undertaking collectively to commit 0.7% of GNI in Official Development assistance by 2015. The Union and its Member States also reaffirmed their individual and collective ODA commitments, taking into account the exceptional budgetary circumstances in Europe at present.

I believe it is a very significant achievement in the most difficult circumstances that the Government has broadly stabilised the levels of Ireland’s development assistance, following several years of budgetary reductions. In 2011, Ireland provided a total of €657 million in ODA, or 0.51% of GNI. In 2012, we provided €629 million, which amounted to 0.48% of GNI. This amount is listed in the Council Conclusions, along with a forecast prepared by the European Commission of spending on ODA by Member States for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015. The figures for Ireland for 2014 and 2015 are purely indicative, based on current ODA levels.

The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme. Last month we launched Ireland’s new Policy on International Development, “One World, One Future”. The policy clearly sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and our goals and areas of focus for the coming years. It reaffirms the Government’s commitment to international development and its centrality to our foreign policy.

The new policy restates the commitment in the Programme for Government to achieving the UN target of providing 0.7% of GNP for Official Development Assistance (ODA). We will work to maintain our ODA levels broadly at current levels until economic circumstances permit us to make further progress towards achieving the 0.7% target. Preparations for the Budget for 2014 are currently under way. While I am firmly committed to working to maintain the aid programme at its current level, the final allocation for ODA is a matter for Government decision and will be announced in the Budget Statement.

EU Directives

Questions (117)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

117. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the work his Department is currently undertaking on various pieces of upcoming legislation, through a potential Bill to go through the Houses of the Oireachtas or through Statutory Instrument, to ensure Ireland is in compliance with the upcoming deadlines of Directives from the European Union; the deadline in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27475/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Responsibility for transposing EU measures into Irish law rests with individual Departments with responsibility for the relevant policy area. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has no EU Directives awaiting transposition.

Questions Nos. 118 and 119 answered with Question No. 105.

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Questions (120)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

120. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress the state of Mongolia has made as the newest member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, which entered the organisation during Ireland's Chairperson-in-office at the 57th Ministerial Council in Dublin, December 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27542/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Mongolia, one of the OSCE’s Asian Partners for Co-operation since 2004, became the 57th OSCE participating State on 21 November 2012, pursuant to Ministerial Council Decision No. 2/12. I was pleased to welcome the Foreign Minister of Mongolia, Mr. Bold Luvsanvandan, to the Dublin OSCE Ministerial on 6 December. In recent weeks, Ireland’s Ambassador to the OSCE, Eoin O’Leary, took part in a rapporteurs’ mission to Mongolia to consult with the authorities there on any assistance they might require to meet the requirements of participating State status. On foot of the report of this mission, the exact nature of the OSCE’s engagement with Mongolia, including the issue of whether there should be a field presence in Mongolia, will be considered. Mongolia is holding Presidential elections on 26 June. Following an invitation from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, a sizeable OSCE election observation mission will be deployed there.

Diplomatic Representation Issues

Questions (121)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

121. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 66 of 29 May 2013 regarding the use of Corps Diplomatique or CD sign usage on Irish car registration plates, if he will confirm that there is no legislative basis here for the use of these signs despite the existence of the Vienna Convention; if he will outline the other Departments his officials have been engaging with on the identification of vehicles for accredited diplomats; when he expects this review to be complete; if a new piece of legislation will be required to bring the use of these signs into the legal framework of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27568/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

As outlined in my reply of 29 May 2013, my Department is consulting with the Revenue Commissioners as well as with other European countries concerning CD vehicle identification procedures. It is hoped that this review will be completed by the autumn. There is currently no legislation governing the use of diplomatic licence plates and issue of whether legislation is required in this matter is part of the consultative review process under discussion.

Human Rights Issues

Questions (122)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

122. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will continue to raise the alleged discrimination and persecution of the Falun Gong faith with his counterparts in the Chinese Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27620/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Government is concerned about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Freedom of religious belief and expression is an issue which is discussed regularly with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral meetings and at European Union level. At these meetings, the Government re-iterates the great importance Ireland attaches to human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law and urges the Chinese authorities to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

In February, officials from my Department met with representatives of the Irish Falun Dafa Association and discussed ways in which human rights issues, including the treatment of Falun Gong, are raised with Chinese authorities by both Ireland and the EU.

