Written Answers Nos. 256-277
256. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his future plans for Traveller education; the reason for recent cuts in this area of education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49494/13]
View answerCurrent and future policy in relation to Traveller education is underpinned by the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy which was launched in 2006, following wide ranging consultation with relevant stakeholders including Traveller representative groups.
The principle of inclusion is at the core of the Strategy and, accordingly, the focus of both current and future provision is on the development of a more inclusive school environment through the whole school planning process, teaching practice, admissions policies, codes of behaviour and whole school evaluation. In keeping with this principle, additional resources provided in the education system are allocated on the basis of identified individual educational need rather than that of ethnic or cultural background.
The Traveller Education Advisory and Consultative Forum, which has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Strategy is currently working to a thematic approach to address the core issues of attendance, attainment, and retention of young Travellers in education. Membership of the Forum includes Traveller representative groups and representatives of the education partners and of relevant policy areas of the Department of Education and Skills.
Following the phasing out of segregated Traveller provision, Travellers now avail of the following mainstream resources, similar to all other children:- Free Pre-school Year- School transport- Classroom Teacher Allocation at Primary and Post-Primary level- Learning Resource Teachers at Primary and Post-Primary Level in the case of identified special educational need- Further and adult Education
The cuts to which the Deputy refers relate to the reduction in funding for segregated Traveller-specific programmes such as Resource Teachers for Travellers, Visiting Teacher Service and the phasing out of Senior Traveller Training Centres. A portion of the funding previously allocated to segregated education provision for Travellers has been redeployed to mainstream programmes in line with the principle of inclusion.
257. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is permissible for schools to charge a €110 for mock exams papers to be corrected by an external examiner; and if he will consider bringing in a rule that would prevent such activity from occurring as it obviously places an enormous burden on hard pressed families. [49553/13]
View answerMock examinations are not part of the State examinations system. The decision to organise and/or charge for mock examinations is made at school level. Mock examinations are not a requirement of my Department.
Schools are provided with capitation and school services grants to meet their running costs. DEIS schools receive additional funds for targeted interventions to improve educational outcomes for students at risk. Schools are free to prioritise their use of these resources in accordance with the overall needs of the school.
258. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to develop access to third level education particularly at masters and doctorate levels for mature students. [49555/13]
View answerA new National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2014-2019) is currently being prepared by the National Access Office for my Department. This will include new targets to increase participation by under-represented groups.
The Springboard programme strategically targets funding of free part-time flexible higher education courses for unemployed and previously self-employed people in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. These programmes are open to mature students. The courses, which are at level 6 (higher certificate) to level 9 (masters degree) on the National Framework of Qualifications, are being delivered in public and private higher education providers around the country. Full details regarding individual programmes are published on the dedicated Springboard website www.springboardcourses.ie as well as on the websites of providers of Springboard programmes.
259. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a special needs assistant can be employed as a substitute during the year after which they have been made redundant without having to repay their redundancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49585/13]
View answerThe detailed arrangements regarding supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs for the 2013/2014 school year are set out in Departmental Circular 0037/2013 which issued on 1 July 2013 and which is available on the Department's website at the following address: http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0037_2013.pdf
With effect from 1 May 2013 once an SNA with a minimum of one year's service is notified by his/her employer that he/she is to be made redundant then he/she shall be deemed to be a member of a Supplementary Assignment Panel for SNAs. With the exception of SNAs who have been re-employed in other schools or who have chosen to opt out of the panel in accordance with the terms of Paragraph 39 of the circular, all SNAs who have been made redundant since 1 May 2013 are members of the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel.
Paragraph 18 of Circular 37/2013 indicates that Supplementary Assignment Panel rules do not apply to the filling of substitute or "cover" vacancies i.e. Maternity Leave, Sick Leave, Career Breaks etc.
Accordingly, a person who is employed as a substitute SNA will not have to reimburse the Department in respect of any redundancy compensation payment that they may have received, or may be entitled to receive.
260. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons school transport has not been provided to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if a review requested recently has been carried out by Bus Éireann; if so, the decision of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49589/13]
View answerBus Éireann which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department has advised that the family in question were late in submitting their payment details.
