Written Answers Nos. 34-41
34. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current waiting time for a normal passport; the number of passports that were issued in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30494/13]
View answer52. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current waiting time for the issuing of a normal passport application; the arrangements that are in place for emergency or compassionate applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30493/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 52 together.
Customers applying through the Passport Express service are given a commitment by the Passport Service that ten days from the date of receipt by the Passport Service of properly completed applications a passport will be issued. Last year over 83% (428,000) of all persons applying for their passports in the State used Passport Express Irish citizens applied for their passports through Passport Express. The minimum turn around time for a passport is 3 working days.
In cases of genuine emergency every effort is made by the Passport Service to meet a travel date where the Passport Service is satisfied that:
- the proposed journey is related to the death or serious injury or illness abroad of a close relative or a medical emergency relating to the applicant him/herself; and
- the presence of the applicant at the foreign location in connection with such an unexpected event is necessary or highly desirable; and
- the need to travel has arisen at short notice.
Additionally, my Department provides a Duty Officer Service outside normal office hours to deal with matters requiring immediate attention, including the issue of passports.
The total number of passport applications processed for the period 2011 to 20 June 2013 is detailed as follows:
|
Year |
Applications |
|
2011 |
679,946 |
|
2012 |
714,744 |
|
To 20 June 2013 |
438,545 |
35. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent civic unrest in Bosnia and Herzegovina; if these particular issues have been discussed at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30813/13]
View answerI am aware of the recent protests in Sarajevo over the failure of the national Parliament to adopt a law on the Unique Master Citizen Number (JMBG). In May 2011, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina ruled that Article 5 of the Law on JMBG was not in compliance with the Bosnian Constitution because of the inaccurate use of some municipalities’ names. The Constitutional Court requested the Parliamentary Assembly to amend this article within six months, but the Parliament’s House of Representatives’ delegates failed to do so. Since the deadline was not met, a second Constitutional Court decision entered into force, and as of 12 February newborn Bosnian citizens cannot get a JMBG. The JMBG is required for Bosnian citizens to exercise certain rights such as having access to health insurance and identity documents.
This failure to legislate for the express good of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina is deplorable. I add my voice to those of the protestors calling on the Parliament to act to rapidly adopt this important legislation. The Bosnian Parliament is fully responsible for handling this matter and it is an issue that must be solved at State level.
The citizens’ peaceful protests are entirely legitimate as long as they are conducted according to the law. I can only hope that they are successful in compelling their elected representatives to act responsibly for the good of their people.
We have not had an opportunity to discuss these latest events at the Foreign Affairs Council yet, though I expect the matter may arise next month when we consider our overall approach to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
36. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the failure of the Spanish Government to enter significant negotiations to formulate a peace process with pro-independence Basque groups; and if he has raised the issue with the Spanish authorities. [30778/13]
View answerI have closely followed developments in relation to the Basque Country, including the outcome of the San Sebastian Conference in October 2011 and the subsequent declaration by ETA on 20 October 2011 that the organisation had “decided on the definitive cessation of its armed activity”. The Government supports and encourages any initiative that could lead to a definitive peace in the Basque Country.
37. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied with the current diplomatic relationship between Ireland and the Holy See; the number of times the current ambassador to the Holy See has visited the Holy See in his official capacity as ambassador; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30786/13]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Government decided to appoint the Secretary General of my Department as non-resident ambassador to the Holy See, thereby ensuring that contact with the Holy See is maintained at the highest possible diplomatic level. Ambassador Cooney has travelled to the Holy See thirteen times since the announcement of the embassy closure in November 2011, nine of which have taken place since he presented credentials in May 2012. He accompanied the President for the inauguration of Pope Francis and was present at the Pope’s subsequent meeting with the Diplomatic Corps. His most recent visit took place this week. I am satisfied that the current arrangement for Ireland’s representation at the Holy See is the most effective possible in light of the resource constraints faced by my Department.
38. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the decision of the US to supply arms to Syria, the steps he is taking to ensure that such weapons are not being taken through Shannon in breach of international laws on neutrality. [30486/13]
View answer39. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider ordering inspections of United States military aircraft passing through Shannon Airport in order to ensure that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question do not form any part of military exercises or operations en route to Syria or elsewhere. [30757/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together.
The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. In this context, permission for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports is given only on condition that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and do not engage in intelligence gathering and that the flights in question do not form any part of military exercises or operations. These conditions apply fully to US aircraft.
In accordance with international practice, state aircraft passing through Ireland with the permission of the Government are not subject to search or inspection. Furthermore, the carriage of weapons through Shannon Airport on commercial aircraft is prohibited under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973, adopted under the provisions of the Air Navigation and Transport Act, 1946, unless an exemption has been obtained by the commercial carrier from my colleague, the Minister for Transport. Before issuing such an exemption, the Department of Transport seeks the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in relation to any foreign policy issues which may arise.
In relation to the provision of arms to Syria, my views on this subject are well known and have regularly been stated in this House. I do not believe that the provision of further arms will assist ongoing efforts to achieve a political resolution.
41. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the topics that were discussed at the Conference on Education and Development in Brussels, attended by Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello; and if he will use his position to advocate for education to be a central theme in discussions on the post-2015 global development framework. [30782/13]
View answerStrong progress has been made in improving access to education under the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, adopted internationally in 2000. Today, forty million more children are enrolled in primary school than at the start of the new century. However, this progress has been uneven. For instance, children from conflict-affected states and children from remote rural areas in poor countries account for most of the 61 million children of primary school age who have never attended school. Moreover, the quality of education has not kept pace with increases in enrolment. Many children still leave school without acquiring basic numeracy and literacy skills. Improving access to quality education is an important priority of the Irish Aid programme. In 2012, for instance, the Government provided over €42 million in development assistance for programmes focused on education. These programmes are concentrated on ensuring access for the most marginalised, as well as on improving quality.
In advance of the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations has been holding a series of international consultations on the possible shape of a new framework for global development, beyond 2015.
As part of these consultations, I participated in an international Conference on Education and Development in Brussels in May. The objective of the meeting was to underline the importance of education in reducing poverty and to discuss how education should be represented in the post-2015 framework.
Speakers at the Conference emphasised the need for a continued focus on improving global access to education, particularly for children from the poorest families. The important role education can play in preventing conflict and improving the resilience of communities affected by conflict or natural disaster was also highlighted. In my address, I emphasised the need to address the quality of education, and the need to improve accountability at all levels: accountability by donors, partner countries, ministries of education and schools, to the pupils and their parents.
Ireland has been centrally involved in discussions to date on a new post-2015 development framework. During our EU Presidency, Ireland has been instrumental in ensuring a coherent and consistent position across the EU in advance of the United Nations Special Event on the MDGs, which will be held in September. In presentations I have made at the UN, the OECD and the EU, I have highlighted the importance of education in the fight to eliminate extreme poverty and, therefore, in any framework for the achievement of sustainable development. I will continue to take this approach.