Through the formal framework of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, which was established in 1995, the EU continues to share with China its experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion, and to urge China to take clear steps to improve the human rights situation. Treatment of Falun Gong practitioners is also raised by the European Union as part of regular political dialogue as well as during the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. The next EU-China Human Rights Dialogue will take place later this month in China.

The Strategic Partnership for Mutually Beneficial Cooperation, agreed by the Premier Wen Jiabao and the Taoiseach in March 2012, was a major step forward in strengthening bilateral relations with China. The Strategic Partnership reaffirms the commitment of Ireland and China to respecting and safeguarding human rights. As indicated in the joint statement, Ireland and China will conduct exchanges of expertise in governance and rule of law on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

Ireland, together with the EU, will continue to address human rights issues, including the alleged discrimination and persecution of the Falun Gong practitioners, with China in frequent and regular dialogue, through our contacts in both Dublin and Beijing and through the relevant multilateral channels.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (123, 130)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

123. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the current civil and political unrest in Turkey; if any Irish citizens have been caught up in the current demonstrations taking place; the plan he has in place for assisting Irish citizens in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27659/13]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

130. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the anti-government protests in Turkey; and if he will report on any discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Union in relation to the ongoing protests. [27950/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 130 together.

I share the deep concern expressed by others in the EU on the violent clashes which have been taking place in Turkey. Like the rule of law, pluralism of opinion and the right to peaceful protest are part of every democracy and the disproportionate use of force by the police, as acknowledged by the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, was deeply regrettable. I understand the Interior Ministry has launched an investigation.

Many of the protestors have raised concerns about current government policy in a number of areas. The government has now begun to meet with protestors and there has been some recognition of the need to reach out to those who feel isolated and marginalised by some government policies. I understand that a meeting is scheduled with the Turkish Prime Minister on Wednesday 12 June.

However I am concerned by reports that riot police re-entered Taksim Square early on 11 June and fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets at protestors. I am disappointed that the Turkish authorities appear not to have heeded calls by the EU and others for restraint. I would urge all sides to redouble their efforts to resolve the situation through a process of peaceful and inclusive dialogue.

Turkey as a Candidate for membership of the EU is expected to uphold the democratic values of the EU. EU-inspired reforms have, in fact, facilitated the increasing space for peaceful protest and dissenting voices. It could be argued that the protests are evidence that democracy in Turkey is maturing and that civil society has been strengthened.

As soon as the demonstrations started, my Department heightened the warning in its travel advisory, urging Irish citizens to avoid demonstrations and alerting them to the cities and areas affected. Given the potential for further demonstrations and the possibility of violence, we are advising Irish citizens to exercise caution and to stay well away from the vicinity of all demonstrations, including apparently peaceful demonstrations.

The Department and the Embassy in Ankara are following the situation closely and have been providing advice to concerned Irish citizens. The phones of the Department and the Embassy are monitored out-of-hours for calls from citizens seeking advice or assistance.

I am only aware of one Irish citizen who has been directly caught up in the demonstrations. He was unhurt and has been given consular assistance by the Embassy in Ankara. We will provide similar assistance in any other cases which may arise.

Overseas Development Issues

Questions (124)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

124. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the outcome of the EU Council meeting to determine an agreed EU position for a development framework post 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27696/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The elaboration of a strong, coherent EU approach to the negotiations for a new global development framework after 2015, the target date for the Millennium Development Goals, has been a priority for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. The issue was central to discussions at the Development segment of the Foreign Affairs Council which I attended in Brussels on 28 May. The importance of the post-2015 development process is reflected in the intensity and range of discussions now taking place at all levels internationally, within the European Union, through the High Level Panel appointed by the UN Secretary General, which issued its report last week, and in the UN Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals, on which Ireland is represented, in New York. The UN has also this year organised eleven major thematic consultations and over fifty national and regional consultations internationally so far this year. The first substantive discussions on a post-2015 development framework were held by EU Development Ministers during the informal Ministerial meeting which I chaired in Dublin on 11-12 February. Since then, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the European External Action Service and the European Commission have been working in close co-operation, together with EU Member States, to agree Conclusions setting out the broad EU position on the post-2015 international development framework in advance of a major UN Special Event on the MDGs, which will be held in New York in later September.

