Wednesday, 16 Jul 2014

Written Answers Nos. 41-50

Northern Ireland Issues

Questions (41)

Gerry Adams

Question:

41. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on any discussions and-or contacts his Department has had with the parties in Northern Ireland, including the Orange Order, since the Unionist parties walked out of the all-party talks on 3 July. [30741/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Since 3 July, officials from my Department have had some level of contact with members of all the Northern Ireland Executive parties. I spoke by phone with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Alasdair McDonnell, leader of the SDLP, on Friday, 11 July, the evening of my appointment. There have been no formal contacts with the Orange Order since 3 July. I plan to visit Northern Ireland in the near future and hope to have the opportunity of meeting a broad range of leaders, both in politics and in civil society. The Government’s priority in this sensitive period in Northern Ireland is putting partnership politics back on track and fully implementing the Good Friday Agreement.

Election Monitoring Missions

Questions (42)

Finian McGrath

Question:

42. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider sending Irish election observers to the forthcoming referendum on possible Scottish independence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31868/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights around the world. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of observers for such missions. The Department nominates roster members to participate in missions organised mainly by the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The aim is to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation missions for both elections and constitutional referendums. These nominations are made following invitation by the organisations concerned. The legal framework for the conduct of the referendum has been clearly set out in the Agreement between the United Kingdom Government and the Scottish Government on a referendum on independence for Scotland (Edinburgh Agreement) of 15 October 2012 between the Scottish and UK governments. No invitation from the EU or the OSCE to send election observers to monitor the forthcoming Scottish Independence Referendum on 18 September has been received nor is one expected. Nevertheless, Ireland’s Consul General in Edinburgh is closely following the referendum campaign and is keeping the Government updated on developments.

Election Monitoring Missions

Questions (43)

Finian McGrath

Question:

43. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if certain applicants for Ireland’s election roster submitted curriculum vitae and obtained marks as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31869/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of 200 observers for such missions. The aim is to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation missions for elections and constitutional referendums. The Department carried out a comprehensive review of its election observation roster in 2013. A public call for applications to the roster was issued through the Irish Aid website. All applicants were required to submit a detailed application form, setting out relevant qualifications, knowledge and experience in a number of areas. These areas included: experience of election processes and election observation; knowledge of human rights and / or governance issues; experience of living in challenging environments and language and computer skills. An independent appraisal of all 263 eligible applications was undertaken by two assessors external to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Following this appraisal, the 200 individuals who achieved the highest scores in these areas were appointed to the new election observation roster. This new roster came into effect on 15 May 2013. My officials have confirmed that a small number of applicants submitted Curricula Vitae along with their application form, but that this had no impact on the final selection of the 200 roster members.

Election Monitoring Missions

Questions (44)

Finian McGrath

Question:

44. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the name of each person that took part in Ireland’s international election monitoring since the beginning of 2013 and the cost of each trip involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31872/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of individuals who are available to participate at short notice in election observation missions organised in the main by the OSCE and the EU. A full list of the observers who have served on election missions in 2013 and to date in 2014, together with the costs arising to date of each trip, is set out in the tables below. As stated in reply to previous Questions, the European Commission covers all costs associated with EU election observation missions. For OSCE missions, the Department covers all costs incurred by the individual Irish election observers. This includes a daily allowance, based on OSCE guidance, to cover the cost of food, accommodation and local transport incurred in country. A return air fare is also provided.

In addition, all Irish election observers receive a once-off grant annually of €600 from the Department to cover pre-departure expenses. Insurance cover is also provided by the Department for all observers.

Observers selected for participation in election observation missions are drawn from Ireland’s election observation roster, established in May 2013. Officials from the Department, who work on relevant geographic desks, may, on occasion also participate in election observation missions. The costs incurred by these officials are paid on the same basis as other election observation roster members, although no pre-departure grant is provided.

