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Wednesday, 15 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos 70-85

Registration of Marriages

Questions (70)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

70. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding obtaining a marriage certificate in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1461/14]

View answer

Written answers

My Department can authenticate the original document provided by the Office of the Registrar General for submission to the South African authorities.

The document can be either presented at our offices in Cork or Dublin or posted to our office in Dublin (see contact details below) for authentication. The fee for authentication of a document is €40.

Cork

Consular Services Section

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

1A South Mall

Cork

Tel: 021 4944765

021 4944766

Dublin

Consular Services Section

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Hainault House

69 - 71 St Stephen’s Green

Dublin 2

Tel: (01) 408 2174

(01) 408 2322

Opening hours:

Monday - Friday (excluding bank holidays)

9.30am – 1pm

2.30pm – 4pm

By post:

All postal applications must be sent by Registered Post.

If you’re sending documents by registered post, include a brief covering letter giving:

- your name

- return address

- telephone number

- the name of the country the document(s) are for use in

- the appropriate fee

Methods of payment

- Cash

- Bank draft (made payable to the 'Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade')

- Postal order

- Credit/debit card

Question No. 71 answered with Question No. 51.

Human Rights Issues

Questions (72)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

72. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his efforts and that of his Department in the past three months at national, European and international levels in raising the continuing human rights abuse against the Rohingya community in view of recent revelations of trafficking and abuses of Rohingya women; despite such abuses continuing, if Ireland intends to continue seeking trade developments with Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1525/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Government closely follows the situation of the Rohingya people in Myanmar/Burma and is deeply concerned by ongoing reports and evidence of serious human rights abuses.

Myanmar/Burma continues to undergo a process of long-awaited transition towards full democracy. Ireland, together with our EU partners, recognises that significant progress has been made, but that difficult and complex challenges remain. We continue to utilize the relevant bilateral and multilateral channels to urge the Government of Myanmar/Burma to address these challenges, particularly issues in regards to the Rohingya minority.

A significant step forward was the launch of the EU-Myanmar Task Force, which was held in Myanmar from 13-15 November 2013. The Task Force was co-chaired by the European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton and U Soe Thane, Minister in the President's Office. Their discussions covered all challenging issues facing the country, including the peace process, human rights, communal violence, the plight of the Rohingya, rural development and land rights, elections in 2015 and constitutional review.

The Government of Myanmar expressed its determined to continue reforms. Both sides noted that the lifting of sanctions and the reinstatement of GSP preferences were crucial to encourage further progress. Ireland is also of the view that attempting to re-impose sanctions would have a negative impact on the reform process in Myanmar.

On 31 December 2013, HR Ashton welcomed the pardon of a number of prisoners of conscience in Myanmar as fulfilling President Thein’s commitment that all political prisoners would be released by the end of the year.

At the UN level, a comprehensive country resolution on Myanmar was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 2013, covering all aspects of the situation in the country, including the plight of the Rohingya in Rakhine State. Ireland played an active role in negotiation of the Resolution.

Ireland’s Ambassador to Myanmar (based in Hanoi) maintains close contact with his EU colleagues, and will attend the monthly EU Heads of Mission meeting next week in Yangon where there will be an opportunity to receive a first hand update on the situation in Rakhine State.

Ireland will continue through relevant bilateral and multilateral channels to press the authorities in Myanmar to address the serious situation in Rakhine State, as part of a continuing process of democratic transformation.

Illegal Israeli Imports

Questions (73, 74)

Seán Crowe

Question:

73. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the British Government has issued guidance warning of the significant risks involved in economic and financial activities in Israeli settlements; if he will consider issuing similar guidance; and when he expects EU guidance regarding involvement in economic and financial activities in Israeli settlements to be finalised. [1588/14]

View answer

Seán Crowe

Question:

74. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he expects the EU guidelines on the labelling of Israeli settlement goods to be finalised. [1589/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together.

My Department’s website already contains cautionary advice in relation to buying property in Israeli settlements. I am aware of the more recent advice introduced by the British Government. I am open to considering further strengthening of our advice, but my preference would be for action at EU level. Ireland has been active in the discussion of possible EU messages on investment in or any business contacts with settlements, on which good progress has been made.

