Peadar Tóibín
Question:153. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the public services and semi-State companies under the remit of his Department that deliver bonuses to staff that need improvement. [41121/14]
View answerPublic Sector Staff Remuneration
Questions (153)
Written answers
In relation to the Non-Commercial Semi State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, no bonus payments were made to staff in 2013, or to July 2014.
Overseas Development Aid
Questions (154)
Peter Mathews
Question:154. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will approach Irish third level institutions regarding the contribution they may make to the setting up of Gaza scholarships, especially in the fields of medicine and nursing, horticulture and engineering, as a serious means of aid to the rebuilding of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40778/14]
View answerWritten answers
The recent conflict in Gaza has had devastating humanitarian consequences, with the resulting large scale internal displacement and damage to infrastructure compounding already difficult living conditions. In response to the conflict, Ireland initially provided €500,000 to the Emergency Appeal of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in July. At the International Gaza Reconstruction Conference, attended by Minister Flanagan earlier this month, Ireland pledged a further €2.5 million towards both urgent immediate needs as well as long term recovery efforts.
The support provided for Gaza is in addition to our broader programme of assistance to the Palestinian people which currently amounts to over €10 million annually. Ireland’s funding has traditionally had a strong focus on the education sector which is crucial to Palestine’s long-term economic viability. Along with a number of other donors, Ireland is providing support to the Palestinian Authority’s Education Development Strategic Plan through a Joint Financing Arrangement. €1.5 million will be provided this year, bringing Ireland’s total contribution since the establishment of the Joint Financing Arrangement to €7.5 million.
Through the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme, Ireland provides higher education opportunities to increase the specialist knowledge of staff working in our partner organisations. Successful fellows from the occupied Palestinian territory have studied a variety of different courses including human rights law and global health at third level institutes in Ireland.
Our response to the most recent conflict in Gaza has focussed on meeting the immediate humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza. As we consider our contribution to the longer term reconstruction and development efforts our focus within the education section will remain on ensuring the provision of primary and secondary level education to Palestinian children. We will also continue to work with our partners in the occupied Palestinian territory and with third level institutes in Ireland to ensure educational opportunities for Palestinians, including those involved in the reconstruction and development of Gaza.
Overseas Development Aid Expenditure
Questions (155)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:155. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government is still committed to the UN overseas aid target of 0.7% GNI; if so, if he will provide a strategy for meeting the UN target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40715/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, which is at the heart of our foreign policy. Our policy on International Development, “One World, One Future” clearly sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, together with our goals and areas of focus for the coming years. The policy reaffirms our commitment to achieving the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA), when economic circumstances permit. Since coming to office, and in the context of very difficult economic circumstances, this Government has successfully stabilised Ireland’s Official Development Assistance, including the budget for the aid programme. On Budget day last week we protected the aid budget, providing for a total allocation to ODA of just over €600 million for next year. The 2015 ODA allocation demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the aid programme and represents a very significant and generous contribution on behalf of the people of Ireland to assist those less fortunate than ourselves.
Our priority now is to ensure we continue to focus this significant level of public funding on tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice, strengthening our key partner countries ability to deliver essential services to their citizens, and delivering real and sustainable improvements to the lives of some of the world’s poorest.
Middle East Peace Process
Questions (156)
Terence Flanagan
Question:156. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the Palestinian state (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40754/14]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland supports the full achievement of a Palestinian state. We believe this should happen soon. Our policies are designed to be supportive of the negotiated comprehensive peace agreement which we believe is fundamental to the achievement of this objective. I believe substantive political talks on a peace settlement must take place as a matter of urgency and I reiterated that view recently at the Gaza Reconstruction Conference hosted by the Governments of Norway and Egypt on 12 October in Cairo. I am conscious of Sweden’s announcement that it intends to recognise in the coming months. Ireland’s position will continue to be evaluated in light of our own assessment and that of all our EU Partners.
