Written Answers Nos. 53-63
54. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on his discussions with the management of Ireland West Airport, Knock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46848/13]
View answerRecent discussions with the management of Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) have taken place through the Study Group, which comprises a broad range of parties interested in the development of the Airport and was established, under the Chairmanship of Deputy John O'Mahony, following a meeting of the Airport Board with the Taoiseach, Minister of State Ring and myself.
The Group is, inter alia, examining how best the future of the Airport can be secured; exploring options for the survival and growth of the Airport and examining how the Airport can best support industry and tourism in the catchment it serves. They are considering how the airport can be further developed taking account of available funding and competition rules and having regard to the implications for other regional airports.
Work by the Group is ongoing. After their most recent meeting, I understand that the Group is endeavouring to finalise its report and submit it to the Taoiseach and myself before Christmas.
55. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to examine the issue of cruise tourism in the tourism policy review; if his attention has been drawn to Dún Laoghaire Harbour's plans to extend its cruise liner facilities. [46967/13]
View answerThe Tourism Policy Review is designed to look at all aspects of Irish tourism and the issues paper that Minister Ring and I launched on 11 September has a specific section dealing with product development. I am inviting all stakeholders to make their views on the issues known to my Department. The level of interest has been such that I have extended the deadline for receipt of responses to the public consultation to 22 November after which a detailed analysis of all responses will commence.
Regarding the specific issue of the development of cruise facilities, this is one of those areas where my transport brief closely relates to my tourism brief as it is also related to ports policy. I am keen to ensure that there is a consistency of approach in all policy areas under my Department and that the tourism and ports policy, as with the forthcoming aviation policy, are closely aligned. The broad area of where cruise tourism fits and how it can be best supported in overall tourism policy will be considered as part of the review referred to above.
I am aware that a number of ports including Dun Laoghaire Harbour have plans in this area as part of their development Masterplans. As the Deputy is aware, it is important to recognise that the cruise industry is not a lucrative source of revenue for port companies themselves as opposed to the economy of the hinterland. It can be difficult for investments in this area to remunerate themselves from the charges of ports levies. Being commercially state-owned enterprises, ports must fund all cruise infrastructure developments must be funded by the ports from their own resources on a commercial basis or through collaboration with those beneficiaries of cruise tourism, be they regional interests or the cruise operators themselves.
56. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department will assist a company (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47532/13]
View answerI am aware of the situation facing the company to which the Deputy refers. I share the Deputy’s concerns and fully understand the frustration of the company at the long delay in reimbursing excise duty due to them for the years in question. I am particularly concerned by the risk which this delay poses to the viability of the company, and the livelihoods of all involved. At my request, the Irish Ambassador to Belgium met recently with senior officials of the Belgian Customs Service to directly express our concern about the situation and to highlight the serious impact of this on the company’s operations. The officials advised our Ambassador that Customs will be in contact with the company shortly concerning these claims. The Embassy in Brussels will remain seized of the issue and I will contact the Deputy as soon as there is further information to report.
57. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Irish diplomatic presence in the Slovak Republic; if he will provide a breakdown of the costs of running the office there in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47539/13]
View answerThe Embassy to the Slovak Republic opened in 2001. Our diplomatic presence in Bratislava is important in the context of shared membership of the European Union, in advancing relationships, promoting our interests and fostering goodwill between our two countries. From an economic perspective, and given that the state agencies service the market from regional offices, the Embassy has an important role in the promotion of exports, tourism and inward investment. The Embassy performs a wide range of functions in the context of our foreign policy, including representing and advancing government policies with the Slovakian government. In addition, the Embassy delivers frontline consular and passport services to citizens, and engages with and supports the Irish community. Since 2012, the Embassy has been staffed by only one diplomatic officer, with the rank of Ambassador, with the support of two locally engaged staff. A breakdown of the running costs of the Embassy from 2009 to the present is set out in the table below. The figures include all expenditure items charged to Mission budgets. Salaries and related costs of staff posted from Ireland are not included as they are a charge on the overall budget of the Department.