Election Observation Missions 2013

Country	Organisation	Role	Forename	Surname	Cost
Jordan	EU	LTO	Mary	O'Shea	€600
Jordan	EU	STO	Abdi H	Ibrahim	€0
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Dermot	Ahern	€3,447
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Maca	Hourihane	€3,447
Armenia	OSCE	STO	John	Purcell	€3,447
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Edward	Naessens	€3,447
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Elizabeth	Mullan	€3,447
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Simon	Deignan	€2,400
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Pat	Carroll	€3,447
Kenya	Carter Centre	STO	John	Lynam	€0
Paraguay	EU	LTO	Grattan	Lynch	€762.39
Paraguay	EU	STO	Chiara	Popplewell	€0
Paraguay	EU	STO	Ciaran	Kinsella	€45.49
Pakistan	EU	LTO	Edward	Horgan	€227.43
Pakistan	EU	LTO	Donal	Blake	€827.43
Pakistan	EU	STO	Sheena	McMahon	€827.43
Pakistan	EU	STO	Mary	Boland	€725.09
Pakistan	EU	STO	William	Bulman	€725.09
Albania	OSCE	STO	John	Mulvihill	€3,726.62
Albania	OSCE	STO	Catherine	Brophy	€3,726.62
Albania	OSCE	STO	Brendan	Gogarty	€3,726.62
Albania	OSCE	STO	James	McCarthy	€3,726.62
Albania	OSCE	STO	Padraic	McDunphy	€3,726.62
Albania	OSCE	STO	Andrew	Richardson	€3,787.62
Albania	OSCE	STO	Jerry	O’Brien	€3,787.62
Albania	OSCE	STO	Patrick	O’Reilly	€2,990.03
Mongolia	OSCE	STO	Theresa	Reidy	€5,781.33
Mongolia	OSCE	STO	Joseph	Scanlon	€5,781.33
Mongolia	OSCE	STO	Ronan	O’Brien	€5,781.33
Mali	EU	LTO	Dorcha	Lee	€797.11
Mali	EU	STO	Mary	Dowling	€641.70
Guinea	EU	LTO	Colm	Fahy	€189.53
Guinea	EU	STO	Philippe	Carr	€649.26
Azerbaijan	OSCE	LTO	Geraldine	Power	€2,941.01
Azerbaijan	OSCE	LTO	Seamus	Martin	€5,387.65
Azerbaijan	OSCE	STO	John Thomas	Kelly	€3,381.62
Azerbaijan	OSCE	STO	Joseph	Mangan	€3,381.62
Azerbaijan	OSCE	STO	Christopher	Andrews	€3,476.12
Azerbaijan	OSCE	STO	Maria	Kiernan	€3,337.62
Azerbaijan	OSCE	STO	Asa Karl	Cusack	€3,432.62
Azerbaijan	OSCE	STO	Annetta	Flanigan	€3,381.62
Azerbaijan	OSCE	STO	Cathal	Kelly	€3,381.62
Azerbaijan	OSCE	STO	Paul	Brennan	€3,381.62
Madagascar	EU	LTO	Mary	Boland	€295.66
Madagascar	EU	LTO	Grattan	Lynch	€295.66
Madagascar	EU	LTO	Traolach	Sweeney	€895.66
Madagascar	EU	STO	Aidan	O'Shea	€653.07
Madagascar	EU	STO	Robert	Sampson	€653.07
Georgia	OSCE	LTO	Peter	McMahon	€6,726.27
Georgia	OSCE	STO	Eamonn	Walsh	€3,638.33
Georgia	OSCE	STO	Peter	Cotter	€3,587.33
Georgia	OSCE	STO	Kevin	Cronin	€3,883.33
Georgia	OSCE	STO	Fergus	Gleeson	€3,723.33
Georgia	OSCE	STO	Fidelma	McHale	€3,723.33
Georgia	OSCE	STO	Caroline	Brennan	€3,784.33
Georgia	OSCE	STO	Una	McGurk	€3,784.33
Georgia	OSCE	STO	Vincent	McCorley	€3,784.33
Georgia	OSCE	STO	Suhail	Ahmad	€3,883.33
Georgia	OSCE	STO	Ann	Ormonde	€3,978.33
Honduras	EU	LTO	Celeste	MacKenzie	€800.90
Honduras	EU	STO	Patrick	Maher	€664.44
Honduras	EU	STO	Ciaran	Kinsella	€664.44
Kosovo	EU	LTO	Paul	O'Shea	€842.59
Kosovo	EU	STO	James	Somers	€641.70
Nepal	EU	LTO	Frank	Scott	€797.11
Nepal	EU	STO	Terry	Duffy	€664.44
Nepal	EU	STO	Victoria	Somers	€664.44
Mali	EU	LTO	Thomas	Earlie	€831.22
Tajikistan	OSCE	STO	Fergal	McCusker	€4,038.50
Tajikistan	OSCE	STO	Cecilia	Keaveney	€4,038.50
Tajikistan	OSCE	STO	Anne	Donnellan	€4,038.50
Tajikistan	OSCE	STO	Gerard	Buckley	€4,038.50
Total Cost for 2013	-	-	-	-	€182,140.40