Human Rights Issues
Questions (157)
Joanna Tuffy
Question:157. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) where the Superior Court in Pakistan recently dismissed their appeal and upheld the death sentence which was passed on them four years ago for blasphemy; and if we, as a country, may intercede on behalf of this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40757/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government remains very concerned about this case, particularly following the recent decision of the High Court of Lahore to uphold this person’s conviction. The Irish Ambassador accredited to Pakistan called upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad in 2013 to convey our concern at the conviction and sentence. He also expressed our disquiet at the nature of Pakistan’s blasphemy law. I have asked our Ambassador to Pakistan (who is accredited from Turkey) to register our concern at the recent High Court decision with the Pakistan Foreign Ministry during his next visit to Islamabad. Officials in my Department also keep in regular contact with the Embassy of Pakistan on this, and a number of other issues. Pakistan underwent a ‘Universal Periodic Review’ of the human rights situation in the country at the United Nations in October 2012. At this review, concern was expressed about this case and calls were made for Pakistan to consider adopting an official moratorium on the death penalty. During the process, Ireland recommended that Pakistan take all appropriate measures to combat and prevent discrimination against religious and other minority groups, including by removing educational material which could serve to perpetuate discrimination.
At EU level, freedom of religion or belief and freedom of opinion and expression plays a central role in the EU’s dialogue with Pakistan. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union, Catherine Ashton has expressed her concerns at the judgment, and others like it, on numerous occasions, and has called on Pakistan to respect human rights as guaranteed under international conventions.
In June 2014, the EU issued a Declaration on violence against women in Pakistan, expressing deep concern at the wide-spread violence perpetrated against women there.
The fifth meeting of the EU-Pakistan Joint Commission, which reviews EU-Pakistan bilateral relations annually, met in Islamabad on 24 June 2014. On human rights, the EU, while acknowledging efforts of the Government of Pakistan to strengthen human rights infrastructure in the country, expressed its concern on a number of issues including freedom of the media, freedom of religion and belief and the situation of women.
On 18 October last, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service expressed sadness and deep concern at the High Court decision to uphold this person’s conviction, and called on Pakistan to ensure for all its citizens, full respect of human rights as guaranteed by international conventions to which it is party. The spokesperson further noted that the EU considers the death penalty a cruel and inhumane punishment and expressed the hope that the verdict would be appealed to the Supreme Court and struck down swiftly.
Ireland attaches great importance to the fundamental human rights of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. We are well aware of the vulnerable situation of persons belonging to religious minorities in Pakistan and will continue to raise this case and others bilaterally with the Pakistan Government as well as through the framework and mechanisms of the European Union and the United Nations.
Northern Ireland Issues
Questions (158)
Brendan Smith
Question:158. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent comments by the Ulster Unionist Party leader that he had assurances that the Irish Government would have no role in negotiations on internal Northern Ireland affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40813/14]
View answerWritten answers
The British and Irish Governments convened the current talks in order to address a number of key issues that have badly impacted on the reconciliation agenda and on economic renewal in Northern Ireland.
We convened these talks as co-guarantors of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements. It is on that basis that we participate in them, taking account of the three Strands outlined in the Good Friday Agreement. Our responsibility is to ensure that the Agreements, and effective partnership government which is at the heart of the Agreements, work for the benefit of all of the people of Northern Ireland. A more reconciled and prosperous Northern Ireland is good for the people of the North but is also of enormous direct importance and benefit to people right across this island.
Agreement on the issues at hand can, of course, only be reached by the parties themselves. However, in our roles as co-guarantors of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements, the two Governments have an important role to play in encouraging and facilitating such agreement.
Public Sector Staff Remuneration
Questions (159)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:159. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the public services and semi-State companies under the remit of his Department that deliver bonuses to staff that need improvement. [41120/14]
View answerWritten answers
No bonuses are paid to the staff of my Department. There are no semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department.