Written Answers Nos. 390-404
390. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will send election observers to monitor the presidential elections to be held in Sri Lanka in January 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44876/14]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of observers for election monitoring missions, which play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. We aim to ensure that Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation missions for both elections and constitutional referendums. Irish observers participate primarily in missions following requests issued by the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Consultations are continuing within the European Union on the priorities for election observation missions in 2015. If agreement is reached on a mission for Sri Lanka, we will give careful consideration to the nomination of Irish observers.
391. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a doctor (details supplied) who has worked in Gaza medical facilities for over 15 years, and in Gaza’s Shifa Hospital during Israel’s recent 51-day assault, has been refused entry to Gaza by the Israeli authorities; and if he will raise this issue with the Israeli authorities and ask them to reverse their decision. [44982/14]
View answerThe case in question has not previously been raised with my Department.
The devastating humanitarian impact of the recent conflict in Gaza continues to be felt on the ground. It compounded an already serious humanitarian situation. In this bleak context, access for humanitarian workers, including doctors and health workers, is all the more important.
Initial media reports had suggested that the individual mentioned had been indefinitely banned from entering Gaza. Following official representations from the Norwegian Government, it now appears that the individual concerned has been indefinitely banned from entering Israel, rather than the Gaza Strip. There are suggestions that the reason for this ban may be attributable to the individual concerned having signed a letter during the recent conflict which strongly criticised Israeli actions. If this is the reason, exclusion of a doctor on this basis would not appear in any way justified, and I would call on Israel to reconsider its refusal to allow entry to the medical professional in question for the purpose of their travelling on to Gaza.
The option of attempting to enter Gaza from Egypt also remains open, of course.
392. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the North South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43796/14]
View answer396. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the North South Ministerial Council held on 3 October 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39832/14]
View answer397. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the discussion at the North South Ministerial Council on Foras na Gaeilge funding arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39831/14]
View answer398. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the discussion at the North South Ministerial Council on the Ulster-Scots Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39830/14]
View answer399. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the discussions on Childlink and the North South Child Protection Hub at the North South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39829/14]
View answer400. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the discussions on INTERREG and PEACE IV programmes 2014-2020 at the North South Ministerial Council meeting on 3 October 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39828/14]
View answer401. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the discussion on sectoral priorities at the North South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39827/14]
View answer402. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the discussions on the North West Gateway Initiative at the North South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39826/14]
View answer403. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the discussions on re-balancing the Northern Ireland economy at the North South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39825/14]
View answer404. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the discussions on job creation in Northern Ireland at the 3 October 2014 North South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39824/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 396 to 404, inclusive, together.
The North South Ministerial Council, NSMC, was established as part of the Good Friday Agreement to foster mutually beneficial co-operation in agreed areas on an all-island basis. My colleagues in Government and I meet regularly with our counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive in the various NSMC formats to review progress in all areas of North South co-operation.
In addition to the North South Ministerial Council being a vehicle for reconciliation and better understanding on the island, it is also a mechanism for ensuring a more efficient delivery of services and a more coordinated approach to job creation and recovery, North and South. While there has been valuable progress in cooperation through the NSMC, the Government is also firmly committed to developing cross border cooperation across a broad range of areas including those which are not part of the currently mandated NSMC work programme.
To date in 2014, there have been nineteen NSMC Ministerial meetings. It is expected that further meetings will take place in the coming weeks. Indeed, I am looking forward to meeting with our Northern Ireland Executive colleagues at the upcoming Plenary meeting in December.
The 18th Plenary meeting of the NSMC took place in Dublin Castle on 3 October 2014. At this meeting, discussions covered a wide range of financial, economic and EU matters including the employment situation in both jurisdictions and measures to encourage job creation. Ministers referenced the positive job announcements which had been made recently both North and South. Progress on the disposal of NAMA’s Northern Ireland portfolio was welcomed by the Council. Also discussed were actions to build trade links with developing markets, attraction of foreign direct investment and issues relating to banking, in particular lending to SMEs, economic and budgetary challenges facing both administrations and measures aimed at rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy. As regards the latter, the Government is involved in supporting the UK’s investment package for Northern Ireland, which is aimed at rebalancing the economy and tackling division.
We also noted the opportunities for tourism and trade through the hosting of all-island events and agreed to continue to cooperate on a possible joint bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. A particular measure of note is the introduction of the joint British-Irish Visa Scheme which has come into operation in China and is due to be rolled out to cover India in the coming months. This will have very significant positive benefits to the tourism sector on the island.
We noted that the draft Programmes for the new INTERREG V and PEACE IV Programmes for the period 2014 – 2020 have been submitted to the EU Commission. It is expected that the PEACE programme will amount to some €269 million while the INTERREG programme is expected to total c. €282 million. The new PEACE programme will focus on Social Inclusion and Combatting Poverty while the new INTERREG program’s focus will be spread across four themes: Research and Innovation; Environment; Sustainable Transport; and Health.