The EU position is outlined in draft Council Conclusions on the “Over-arching Post-2015 Agenda”, which were endorsed by EU Development Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council on 28 May. They will next be considered for endorsement by EU Environment Ministers at the Environment Council on 18 June, with a view to formal adoption by the General Affairs Council on 25 June. When adopted and published, I believe that the Conclusions will demonstrate that the Irish Presidency has played a major role in bringing together the different aspects of the fight to end extreme poverty and hunger and the challenge of achieving environmental sustainability in a single, integrated approach by the EU to the work internationally over the coming two years to establish a new global development framework.

Human Rights Issues

Questions (125)

Clare Daly

Question:

125. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the fact that the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of Europe is imminent, if he will ask the Lithuanian Government to deal with the serious allegations of inhuman and degrading conditions in that country's prison. [27761/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I assume that the prison that the Deputy is referring to is Lukiskes prison in Vilnius, which has been the subject of reports by the Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). I also understand that the Lithuanian Government is actively addressing the issue of upgrading its prison accommodation and is engaged in an extensive modernisation programme. I welcome the fact that this programme envisages both the upgrading of some prison facilities and the replacement of others, including Lukiskes prison, with the construction of four new prison facilities. There are no Irish prisoners accommodated in Lukiskes prison at this time.

Consular Services Provision

Questions (126)

Clare Daly

Question:

126. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps, if any his Department has taken on behalf of an Irish citizen imprisoned abroad. [27762/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I can inform the Deputy that the Embassy of Ireland in Lithuania and the Consular Assistance Section in Dublin has provided consular assistance to the person in question since that person’s initial detention in Lithuania. The Embassy is in regular contact with the appropriate Lithuanian authorities in response to questions or matters which have arisen during the period of imprisonment. The person and his next of kin are kept informed of the Embassy’s representations to the Lithuanian authorities on various matters, and the outcomes of these representations.

Human Rights Issues

Questions (127)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

127. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he or his Department have taken during the Irish Presidency to specifically address the 78 countries internationally which still regard homosexuality as a criminal offence; and the contact that has been made with embassies of countries with whom Ireland has diplomatic links asking them whether they intend to comply with the international covenant on civil and political rights in this area. [27769/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ireland has identified the rights of LGBTI people as a priority for our term on the Human Rights Council from 2013-2015. Criminalisation and violence directed against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation was the focus of a landmark resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2011. Ireland was active in the preparation of this resolution. We also have an opportunity through the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, which involves a peer review of all United Nations members, to raise a range of human rights issues with our UN partners, including the issue of decriminalisation of homosexuality. In addition, throughout our Embassy network, we engage in sustained discussion with States about human rights issues, both through exchange of information and views and formal demarches where appropriate. Our diplomatic network has been active in advocacy relating to LGBT rights; this advocacy has dealt, inter alia, with the issue of decriminalisation, with concerns we have about new laws criminalising homosexuality and with support for civil society and freedom of association and assembly.

During the Irish Presidency of the European Union, new guidelines on LGBT rights are in the process of being agreed by the EU. These will serve as guiding principles for the human rights diplomacy of the EU and its member States on this issue.