There is no fixed timescale for the finalisation of the planned EU guidelines on labelling of settlement goods. There is a widespread feeling among EU partners that it might not be helpful to introduce either of these measures at this particular moment, while the direct negotiations between the parties are ongoing. This is a question of timing only, based on the fact that the talks are only scheduled to last for a further few months.

Question No. 75 answered with Question No. 51.

Nuclear Proliferation

Questions (76)

Seán Crowe

Question:

76. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the EU, together with Russia and China, in seeking an agreement with Iran about its nuclear programme if the US Congress prevents the US Administration proceeding with the present agreement with the P5+1 by legislating for additional nuclear-related sanctions against Iran. [1591/14]

View answer

Written answers

The interim agreement reached between the P5+1 and Iran on 24 November was a very welcome first step, and I am hopeful that it may act as a springboard to the achievement of a final agreement to resolve this dispute during 2014.

The active and positive engagement and leading role of the United States played a crucial part in achieving this interim agreement. The US Administration remains fully committed, as do all the other concerned parties, to implementation of the interim agreement as a prelude to further negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive agreement.

I do not believe it is helpful to the current process to engage in supposition regarding any party failing to follow through on the 24 November interim agreement. I agree that the enactment of further sanctions on Iran at this moment, even if suspended, would not be helpful to the process.

Diplomatic Representation

Questions (77)

Seán Crowe

Question:

77. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the Dutch Foreign Minister’s recent trip to Cuba; if he is aware that the Netherlands has broken ranks with the EU by signing a deal to open political talks and trade ties with Cuba; if he supports this move; and if his Department will follow suit and positively adjust its relationship with Cuba. [1592/14]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy notes, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, Mr Frans Timmermans, visited Cuba from 5-7 January last with a view to strengthening bilateral ties. I understand that Minister Timmermans met with the Cuban Foreign Minister and other members of the Cuban Government as well as with representatives of civil society.

Amongst the themes of this visit, which covered issues such as cooperation, investment and sporting ties as well as human rights, the Dutch and Cuban Foreign Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a framework for bilateral consultations between the two Foreign Ministries.

The EU’s Common Position on Cuba provides the framework for cooperation with Cuba on a range of social, economic and human rights issues, and Ireland and other EU member states pursue bilateral interests in line with this Position.

The signature of bilateral agreements by member states on issues of mutual interest does not in and of itself constitute a departure from EU policy towards Cuba provided that the EU member states concerned develop their respective bilateral relationships in line with the overall framework of the EU’s Common Position on Cuba.

With regard to Ireland’s bilateral relations with Cuba, I would like to see our positive relations develop further. Officials of my Department have discussed with Cuban officials the possibility of a bilateral cooperation agreement. This on-going engagement builds on political contacts as well as a Declaration on bilateral relations that both countries signed in 2010. As a bilateral agreement drafted in line with EU, Irish and Cuban positions would provide further support for greater bilateral cooperation and dialogue across various areas of interest, I have asked officials of my Department to work with Cuban officials to intensify efforts to bring forward a proposal in this regard.

At the level of EU – Cuba relations, there have been positive developments in recent years which Ireland supports. Political Dialogue between the European Union and Cuba resumed in 2008 and a development cooperation programme of Euro 20 million was allocated for the 2010 – 2013 period. More recently, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed in November 2012 to begin the process of elaborating negotiating directives for an EU-Cuba agreement that would likely cover political dialogue, development cooperation and trade. Draft negotiating directives are currently under discussion between Member States and Ireland is playing an active and constructive role in these discussions.

Question No. 78 answered with Question No. 33.

North-South Ministerial Council

Questions (79)

Joe McHugh

Question:

79. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of all formal North-South meetings through the North-South Ministerial Council, formal engagements between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and formal engagements by An Taoiseach on North-South issues; if he will further provide details of bilateral meetings on an east-west basis for the years 2009 to 2013, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1619/14]

View answer

Written answers

The numbers of formal meetings of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in the years 2009 to 2013 are set out in tabular form.

