Written Answers Nos. 158-163
158. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will specify in detail the arrangements that allow the facilitation of the US military on actions that contravene Irish neutrality and the Hague Convention and were not mandated by the United Nations. [36104/14]
View answerIreland’s policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-participation in military alliances. This policy has been underpinned by a set of complementary values which includes the protection of human rights; support for development; and the promotion of disarmament and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction. Arrangements for the overflight and landing of US military aircraft at Shannon Airport have been in place continuously under successive Governments for over fifty years. I am satisfied that these arrangements, and those relating to the transit of US military personnel, are fully consistent with Ireland’s policies and legal requirements, including our traditional policy of military neutrality. The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. In this context, permission for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports is given only on condition that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question do not form any part of military exercises or operations. In accordance with international practice, foreign military aircraft passing through Ireland with the permission of the Government are not subject to routine searches or inspections. The principle of sovereign immunity applies automatically to foreign State or military aircraft, as it applies to Irish State or military aircraft abroad. We will continue to follow the practice of successive Governments whereby, in accordance with international practice, details supplied to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by diplomatic missions are accepted in good faith as being accurate. Information provided to other States by Irish diplomatic missions seeking diplomatic clearance for flights undertaken by the Air Corps is similarly accepted by those countries to be accurate. All other aircraft are subject to the normal inspections regime, which provides for the inspection of aircraft, among other reasons, in the interest of the security or safety of persons.
In relation to the transit of US military personnel through Shannon airport, the majority of these troops are carried on chartered civilian aircraft. Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, as amended in 1989, civilian aircraft are prohibited from carrying weapons or munitions over Ireland or into Irish airports unless they receive an exemption from the Minister for Transport. The US authorities are aware of the requirement that all carriers are obliged to seek permission for the transit of weapons and ammunition through Irish airports.
Ireland is not a party to the Hague Convention (V) respecting the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers and Persons in Case of War on Land. The application of this Convention accordingly does not arise.
159. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with the British Foreign Secretary or with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State the implications of the Scottish referendum; if he has put forward particular proposals in respect of the further devolution of responsibilities to the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36142/14]
View answerThe people of Scotland voted on 18 September to remain part of the United Kingdom. Attention is now turning to changes that will take place following the referendum and the plans outlined by Prime Minister Cameron on wider UK constitutional issues. While a timetable and some broad principles have been outlined, the precise details of the changes are still to be clarified. I am in ongoing contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, while I expect to meet with the British Foreign Secretary shortly and discuss with him a range of issues. We will be in close contact with all administrations in these islands as detailed discussions proceed on enhanced devolution for Scotland and on the proposed changes across the UK. The strong bonds and historic links between all the people of these islands run deep and are well-known. Across political, economic, cultural and many other spheres, Ireland enjoys excellent and ever-improving relations with the administrations across these islands and we look forward to strengthening and deepening these links in the period ahead.
The further devolution of powers to Scotland and the political changes outlined by Prime Minster Cameron do of course have political and policy implications for Ireland, North and South. It will take time to tease out these political and policy implications with all stakeholders, on these islands and within the European Union.
Devolution of further powers in Northern Ireland will be for discussion between the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government within the framework of the Good Friday Agreement.
In this context, the Good Friday Agreement sets as a key objective the promotion of harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands. The Agreement also makes a commitment to partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of relationships within Northern Ireland, between North and South and between these islands.
160. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with the British Foreign Secretary Britain's continued membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36143/14]
View answerIreland and the UK have strong historical, cultural, political and economic ties. Working together within the European Union for over more than forty years has further strengthened and deepened those links. While no two member states have identical positions across all policy areas, we share common interests with the UK on many issues of major importance. The Irish government wants to see the United Kingdom remain at the heart of the European Union. We believe that the EU is stronger on every level with the UK in it, while it is of course in our own national interests that the UK continues as a fully committed member. This Government’s position in relation to the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union is therefore clear and is regularly communicated to the authorities in London at both political and official level. As part of my own contacts, I expect to meet soon with the British Foreign Secretary and this issue will be among the priority items for discussion.
161. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason €25 million, which was removed in 2013 from the Higher Education Authority budget as a once-off reduction, has not been reinstated. [36111/14]
View answerA 2012 Comptroller and Auditor General report noted that Universities and Institutes of Technology (IOTs) had cash balances of €706 million at the end of the 2010/11 academic year. When account was taken of restricted reserves and other capital funding requirements, and pension reserves, the cash balance for recurrent purposes was €568 million which also included private sources of income. Due to the significant cash balances identified, a decision was taken in Budget 2013 to apply a reduction of €25m to the sector so as to ensure a more prudent management of existing cash balances. This funding was not restored in Budget 2014 as it was felt that the Higher Education Institutions still had significant amounts of cash at their disposal.
162. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm that the student contribution charge will not rise above €3,000 after 2015. [36112/14]
View answerThe decision to increase the Student Contribution, which stands at €2,750 for the current academic year, to €3,000 by 2015/16 has already been signalled by the previous Minister. The Deputy will appreciate that in line with normal practice I am unable to comment on the budgetary process. It should be noted that some 50% of students who qualify for free fees have the Student Contribution paid on their behalf by the Exchequer under my Department's Student Grant Scheme. An Expert Working Group chaired by Peter Cassells is currently preparing a Report on future funding policy for higher education. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of education.
163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding training for staff (details supplied) in the restaurant and bar sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36152/14]
View answerSOLAS, with the input of the ESRI undertook a comprehensive consultation process with a range of key stakeholders inside and outside of the FET sector as part of the development of a five year strategy for the FET Sector. This important strategy has now been completed and gives a road-map for the ongoing development of the FET sector over the next five years. The FET Strategy contains a core objective that the planning and provision of FET is clearly informed by the needs of industry. SOLAS will examine the availability of genuine job opportunities in the restaurant, tourism and hospitality sectors and review training provision in that context in conjunction with the ETBs. SOLAS have noted that in 2014 Department of Social Protection registered Job Seekers listed as chefs number 1633 (as of August 2014) and the advertised number of vacancies for chefs, January to August, total some 2307. Fáilte Ireland on behalf of the Irish Hotel Federation and the Irish Restaurant Association is exploring the possibility with SOLAS of converting the Fáilte Ireland Level 6 Professional Cookery Traineeship programme into a formal Level 6 apprenticeship programme. This will be considered in the overall context of implementing the recommendations of the recent review of apprenticeship. In addition, Momentum is funding 1,380 places in the Tourism (Accommodation, Food and Beverage) Sector for the 2014 round of funding. These projects will be run nationally and focus on various skills in the sector including front of house, culinary, restaurant and food and drink retail skills training. 72 places will be funded by Momentum and delivered by Kerry ETB in Professional Cookery - Front of House. The Expert Group on Future Skill Needs will shortly be conducting a study to assess the future skills requirements of the Hospitality Sector in Ireland up to 2020. The study will cover skill needs including skill gaps across occupations in hotels, restaurants, bars, canteens and catering. The study will also identify gaps in current provision and the magnitude and type of provision required to address same. The study will also assess the demand (and gaps) for the relevant occupations arising across other sectors such as culinary skills. The study will enable SOLAS, ETBs and the FET sector more generally to widen its evidence base to inform the most appropriate type and scale of provision to be funded/provided to meet appropriate Hospitality Sector skill needs up to 2020. While Skillnets has no dedicated sectoral network operating in the restaurant & hospitality sector since 2010, a significant majority of Skillnets networks are mixed-sectoral, and many of them count hospitality businesses among their membership, mostly hotels & restaurants. Skillnets are currently planning the early stages of a New Open Call for Proposals in 2015. As in previous New Open Calls, this process will involve contact with all previous applicants and the identification of sectoral gaps such as in the hospitality sector to identify key stakeholders and advise them of funding opportunities