Unfortunately, by the time the details were received the service was operating to capacity in that all of the seats had been allocated.
261. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49611/13]
View answerThe school, to which the Deputy refers, has submitted an application to the Department for additional accommodation. In that regard, my Department sought further information which has since been received and which is currently being considered. My Department expects to contact the school shortly in the matter.
262. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a referendum could be held on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48835/13]
View answerAs with Public Servants generally, the pensions of politicians have been subject to a range of measures implemented over recent years which have had significant downward effects on pensions and pension awards.
Reforms have been introduced in relation to the age at which politicians receive a pension. Under the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, pension entitlements are not payable to ‘new entrant’ Members of the Oireachtas (as defined in the Act) until age 65. Furthermore, the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 introduced a new Single Public Service Pension Scheme, effective from 1 January of this year, with a new minimum pension age of 66, rising in due course with the age at which the State Pension (Contributory) will become payable. The scheme also provides for pensions based on career average earnings rather than the current final salary basis. This scheme will apply to all new Members of the Oireachtas, including Ministers, as defined in the Act.
As regards reductions to pensions, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 provided for an average Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) from 1 January 2011 of about 4% for those who retired prior to 1 March 2012, calculated in line with the following rates and bands:
|
Annual Public Service Pension (€) |
Reduction Rate |
|
First 12,000 |
Exempt |
|
Between 12,000 and 24,000 |
6 % |
|
Between 24,000 and 60,000 |
9 % |
|
Between 60,000 and 100,000 |
12 % |
|
Balance above 100,000 |
20 % |
The pensions of those who retired on or after 1 March 2012 were not subject to PSPR originally as such pensions were based on reduced rates of salary applicable at the time of retirement following the 1 January 2010 pay reductions.
In parallel with further pay reductions which came into effect from 1 July 2013, the Government decided that all Public Service pensioners, including former politicians, on pensions of €32,500 and above would be required to take a further pension reduction; this was deemed necessary and appropriate and would ensure higher-paid pensioners would make a fair and proportionate additional contribution to the fiscal consolidation measures. On that basis, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 provides that all Public Service pensions greater than €32,500 are subject to a reduction with effect from 1 July 2013; pensions below that level are not affected. This new reduction ranges from 2% to 5% on affected pensions and is being implemented by way of increasing and extending the existing PSPR rates outlined above. To secure the reduction, an appropriate increase in the rates is being applied to Public Service pensions above €32,500 for those who retired prior to 1 March 2012, as follows:
|
Annual Public Service Pension (€) |
Reduction Rate |
|
First 12,000 |
Exempt |
|
Between 12,000 and 24,000 |
8 % |
|
Between 24,000 and 60,000 |
12 % |
|
Between 60,000 and 100,000 |
17 % |
|
Balance above 100,000 |
28 % |
In the case of those who retired on pensions above €32,500 since 1 March 2012 (i.e. those whose pensions were not subject to PSPR originally because their pensions were based on reduced salaries, unlike those who retired before 1 March 2012) the 2% to 5% pension reduction is being imposed by applying new separate PSPR rates. The new rates introduced for this group are lower than the above revised rates applicable to the earlier (pre-March 2012) retirees. The new rates are as follows:
|
Annual Public Service Pension (€) |
Reduction Rate |
|
First 12,000 |
Exempt |
|
Between 12,000 and 24,000 |
2 % |
|
Between 24,000 and 60,000 |
3 % |
|
Between 60,000 and 100,000 |
5 % |
|
Balance above 100,000 |
8 % |
Finally, I would like to assure you that pay and pension costs will be kept under review as part of the Government’s ongoing strategy to bring the public finances to a sustainable level.
263. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way persons working in a particular sector, who are not members of a trade union, may still be bound by the terms of collective bargaining agreements such as the Haddington Road agreement entered into by large trades unions representing that sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49306/13]
View answerIn the public service where a majority of employees are members of a trade union or association, the relevant union or association are recognised as negotiating parties in matters affecting the terms and conditions of employment of the grades of public servants they are recognised as representing. The public service as an employer does not distinguish between those employees who are members or not members of unions or associations when it comes to making changes to terms and conditions of employment.
264. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is due to pay a public service contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49386/13]
View answerI understand the question relates to pay reductions applied to public servants under the terms of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts.
Under Section 12 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am required to review the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 to 2013 annually. The review determines their operation, effectiveness and impact, having regard to the overall economic conditions of the State and national competitiveness. The review also considers whether or not any of the provisions of the Acts continue to be necessary having regard to the revenues of the State and commitments in respect of public service pay and pensions. The outcome of the review is laid before each House of the Oireachtas. The next review is required in June 2014.
Pending any change in the application of the measures in the context of the annual review or legislative change, the measures applying to the remuneration of public servants under the terms of the Acts continue to apply.
265. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of State-owned buildings in each county that were unoccupied in each of the years 2007 to 2012 inclusive. [49465/13]
View answer266. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual maintenance and security costs attached to unoccupied State-owned buildings in each of the years 2007 to 2012 inclusive. [49466/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.
The Office of Public Works is currently assembling the data requested in respect of properties for which they have responsibility and will reply to the Deputy directly.
267. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide more detail on protections afforded to whistleblowers in the public service including their rights and the way they will be afforded protection as claims are investigated; the steps being taken to monitor and replace poorly performing managers across the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48915/13]
View answerThe protections set out in Part 3 of the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 are the same for all workers regardless as to whether they are employed in the public or private sector.
Sections 11 and 12 of the Bill provide protections against unfair dismissal and penalisation falling short of a dismissal respectively. In both instances the extent to which protections under these sections can be invoked will be determined by the relevant elements of the State’s industrial relations machinery such as Rights Commissioners, the Labour Court or the Employment Appeals Tribunal as appropriate. In such cases all of the usual rights, processes and procedures associated with that machinery will apply.
Sections 13, 14 and 15 of the Bill provide protections the eventual determination of which will fall to be dealt with by the Courts and in which cases all of the usual rights, processes and procedures of the legal system will apply. Section 13 provides that where a person suffers detriment as a consequence of the actions of a third party that person has a right of action in tort against the third party. Section 14 provides that a person shall not be liable in damages, or subject to any other relief in civil proceedings, in respect of the making of a protected disclosure. Section 15 provides that in a prosecution of a person for any offence prohibiting or restricting the disclosure of information it is a defence for the person to show that the disclosure is, or is reasonably believed by the person to be, a protected disclosure.
Section 16 of the Bill provides that a person to whom a protected disclosure is made, and any person to whom a protected disclosure is referred in the performance of that person’s duties, must take all reasonable steps to avoid disclosing to another person any information that might identify the person by whom the protected disclosure was made. A failure to comply is actionable by the person by whom the protected disclosure was made if that person suffers any loss as a result. The requirement to protect the identity of the discloser is however subject to a number of necessary and pragmatic qualifications such as the necessity to effectively investigate the wrongdoing or the prevention of a crime or the prosecution of a criminal offence.
In addition to the protections set out in Part 3 of the Bill section 21 requires every public body to establish and maintain procedures for dealing with protected disclosures made by workers employed by the public body and that the public body shall provide written information relating to the procedures to its workers.
In this regard it should be noted that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has, at my request, formally requested the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to prepare a Code of Practice for dealing with protected disclosures. The Code of Practice is to be prepared in consultation with both employer and employee representative groups and the public service, as a significant employer, will be represented in that process. The Code of Conduct will inform and guide the preparation of the procedures to be established and maintained by public bodies in accordance with section 21 of the Protected Disclosures Bill.
As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for the public service. However, each individual sector has responsibility for the management of performance in that sector. In respect of the Civil Service, as part of the strengthened approach to managing underperformance, my Department has been actively engaged with HR units across the Civil Service to support and train managers in the better management of underperformance.
My Department has to date:
- provided a framework on how to address underperformance
- provided training for all HR and training units in all Departments/Offices on the framework
- strengthened links between the Performance Management and Development System and the disciplinary process in operation in the Civil Service
- developed better technical structures for the completion of PMDS throughout the Civil Service
As a result, managers should be better equipped to deal with underperformance.