It was agreed that several other European funding programmes may present opportunities for cross-border cooperation to maximise the drawdown of EU funding to the island and that we should examine this issue further at the December Plenary.
With regard to the St. Andrews Agreement Review, the Council noted that discussions on Sectoral Priorities have now taken place, following the decisions taken at the last NSMC Plenary in November 2013 and the NSMC Institutional meeting in January 2014. These discussions focused on efforts to support economic recovery, job creation, ensuring the best use of public funds and the most effective delivery of services for citizens. Ministers agreed that it had been useful to review progress and identify opportunities within the existing agreed work programmes and noted that a report on other priorities identified during the Ministerial discussions will be brought to the next NSMC Institutional Meeting.
We also discussed the North West Gateway Initiative noting the conclusion of the consultation process that had been carried out with regional stakeholders and agreed that further consultation with relevant Government Departments should be undertaken. The Council also reconfirmed its commitment to a future meeting of Ministers and officials in the North West to consider future strategic approaches to the development of the region.
At the Plenary Ministers noted that the child protection work programme, agreed in the NSMC Health sector, continues to be progressed. An ‘app’ to allow access to the North South Child Protection Hub was launched by Childlink in February 2014. There was a discussion on child protection and e-Safety issues and the Council agreed to discuss this item further at the NSMC Plenary in December.
The Plenary meeting also noted developments relating to the operation of the North South Implementation Bodies. As regards the Language Body, comprising an Foras na Gaeilge and Ulster Scots Agency, the relevant Ministers are scheduled to meet soon. It is expected that amongst other agenda items for discussion, funding arrangements for Foras na Gaeilge will also be discussed at the meeting.
The Council also noted the current position on the North South Consultative Forum.
393. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the emigrant support programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41668/14]
View answerThe Emigrant Support Programme, ESP, provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to encourage closer links between these communities and Ireland.
The focus of the Emigrant Support Programme is on initiatives that address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants; enhance access for Irish emigrants and Irish community organisations to local statutory and voluntary services; foster a more vibrant sense of community and Irish identity amongst the Irish abroad; and encourage closer links between Irish communities abroad and Ireland, to the benefit of both.
In addition, since 2009, the Programme also supports projects aimed at creating practical results orientated links between Ireland and the global Irish, and projects that emerged as a consequence of the Global Irish Economic Forum and its follow up.
Funding of €10,546,458 was awarded under the Emigrant Support Programme in 2013, with €11,455,364 awarded in 2012 and €11,297,365 in 2011. Details of all grants awarded in these years are available on my Department’s website.
To date in 2014 expenditure of over €10,320,000 has been approved. A number of grant applications are currently being processed and I would be happy to provide the Deputy with a complete list of 2014 grants following the end of the financial year.
The Emigrant Support Programme will maintain funding of €11,595,000 in 2015.
394. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the new national strategy on the diaspora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41667/14]
View answerAt the Third Global Irish Economic Forum, which took place in October 2013, it was announced that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would undertake a comprehensive review of our Diaspora policy to examine all elements of our engagement with the Irish abroad.
That review is now underway. As part of the review a public consultation was launched and a number of individuals and groups submitted contributions including the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Senator Mark Daly who submitted a policy paper from Fianna Fáil. My Department is currently examining these submissions with a view to finalising a new Diaspora policy which takes into account the public’s views, knowledge and experience in this area.
The consultation paper is available on the Department’s website and it provides an outline of the areas being considered as part of the review.
It is intended that this review will complement the wider Review of Foreign Policy and External Relations being conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It will allow Diaspora issues to be considered in greater depth and in more operational terms.
The new Diaspora policy will be launched early in 2015.
395. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the budget allocation to his Department for the diaspora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41666/14]
View answerPrimary 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 €114 million towards a wide range of organisations and projects supporting Irish citizens and community and Diaspora groups around the world.
The Emigrant Support Programme provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. The focus of the Emigrant Support Programme is on initiatives that address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants; enhance access for Irish emigrants and Irish community organisations to local statutory and voluntary services; foster a more vibrant sense of community and Irish identity amongst the Irish abroad; and encourage closer links between Irish communities abroad and Ireland, to the benefit of both.
In addition, since 2009, the Programme also supports projects aimed at creating practical results orientated links between Ireland and the global Irish, and projects that emerged as a consequence of the Global Irish Economic Forum and its follow up.
The budget allocation for the Emigrant Support Programme in 2014 is €11,595,000. To date in 2014 expenditure of over €10,320,000 has been approved. A number of grant applications are currently being processed and I would be happy to provide the Deputy with a complete list of 2014 grants following the end of the financial year.
The Emigrant Support Programme will maintain funding of €11,595,000 in 2015. In addition a further €1 million will be available next year to support new diaspora projects and initiatives under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach.
