Written Answers Nos. 92-113
92. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to reform family law prior to any future referendum on marriage equality to give same-sex civil partners the same legal entitlements and rights as married couples. [26756/14]
View answerFollowing the enactment of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, which put civil partnership on a statutory footing, civil partners have enjoyed the same entitlements as married couples in a range of areas such as taxation and pensions. However, the legal advice received during the enactment of this legislation pointed to the constitutional difficulties of making civil partnership identical to marriage. As a consequence, it is not possible for civil partners to have the same legal entitlements and rights as married couples in all areas in the absence of an appropriate decision of the people in a referendum on marriage equality.
However, the Government has sought, where possible constitutionally, to extend the rights of civil partners. As the Deputy may be aware, the Government published the draft General Scheme of the Children and Family Relationships Bill on 30 January 2014. The General Scheme proposes a comprehensive reform of family law in fulfilment of the Government's commitment in the Programme for Government to modernise and reform family law so to address the needs of children and parents living in families which are not adequately covered by current legislation.
The reforms proposed in the General Scheme include the possibility of extending a range of parenting responsibilities to civil partners and to cohabitants in relation to the biological or adoptive children of their partners or cohabitants. The Scheme also provides for civil partners and cohabitants to obtain guardianship rights of the children of their partners or cohabitants where they are undertaking day-to-day care for the children. In addition, the General Scheme proposes that civil partners and cohabitants would have maintenance liabilities towards the children of their civil partners where the children are being raised by them. My aim is to proceed to drafting of the Bill as soon as possible, subject to Government approval, with a view to enactment in 2015, prior to a referendum on marriage equality.
93. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has had any significant discussions with her counterpart in Northern Ireland since being appointed; the actions she will take to address the issue of cross-Border crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26697/14]
View answerSince taking office as Minister for Justice and Equality I have spoken by telephone with my counterpart in Northern Ireland, Minister of Justice David Ford MLA. I will meet with Minister Ford later this week in the framework of the regular meetings under the Intergovernmental Agreement on co-operation in criminal justice matters. This will afford us an opportunity to discuss the broad range of productive North-South police and criminal justice co-operation which is taking place and which involves the Justice Departments, the police services and the other criminal justice agencies North and South, who are engaged in workstreams covering youth justice, victims issues, social diversity, registered offenders, probation and forensic science.
On 29 May I met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP, who is my British Government counterpart in respect of security-related matters in Northern Ireland. The meeting provided us with an opportunity to review the security situation, in particular the persistent threat posed by paramilitary groups on this island, and also to reflect on the close and ongoing co-operation, particularly between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI, in dealing with this threat. The two Governments are committed to supporting the police and security services in their vital work in this regard.
While there is, understandably, a particular Garda operational focus on combating the paramilitary threat, there is also strong co-operation in combating serious organised crime, such as fuel and tobacco fraud, which adopts an interagency approach involving the police, customs and assets recovery services North and South working together. The Gardaí and the PSNI also work closely together across the range of other policing functions.
I believe we can continue to enhance and develop such co-operation across the board in order to improve community safety for all on this island.
94. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in the direct provision system; the total cost to the Exchequer of the current system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26686/14]
View answerThe Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of protection applicants in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Direct provision provides for full board accommodation supports while a final decision is awaited by a person on their protection or any related leave to remain application. As at 8 June 2014, there were 4,353 persons availing of direct provision accommodation and supports in 34 accommodation centres across 16 counties. The expenditure outturn for the accommodation costs incurred by RIA in the last five years is as follows:
|
Year |
Outturn |
|
2013 |
€55.2m |
|
2012 |
€62.3m |
|
2011 |
€69.5m |
|
2010 |
€79m |
|
2009 |
€86.5m |
The 2014 Estimate Provision for RIA is €51.9 million. More detailed information on the breakdown of costs associated with the Direct Provision system can be found on the RIA website (at www.ria.gov.ie).
It should be noted that the direct provision system is only one element of the State’s response to its international obligations on the asylum issue. As well as educational, health and welfare costs, there is the asylum determination system itself, as well as the downstream judicial and policing costs. All countries which take their responsibilities in this area seriously are faced with similar calls on their financial resources. For example, it was estimated that in the period 2005 to 2009 inclusive, the total amount spent across the whole of Government on asylum seekers was €1,275.31 million, of which €424.43 million was spent on the direct provision system.