It is the intention of my Department, as part of the Haddington Road agreement, to review the effectiveness of underperformance procedures and how under performance is managed. Under the Haddington Road Agreement, performance agreements will be developed for senior levels across the public service.
In the case of the Civil Service, this will be underpinned by the revised Assistant Secretary Competency Model approved by Government last month.
There is also a commitment to streamline the procedures to deal with underperformance so that they are more effective. Performance improvement action plans will be developed for individuals identified as having performance issues. These action plans will set out the performance issues that need to be addressed over a defined timeframe. Where performance does not improve, disciplinary procedures will apply.
268. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the processes in place for a public servant who wishes to be re-deployed from one State agency to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48930/13]
View answerThe Public Service Agreements (PSAs) covering the period 2010-16 (the Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements) set out the redeployment arrangements that apply in the Civil Service and in other parts of the Public Service. Under the PSAs, redeployment generally takes precedence over all other methods of filling a vacancy and supersedes any existing agreements on the deployment of staff.
The arrangements for the redeployment staff within the Health, Education, and Local Government sectors are managed directly by those sectors and day-to-day issues are a matter for the Minister responsible for the relevant sector.
Redeployment for the Civil Service and Non-Commercial State Sponsored Bodies (NCSSBs) under their aegis operates through a system of Resource Panels. These panels contain details of the posts identified by organisations for redeployment in these sectors on the basis of changing business needs or ongoing management of the Employment Control Framework (ECF) ceilings by public service bodies. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) administers the Redeployment Panel System for these sectors and facilitates cross-sectoral assignments where necessary.
It is a matter for the employer to identify the number and location of posts at each grade to be redeployed in the first instance. Once this has been done, volunteers will be sought for the Resource Panel. If the number of volunteers falls short, Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) will be applied, as appropriate.
While staff may be moved between different organisations as a consequence of the redeployment arrangements detailed above, they were not designed for and are not used to facilitate requests from individuals for transfers to address personal circumstances.
Civil Service departments and other public service organisations vary in relation to the approaches they adopt to the transfer of their own staff between locations and to other organisations and no centrally agreed approach applies. A person employed by a State Agency who wishes to be redeployed to another State Agency outside of the redeployment system should therefore raise the matter directly with their own organisation.
269. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when remedial works will commence on the River Clare in County Galway to prevent further flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48931/13]
View answerThe Office of Public Works has recently submitted the Clare River (Claregalway) Drainage Scheme to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for statutory approval to proceed to construction.
If approval is received, it is expected that construction will commence by the end of the year, or early in the new year, in areas that do not have particular environmental or weather constraints.
270. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Ombudsman has no role in investigating Údarás Na Gaeilge; his plans to address same; the way those without the means to launch a legal appeal can query any unsatisfactory outcomes with Údarás Na Gaeilge in the absence of an Ombudsman investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49011/13]
View answerIn line with the Programme for Government commitment, the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012 significantly extended the remit of the Ombudsman bringing some 180 public bodies, including Údarás na Gaeltachta, which I presume the Deputy is referring to in her question, under the legislation. As such, the Ombudsman is empowered to investigate complaints about the administrative functions of this body in line with section 4 of the 1980 Act as amended.
271. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total budget for each All Ireland Body established under the Good Friday Agreement for the years 2010 to date in 2013; and any proposed budget reductions to the these bodies currently being considered. [49347/13]
View answerThe 2010 to 2013 budgets for the North South Implementations Bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement are set out in the following table:
|
- |
2010 €m |
2011 €m |
2012 €m |
2013 €m |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
20.643 |
18.785 |
17.547 |
* |
|
InterTrade Ireland |
12.194 |
9.909 |
12.235 |
11.594 |
|
Loughs Agency |
4.832 |
4.689 |
4.545 |
4.403 |
|
SafeFood |
9.522 |
8.5 |
8,5 |
8,5 |
|
Special EU Programmes Body** |
2.533 |
2.666 |
2.434 |
2.501 |
|
Ulster Scots Agency |
3.739 |
3.693 |
3.251 |
* |
|
Waterways Ireland |
38.99 |
35.18 |
31.15 |
* |
*The 2013 Budget allocation to the Body are subject to on-going discussion by the two Sponsor Departments.