|
Bratislava Mission Expenditure All figures in Euro |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 to 05/11/2013 |
|
Local staff salaries, foreign representation and accommodation |
131,975 |
137,298 |
138,986 |
92,438 |
56,302 |
|
Travel and subsistence |
4,157 |
2,714 |
2,302 |
1,565 |
4,495 |
|
Incidental expenses |
9,944 |
9,251 |
8,849 |
5,781 |
2,682 |
|
Postal and telecommunications |
7,585 |
6,846 |
7,970 |
6,286 |
3,818 |
|
Office machinery and other office expenses |
770 |
929 |
835 |
1,329 |
560 |
|
Office premises expenses |
255,138 |
200,965 |
197,813 |
186,683 |
148,217 |
|
Total |
409,568 |
358,004 |
356,755 |
294,081 |
216,074 |
58. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he expects to review the yearly operation of Irish embassies abroad; his plans to re-open the Irish Embassy to the Holy See, as a new administration is now in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47540/13]
View answerThe scale and presence of our diplomatic network is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. Any decision to adjust the state’s external representation, including the opening of missions, will have regard to national priorities and available resources. At present, Ireland’s diplomatic network includes 56 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions and 10 Consulates General and other offices. In addition to their country of residence, several Ambassadors are accredited also to further countries on a non-residential basis which enhances the cost-effectiveness of our external representation. The decision to close the resident Embassy to the Holy See was taken by the Government in response to economic circumstances and on the basis of an assessment as to the impact of budgetary cuts, and the need to focus our modest diplomatic network on economic recovery. In the case of the Holy See also, there are very clear requirements regarding the physical separation of Embassies to Italy and the Holy See. It is not possible for an Ambassador to be accredited to both States simultaneously, neither is it acceptable to the Holy See for them to reside at the same address. Contacts on issues of mutual interest between Ireland and the Holy See are being advanced by means of an Ambassador accredited on a non-resident basis – the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr David Cooney. The Government will continue to review our network of diplomatic missions to ensure that it most effectively meets Ireland’s current needs, consistent with the resources available.
59. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the proposals he conveyed to Ambassador Richard Haass during their recent meeting; if his Department forwarded a written submission on these all-party talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47569/13]
View answerI met with Dr Richard Haass on 31 October in Iveagh House. We had met previously in New York on 25 September and have agreed to keep closely in touch. I believe that close and ongoing contact with Dr Haass and his team is preferable to a formal submission at this stage in his consultative process. During these meetings, we discussed each of the issues that he has been asked to address by the Northern Ireland Executive including parades, flags and emblems and the past. Dr Haass has committed to concluding his work by December and, to that end, he has embarked on an ambitious programme of work. I am very supportive of the process of consultation with wider society undertaken by Dr Haass and his team. I believe that this is an essential component to a successful process.
The Government believes that the process presents an opportunity to reaffirm the commitments made throughout the hard-won peace process and to making further progress towards advancing reconciliation and the creation of a truly reconciled and prosperous society in Northern Ireland.
During our meetings to date, I have assured Dr Haass that he and his team have the full support of the Government in the pursuit of their work and that we are ready to assist them in any way we can. Dr Haass and I have agreed to remain in close contact and meet again in the coming weeks.
60. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his participation in the Economic Investment Conference held in Belfast on 10 and 11 October 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47570/13]
View answerOfficials from my Department attended the Northern Ireland Economic Investment Conference in Belfast in early October. This conference allowed excellent networking with representatives from the Northern Irish business sector. Attendance at the Conference was another example of the very good relations between the UK and Ireland which Prime Minister Cameron attested to in his address to the conference. Prime Minister Cameron’s comments on the collaborative work being undertaken between the two Governments is reinforced in the UK’s economic package for Northern Ireland “Building a Prosperous and United Community” which acknowledges the need for the UK Government and NI Executive to work with the Irish Government with the aim of supporting economic growth and a shared society with equality of opportunity for all in Northern Ireland. I spoke of this in my address to the Chamber of Commerce during my recent visit to Derry.
At the Belfast Conference the Prime Minister also referred to the ongoing work to establish common visa arrangements across the UK and Ireland which could have significant economic benefits for business across the island.
My decision to involve Northern Ireland companies in the recent Global Irish Economic Forum has been heartily welcomed by those companies and by the NI business sector. I and my Department officials will continue to engage fully with Northern Ireland business and government representatives for the benefit of the economy of the island as a whole.
61. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has been engaged in any discussions on the Together: Building a United Community Strategy; if he will outline any detailed proposals he has brought forward on this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47571/13]
View answerI have previously welcomed the publication in May 2013 by the NI Executive of a new strategy ‘Together: Building A United Community’. The publication of the strategy is an important acknowledgement of the ongoing blight of sectarianism across communities in Northern Ireland and recognition that building a shared society requires a comprehensive response across political, economic, civic and social life. Building relationships between divided communities takes time and sustained effort and will need to be at the core of the work of the NI Executive, NI Party Leaders and the NI Assembly for some time to come. The Government will continue to support all efforts by the Executive and political leaders in Northern Ireland to promote reconciliation. The priority now, in my discussions with the Parties in Northern Ireland, is to encourage and support them in implementing the Strategy to its fullest extent, both in terms of promoting an ethos of respect and reconciliation and in implementing fully the individual practical proposals as set out in the Strategy. I welcome the rapid implementation of the proposal in the strategy to establish an All-Party Group, under the independent Chairmanship of Dr. Richard Haass, to consider and make recommendations on difficult matters including parades and protests; flags, symbols, emblems and related matters; and the past. I met with Dr. Haass on 25 September and 31 October in Dublin and assured him that he and his team have the full support of the Government.
In my discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with the First and deputy First Minister, and with other members of the Northern Ireland Executive, I continue to encourage all parties to seize the opportunity provided by the new Together Building a United Community Strategy and by the All-Party talks to accelerate the realisation of a cohesive and united community based on tolerance and respect in Northern Ireland. The ‘Together: Building A United Community’ strategy was also discussed at the North South Ministerial Council Plenary held in Dublin on 5 July 2013.