The numbers of asylum seekers residing in direct provision has reduced significantly in recent years. The current figure of 4,353 compared to the numbers residing in direct provision at its highest point in April, 2005 (8,080), shows that there has been a reduction of 46%, or 3,727 persons, in the intervening period.
95. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which rehabilitative education and training remains available to prisoners throughout the prison system, with particular reference to the need to ensure such availability for first time offenders thereby breaking a possible cycle of crime; the number of applicants for such educational training positions in each of the past five years to date; the number of places filled; the number of first time offenders whose requirements were met in the period in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26748/14]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service provides to those in custody a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. which have the dual purpose of providing prisoners with purposeful activity while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead non-offending lives on release. These programmes are available in all prisons and all prisoners are eligible to use the services.
The development of prisoner programmes forms a central part of the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015. There is a clear commitment in the Strategy to enhance sentence planning through Integrated Sentence Management and the delivery of prison based rehabilitative programmes. Other areas where there has been significant progress in prison education are in physical education, in the provision for higher education, in the arts and in preparing prisoners for release and supporting their transition to life, and often to education, on the outside. A top priority for the Irish Prison Service is ensuring help for those with reading and writing problems and peer mentoring programmes are currently active in all of our prisons.
As well as seeking to draw on best practice in adult and further education in the community, there has been a lot of curriculum development over the years that is specific to prison circumstances, such as courses on addiction, health issues and offending behaviour.
The guiding principles which underpin the prisons' work and training service are to make available, work, work-training and other purposeful activities to all those in custody aiming to give useful skills and serve the purpose of promoting rehabilitation. Training activities are chosen to give as much variety as possible and also to give opportunities for those in prison to acquire practical skills which will help them secure employment on release. Vacancies are in the process of being filled by a combination of redeployment of Clerks under the Croke Park Agreement and a competition for promotion to Work Training Officer. To date 110 Work Training Officers have been appointed and assigned to areas such as catering, laundry, industrial cleaning, industrial skills and gym.
The Irish Prison Service has also been expanding the number of accredited courses and opportunities available to prisoners in Work Training in recent years. Enhanced partnership arrangements with accrediting bodies such as City and Guilds, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), and the Guild of Launders and Cleaners and the centralising of coordination and quality assurance arrangements have enabled us to extend the number of available courses and activities with certification.
On committal, all prisoners are interviewed by the Governor and are informed of the services available in the prison. At this point prisoners may be referred to services or they can self refer at a later date. Where Governors consider, on the information available, that a prisoner needs a particular intervention they will initiate a referral.
As the Deputy is aware records of prisoner participation in vocational training and education programmes are not maintained in such a way as to provide the information sought by the Deputy. The manner in which records are collated does not allow us to differentiate between first-time offenders and repeat offenders. However, from the records that are available I can inform the Deputy that figures are compiled retrospectively and the latest available figures (07/04/14 - 11/04/14) show that an overall total of 1,789 offenders participated in Education activities which represents almost 40% of the prisoner population at that time.
Similarly an average of 1,073 prisoners engaged in vocational training activities each day in April and this represents 26% of the average prison population in that month. It should be noted that a prisoner may participate in more than one activity.
96. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider the request of a person (details supplied) and his or her legal representative to have the case included in any statutory commission of investigation that the Government establishes into Garda mishandling and malpractice arising out of the recent inquiries in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26749/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware from my response to his parliamentary question today (26750/14) that the complex issues raised by the person concerned and her legal representative about this distressing and tragic case, including the request for a public inquiry, are currently under consideration.
97. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the actions she will take in view of the content and findings of the inquiry into reports of unlawful surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26694/14]
View answerAn article in The Sunday Times on 9 February 2014 reported that the offices of GSOC had been targeted as part of a sophisticated surveillance operation which used Government-level technology to hack into its e-mail, Wi-Fi and phone systems. The Government appointed a former distinguished judge of the High Court, Judge John Cooke, to carry out an independent inquiry into the claims. Judge Cooke's report was forwarded to the Department of the Taoiseach and was published on their website on 10 June, 2014. The key finding of the Report was that the evidence did not support the proposition that actual surveillance of the kind asserted in the Sunday Times article took place and much less that it was carried out by members of the Garda Síochána.