The NSMC meets in a number of formats. Plenary format involves the Government led by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste and the Northern Ireland Executive led by the First Minister and deputy First Minister. In Institutional format, the Irish Government is represented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade who meets with the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Sectoral meetings involve the relevant Ministers from the Government and from the Executive with responsibility for the North/South Implementation Bodies and the agreed areas of cooperation. The Executive Minister is always accompanied by another Minister to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Good Friday Agreement 1998 and the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that participation by the Executive in the NSMC must be on a cross-community basis.

Further details of these meetings are included in the Joint Communiqués issued following the meetings which are available from the website of the North South Ministerial Council http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/

Meetings

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Plenary

3

1

3

2

2

Institutional

2

1

1

1

Sectors

Agriculture

3

2

2

3

2

Education

2

1

2

3

2

Environment

2

2

2

3

2

Foyle,Carlingford & Irish Lights (FCILC)3

3

2

2

3

2

Health & Food Safety

2

2

1

3

2

Inland Waterways

3

2

2

3

2

Language

3

2

2

3

4

Special EU Programmes

1

1

3

1

2

Tourism

2

1

1

2

1

Trade & Business

2

2

1

2

1

Transport

2

2

2

2

2

I meet on a regular and ongoing basis with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The East West relationship also includes my formal contacts with Foreign Secretary William Hague whom I meet regularly at Council meetings in an EU context and with whom I had separate bilateral meetings on 7 June and 6 December 2012, as well as in May 2011.

Deputy Prime Minister Clegg is also an important interlocutor and I met him most recently on 13 November 2013 as well as on 13 January and 9 November 2012 and on 8 May 2011.

In addition, I met the British Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, on 6 September 2013.

The East-West relationship also encompasses our relations with Wales and with Scotland and in this connection I would mention my meeting of 13 January 2012 with Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones. The Taoiseach regularly meets with representatives of the other jurisdictions in these islands at British Irish Council meetings, which take place twice annually.

Question No. 80 answered with Question No. 10.
Question No. 81 answered with Question No. 7.

Humanitarian Aid

Questions (82)

Brendan Smith

Question:

82. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the assistance provided by Irish Aid to date to the Philippines following the typhoon; the proposals there are to provide further humanitarian assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1639/14]

View answer

Written answers

Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, hit the Philippines on 8 November with devastating effects. Current estimates indicate that the Typhoon affected more than 14 million people, with almost 4 million remaining displaced, including approximately 1.5 million children. The full human toll of this disaster remains unclear but over 6,000 lives have been lost to date while almost 1800 people remain missing.

Ireland was amongst the first to respond to this disaster, providing immediate, life-saving assistance. Our contribution to date stands at over €4.1 million making us one of the most generous contributors to this relief effort on a per capita basis. Ireland’s support is making a real difference on the ground.

Over €2.6million in funding has been provided through our key NGO partners. This funding is being used for the provision of emergency food and non-food items; water, sanitation and hygiene; emergency health care and, protection of vulnerable women and children, and will benefit up to 50,000 households.

My colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., has also authorised a contribution of €500,000 to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to support FAO’s emergency activities to restore the livelihoods of farmers affected by the Typhoon.

To date, Ireland has authorised four airlifts of essential relief items from our emergency pre-positioned stocks, the most recent of which arrived in the Philippines on Monday, 2 December. This brings the total amount of essential relief items provided by Ireland to 166 tonnes, valued at approximately €967,000 in total. According to the latest figures, Ireland is the second largest contributor of emergency stocks through the UN World Food Programme (WFP) Humanitarian Response Depot system (second only to the World Food Programme itself). In addition, Ireland deployed five members of its Rapid Response Corps to the Philippines to assist UN relief teams there.

I authorised the deployment of the Government's technical mission which arrived in the Philippines on Thursday 28 November. The purpose of this mission was to obtain a detailed analysis of the longer-term needs of the worst affected regions and to explore ways in which Ireland can most effectively contribute to the recovery process and rebuild for the future.

