Written Answers Nos. 46-57
46. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he plans to raise with his counterparts at the EU Foreign Affairs Council regarding forced organ harvesting in China; if efforts have been made to adopt a common EU approach towards these unacceptable practices and abuses of human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36203/13]
View answer47. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions that have been held recently at political and official level with Chinese authorities in relation to forced organ harvesting; if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concerns expressed by many groups including the Irish Falun Dafa Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36204/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.
I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos. 62, 65 and 66, taken together, of 10 July 2013 and Question No. 175 of 16 July 2013 on this matter. The Government follows closely reports of human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners, including reported cases of organ harvesting, and is concerned about the situation. 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. The latest session of this dialogue took place on 25 June 2013 and provided the EU with the opportunity to express its concerns about a range of issues, including the treatment of ethnic and religious minorities, deprivation of liberty, and criminal and administrative punishment. At this meeting, the EU also asked about measures taken so far by China to ratify the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, which it signed in 1998. In February 2013, officials from my Department met with representatives of the Irish Falun Dafa Association. During this meeting the issue of organ harvesting and ways in which human rights issues are raised with Chinese authorities by both Ireland and the EU was discussed. Officials in my Department met again with representatives of the Falun Dafa Association and human rights lawyers on 9 July regarding the issue of organ harvesting. A Common Position adopted by the European Council in 2008 outlines that Member States shall deny an export licence to any company if there is a clear risk that military technology or equipment to be exported might be used for internal repression. In Ireland, human trafficking for the purpose of the removal of organs is criminalised under the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008. In addition, I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Health, that the removal of human organs without consent or for payment is an offence under the European Union (Quality and Safety of Human Organs Intended for Transplantation) Regulations 2012 - S.I. No. 325 of 2012. These Regulations give effect to Directive 2010/53/EU. Under the Regulations, it is an offence to traffic, harbour, import or export organs contrary to the Regulations and the Directive. The Regulations set out a framework encompassing the establishment of competent authorities, the authorisation of transplantation centres and the establishment of conditions of procurement and systems of traceability. I understand that the Department of Health is also preparing legislative proposals for a Human Tissue Bill which will set out a detailed consent framework for the removal, donation and use of organs from deceased and living persons for the purpose of transplantation. Ireland, together with our EU partners, will continue to address human rights issues with China, including those related to the Falun Gong, in frequent and regular dialogue, through our contacts in both Dublin and Beijing and through the relevant multilateral channels, including at the United Nations Universal Periodic Review of human rights in China, scheduled for October 2013.
48. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the workings of the Export Trade Council, including the number of meetings it has held, the decisions made, and funding commitments allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36301/13]
View answerThe Export Trade Council (ETC) meets at high level to oversee the progressive implementation of the recommendations set out in the Government Trade Strategy, Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy. It has met to date on four occasions, with the most recent meeting taking place on 14 February 2013. The next meeting will take place later this year. I have chaired each of the meetings held to date. The membership includes relevant Ministers, senior officials, the CEOs of State Agencies concerned with trade, tourism and investment and individuals from the private sector.
The ETC helps to strengthen cooperation and coordination across all Government Departments and State Agencies involved in the promotion and development of trade, tourism and investment, however, it is not a funding body. Rather, it evaluates progress made in achieving the targets for export, tourism, FDI and jobs growth set out in Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy and considers issues which influence the implementation of the Trade Strategy. For example, at our most recent meeting, the Council analysed opportunities for Ireland presented by the ongoing negotiation of a number of Free Trade Agreements between the EU and third countries, and the schedule of Enterprise Ireland trade missions for 2013, which Minister Bruton and I approved, was reviewed. Examples of other areas which have been examined in previous meetings are my Department's Africa Strategy; visa issues and their impact of trade, tourism and investment in Ireland; and the issue of education and skills, on which Minister Quinn has briefed the Council.
49. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how the State expects to honour the commitment to allocate 0.7% of gross national income to overseas development aid by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36317/13]
View answer51. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will give detailed consideration to a matter relating to overseas development assistance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36341/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 51 together.
The Government remains committed to Ireland's overseas aid programme. This commitment was strengthened by the publication of our new Policy on International Development, One World, One Future, which clearly sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and our goals and areas of focus for the coming years. It also reaffirms the centrality of the aid programme 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 (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA) when economic circumstances permit. 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 conditions facing the country.
