Written Answers Nos. 54-60
55. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has spoken to the British Prime Minister, David Cameron regarding the public inquiry on the Omagh bombing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39058/13]
View answer56. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views regarding the decision of the British Government not to hold a public inquiry into the Omagh bombing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39059/13]
View answer57. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers regarding the inquiry into the Omagh bombing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39135/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 55 to 57, inclusive, together.
The Omagh Support and Self-Help Group presented a report which it had compiled to the Irish and British Governments last year setting out matters relating to the atrocity at Omagh which it considered of concern and calling for a public inquiry.
The House will appreciate that my discussions in this matter with the UK Government have been with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers M.P. Deputies will also be aware that on 12 September the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced her decision that the British Government does not propose to hold a public inquiry into certain matters surrounding the Omagh bombing. I understand, as indicated in a statement issued by the Secretary of State, that she does not believe there are sufficient grounds to justify a further review or inquiry above and beyond those that have already taken place or are ongoing.
In so far as this jurisdiction is concerned, I am finalising a detailed consideration of the matters raised by the Omagh Group in as much as they relate to this State and the Garda Síochána. I shall conclude that consideration shortly and I will communicate directly with the Omagh group at that point.
58. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the procedure and criteria by which diplomatic passports are issued; when they may be used; the number of current serving Members of the Oireachtas who hold diplomatic passports; if former members are entitled to retain and use diplomatic passports; if there has been misuse of these passports and the actions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39971/13]
View answerDiplomatic passports are issued to Irish diplomats serving overseas and to members of the Oireachtas and the Judiciary who have reason to travel outside the State on official business. Applications are only approved for those who are Irish citizens and can demonstrate that they require a passport for travel to undertake official business on behalf of the State. Passports received may only be used for this official travel. 73 current serving members of the Oireachtas hold diplomatic passports. A memo for information of the government earlier this year clarified the exact circumstances in which a diplomatic passport can be obtained and used. Following this clarification there were a small number of citizens who held diplomatic passports in respect of previous official positions/roles or in respect of roles which fell outside of the terms of the proposed new arrangements. My Department contacted these individuals to facilitate their return of these passports. These passports are no longer valid for travel.
59. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reasons for the delay in approving a passport in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will expedite the matter. [39899/13]
View answerA passport application in respect of a person of a similar name was registered in Cork Passport Office on 21/08/2013. In accordance with the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2004, the citizenship entitlement of every person born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January, 2005 is governed by the citizenship of the person's parents at the time of the person's birth or the residency history of one of the parents prior to the birth, in this case from 28/03/2009 to 28/03/2013. When this application was first received some of the documentation was incorrectly completed and additionally no documentation regarding residency of the mother for the years 2012 and 2013 was submitted. A letter outlining in detail what was required was issued on 3/09/2013. The letter also suggested that evidence of the child’s father could also be submitted as evidence of reckonable residency.
Documentation was returned to the Passport Office on 6/09/2013 in support of the mother’s residency, but was still incomplete. The Cork Office made contact with the applicant's mother by phone and outlined what was required in support of her application. However, over the course of the telephone conversation the applicant’s mother indicated that she did not have sufficient documents to prove her residency as required. On 10/09/2013, the Passport Office wrote again to the family and asked whether evidence of reckonable residency in respect of the father could be provided.
The passport application can be considered further when this necessary documentation is supplied.
60. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to proceed with the proposal to reduce tax relief for pension pots that deliver pensions over €60,000 in budget 2014 as outlined in his budget 2013 announcement last December. [39884/13]
View answerIn my 2013 Budget speech, I stated that (from next year) tax relief on pension contributions will serve to subsidise pension schemes that deliver income of up to €60,000 per annum. I went on to say, in this context, that the current arrangements governing the maximum allowable pension fund at retirement for tax purposes of €2.3 million allowed for very generous pensions for higher earners, particularly by way of Defined Benefit schemes in the public and private sectors. It remains my intention to address these issues in Budget 2014.
