Skip to main content
Normal View

Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013

Written Answers Nos. 55-64

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (55)

Niall Collins

Question:

55. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the number of appointments made to State boards under his Department's remit since March 2011; the number of positions that have been advertised; the number of applications to the boards; the number of appointments to the boards that were drawn from the applications; the current number of vacancies on each board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28983/13]

View answer

Written answers

The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) is the only State agency under the aegis of my Department. The NESC provides guidance to Government on strategic issues for Ireland's economic and social development. Since coming into office on 9 March 2011, I have made appointments to the NESC. Details of these appointments are set out in the following table:

Details of appointments made by the Taoiseach to the NESC since 9 March 2011

Name

Organisation

Date of Appointment

Mr. Martin Fraser, Chairperson of NESC

Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach

August 2011

Mr. John Shaw, Deputy Chairperson of NESC

Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach

January 2012

Prof. Edgar Morgenroth

Associate Research Professor, Economic and Social Research Institute

June 2011

Prof. John McHale

Economist, National University of Ireland, Galway

June 2011

Prof. Mary Daly

Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, Senior Research Fellow of Green Templeton College, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford

June 2011

Prof. Anna Davis

Department of Geography, Trinity College Dublin

June 2011

Prof. Seán Ó Riain

Department of Sociology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth

June 2011

Dr. Michael O’Sullivan

Head of Portfolio Strategy and Thematic Research, Credit Suisse, London

June 2011

Ms. Mary Walsh

Chartered Accountant

June 2011

Dr. Michelle Norris

Senior Lecturer, School of Applied Social Science, University College Dublin.

July 2011

Mr. Shay Cody

IMPACT

September 2011

Mr. John Murphy

Secretary General, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

November 2011

Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú

Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills

February 2012

Mr. John Moran

Secretary General, Department of Finance

March 2012

The appointments were made in accordance with the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and S.I. No. 603 of 2010, National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010. I appoint members specifically on the basis of nominations from business and employer interests, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, farming and agricultural interests, the community and voluntary sector and the environmental sector. I may also appoint up to six public servants of whom at least one shall represent the Taoiseach and one shall represent the Minister for Finance. These appointments represent relevant Departments to ensure the NESC's work is integrated with Government policy-making. I also appointed eight independent members to the NESC in 2011, in most cases from the academic sector. These appointments were made following careful consideration of the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise relevant to the functions of the Council as required by the legislation. The Government has put in place new arrangements for making of appointments to State Boards. The option of utilising the new process, for inviting expressions of public interest, will be considered when the next round of appointments of independent members to the NESC arises. No vacancies currently exist on the Council. There has been one appointment to the National Statistics Board (NSB) since March 2011. An Assistant Secretary at my Department was appointed to the NSB in line with the provisions of Section 18(1)(b) of the Statistics Act 1993, and as such this vacancy was not advertised. There are currently no vacancies on the NSB.

Freedom of Information Requests

Questions (56)

Micheál Martin

Question:

56. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of freedom of information requests his Department has received since January; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29168/13]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has received 59 Freedom of Information Requests since 1 January 2013. All Freedom of Information applications received in my Department are processed by designated officials in accordance with the 1997 and 2003 Freedom of Information Acts. In accordance with those statutes, I have no role in relation to the processing of such requests.

Departmental Staff Sick Leave

Questions (57)

Barry Cowen

Question:

57. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the total number of uncertified sick days taken by employees in his Department; the average uncertified sick days per employee taken; the total certified sick days taken by employees; the average certified sick days per employee; the total sick days taken by employees; the average total sick days and median overall sick days per employee in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [29279/13]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy regarding sick absence statistics for the staff in my Department in each of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 is set out in the following table:

Year

Number of staff with no sick absence

USK days taken by employees

Average USK days taken per employee

(per FTE)