** SEUPB Administration Budget
In common with other public sector bodies North and South, the North South Implementation Bodies are expected to deliver their objectives in a cost effective and efficient manner. In order to provide a framework for this, my Department and the Department of Finance and Personnel, have issued guidance to the North South Implementation Bodies requiring them to achieve a minimum of 4% efficiency savings per annum in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
272. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the referendum to protect the right of citizens to communicate in confidence with public representatives will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43146/13]
View answerThe Programme for Government contained a commitment to address the issue of confidential communications with public representatives through constitutional change. Following a detailed policy assessment and on the basis of legal analysis, it was decided to legislate in relation to this issue. The Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013 provides for qualified privilege for confidential communication from members of the public to members of either House of the Oireachtas. The privilege provided for in the Act applies in all circumstances and is not restricted to inquiries carried out under the Act.
273. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the progress of the Haddington Road agreement. [44104/13]
View answerThe Haddington Road Agreement came into force on 1 July, 2013. The Agreement is comprised of a series of sustainable measures which will deliver a €1 billion reduction in the cost of the public service pay and pensions bill by 2016.
The Agreement is already delivering on its objectives. In terms of cost reduction, €300 million of savings were incorporated into the various votes in the Revised Estimates Volume 2013, which represents a real and tangible reduction in expenditure. In addition, savings under the Agreement were included in the budgetary arithmetic for 2014, in the expenditure ceilings for each vote, as appropriate. Similarly, the savings to be generated from the Agreement in 2015 will be incorporated into the expenditure ceilings for each Vote as part of the estimates process.
Furthermore, since 1 July, a number of changes in work practices and reforms have been implemented. Of particular significance is the fact that public servants are working longer hours as per the terms of the Agreement. This will result in the provision of a total of 15 million additional working hours across all sectors of the Public Service. These additional hours will help us to deliver long term and sustainable increases in productivity, while also helping to improve the provision of services to citizens.
An updated Public Service Reform Plan covering the period 2014 to 2016 is currently being developed. In this context, the Agreement will act as a key enabler for the delivery of the next phase of the Government’s ambitious public service reform programme.
The Haddington Road Agreement is a three-year agreement constructed to deliver continuous sustainable reform in the Public Service with a view to achieving a more efficient and effective Public Service.
274. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the withdrawal of EU funding for the Maze Long Kesh site has been raised at the recent European Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47685/13]
View answerThe Special EU Programmes Body is the Managing Authority for the North South structural funds programmes, including the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE III).
The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister applied for funding under Theme 2.2 of the PEACE III Programme for a project to develop a Peace-building and Conflict Resolution Centre at the Maze Long Kesh site. This application was successful and SEUPB issued a Letter of Offer in 2012. It was recognised at time of the funding award that the timescales for completion of the project within PEACE III timeframes were very tight.
Concerns about the viability of the project arose during 2013 and SEUPB commenced discussions with the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding these concerns. On foot of these discussions, it was agreed that the project was no longer viable at this time and on 1 October 2013 SEUPB rescinded the Letter of Offer. The SEUPB is now focussing on re-allocating the funding to suitable projects to ensure that EU funding is not lost to Northern Ireland and Ireland.
The European Council does not have a role in managing EU structural funds programmes such as PEACE III.
275. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will withdraw his amendments on the Freedom of Information Bill as they are damaging to democracy and transparency. [49586/13]
View answerAs I outlined in detail in the course of the recent Committee Stage, the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, 2013 will represent a significant strengthening in Ireland’s FOI regime leading to increased transparency, openness and accountability of public bodies. As the Deputy will be aware this is being achieved by:
- reversing the main additional exemptions included in the 2003 Freedom of Information Act;
- extending FOI to all public bodies
- providing scope to extend FOI to non-public bodies in receipt of significant funding from the State;
- requiring public bodies to prepare and publish publication schemes to ensure the proactive publication of information;
- setting out key statutory principles to guide public bodies in the performance of their functions under the Act including the need to achieve greater openness and to strengthen the accountability of public bodies;
- creating a general right of access to records held by public bodies which should only be set aside where the exemptions clearly support a refusal of access
- promoting the release of records under other access regimes where these apply.