Election Observation Missions 2014 to date (July 2014)

Country	Organisation	Role	Forename	Surname	Cost
Serbia	OSCE	LTO	Keaveney	Cecilia	€ 5,001.37
Macedonia	OSCE	LTO	O'Callaghan	Sean	€ 5,949.48
Macedonia	OSCE	STO	Durnin	John	€ 2,720.29
Macedonia	OSCE	STO	Byrne	Eric	€ 2,720.29
Macedonia	OSCE	STO	Brocklesby	Gabrielle	€ 2,720.29
Macedonia	OSCE	STO	Coakley	John Paul	€ 2,720.29
Macedonia	OSCE	STO	O'Keeffe	Almha	€ 2,720.29
Macedonia	OSCE	STO	Schorderet	Aisling	€ 1,982.29
Guinea Bissau	EU	STO	Cunniffe	Diarmuid	€ 641.70
Egypt	EU	STO	Boyle	Michael	€ 649.28
Malawi	EU	LTO	O'Shea	Aidan	€ 155.44
Malawi	EU	STO	Kavanagh	Michael	€ 656.86
Malawi	EU	STO	McCabe	Ellen	€ 656.86
Ukraine	OSCE	LTO	Verling	Michael	€ 15,135.54
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Denny	David	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	O'Sullivan	Finbar	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Kennefick	Frank	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Doody	James	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Moore	John	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Cousins	John	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Grogan	Kevin	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Brennan	Noel	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Donovan	Peter	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Lynch	John	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Emerson	Peter	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	Richardson	Andrew	€ 3,785.01
Ukraine	OSCE	STO	MacHale	Fidelma	€ 3,185.01
Ukraine	EEA	STO	Grogan	Deirdre	€ 37.91
Ukraine	EEA	STO	McDaniel	Patrick	€ 37.91
Ukraine	EEA	STO	Mulvihill	Patrick	€ 37.91
Kosovo	EU	LTO	Murphy	Nicholas	€0
Kosovo	EU	STO	Boyle	Adrienne	€0
2014 Total Cost to date (July 2014)	-	-	-	-	€93,149.13

Middle East Issues

Questions (45, 46, 47, 48)

James Bannon

Question:

45. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has been in contact with the European Convention on Human Rights regarding the conflict between Gaza and Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31877/14]

James Bannon

Question:

46. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the representations that he has made to the Israeli Government regarding the killings in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31878/14]

James Bannon

Question:

47. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the representations that he has made to the embassy and consulate network within the EU regarding the killings in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31879/14]

James Bannon

Question:

48. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action that he will take to help avert the war crisis escalating between Israel and Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31880/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 to 48, inclusive, together.

I refer to my reply to Question No. 158 (31024/14) on the same subject yesterday, which was as follows:

“Following the dreadful murders of four young people in June and July, Israeli security forces detained six Israeli citizens in connection with the murder of the Palestinian youth; three of these are still in custody and are expected to be charged shortly. Israel stated that a Hamas unit in Hebron had abducted and murdered the three Israeli youths, and arrested large numbers of Hamas operatives in the West Bank, both before and after the youths were found to have been killed. Israeli military forces also struck a number of Hamas targets in Gaza.

This situation has quickly escalated, and the current large scale violence around Gaza, while originating in these incidents, has taken on a terrible life of its own. An estimated 800 rockets have been fired from Gaza at Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and West Jerusalem, and at the nuclear reactor at Dimona. Israel in response has carried out some 1300 air strikes on Gaza. While these are stated to be aimed at missile launchers and other targets associated with Hamas and other militant groups, as is always the case the resultant casualties, now estimated at approximately 190 dead in Gaza, include large numbers of civilians.

Israel has stated that it seeks what it calls “quiet for quiet”, that is, a resumption of the truce which has largely held since November 2012. The attitude of Hamas is less clear, but it seems uninterested for the moment in a ceasefire. It may be that, have been weakened in a number of ways in recent months, it is seeking to reassert its standing in a military confrontation with Israel.

It is however the ordinary people, especially of Gaza but also of Israel, who suffer the cost of these events.

Our position is clear. This violence – in both directions – is not acceptable. Since taking office I have repeated the clear call of my predecessor for an end to firing by both sides, and a restoration of the truce. All Israelis, and all Palestinians, have the right to live in peace and security without this constant threat of violence. I welcome the proposal by the Government of Egypt providing for an early ceasefire to come into effect, and note the statement by Israel that it would accept this proposal. I very much hope this initiative will succeed.