Total CSK days taken

by employee

Average CSK days taken

per employee

Total sick days taken

by employee

Average total sick days

per staff member

Median overall sick days per employee

2009

101

141.43

0.71

1,915.62

9.67

2,057.05

9.75

5.5

2010

101

138

0.72

1,109.45

5.80

1,247.47

6.15

5

2011

86

87.43

0.55

1,315.17

8.27

1,402.6

8.20

7

2012

133

98.5

0.49

1,039

5.19

1,137.5

5.37

5.5

USK = uncertified sick absence

CSK = certified sick absence

FTE = full time equivalent

Departmental Agencies Issues

Questions (58)

Denis Naughten

Question:

58. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Taoiseach if he will list the regulators which are accountable to his Department; the administrative cost of operating each regulator in 2012; the accommodation costs and the number of staff employed; the total income and expenditure in 2012 for each regulator; his plans to amalgamate some regulatory offices and to amalgamate some regulatory processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29428/13]

View answer

Written answers

There are no regulators for which my Department has responsibility.

State Bodies Numbers

Questions (59)

Dara Calleary

Question:

59. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach if he will outline in tabular form the number of semi-State organisations currently in operation under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29819/13]

View answer

Written answers

The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only agency under the aegis of my Department. The NESDO was established under the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and is the body corporate for the National Economic and Social Council.

State Bodies Establishment

Questions (60)

Dara Calleary

Question:

60. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the number of new semi-State organisations under his aegis which have been established since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29832/13]

View answer

Written answers

No new semi-State organisations have been established since March 2011 under the aegis of my Department.

European Court of Human Rights Rulings

Questions (61)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

61. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the next opportunity will arise for Ireland to appoint a new judge to the European Court of Human Rights as part of the Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, France; if he will provide details of the current and all previous appointments to the court by the Government; the costs associated with the position in tabular form over the past 15 years; if he will detail annually the salary that this position commands and Ireland's annual financial contribution to the court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29009/13]

View answer

Written answers

Judges of the European Court of Human Rights are elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe with respect to each High Contracting Party (State) by a majority of votes cast from a list of three candidates nominated by the Government of that State. The Convention, as amended by Protocol 14, stipulates that the term of office of a judge of the Court is nine years and may not be renewed. The current judge elected in respect of Ireland is Ann Power-Forde, who was elected to the position by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in January 2008 and consequently her term will expire in 2017. The process to begin the selection of three candidates to go forward for election will not commence until a request from the Council of Europe is received. Previous judges of the European Court of Human Rights elected with respect to Ireland are as follows: John Hedigan (1998-2007), Brian Walsh (1980-1998), Philip O’Donoghue (1971-1980), Conor Alexander Maguire (1965-1971), and Richard McGonigal (1959-1964). Article 21 of the Convention requires that judges sit on the Court in their individual capacity and not as national representatives. It is a full-time position and judges' salaries are paid by the Council of Europe not the High Contracting Party in respect of which they are elected. The current annual salary for the position is €235,788. The budget of the European Court of Human Rights comes from the overall Council of Europe budget financed by contributions from the 47 member states of the Council of Europe. The 2013 contribution of Ireland to the Council of Europe was €2,441,187. The overall Council of Europe budget for 2013 is €244 million, of which €67 million is for the European Court of Human Rights.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Questions (62)

Clare Daly

Question:

62. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will spearhead an internationl campaign to ban the use of drones. [28748/13]

View answer

Written answers

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (commonly referred to as “drones”) are used for both civilian and military purposes. Their use in armed conflict is subject to international humanitarian law. This sets specific requirements in relation to the use of force in armed conflict, including the principles of necessity, proportionality and distinction. I am deeply concerned about any indiscriminate use of UAVs, which would clearly be contrary to international law, and by instances where innocent civilians have been killed by attacks using UAVs. However, I see no prospect of an agreement to ban the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, either in their totality or for specifically military purposes.