The Government accepted in full the findings and conclusions of the Report. The Government has already initiated a comprehensive programme of reform to address the wider systemic issues in the areas of policing and the administration of justice, and the Cooke Report will further inform how we will proceed with this programme. A number of specific responses to the Cooke Report have been agreed by Government:
- The proposed new Bill to reform the workings of GSOC will clarify the legal basis under which GSOC can initiate a Public Interest Investigation as well as the thresholds for initiating such an investigation;
- The proposed new Bill will further clarify and strengthen the provisions relating to the preparation and implementation of protocols relating to cooperation between Gardaí & GSOC.
- The Department of Justice & Equality will carry-out an examination of the resources available to GSOC.
- Both GSOC and the Garda Commissioner have been asked to provide a response to the Cooke Report.
- The Cooke Report has been referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence & Equality for further consideration and discussion.
98. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to reform the criminal justice system; the proposals she has to reform bail laws; if she proposes to place sentencing guidelines on a statutory footing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26695/14]
View answerAn ongoing project in the area of criminal justice is the work of the Group conducting a Strategic Review of Penal Policy. In line with the recommendations of the Thornton Hall Project Review, which reported in July 2011, the then Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter T.D., established a group to carry out an all encompassing strategic review of penal policy.
That Working Group was asked to make recommendations as to how a principled and sustainable penal system might be further enhanced taking into account resource implications, Constitutional imperatives and international obligations. In conducting this review, the Working Group was asked to examine the role of penal policy in crime prevention, sentencing policies, alternatives to custody, custodial accommodation and regimes, reintegration and rehabilitation and any special issues relating to female offenders. The Group is expected to report shortly and I will take into consideration their recommendations when looking at the question of sentencing guidelines.
As regards legislation relating to the criminal justice system, pre-legislative consultation on the General Scheme of the Criminal Procedure Bill is underway. The primary aim of this Bill is to increase the efficiency and fairness in the trial process and to reduce delays in the criminal system generally. It provides for new preliminary trial hearings to so that procedural arguments which arise during trials at present can be dealt with before a jury is empanelled, thereby saving time and allowing juries to focus on the facts of the case. The General Scheme of the Bill deals with a number of other issues such as electronic transmission of warrants, more efficient use of videolink hearings and the provision of information to juries.
The drafting of the General Scheme of a Bail Bill to modernise the law on bail is at an advanced stage in my Department. I intend to bring proposals to Government on the matter soon, having regard to other legislative priorities. It has, unfortunately, not been possible to progress this legislation as quickly as I had hoped due to other legislative imperatives. While the primary aim of the proposed Bail Bill is to consolidate and update bail law, I will take the opportunity in this legislation to seek, as far as is possible, within the constraints of the Constitution and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, to restructure the law so that it has a focus on the protection of the individual and of the public. The intention is that the new proposals will provide better guidance to the courts on how such protection might be provided.
99. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons availing of the direct provision facilities; the numbers who have entered the system in each of the past eight years; the numbers and locations of the centres; if records are kept of the number of persons originally in the direct provision system who have attained citizenship; her plans for the direct provision system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26685/14]
View answerThe Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of protection applicants in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Direct provision provides for full board accommodation supports while a final decision is awaited by a person on their protection or any related leave to remain application.
As of 8 June 2014, there were 4,353 persons availing of direct provision accommodation and supports in 34 accommodation centres across 16 counties. Since Direct Provision was introduced, over 52,000 protection applicants have been accommodated by RIA. In terms of numbers entering the system, several points need to be noted. Firstly, not everyone who claims asylum seeks to be accommodated in the Direct Provision system. Some protection applicants live on their own resources or live with friends or relatives. Secondly, some who enter into the initial reception centre where they can be medically assessed and make their initial asylum application leave the accommodation system after a short while to stay elsewhere. Thirdly, some persons seek re-accommodation in the Direct Provision system having lived outside it for some time.