- setting out the responsibilities of public bodies in dealing with electronic records and confirming that such records may be provided in electronic and searchable format.
In addition I am proposing that:
- search and retrieval fees should not be charged for the first two hours of time spent on the search and retrieval of records; and
- a cap of 500 euro should be set for the total amount of search and retrieval fees levied.
As I announced at Committee Stage last week, I intend to make these amendments to the Bill at Report Stage along with the provision discussed at length at Committee Stage which the Government recently approved as necessary - to ensure that a single FOI application containing multiple separate and unrelated FOI requests is not subject to the same single application fee that applies to an FOI application requesting information on one specific issue or matters related to it, even though it may contain several parts.
276. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the implications here of the recently concluded Canada-European Union Free Trade Agreement. [49239/13]
View answerThe political agreement reached on the key elements of a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada was announced on 18 October 2013 by EU Commission President Barroso and Canadian Prime Minister Harper. There will now be further technical discussions based on this political agreement, which are necessary to finalise the legal text of the agreement.
The CETA covers virtually every aspect of economic activity, and is an extremely important one for Ireland. It is the first comprehensive trade agreement with an historically close trade and economic partner and is a landmark deal between our two transatlantic economies. The CETA will see the elimination of all industrial tariffs and almost all agricultural tariffs. The sensitivities for Ireland in the beef sector are addressed by only partial liberalisation through tariff rate quotas. As to the dairy sector, substantial concessions have been granted by Canada on infant formula, milk protein concentrate and cheese. There is complete liberalisation of tariffs on milk protein concentrate and infant formula plus additional new cheese quotas for the EU in excess of 17,000 tonnes.
The CETA will also widely liberalise trade in services, among others in the areas of financial services, telecommunications, energy and transport. For the first time ever, all Canadian levels of government will open up their public procurement markets above certain thresholds to European suppliers.
The opportunities presented by the Agreement could add over €200 million to Ireland’s current €2.7 billion bilateral trade with Canada, thus creating more jobs and contributing to our economic recovery.
277. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the European Union and the United States of America; and his views on the way this agreement may or may not benefit Ireland. [49240/13]
View answerNegotiations between the EU and the US on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) began formally in July, with the first round of negotiations held in Washington in the week beginning 8th July 2013. The second round of negotiations concluded in Brussels on the 15th November. The third round of negotiations is scheduled to take place during week commencing 16th December in Washington.
The negotiations with the United States are aimed at eliminating tariffs, solving existing regulatory barriers and working to avoid the imposition of regulatory barriers in the future. For example, in a number of years when the Partnership comes into effect I expect that over 90% of tariffs on trade in goods will be removed and Irish companies will have greater access to public sector markets in the U.S.
As most of the potential gains from TTIP will arise from regulatory convergence and mutual recognition of each parties regulatory regimes, companies and especially SMEs will benefit from lower regulatory compliance costs. All of this will provide significant opportunities for Irish businesses to increase their access to the US market, as well as reduce the costs of goods that we need to import.
The EU and the US already have very strong trading and investment ties. The conclusion of a Trade and Investment Agreement with the US would have a significant and positive impact on trade, resulting in new markets for Irish exporters and bringing positive effects on job creation and competitiveness. A comprehensive deal on areas such as common regulatory standards and investment rules holds massive potential for economic growth and jobs which it is estimated could over time boost EU GDP by 0.5% per annum and help create approximately 400,000 jobs in the EU.
The EU Commission is responsible for negotiating on behalf of the EU, and it is doing so on the basis of a wide mandate from the EU Council of Ministers. The EU Commission has set up a specific webpage in order to provide as much information to stakeholders as is possible concerning the negotiations. The webpage can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/ttip/.