The EU funded PEACE and Interreg programmes have made an important contribution to supporting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and our border counties and I am glad that support for this valuable work will continue in the 2014 – 2020 period. I am particularly pleased that during our Presidency the European Council decided to include a special allocation of €150 million for a new PEACE Programme in the Multiannual Financial Framework. It is clear that the PEACE programme in particular has considerable potential to focus on the key issues of youth employment and tackling marginalisation, which are also to the fore in the “Together Building a United Community” strategy.
The Government will also continue to support reconciliation in other ways, including through the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds, which provide grants to organisations involved in reconciliation work on a cross-community and cross-border basis. We will also continue to support commemorative initiatives and events in Northern Ireland which foster reconciliation and mutual understanding among the different communities on the island. On 30 October, I hosted a Reconciliation Networking Forum in Dublin Castle which brought together groups supported by the Funds, along with representatives of business, religions, politics and broader civil society. This Forum considered the role of civil society fifteen years after the Good Friday Agreement and its conclusions will help to inform a new reconciliation policy that is currently being prepared by my Department. I continue to engage with representatives of communities and wider society on issues relating to reconciliation, most recently on my visit to Derry last month.
62. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding payment of over valuation of a property in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [47476/13]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that, where liable persons overpay their Local Property Tax (LPT) through an error or mistake in valuing their property, they should write to LPT Branch, Government Buildings, Ennis, Co Clare clearly setting out how the overpayment arose. They should also include relevant documentation in support of their revised valuation such as, for example, a copy of a professional valuation as at 1 May 2013, or documented information on property sales for comparable properties in the local area or any house price survey in the area reflecting values around 1 May 2013. In the case referred to by the Deputy, I am informed by Revenue that the person in question submitted his LPT1 Return on the 12 May 2013, which clearly indicated ‘Band 2’ (valuation €100,001 - €150,000) as the appropriate valuation band for his property. A payment of €56 was subsequently received on 9 July 2013 equating to exactly half the ‘Band 2’ amount due for 2013. No further correspondence was received from the taxpayer in relation to the valuation submitted, nor was any further payment received.
A letter subsequently issued from Revenue to the person in question on 18 October 2013, requesting payment of €225 for 2014, based on the ‘Band 2’ valuation.
Revenue has confirmed to me that if the person in question wishes to amend his valuation band downwards, he should follow the steps already outlined above. Once the relevant documentation is received, LPT Branch will make direct contact with him to discuss the issue. If it is confirmed that the correct band for his property is ‘Band 1’ rather than ‘Band 2’ then the excess payment can either be transferred as part payment to his 2014 liability or refunded to him.
Finally, the person can pay his LPT liability through the Post Office as suggested by the Deputy. Any subsequent adjustments that might arise can be made once the correct valuation band has been confirmed.
63. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance if any assistance is available for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who opened a business as a sole trader in the past month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47419/13]
View answerFacilitating access to finance for SMEs is a key aspect of the Action Plan for Jobs 2013. It is the Government’s vision that all viable businesses operating in Ireland should have the opportunity to access sufficient finance to meet their enterprise needs in a manner that supports growth and employment in the economy. The Government has imposed SME lending targets on AIB and Bank of Ireland for the three calendar years, 2011 to 2013. Each bank was required to sanction lending of at least €3 billion in 2011, €3.5 billion in 2012 and €4 billion in 2013 for new or increased credit facilities to SMEs. Both banks have reported that they achieved their 2011 and 2012 targets and the recent Credit Review Office quarterly report commented “both banks are on track to achieve their €4bn loan sanction targets, assuming the pattern of previous years of a strong Q4 performance is repeated.”
AIB and Bank of Ireland are expected to lend to viable businesses both for investment and working capital purposes. The Credit Review Office is available to assist businesses which have been refused credit. The recent CRO report shows that the Credit Review Office upheld the credit appeal in 150 cases or 55% of cases decided. The upheld appeals have resulted in €18.5M credit being made available to SMEs and farms, protecting 1,521 jobs. This shows that there is a strong prospect of success for SMEs going to the Credit Review Office and I would strongly encourage SMEs refused credit to seek a review by the Office.
The Government has taken a number of actions to improve the situation in relation to credit availability to SMEs.
The range of credit options available to SMEs now include the Microenterprise Loan scheme which can facilitate up to €40million in additional lending to microenterprises over the next five years. In addition, the Credit Guarantee Scheme is designed for SMEs who, because of lack of collateral or because of the specialised sector they operate in, face difficulties in accessing bank credit.
It is vital that the banks continue to make credit available to support economic recovery. However, it is not in the interest of the banks, businesses or the economy for finance to be provided unless the business is viable and has the capacity to meet the interest payments and repay the sum borrowed.
More generally, small businesses can benefit from support, guidance and advice provided at local level through the network of County Enterprise Boards which are currently being transformed into Local Enterprise Offices with closer links to businesses in their local area.