Therefore, it is assumed that the question refers to asylum applicants - either newly arrived or who had never previously lived in the Direct Provision system - being accommodated for the first time in the Direct Provision system. Specific details in this respect are available for the past five years as follows:
|
Year |
No. of persons claiming asylum during the year |
No. of persons being accommodated in the Direct Provision system for the first time during the year |
|
2009 |
2,689 |
2,062 |
|
2010 |
1,939 |
1,391 |
|
2011 |
1,290 |
909 |
|
2012 |
956 |
715 |
|
2013 |
946 |
727 |
|
Up to 8 June, 2014 |
515 |
404 |
In relation to the part of the question about those persons awarded citizenship, records are not kept in such a manner that would allow the identification of former direct provision residents.
The numbers of asylum seekers residing in direct provision has reduced significantly over recent years. The current figure of 4,353 compared to the numbers residing in direct provision at its highest point in April, 2005 (8,080), shows that there has been a reduction of 46%, or 3727 persons in the intervening period.
The operation of the Direct Provision system is kept under review and I acknowledge that the length of time that residents spend in Direct Provision is an issue to be addressed. I have no desire for applicants to remain in the protection system any longer than the minimum period it takes to process their case. The Direct Provision system is not ideal but it is a system which facilitates the State in providing a roof over the head of those seeking asylum or seeking to be allowed, on humanitarian grounds, to stay in the State.
A key priority for this Government is legislative reform aimed at establishing a single application procedure for the investigation of all grounds for protection and any other grounds presented by applicants seeking to remain in the State . Such reform would substantially simplify and streamline the existing arrangements by removing the current multi-layered and sequential processes and provide applicants with a final decision on their application in a more straightforward and timely fashion. In consultation with my officials, I am reviewing the work done to date in respect of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill and will then decide on how best to progress the implementation of the Government's priorities, in particular to expedite those relating to the establishment of a single application procedure.
100. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 12 January 2011, the progress to date on the provision of information to parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26687/14]
View answerThe Deputy's question concerns the disclosure, to parents, of information relating to persons on the sex offenders' register. In exceptional circumstances, the provision of appropriate information to the public, including parents, is already possible on an administrative basis. On 17 December last, the Cabinet approved the drafting of a wide ranging Sexual Offences Bill. A review of the Sex Offenders Act 2001, including a public consultation process, formed an integral part of my Department's examination of the law on sexual offences and informed the legislative proposals brought to Government.
The existing provisions for monitoring and supervising convicted sex offenders are being strengthened. In this context, the Bill will include a statutory framework for warning individuals who may be put at risk by convicted sex offenders. This is priority legislation and the Sexual Offences Bill is currently being drafted.
101. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 567 of 13 May 2014, if she will provide an update on the consultation taking place between the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána regarding notifications being made by the courts to members of An Garda Síochána of incidents of non-compliance with section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 2002, as amended, by offenders appearing in court charged with road traffic offences who fail to provide their driving licences at court appearances. [26577/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Courts Service have been examining a mechanism for notifying An Garda Síochána of instances of non-compliance with this provision. I am informed by the Courts Service that discussions with An Garda Síochána are expected to take place in the near future concerning the particular arrangements required to be put in place.
102. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the number of appointments to State boards under the remit of his Department in each year from 2011 to 2014, inclusive; the number that were publicly advertised; the reason all appointments are not open to public competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26562/14]
View answerSince coming into office on 9 March 2011, I have made appointments to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), as set out in the table below. These appointments were made following careful consideration of the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise relevant to the functions of the Council. Some of the appointments were made on the basis of nominations from business and employer interests, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, farming and agricultural interests, the community and voluntary sector and the environmental sector. It would not be appropriate to advertise these positions as they are nominated in a representative capacity.
I may also appoint up to six public servants of whom at least one shall represent the Taoiseach and one shall represent the Minister for Finance. Historically, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson posts are filled from my Department at Secretary General and Assistant Secretary level. These appointments represent relevant Departments to ensure the Council's work is integrated with Government policy-making and would not be suitable for public advertisement.
A number of independent members, mainly relevant experts from the academic sector, were appointed in June and July 2011. It is my intention that when such further vacancies arise, public expressions of interest will be sought in line with the Government decision of November 2011.