Ministerial Travel

Questions (63)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

63. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the engagements of the Minister of State who is responsible for trade and development in terms of the recent Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Canada; the person who accompanied him on the visit; if he will outline in tabular form the trade figures between the two countries on a year-by-year basis from 2011 to present; if he expects this figure for 2013 to grow by the end of the year on foot on his recent travels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28783/13]

View answer

Written answers

Canada, which is the world's 10th largest economy, has been identified as a priority market under the Government’s strategy for promoting trade, tourism and investment, "Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy". Ireland’s merchandise exports to Canada increased by 11% in 2012 to over €780 million. Exports by indigenous Irish Enterprise Ireland client companies increased by 26% in 2012 to over €214 million. A more detailed breakdown of our trade with Canada in 2011 and 2012 follows this reply. The recent Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Canada, which took place from 11 to 14 June, was led by the Minister of State for Trade and Development at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Joe Costello. It was organised in close co-operation with my Department and the Embassy of Ireland to Canada. The Minister of State was accompanied on the trade mission by officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Embassy of Ireland in Canada and Enterprise Ireland. A key objective of the mission was to create and develop opportunities for Irish companies in the oil and gas industries in the province of Alberta. Fifteen Irish companies in the engineering, construction, technology and recruitment sectors participated in the mission. During the trade mission, the Minister of State met with Deputy Premier and Ministers of the Government of Alberta, as well as a range of Irish companies and their Canadian partners and customers. He delivered keynote addresses at networking events organised in conjunction with the Ireland-Canada Centre of Commerce in Calgary and the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce in Edmonton. He delivered a speech at a Seminar on European Innovation in the Canadian Heavy Oil Industry. In addition, he used the opportunities presented by engagement with the Irish-Canadian community to promote The Gathering.

Among the highlights of the trade mission were the conclusion of an agreement between PM Group and its Canadian Partner, Gas Liquids Engineering, which will see both organisations working together in the gas processing industry in Europe and across the world; a long-term contract secured by Decisions [D4H] with the Government of Alberta for the provision of their innovative software; and an event with Canadian business contacts to mark the recent opening by Tech Skills of its first office in Canada. I am confident that the contacts made and developed during this trade mission will lead to ongoing opportunities for Irish companies to increase their exports to the Canadian market and expand their engagement with new and existing Canadian partners. Trade missions are one of the ways in which we aim to support the Irish enterprise sector to develop trade, tourism and investment opportunities across the globe. Our Embassy network and state agencies overseas work hard to identify specific export and investment opportunities, build extensive business and political contact networks, lobby on market access issues and promote Ireland as a destination for tourism and for study. The Taoiseach and I look forwarded to discussing Ireland-Canada and EU-Canada relations with the Canadian PM, Stephen Harper, including our trading and economic relationship, when he visited Dublin from 15 to 17 June.

-

Merchandise 2011

Services 2011

Merchandise 2012

Services 2012

Exports to Canada

€627 Million

€1,115 Million

€781 Million

n/a*

Imports from Canada

€257 Million

€444 Million

€246 Million

n/a*

Trade Surplus

€370 Million

€671 Million

€535 Million

n/a*

*Figures for 2012 services exports broken down by country will be available from the CSO in autumn 2013

Millenium Development Goals

Questions (64, 73)

Nicky McFadden

Question:

64. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland will spend 70 cents in every €100 on overseas aid by 2015 in line with the millennium development goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28784/13]

View answer

Róisín Shortall

Question:

73. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his policy on international development co-operation; and if it is still his intention to reach the targeted spend of 0.7% of GNI on overseas aid by 2015. [29137/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 73 together.

The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme. Our new international development policy, "One World, One Future", 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 Gross National Product for Official Development Assistance (ODA). Over the past two years, the Government has broadly stabilised the budget for development assistance. This is a significant achievement in the context of the very difficult economic conditions facing the country. We have allocated a total of €622 million for ODA for 2013. We will continue to work to maintain aid expenditure broadly at current levels until economic circumstances permit us to make further progress towards achieving the 0.7% target.

Top
Share