For 2013 we have allocated a total of €622 million for ODA. Of this, €497 million is managed by my Department under Vote 27 - International Cooperation. The remainder is made up of ODA eligible contributions from other Government Departments and Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation Budget. This represents a very significant allocation of public funds, is a clear indication of our commitment to the aid programme and represents a genuine investment on behalf of the Irish people to assist those less fortunate than ourselves.
50. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an overseas civilian corps is due to be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36318/13]
View answerThe Government's aid programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a strong international reputation for quality and effectiveness and is sharply focused on tackling poverty and hunger, particularly in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The aid programme has benefited from the contributions of generations of Irish volunteers, professionals and missionaries who have worked in the developing world. At present, the Government's aid programme supports the work of some 1,300 development workers, volunteers and missionaries in developing countries. In addition, the Rapid Response Corps operated by Irish Aid provides an opportunity for those with specific skills to be deployed swiftly in response to humanitarian crises and disasters.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a civilian volunteer corps. In line with this commitment, we plan to launch a new initiative on international volunteering in developing countries later this year. It will strengthen support for volunteering and promote civilian participation in high quality volunteer programmes that contribute to the achievement of clear sustainable development results. The volunteering initiative will reflect development needs in developing countries and increase volunteering opportunities for those, including job-seekers and retired public servants, who have skills and experience in short supply in the developing world.
At EU level, a Council negotiating position for the establishment of the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative was agreed during Ireland's EU Presidency in the first half of 2013. Working closely with the Commission and Member States, Ireland sought to ensure that the draft regulation reflected the need for this initiative to be demand-driven and cost-effective, adding value to the overall EU humanitarian effort and responding to humanitarian need. The EU Aid Volunteers Initiative will provide an additional opportunity for humanitarian volunteers from Ireland to participate in EU funded humanitarian operations worldwide.
52. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in respect of each State agency and commercial State company under the aegis of his Department, if he will provide details of the name of each pension scheme; details of the salary percentage contributions made by the employer and the employees; the latest information on the funding position of the scheme; if any changes are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36373/13]
View answerThere are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.
53. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of miles claimed and the amount of travel expenses paid to him and each Minister of State in his Department in respect of their ministerial functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36388/13]
View answerThe following table sets out the subsistence expenses paid to me as Minister and the combined subsistence and mileage expenses paid to the Ministers of State attached to my Department in the full financial year 2012.
|
Name |
Year |
Mileage in Kms |
Travel expenses (including mileage) € |
|
Tanáiste, Eamon Gilmore T.D. |
2012 |
Nil |
4,701 |
|
Minister of State, Lucinda Creighton T.D. |
2012 |
23,209 |
16,783 |
|
Minister of State, Joe Costello T.D. |
2012 |
2,880 |
6,913 |
|
Minister of State, Jan O'Sullivan T.D. |
2012 |
3,350* |
820* |
*Refers to travel undertaken in 2011 and paid in 2012
There is no official car provided to Ministers of State. A motor travel allowance may be claimed for official travel undertaken, subject to guidelines as set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Travel expenses paid are in accordance with the Department of Public Service and Reform Guidelines on Ministerial travel.
54. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of amendments he proposed on Committee and Report Stages in Seanad Éireann in 2012; if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of his own amendments that were accepted; and if he will indicate in tabular form the number of amendments accepted from Members of the Seanad, broken down by Senator. [36437/13]
View answerI sponsored two items of legislation in 2012 and the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Name of Bill |
No of Government amendments tabled/accepted in the Seanad |
No of other amendments tabled/accepted in the Seanad |
|
European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012 |
None/None |
None/None |
|
Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution Bill (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill, 2012 |
None/None |
None/None |
55. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the staffing levels in the private offices and constituency offices of Ministers and Ministers of State in his Department; the salary of each; the same figures for this time in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36501/13]
View answerThe current staffing arrangements for my private and constituency offices and those of the Ministers of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are set out in the following table, together with comparable information for July 2011. These staffing arrangements are in line with the Government's decision on 15 March 2011 to reduce maximum permitted staffing levels for Ministers of the Government and Ministers of State.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore, TD, 18 July 2013
|
Office of the Tánaiste |
Constituency Office |
|
2 Special Advisers |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
2 Personal Secretary |
|
- |
1 Clerical Officer |
|
Private Office – Foreign Affairs and Trade |
- |
|
2 Special Advisers |
- |
|
1 Private Secretary (Third Secretary) |
- |
|
2 Executive Officer |
- |
|
3 Clerical Officers |
- |
Minister of State for Trade and Development Joe Costello, TD, 18 July 2013
|
Private Office |
Constituency Office |
|
1 Private Secretary (Third Secretary) |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
1 Executive Officer |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
2 Clerical Officers |
1 Clerical Officer |
Minister of State for European Affairs Paschal Donohoe, TD, 18 July 2013 *
|
Minister of State for European Affairs |
- |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
- |
|
1 Personal Secretary |
- |
|
2 Clerical Officers |
- |
* Excludes staff on payroll of the Department of the Taoiseach
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore, TD, July 2011
|
Office of the Tánaiste |
Constituency Office |
|
2 Special Advisers |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
- |
1 Clerical Officer |
Private Office – Foreign Affairs and Trade
|
Private Office |
- |
|
1 Special Adviser |
- |
|
1 Private Secretary (Third Secretary) |
- |
|
1 Higher Executive Officer |
- |
|
1 Executive Officer |
- |
|
3 Clerical Officers |
- |
Minister of State for Trade and Development Jan O'Sullivan, TD, July 2011
|
Private Office |
Constituency Office |
|
1 Private Secretary (Third Secretary) |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
2 Clerical Officers |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
2 Civilian Drivers |
1 Clerical Officer |
Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton, TD, July 2011 *
|
Private Office |
Constituency Office |
|
1 Personal Assistant |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
1 Executive Officer – part time |
2 Clerical Officers |
|
2 Civilian Drivers |
- |
* Excludes staff on payroll of the Department of the Taoiseach
The basic salary costs of each office for 2011 and 2013 are outlined in the following table.
|
- |
Annualised cost based on July 2011 staffing |
Annualised cost based on current staffing |
|
Office of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade** |
€861,465 |
€942,851 |
|
Office of the Minister of State for European Affairs |
€259,168 |
€155,692 |
|
Office of the Minister of State for Trade and Development *** |
€340,342 |
€305,449 |
** Before 10 March 2011 – Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs
*** Before 10 March 2011 – Office of the Minister of State for Development
56. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will indicate the saving to the Exchequer if all his special advisers and those of his Ministers of State were capped at the first point on the principal officer pay scale. [36516/13]
View answerDetails of the salaries paid to my special advisers, which are commensurate with the responsibilities attaching to their positions, are provided in the following table.
|
Position held |
Annual Salary with effect from 1 July 2013 |
|
Chief Adviser - Office of the Tánaiste |
€156,380 |
|
Economic Adviser - Office of the Tánaiste |
€144,550 |
|
Special Adviser - Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade |
€81,676 |
|
Special Adviser – Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade |
€75,647 |
Neither of the two Ministers of State assigned to my Department currently has a Special Adviser. With effect from 1 July 2013, the first point of the Principal Officer standard scale is €75,647.
57. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, with members of the Northern Ireland Executive or with political party leaders on the thuggery and violence over the weekend of 12, 13 and 14 July; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36567/13]
View answerThe violence and disrespect for the rule of law we have witnessed in Belfast over recent days are against everything the peace process means and the fundamental values of the decent people of that city and of the island of Ireland. The rule of law must be respected, even when people disagree with lawful decisions of the Parades Commission. In my conversations with Secretary of State Villiers and Minister Ford over the weekend I expressed the Irish Government's appreciation for the work of the PSNI in protecting communities from this violence in very difficult circumstances.
The attacks on the police, which have now led to over seventy officers being injured, are simply unacceptable and appalling. We are at one with the British Government and all right thinking people in Northern Ireland in our commitment and determination to uphold the law, support the police and the further development of the process of peace and reconciliation in Ireland. Irish government officials are working closely with British counterparts and the local institutions in Northern Ireland on these matters. I will meet with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland next week to discuss these and other issues.
I also look forward to the outcome of the all party talks which will be held in the autumn under the Chairmanship of former US Special Envoy, Richard Haass. The All Party Group, which is to be established as part of the Together: Building a United Community Strategy, is due to make recommendations on a range of contentious issues including parades and protests.