State Visits

Questions (128)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

128. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the recent engagements the Minister of State for European Affairs had on their recent visit to Croatia; if he will highlight the importance of engaging with Croatia as the newest member of the European Union from 1 July; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27783/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Minister of State Creighton accompanied President Higgins on the State visit to Croatia last week. The programme for the visit included formal discussions with the President of Croatia, Mr. Ivo Josipovi, and Prime Minister Mr. Zoran Milanovi. In addition, Minister of State Creighton met informally with First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ms Vesna Pusi. The President’s visit comes on the eve of Croatia’s accession to the EU on 1 July 2013. It is fitting that the President’s first State Visit to what will soon be the EU’s newest Member State, comes during a Presidency that has focused on EU enlargement as a priority. Croatia will be the first of the Western Balkans countries to accede, and the second of the former Yugoslav republics (Slovenia being the first). Croatian accession will, it is hoped, be an inspiration for the other countries of the Western Balkans, and a demonstration that when prospective members are willing to undertake the onerous measures required, the EU in turn holds to its promises on enlargement.

Ireland has been positively associated with Croatia’s accession process from the beginning. It was during our Presidency of 2004 that Ireland sought and achieved a single clear decision on granting Croatia candidate status. Croatia will accede to the European Union on 1 July and I will represent the Irish Presidency in Zagreb at the accession celebrations on 30 June for what should be a fitting and happy finale to the Presidency.

Recognising the importance of engaging with a new member State at an early stage, we have stepped up our bilateral contacts with Croatian in recent months. In addition to meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pusi, in Brussels at the regular Council meetings, last month Ms. Pusi visited Dublin and held discussions with myself and Minister of State Creighton. I held talks in Dublin last September with Deputy Prime Minister Mr Neven Mimica, who has since been nominated as Croatia’s first Commissioner. Prior to this, Minister of State Creighton attended the Croatia Summit in July 2012 and also met with Foreign Minister Pusi.

As Croatia joins the family of members of the European Union, I expect that our relations will continue to strengthen and deepen.

State Examinations Commission

Questions (129)

Jack Wall

Question:

129. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a school in Libya; the plans that are in place to address this issue; if any progress has been made regarding the outstanding debts to the teachers involved; the actions planned to address the issue from a perspective of the teachers seeking employment in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27802/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

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 recently. The issue is currently being handled by the Department of Education and Skills and the State Examinations Commission (SEC), which has been in direct contact with the ISM in Tripoli regarding the unpaid monies. Officials from my Department have been in touch with the SEC regarding the matter and to offer whatever assistance may be considered helpful. The Irish Embassy in Rome, which is accredited to Libya, has also been kept fully informed of the situation and, at my direction, has made direct representations both to the Libyan Government and to the International School of the Martyrs’ authorities seeking assistance and action to resolve this matter and have the outstanding monies paid.

Question No. 130 answered with Question No. 123.

Rockall Island

Questions (131)

Brendan Smith

Question:

131. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding negotiations over ownership of Rockall and the steps being taken by him to secure Ireland’s territorial claim; the developments, if any, in the four way talks between Ireland, Iceland, the UK and Denmark; if Iceland made a submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf; if he will confirm whether sovereignty of Rockall does not impact on Ireland’s mineral and fishing rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28034/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

During the 1960s and 1970s the issue of Rockall was a source of legal and political controversy in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. The UK claims sovereignty over Rockall and has sought to formally annex it under its 1972 Island of Rockall Act.While Ireland has not recognised British sovereignty over Rockall, it has never sought to claim sovereignty for itself. The consistent position of successive Irish Governments has been that Rockall and similar rocks and skerries have no significance for establishing legal claims to mineral rights in the adjacent seabed or to fishing rights in the surrounding seas. During the course of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, which took place from 1973 to 1982, Ireland worked hard to achieve agreement on this principle. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which was adopted at the conclusion of the Conference on 10 December 1982, provides at Article 121, paragraph 3 that: “Rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf.” Rockall falls into precisely this category.

In 1988, Ireland and the UK reached agreement on the delimitation of areas of the continental shelf between the two countries, stretching out up to 500 nautical miles from their respective coastlines. This included the division of the Hatton-Rockall area of continental shelf on which Rockall is situated, although under the terms of the Law of the Sea Convention the location of Rockall was irrelevant to the determination of the boundary. According to that determination, Rockall is situated to the north of the boundary agreed with the UK in 1988 and lies outside the zone claimed by Ireland.

