Written Answers Nos. 33 to 41
33. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of her previous statement that the Adoption Act 2010 is too restrictive, the action she will take in that regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14203/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, work has been underway for some time on the Adoption (Information and Tracing) legislation. I intend to proceed to finalise legislative proposals on a revised basis at the earliest opportunity and will bring proposals to the Government as soon as possible.
As well as the information and tracing legislation, I am conscious that issues have arisen in relation to the operation of the Adoption Act, 2010, since its enactment. There are a number of general policy questions around the nature of our adoption regime and I consider it timely to consider a review of adoption. Given the range and complexity of the issues this will require scoping and preliminary examination after which decisions will be made on the extent and time scale for the review to see if proposals for legislative change emerge from this review or the nature of such proposals. Based upon the many domestic and international legal aspects to adoption the issue of further legislative development will certainly be considered. This review will inform future operational and legislative considerations regarding the Adoption Act, 2010. For the present, however, my legislative priority in the area of adoption is the preparation of information and tracing legislation.
34. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has received the report from the Ombudsman for Children, A Meta-Analysis of Repetitive Root Cause Issues Regarding the Provision of Services for Children in Care; her views on its findings; her plans for the implementation of its recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14005/14]
View answerI welcome the publication of the Ombudsman for Children’s report ‘A Meta-Analysis of Repetitive Root Cause Issues Regarding the Provision of Services for Children in Care’ based on complaints made between 2004 and 2012.
The report indicated that ten percent of complaints to the Ombudsman were in relation to children in care, and the sample of cases in this report showed that a high proportion of complaints were from children in special care, high support or detention centres. This area of services, representing a very small number of children in care, is also the most challenging. The report outlined the importance of good care planning and the availability of special placements for children who need them. The findings of the report show the need for improved assessment, care planning and early access to therapy for children with high level needs.
A number of recommendations for both the Child and Family Agency and my Department are included in the report. It is worth noting that there has already been progress in a number of these areas in recent years, with further work currently underway.
The new Child and Family Agency, which was established on 1 January brings a dedicated focus to child protection/welfare and family supports to oversee further service developments and reforms. A new service delivery framework has been introduced involving a national approach to case assessment and management. Children and families identified as having welfare needs can be quickly diverted to family support services, allowing social workers to assess and respond to child protection concerns in a timely fashion. A new streamlined management system and quality assurance framework is being also implemented by the Agency.
The Agency is developing a National Child Protection Notification System, which will give social workers, emergency departments and Gardaí timely access to information on child protection history. The National Child Care Information System, to manage information on children in care, is now at implementation phase and being rolled-out by the Agency. A comprehensive strategic plan for residential care is also being developed by the Agency. A new supervision policy for social work staff was implemented in 2013.
National Standards for Child Protection & Welfare Services were published in 2012. The Health Information and Quality Authority commenced inspection of the HSE Child and Family Social Work Services against these standards in late 2012 and inspections of these services in the Agency are continuing.
The Children First Interdepartmental Implementation Group is continuing to support the on-going implementation of Children First, with legislation to place aspects of Children First guidance on a statutory footing to be published shortly.
The Ombudsman's report also found that multiple placements were a feature in some of the 10 cases described in the report. I note that in December 2012, 172 children (2.7 % of children in care) had experienced three or more placements in the previous year. The comparable rate for England and Wales stands at 10% per annum.
It is imperative that to be successful in improving the delivery of children’s services that lessons are learned from the past and recommendations are implemented. The wide ranging reform programme that has been undertaken to date and continues in the Child and Family Agency will address many of the problems highlighted in this report.
35. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any of the hellfire missiles were transported through Shannon Airport by the US Air Force over the past few weeks during the US's transportation of a total of 100 missiles to Iraq from the US; if he will confirm whether several US Air Force Hercules C130 aircraft were refuelled at Shannon Airport during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14493/14]
View answerI wish to confirm that my Department received no request for permission for the transport of hellfire missiles through Shannon Airport by the US Air Force in recent weeks. Had such a request been submitted, it would have been refused in line with our policy in relation to overflights and landings by foreign military aircraft. Permission has been granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Shannon Airport over the past few weeks, including US Air Force Hercules C130 aircraft. This permission is subject in each case to the strict condition that the aircraft is unarmed, carries no arms, ammunition or explosives, does not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.
36. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government has any intention of appointing a Minister to deal with the issues of Irish persons living abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14553/14]
View answerArticle 2 of the Constitution states that “the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad, who share its cultural identity and heritage”. While the Irish emigrants of today are largely better educated and qualified than those of previous generations, this Government maintains its long-standing commitment to assisting Irish people abroad, especially those most in need. Primary responsibility for engaging with emigrant communities and the wider Diaspora falls within the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Irish Abroad Unit of the Department takes the lead role on this engagement and administers a number of schemes and programmes targeted at and supporting Irish communities abroad, including the Emigrant Support Programme. Since 2004, the Department, through the Emigrant Support Programme, has disbursed in excess of €100 million towards a wide range of organisations and projects supporting Irish citizens and community and Diaspora groups around the world.
Other programmes that are administered by the Irish Abroad Unit include the Presidential Distinguished Service Award, the Centenarian Bounty for Irish citizens living outside the State and the Certificate of Irish Heritage.
Additionally, in recognising the continuing goodwill of Irish emigrants and that of the large Irish Diaspora towards Ireland, the Irish Abroad Unit coordinates the Global Irish Network and manages meetings of the Global Irish Economic Forum which have taken place in 2009, 2011 and 2013.
I recently announced a public consultation as part of a comprehensive review of our Diaspora policy. This review will examine all aspects of our current engagement with the Irish abroad and the Irish Diaspora. It will recommend ways in which the Government may better meet and serve the needs of the global Irish community and improve the manner in which it interacts with them on a more operational, strategic and practical level.
This review process has commenced and it will remain open to receive submissions from the general public, until 23 April 2014. Details are available on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Whilst I am open to all views that may be received through this comprehensive review process, I expect that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will retain overall responsibility for engaging with the Diaspora.
37. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the Ireland House concept was first initiated; the number of locations that have an embassy-consulate co-located with the offices of other State agencies; when such developments took place; if there are proposals to develop further such facilities; if so, if he will name the locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14636/14]
View answerIn 1987, the Government formulated a policy to bring together, where feasible, our diplomatic and consular missions abroad and the offices of state agencies in a single location, designated as “Ireland House”. The precise model for implementing such an arrangement would, of course, vary and have to reflect local conditions and other factors. In all cases, the arrangement is one designed to increase the impact of Ireland’s presence abroad, to improve coordination among all parties, and to maximise cost-efficiencies. The policy has been implemented on a gradual basis over the intervening years and I regret that it is not possible in the time available to give a detailed chronological narrative as to when each development took place. There are a number of types of Ireland House which include our diplomatic and consular missions abroad and the offices of state agencies operating from the same premises. These are currently operating in 19 locations overseas. The largest is in New York and comprises the Consulate General, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA in addition to other agencies including Tourism Ireland, Bord Bia, the American Ireland Fund and CIE Tours.
Missions at Boston, Brussels, Budapest, Kuala Lumpur, Prague, Riyadh and Warsaw share premises with Enterprise Ireland. Our missions at Moscow, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo accommodate both Enterprise Ireland and IDA offices. The Consulate General in Shanghai shares premises with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, and also Bord Bia and an agent for Tourism Ireland; the Ireland House in Madrid includes offices of Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland, together with the Embassy. Other configurations prevail elsewhere including at Embassy Beijing which shares premises with the IDA; Embassy Stockholm which shares space with Bord Bia; Embassy New Delhi which operates from shared premises with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland; and Ireland’s Consulate General in Atlanta which operates from the same location as the IDA.
In addition, there are a number of other locations where state agencies share facilities with each other in the form of an Ireland House, which does not include the Irish diplomatic mission to that particular country. For example, in Paris, the IDA, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and BIM operate an Ireland House.
The Ireland House concept has been implemented where practicable and further opportunities are considered whenever missions or agencies are opening or moving to new locations. I can confirm that the potential for further Ireland House arrangements will be considered in the implementation of the recent Government Decision to expand the diplomatic network.
38. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of personnel employed in the trade division of his Department prior to March 2011; the number of personnel that are now employed in that division; his proposals to expand the role and responsibilities of this division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14637/14]
View answerThe staffing information for the Trade and Promotion Division requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. It should also be noted that bilateral trade promotion is the responsibility of each geographic division and unit in my Department. Staffing resources in the Trade and Promotion Division and elsewhere in the Department have been reduced in order to comply with our Employment Control Framework (ECF) targets.