High Representative Ashton has made similar calls on behalf of the EU, as have many of my EU colleagues. Foreign Minister Steinmeier of Germany and Foreign Minister Mogherini of Italy are due to visit the region in the coming days for discussions with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. It is expected that the situation will be considered by EU Heads of State and Government at their meeting on Wednesday 16 July. The Foreign Affairs Council on 22 July was already scheduled to discuss the Middle East Peace Process and will certainly now consider this upsurge in violence. This represents yet another cost of these events – a discussion which is intended to focus on the longer term political imperatives may now instead be dominated, as so often in the past, by the latest outbreak of cyclical and essentially futile violence. “

Further to that reply, my predecessor spoke directly to the Israeli and Palestinian Ambassadors on Thursday last, 10 July, and asked them to convey urgently to their authorities our great concerns about the situation and our call for urgent restraint and de-escalation of the crisis, full respect for international humanitarian law and a restoration of the ceasefire.

I was very encouraged by the proposal of the Government of Egypt for a ceasefire to come into effect yesterday, and by the acceptance of this proposal by Israel, which then halted its military operations for a number of hours. Regrettably, missile attacks from Gaza into Israel did not cease, and attacks in both directions are now continuing. There is no indication as yet that Hamas are disposed to accept a ceasefire. I nonetheless hope that the Egyptian Government will persevere, and that it will be possible to achieve a ceasefire very soon.

The European Convention on Human Rights applies only to Council of Europe member states.

Human Rights Issues

Questions (49)

Brendan Smith

Question:

49. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has put forward any particular proposals at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on the need to resume the EU-Iran human rights dialogue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31992/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

While the main focus in recent years has been on the critical nuclear issue, Ireland and our EU partners have continued to highlight our concerns at human rights issues in Iran, and we will continue to do so. The possibility of resuming a direct discussion with Iran on this important area would be very welcome.The new Iranian government which took office last year has made a number of statements of an intention to improve protection of human rights. This has included the suggestion to some EU interlocutors, including my predecessor Deputy Gilmore, that Iran might be interested in reopening the EU/Iran Human Rights Dialogue, which it effectively ended in 2004. The then Tánaiste and Minister warmly encouraged this idea, and advised our EU partners of the exchange. EU Foreign Ministers have generally welcomed and been open to this idea. For the moment, however, Iran has not taken the proposal any further. It may well be that with the Iranian authorities fully engaged just now in very sensitive and difficult negotiations on the nuclear issue, they are not yet ready to take up this issue.

Like the nuclear issue, the resumption of the dialogue would be a sensitive issue in Iran, and powerful elements within the regime may well oppose the government on it. We must therefore leave it to the Iranian government to decide when the time is right to actively proceed on this matter. Until then it is also not clear, therefore, if Iran would attach any conditions to such a resumption of the dialogue, which might be difficult to accept on our part.

Commencement of Legislation

Questions (50)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

50. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form those Acts currently in force for which he has lead responsibility that have parts or sections yet to be formally commenced; the details or purpose of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32004/14]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Specific provisions of Acts under my Department that have not yet been commenced are Sections 14(8) and 14(9) of the Passports Act 2008 and paragraph (iv) of section 1 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 2012. Sections 14(8) and 14(9) of the Passports Act, if commenced, would provide that guardians’ consent to the issuing of a passport would be considered to be enduring for the child up to the age of 18. These provisions have not been commenced as changes to the passport technology system would require considerable modification, for which funding has not yet been obtained. Paragraph (iv) of Section 1 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 2012 will add to the definition of “treaties governing the European Union”, contained in Section 1 of the European Communities Act 1972, the Protocol on the concerns of the Irish people on the Treaty of Lisbon, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, done at Brussels on 16 May 2012. It will be commenced as soon as the Protocol has been ratified by all EU member states. At present, two member states have yet to finalise their ratification of the Protocol, the Czech Republic and Italy, although the necessary domestic procedures have been commenced. Our embassies in both countries are in regular contact with the relevant national authorities with a view to encouraging ratification as soon as possible and my Department is closely monitoring the matter.

This information is set out in the table.

Act	Specific provisions of the Act which have not yet been commenced
Passports Act 2008	Sections 14(8) and 14(9)
European Communities (Amendment) Act 2012.	paragraph (iv) of section 1