The recommendations of the technical mission on how best Ireland can assist the Philippines recover from this terrible disaster in the medium to long term are currently under active consideration. Further financial assistance in 2014 will be considered on the basis of these recommendations.

EU Membership

Questions (83)

Brendan Smith

Question:

83. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of countries that propose to apply for full membership of the European Union that have attained candidate status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1640/14]

View answer

Written answers

There are five countries that currently have candidate status and have applied to join the European Union: Turkey, Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia, each of which is at a different stage in its relations with the EU:

Turkey has been a candidate since 1999 and is currently in accession negotiations with the European Union. Following the agreement reached in June under the Irish Presidency, a new chapter in Turkey’s accession negotiations was formally opened for the first time in three years at an inter-Governmental Conference in November. To date, some fourteen chapters have been opened in the negotiations.

Montenegro has been a candidate since 2010 and began accession negotiations in 2012. These negotiations are continuing, with seven negotiating chapters now opened, of which two have been provisionally closed. Two key chapters relating to the judiciary, fundamental rights and justice, freedom and security were opened last month .

Iceland is still officially a candidate for EU membership, although accession negotiations are currently on hold, following a decision of the Icelandic government last year.

Serbia has been a candidate since 2011 and is scheduled to open accession negotiations later this month with the European Union.

Macedonia has been a candidate since 2005 but has yet to start accession negotiations. In December, the General Affairs Council concluded:

“With a view to a possible decision of the European Council to open accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Council will revert to the issue in 2014, on the basis of an update by the Commission on further implementation of reforms in the context of the High Level Accession Dialogue, including the implementation of the 1 March political agreement and on tangible steps taken to promote good neighbourly relations and to reach a negotiated and mutually accepted solution to the name issue.”

Finally with regard to Albania, which applied to join the European Union in 2009 and is currently seeking candidate status, the General Affairs Council last December concluded that:

“on the understanding that Albania continues to build on the encouraging progress

made so far, the Council looks forward to a decision regarding granting candidate status to Albania in June 2014, subject to endorsement by the European Council.”

Neither Kosovo nor Bosnia Herzegovina has yet applied to join the European Union. However, both are on a path towards deeper relations with the EU. Kosovo is in negotiations with the EU on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). Bosnia has already negotiated an SAA with the EU, although this has yet to come into effect.

EU Membership

Questions (84)

Brendan Smith

Question:

84. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current status of the application by Turkey for full membership of the European Union; if he has had recent discussions with members of the Turkish Government or with other Members of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in relation to this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1641/14]

View answer

Written answers

Turkey has been a candidate for EU membership since 1999 and has been in accession negotiations since 2005. There are currently fourteen chapters open in the negotiations and one provisionally closed. During the Irish Presidency last year, we laid the groundwork for the opening of the latest chapter, Chapter 22 on regional policy, the first chapter to be opened in three years.

While I have not had discussions on the matter recently with members of the Turkish Government the matter was last discussed among EU Member States at the General Affairs Council on 17 December 2013, when Council Conclusions on Turkey were adopted, assessing progress to date and setting out the EU’s strategy for the period ahead. In those Conclusions, the Council reaffirmed the importance it attaches to EU relations with Turkey and stated that “t he EU should remain the anchor for reforms in Turkey”.

In terms of the future of the accession negotiations, the EU stated that “Turkey will be able to accelerate the pace of negotiations by advancing in the fulfillment of benchmarks, meeting the requirements of the Negotiating Framework and by respecting its contractual obligations towards the EU.”

The Council welcomed the important progress on reforms made in Turkey during 2013 and further encouraged work on reforms to provide “adequate checks and balances fully guaranteeing freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities” and called for further sustained efforts particularly as regards improving the observance of fundamental rights and freedoms in law and in practice in Turkey. The Council took note of the important regional role played by Turkey, especially with regard to Syrian refugees and reiterated EU support for the ongoing peace process launched with regard to the situation in the South East of Turkey. The Council welcomed the signing of the readmission agreement with the European Union in December, as well as the start of the dialogue between the EU and Turkey on visa liberalisation.