Appointments to the National Statistics Board (NSB) are made in line with the provisions of Section 18 of the Statistics Act 1993. The Act states that the NSB shall consist of eight members comprising the following seven persons who shall be appointed by the Taoiseach,
- five persons of proven ability and experience in relevant fields, two of whom shall be nominated by the Taoiseach and three of whom shall be nominated by such organisation or organisations as the Taoiseach considers to be representative of the users of official statistics and providers of information under this Act,
- an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of the Taoiseach, and
- an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of Finance.
The Director General of the CSO is a member of the board, ex officio. In 2012 an Assistant Secretary from the Department of the Taoiseach was appointed to replace the previous Assistant Secretary from the Department on the Board.
The term of membership of the NSB expired in October 2013. The Chair and Civil Servants on the Board were reappointed for a new term of three years. Expressions of interest were invited for the remaining positions on the NSB. These positions were advertised on the websites of the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Statistics Board.
In 2014 four new appointments were made to the Board. Also in 2014, an Assistant Secretary from the Department of Finance was appointed to replace the previous Assistant Secretary from that Department on the Board.
103. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Taoiseach the cost to the Exchequer each year from 2009 to 2014 of the amount paid by his Department under the terms of settlements which included confidentiality agreements or confidentiality clauses. [26565/14]
View answerThe vast majority of claims under the remit of the State Claims Agency (SCA) are resolved without confidentiality agreements attaching. Agreements, where entered into at the behest of either party, preclude the disclosure of settlement details by either party. It would therefore, be inappropriate to identify settlements which included confidentiality agreements or confidentiality clauses. The Deputy will be aware that confidentiality agreements typically apply to claims in respect of minors or claims associated with abuse or specific medical negligence issues. The Table lists the cost to the Exchequer each year from 2009 to 2014 of the amount paid by my Department under the terms of settlements.
Cost to the Exchequer paid by the Department of the Taoiseach under terms of settlements 2009 - 2014
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2009 |
€50,056 |
|
2010 |
€116,213 |
|
2011 |
€25,834 |
|
2012 |
€241,676 |
|
2013 |
- |
|
2014 |
€10,000 |
104. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach when the Government will respond to the remaining Constitutional Convention reports; the Departments which will deal with each area; if an additional task force on specific topics will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26582/14]
View answer105. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Taoiseach the outstanding reports from the Constitutional Convention that will be discussed in the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26683/14]
View answer116. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach when and how he will respond to each of the outstanding recommendations of the Constitutional Convention; and the Government Department that has responsibility for each recommendation. [27182/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 105 and 116 together.
The Convention on the Constitution published a total of nine reports. The Government is committed to responding to each report in the Oireachtas and, if accepting a recommendation for an amendment of the Constitution, to indicating the timescale it envisages for any related referendum.
The Government has responded in the Dáil to the first three reports of the Convention. The fourth report dealt mainly with electoral matters and these are for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government; the remaining aspects are for my Department. The Government has already announced that it has accepted the recommendation in the fourth report that an Electoral Commission be established.
The fifth report deals with the question of votes in Presidential elections for citizens living outside the State and is being considered by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, while the sixth report, on removal of the mention of blasphemy in the Constitution, is being considered by the Department of Justice and Equality.
The seventh, eighth and ninth reports respectively contain recommendations concerning Dáil reform, inclusion of certain rights in the Constitution, and items that might be considered by a further Convention if it were decided to establish one. Dáil reform is, as the Deputies will be aware, led from my Department, while the other items would obviously require consideration by a number of Departments.
The Government hopes to respond to the fourth, fifth and sixth reports in the near future and to the later reports in the autumn. With regard to the establishment of task forces, I do not propose to anticipate the outcome of the Government’s deliberations on the reports.
106. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has discussed the Haass proposals with Prime Minister Cameron recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26850/14]
View answer109. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has discussed the upcoming marching season with Prime Minister Cameron; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26853/14]
View answer110. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has discussed outstanding matters from the St. Andrews and Good Friday Agreements with Prime Minister Cameron recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26855/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 109 and 110 together.
As I have already informed the House, I spoke with Prime Minister Cameron by phone last month when we took the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the full implementation of the Good Friday and St Andrew’s agreements. I have not had any recent opportunity to discuss the Haass proposals or the marching season with the Prime Minister. However these issues arise extensively in the Tánaiste's ongoing discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, including most recently in Belfast on the 9th June.
107. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the June British-Irish Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26851/14]
View answer108. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he held any bilaterals when attending the British-Irish Council meeting in June; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26852/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together.
I attended the 22nd British-Irish Council (BIC) Summit hosted by Chief Minister, Jonathon Le Tocq, in Guernsey on 13 June 2014. The Council discussed the current economic situation in Member Administrations. It also discussed the various initiatives that are in place to stimulate the economy. The Council reviewed the latest youth employment statistics, welcomed the recent encouraging trends and acknowledged the value that focussed discussion on the economy had on the overall work of the BIC. The Council had a detailed discussion on the economic importance of transport links focussing on how the promotion of effective transport links between Member Administrations can be beneficial to their economic development.
The Council also received an update of the work that had taken place across each of the twelve work sectors since the last Summit in November 2013. In particular the Council welcomed the paper produced by the Collaborative Spatial Planning Work Sector setting out the various positions of Member Administrations. I availed of the opportunity on the margins of the Summit to speak briefly to Deputy Prime Minister Clegg, First Minister Robinson and deputy First Minister McGuinness.
111. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to Mr. Juncker recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26858/14]
View answerI have spoken with Mr Jean Claude Juncker on a number of occasions in recent months including in relation to his potential Presidency of the European Commission. As the Deputy will be aware, the European Council is expected to consider its nominee for the President of the European Commission later this week, in light of President Van Rompuy’s report on his consultations with the Presidents of the European Parliament’s newly constituted political groups. My expectation is that Mr. Juncker will be confirmed as the European Council’s nominee at this meeting and that he will go on to be elected as President of the new European Commission by the newly constituted European Parliament.
112. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Taoiseach the number of submissions received by the interdepartmental working group on alcohol sponsorship of sport, chaired by his Department, and from whom; when the working group envisages that it will review the submissions; the number of meetings in total the working group has had to date since it was established; when it expects to report; to whom the working group reports; the person that makes the final decision on the matter; and when he expects a final decision to be made. [26898/14]
View answerThe Interdepartmental Working Group on Alcohol Sponsorship of Sport has received 18 submissions from interested parties. The full list is as follows:
|
NUMBER |
INTERESTED PARTY |
|
1. |
Alcohol Action Ireland |
|
2. |
Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) |
|
3. |
Alcohol Health Alliance |
|
4. |
College of Psychiatrists of Ireland |
|
5. |
Eurocare |
|
6. |
European Centre for Monitoring Alcohol Marketing |
|
7. |
European Sponsorship Association (ESA) |
|
8. |
Federation of Irish Sport |
|
9. |
Football Association of Ireland |
|
10. |
Health Promotion & Improvement, HSE West |
|
11. |
Horse Racing Ireland |
|
12. |
HSE |
|
13. |
Informal Oireachtas Cross Party Group on Alcohol Misuse |
|
14. |
Irish Cancer Society |
|
15. |
Irish Rugby Football Union |
|
16. |
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland |
|
17. |
Royal Ministry of Health and Care Services, Norway |
|
18. |
Spunout |
The Group has met twice to date. The Group has been asked to report its findings to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy by the end of the year and the submissions will form an important part of the Group’s work from now on.
113. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his trip to the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26987/14]
View answerI travelled to Lebanon on Sunday, 15 June 2014. I was accompanied on the visit by Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe, TD. The main purpose of the trip was to meet with Irish troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). During my visit I also met with the Lebanese Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Tammam Salaam, and announced an additional €2 million in emergency funding to assist Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and the communities who are hosting them.
I then travelled to the Headquarters of the joint Finnish/Irish Battalion in South Lebanon, where I met with UNIFIL Deputy Force Commander, Brigadier General Kumar and Finnish/Irish Battalion Chief of Staff Major Ollonqvist. I received a briefing on the mission from Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Campion, Officer Commanding the 45th Irish Infantry Group. That afternoon, I laid a wreath at the Irish UNIFIL Memorial in Tibnin, South Lebanon dedicated to the memory of the 47 Irish personnel who died while serving with the UNIFIL mission since it was first established in 1978. I returned to Ireland on Monday evening, 16 June.