As with any claim to continental shelf lying beyond 200 nautical miles from a state’s coast, the UN Convention requires that Ireland and the UK submit their claims for examination to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. However, the claims to the Hatton-Rockall shelf agreed between Ireland and the UK are not accepted by Iceland or Denmark (on behalf of the Faroe Islands), which make their own claims.

The four countries have met frequently since 2001 in an effort to resolve the overlapping claims issue, but have been unable to reach agreement. In the meantime Ireland, the UK and Denmark have made submissions to the UN Commission in respect of their claims. The Commission’s rules of procedure prevent consideration by the Commission of a submission relating to a disputed area without the consent of all the states concerned and Iceland does not currently consent to the consideration of these submissions. Iceland has not yet made a submission of its own in respect of Hatton-Rockall.

The Government continues to work for the creation of conditions that will permit consideration of its submission as soon as possible.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (132)

Brendan Smith

Question:

132. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason his Department has not spent €44 million allocated to it as shown in the end of May Exchequer returns; if he expects this underspend to be corrected by the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28035/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

At the beginning of each year, Departments are required to provide details of how they expect to spend their Vote allocations on a month by month basis. This is the profile against which subsequent expenditure is measured. Variations from the planned expenditure pattern can arise.

At the end of May, a variation from profile of €44 million arises for my Department under Vote 27, International Co-operation. This Vote funds Ireland’s overseas development programme which is managed by the Development Cooperation Division of my Department.

€497 million has been allocated to Vote 27 for 2013. At the beginning of the year it was anticipated that cumulative expenditure under this Vote on Ireland’s aid programme would amount to €239 million by the end of May. The actual expenditure to that date was €195 million.

The nature of the aid programme makes it difficult to predict the precise spending pattern over a 12 month period. Variations from profile arise on occasions. However these are essentially timing differences and are corrected over the course of the year.

I am satisfied that the total allocation to my Department will be fully expended by the end of the year.

EU Enlargement

Questions (133)

Seán Kyne

Question:

133. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the upcoming and welcome accession of Croatia to the European Union, the steps his Department, both in the context of the Irish EU Presidency and otherwise, is taking to ensure that EU policy is focused on the acceleration of the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Union in view of the fact that this would contribute enormously to the stability and prosperity of a region once ravaged by war and hostility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28090/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

As I have said in this house on a number of occasions, Ireland, and indeed all 27 Member States of the European Union, fully and firmly supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU perspective as a future member state of the EU. I share the Deputy’s welcome of Croatia’s imminent accession and hope that it will prove to be an inspiration for the other countries of the Western Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. Along with international partners, it is the EU's aim to support a stable and viable Bosnia and Herzegovina co-operating peacefully with its neighbours and irreversibly on track towards EU membership. EU membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina is firmly tied to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the country.

The path to EU membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina is clear. The EU has set out its strategy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Council conclusions of March 2011 and the successive reinforcing conclusions. Since September 2011 the EU has installed a reinforced and comprehensive presence in the country combining the assets of the European Commission and the European External Action Service, through an EUSR office. The EU military force EUFOR ALTHEA remains present in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In terms of EU accession, we were encouraged by the launch of a High Level Dialogue on Accession in June 2012 which saw agreement between the political leaders on a roadmap towards accession.

However, campaigning in advance of the municipal elections in October last year saw this positive atmosphere eroded. There has been virtually no progress on reforms since then. And the political situation has become more complicated with an attempted reshuffle of the government in the Federation entity.

The EU has made great efforts to encourage the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to move forward with reforms. There is obvious disappointment that the efforts that the EU has made in this regard have reached an impasse.

The EU will now need to examine what else can be done and I believe this can best be done in the context of a review of the EU Special Representative’s mandate, which I hope to see taken forward by High Representative Ashton in July.

However, I must emphasise that while we will do everything in our power to encourage movement on the path to EU integration, this is ultimately a matter for the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU cannot impose a solution. The most we can do is use our policies to encourage and facilitate progress.