The EU called on Turkey to commit itself unequivocally to good neighbourly relations noting “with deep regret” that Turkey, despite repeated calls, has not yet fulfilled its obligation of full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement towards all Member States.

Finally, the EU called on Turkey to “actively support the ongoing negotiations aimed at a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework.”

Trade Data

Questions (85)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which new trading partnerships have been developed in each of the past five years to date; the extent to which existing trading partnerships have improved and the consequent benefit to this economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1771/14]

View answer

Written answers

While the majority of Irish services and merchandise exports go to Europe and the US and we must continue to cultivate these markets, the Government is strongly focused on the further development of trading partnerships with other important emerging markets.

Following the launch of the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, ‘Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, 2010 - 2015’ in September 2010, and based on State agency priorities, a list of 27 priority markets were identified. Local Market Teams were established in each of these, headed by the Ambassador and consisting of representatives of the Embassy and relevant state agencies. These market teams submit annual market plans as well as six-monthly reports of activity, which are reviewed by the Export Trade Council, which I chair.

The exporting sector is vital to the health of the Irish economy. Enterprise Ireland reported in its 2013 end of year statement that its client companies now, directly and indirectly, account for more than 300,000 jobs in the Irish economy (16% of the total workforce). The Ministerial-led Enterprise Ireland Trade Missions bringing client companies to key markets are strongly supported by my Department and the Embassy network.

Ireland’s exports were €182 billion in 2012, split almost evenly between goods and services, an increase of 5.5 percent on 2011. The growth in goods exports slowed to 0.7 percent on the previous year, but growth in services exports was strong at almost 11 percent. The tables annexed to this reply (using figures collated by Forfás) show the main destinations of Irish goods and services exports over the last five years. While full year figures for 2013 are not yet available, these are expected to show a small decline in exports largely caused by the effects of the pharmaceutical “patent cliff” and weakness in established markets.

Annex:

Ireland’s Goods Exports by Destination

-

Destination

2012 (€ billion)

Share of exports 2012 (%)

Annual Growth Rate, 2008-2012 (%)

1

United States

18.2

19.8

2.2

2

United Kingdom

15.2

16.5

-1.1

3

Belgium

13.6

14.8

2.7

4

Germany

7.5

8.2

5.3

5

Switzerland

5.1

5.5

18.6

6

France

4.4

4.8

-3.4

7

Netherlands

3.3

3.6

2.2

8

Spain

2.8

3

-6.2

9

Italy

2.7

2.9

-2.9

10

Japan

2.1

2.3

5.3

11

China

1.6

1.7

-0.7

12

Sweden

0.8

0.9

-2.5

13

Canada

0.8

0.9

18.6

14

Australia

0.7

0.8

-0.8

15

Mexico

0.7

0.7

5.9

16

Poland

0.7

0.7

-2.4

17

Saudi Arabia

0.6

0.7

13.4

18

Russia

0.6

0.7

15

19

Hong Kong

0.6

0.6

-4.5

20

Israel

0.6

0.6

29.1

Other

9.5

10.4

-1.3

Ireland’s Services Exports by Destination

-

Destination

2012 (€ billion)

Share of exports 2012 (%)

Annual Growth Rate, 2008-2012 (%)

1

United States

17.3

19.2

3.2

2

Not Geographically Allocated

10.2

11.3

23.7

3

Germany

8

8.9

4.8

4

United Kingdom

8

8.8

14

5

France

5.6

6.2

3.7

6

Italy

5.4

6

6.5

7

Netherlands

3.9

4.3

8.5

8

Japan

2.7

3

23.9

9

Spain

2.7

3

7.2

10

China

2.4

2.7

13.9

11

Switzerland

2.1

2.4

7.6

12

Belgium

1.8

2

4.8

13

Sweden

1.8

2

6.4

14

Australia

1.7

1.8

27.4

15

India

1.4

1.6

35.2

16

Canada

1.2

1.4

22.3

17

Denmark

1.1

1.3

11.1

18

Norway

0.9

1

10.4

19

Finland

0.8

0.9

9.4

20

Bermuda

0.8

0.9

-8.9

Other

10.5

11.6

-2.1

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