Promoting Ireland Abroad Division March 2011
|
Assistant Secretary |
Counsellor |
First Secretary |
Third Secretary |
Executive Officer |
Clerical Officer |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
Trade and Promotion Division March 2014
|
Assistant Secretary |
Counsellor |
First Secretary / Assistant Principal |
Third Secretary/ Administrative Officer |
Executive Officer |
Clerical Officer |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
Following a Government decision, certain trade promotion functions were transferred from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the then Department of Foreign Affairs on 1 June 2011. This transfer has given the newly constituted Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade an enhanced role in trade promotion. In particular, I chair the Export Trade Council which brings together relevant Ministers and representatives of Government Departments, as well as the heads of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland and representatives of the private sector to oversee implementation of the Government Trade Strategy. The Trade and Promotion Division provides the Council’s secretariat and led the recently completed review of the Trade Strategy on which I gave details in reply to a separate question from the Deputy today (no. 14678/14).
I would add that my Department is currently undertaking an overall review of Ireland’s foreign policy and external relations which will examine a wide range of issues including the work of the Department and the Embassy network in relation to trade, tourism and investment promotion.
39. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the review of the trade, tourism and investment strategy that was launched in 2010; the timescale for this review to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14678/14]
View answerOn 17 January 2013, the Government decided to initiate a short focused review of the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, which covers the period 2010 to 2015. This decision was reiterated in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, under Action Point 202: “In cooperation with all relevant Departments and agencies, carry out a short and focused review of the Government Trade Strategy, Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy.” A Review Group was established comprising representatives of the relevant Government Departments and State agencies (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; Department of the Taoiseach; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Department of Education and Skills; Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; Revenue Commissioners; IDA Ireland; Enterprise Ireland; Tourism Ireland; Bord Bia; Culture Ireland; Forfás; Science Foundation Ireland), chaired by the Trade and Promotion Division in my Department. The establishment of the Review Group was in the context of the Export Trade Council (ETC), which I chair, given its role in overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the Strategy. As the Deputy will be aware, the Council brings together the relevant Government Ministers and Departments, State agencies and private sector members. The review was launched on the 24 February 2014 and a copy of the document has been circulated to all members of the Oireachtas.
The review was considered by the ETC on two occasions: a progress report at the fifth meeting on 7 November 2013 and I presented the completed review document at the sixth meeting of the ETC on 6 February 2014, after the review was noted by Government. The review was also discussed by a working group under the heading “Ireland’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy - Toward a Renewed Approach” at the Global Irish Economic Forum in October 2013.
The review is the product of a comprehensive process of consultation with local market teams and our Embassy network, with Departments and State agencies at home and with the private sector. It is designed to ensure that the resources of the State – both the Embassy network and State agencies – are positioned to take full advantage of new opportunities in key emerging markets and to keep delivering in our established markets.
The review provides an update to our numerical targets and re-aligns our list of priority sectors so that they are aligned with the Action Plan for Jobs. It also introduces a ‘new market approach’, which disaggregates the list of our priority markets and includes additional high potential and exploratory markets to ensure that Ireland also engages with high growth markets in Asia, South America and Africa. In order to achieve our targets, the review provides a revised ‘action plan model’, which recognises the responsibility of Government to provide the best possible platform for companies and State agencies to win business overseas. These changes emphasise the positive benefits that accrue through maximising the coordination between Embassies and State agencies in the field and our coordination at home.
The implementation of the Strategy and the modifications encompassed by this review will continue to be overseen by the ETC, which provides an effective framework for coordination and consultation. The review provides further guidance and promotes a shared understanding of in-market developments across the diverse range of entities involved, while recognising that they each have their own specific goals, targets and priorities.
40. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all Irish banks that will be subjected to stress tests by the ECB. [14458/14]
View answerAs the deputy will be aware the ECB issued its first note on the Comprehensive Assessment on 23 October 2013 which confirmed that the following banks are included as Irish banks subject to the assessment:
Allied Irish Banks plc
Merrill Lynch International Bank Limited
Permanent tsb plc.
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland
Ulster Bank Ireland Limited
The details of the announcement can be found at http://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/other/notecomprehensiveassessment201310en.pdf
It should also be noted that other banks which operate in Ireland and which have a parent within the Eurozone will be assessed as part of the assessment of the parent company.
41. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the reason there was a reduction in tax credits in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14464/14]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the original Tax Credit Certificate for 2014, issued to the taxpayer, included a personal tax credit of €3,150. This is the amount due to a widowed person with a qualifying child whose spouse died in 2012. A qualifying child is a child under 18 years of age or over 18 years of age and attending full time instruction.
Subsequent correspondence clarified that while the taxpayer's spouse died in 2012 she does not have a qualifying child. Accordingly the correct personal tax credit due is €2,190. An amended Tax Credit Certificate for 2014, showing the correct personal tax credit, was issued on 12 February 2014.
