Written Answers Nos. 719-735
719. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the number of secondments from his Department to external private firms in 2010 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1845/15]
View answer720. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the number of secondments based in his Department from external private firms in 2010 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1859/15]
View answer721. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if his Department has a policy regarding secondments from and within his Department to external firms; when the policy was initiated and last updated; the details of the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1873/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 719 to 721, inclusive, together.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of secondment positions is detailed in the following table.
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Position as at 14 January 2015 |
|
Secondments to External Private Companies from the Department of Health |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
Secondments into the Department of Health from External Private Companies |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
The secondments from the Department are to Staff Associations/Unions and the Civil Service Credit Union. The secondments into the Department were from the Irish Computer Society and related directly to EU Presidency requirements. In all cases salary recoupment arrangements to and from the relevant organisations took place. Such secondments are arranged as per request or to satisfy particular identified business needs of the Department.
In addition to the above a Civil Service/Private Sector Staff Exchange Scheme was introduced on a pilot basis for two years by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in January 2013. The Staff Exchange Scheme was designed to enhance communication, co-operation and understanding between the Civil Service and the Private Sector and to provide staff development opportunities for participants through new work experiences and project based assignments. No staff member from this Department is currently participating in this pilot Scheme.
722. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of the memorandums of understanding with China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49495/14]
View answerIreland has many Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with China, signed by Ministers or senior officials, as appropriate, and their Chinese counterparts. These are wide-ranging and boost the bi-lateral relationship across a wide array of sectors. In the past ten years, the following MOUs have been signed:
On 9 December 2014, while accompanying the President on his State Visit to China, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a Framework for Jointly Enhancing People to People Exchanges and Co-Operation with the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. This MOU seeks to enhance research, education and technology links between Ireland and China. The MOU will support closer ties between cities in Ireland and China, as well as provincial and county ties. It is designed to promote joint research between Irish and Chinese universities and increase cooperation in education, science, technology, entrepreneurship as well as in agricultural, cultural and design fields. Exchanges between schools and youth groups from both countries will be encouraged.
This MOU builds on the Strategic Partnership for Mutually Beneficial Cooperation which was signed by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D., on 28 March 2012.
In June 2014, Minister Jimmy Deenihan T.D. in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht signed an MOU on the establishment of a China Cultural Centre in Ireland.
On 16 April 2012, during his visit to China, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. signed three MOUs with China, namely: an MOU on sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues, including the setting up of a working group on market access on beef; an MOU on mutual cooperation in the agri-food and fisheries areas; MOU on the export of horse feed to China; and an MOU on renewal of Bovine Semen Protocol facilitating the export of Bovine semen to China.
Three MOUs with China were signed by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. in 2012: On 27 March 2012, an MOU on Scientific Innovation Cooperation and on 19 February 2012, he signed an MOU for the promotion of Trade in Internationally Traded Services and an MOU on the Establishment of a Joint Investment Promotion Working Group.
In March 2010, the then Minister of State for Trade and Commerce, Billy Kelleher T.D., signed an MOU on Economic Cooperation. An MOU on Cultural Cooperation and Exchange was signed by Mary Hanafin T.D., the then Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. Lastly, an MOU on a Joint Working Group on Education was signed by the then Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science, Brigid McManus.
On 23 October 2008, two MOUs with China were agreed. The first was an MOU establishing an arrangement for the sharing of supervisory information and the enhancing of cooperation in the area of banking supervision, signed by the then Chairman of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Jim Farrell. A second MOU regarding Securities and Futures Regulatory Cooperation was also signed by Mr Farrell on this date.
The then Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D., signed a Protocol on veterinary and health requirements for pork to be exported from Ireland to China, on 18 January 2005.
An MOU with China was signed by Mr. Paul Bates, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism (as it then was) in 2004 on Visa and Related Issues concerning Tourist Groups from the People's Republic of China.
723. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of agencies quangos or other bodies within, funded by or established by his Department which have been scrapped, merged or reduced since this Government was formed; the amount saved in each case; the reduction in staff as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1015/15]
View answerIn September 2013, the Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC), which was responsible for providing advice on development education, was officially abolished. This followed the publication of One World One Future, Ireland’s new Policy for International Development, which provided for a member of the DEAC to be appointed to the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group. The Committee had been serviced from the Department’s overall budget, and it had no whole time equivalent staff. Accordingly, there were no significant savings arising from its abolition.
724. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the agencies or sections from his Department that were decentralised during the period 1997 to 2011; the travel costs and expenses incurred by decentralised personnel travelling to their base Department in that period. [1030/15]
View answerThe Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was decentralised to Limerick in late 2008, where the majority of officers assigned to the Division are now based. Total amounts paid in travel and subsistence to officials of the Department based in Limerick, for travel from Limerick to meetings or events in Dublin, for the years 2008 to 2011 are as follows:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2008 |
194,116 |
|
2009 |
109,996 |
|
2010 |
109,861 |
|
2011 |
103,475 |
The Department operates comprehensive travel and subsistence regulations and procedures which are fully in line with Department of Finance travel policy. Travel and subsistence claims by officials are reimbursed in accordance with the standard public sector rates, as specified by the Department of Finance.
725. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will follow up on changes in Cuba and US relations with priority to be given to ending the economic blockade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1052/15]
View answerI warmly welcome the historic decision by President Obama and by President Castro on the restoration of full diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba. As noted in my press statement of 18 December 2014, this is a positive step towards the normalisation of relations between the two countries. Ireland’s concerns about the US economic, commercial and financial measures against Cuba are long-standing and clear. Ireland and the other member states of the European Union are firmly of the view that the lifting of the embargo would facilitate an opening of the island’s economy to the benefit of its people. In addition, we and our EU partners do not believe that the continued embargo contributes in a positive way to the democratic transition in Cuba. We have expressed this position in our support for the relevant resolutions at the UN General Assembly, most recently on 28 October last year. We have recorded also our strong opposition to the extraterritorial application of the legislation giving effect to the embargo. The Deputy will be aware that the US embargo against Cuba is codified in legislation passed by Congress. President Obama has indicated his willingness to engage with Congress in an honest and serious debate about lifting the embargo. We welcome the President’s efforts in this regard also.
The recent UN debate recorded continued concerns and criticisms regarding governance and human rights in Cuba. It was noted that while the US embargo has a damaging effect on the Cuban economy, domestic Cuban economic policy seriously hampers its own economic development. Together with our EU partners we have urged that the package of economic and social reforms adopted by the Cuban Parliament in August 2011 be extended and implemented in a manner that will address the key concerns of the Cuban population.
I urge the Cuban authorities to bring about real improvements in all areas mentioned, and to grant its citizens internationally recognised civil, political and economic rights and freedoms.
726. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total moneys paid by his Department to external consultants, professional companies or advisers under the Action Plan for Jobs in each year since and including 2012; if he will provide in a tabular form the list of those organisations who received money; his Department's procurement policy regarding this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1138/15]
View answerNo monies have been paid by my Department to external consultants, professional companies or advisors on the Action Plan for Jobs for the period in question.
727. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the programmes or schemes his Department currently funds to maintain or increase the number of Irish citizens who gain work experience or full-time employment in the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1150/15]
View answerTogether with the Department of the Taoiseach, my Department is working with the Public Appointments Service to strengthen our promotion of career opportunities in international organisations, including in the United Nations.
Ireland has been a long standing partner of the United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV), the UN organisation that promotes volunteerism as a means of achieving peace and development. Ireland’s support to UNV in recent years has focused on sponsoring the deployment of UNV Youth volunteers (recent graduates) and UNV Specialists (experienced professionals) to assignments with UN agencies primarily in Irish Aid’s partner countries and priority sectors.
Youth volunteer placements are usually for 12 months, and provide the volunteers with the opportunity to develop and apply their skills, knowledge and capacities. In 2014 Irish Aid’s support to the UNV Programme directly led to the deployment of 14 UN Youth Volunteers with UN Agencies. This year Irish Aid will support the placement of 10 Youth Volunteers. The UN Specialist Volunteers placements are for a period of 24 months, mainly in Irish Aid programme countries. In 2014, two Specialist Volunteers were directly funded by Irish Aid and placed with UN Agencies.
UNV also maintains a database of candidates interested in volunteering which it uses to fill volunteer positions with UN agencies in developing countries. Through Ireland’s continued support to the UNV programme Irish citizens are chosen by UNV from their database to fill specialist volunteer assignments. Irish Aid also directly supports UNV to deploy Specialists to UN offices in developing countries.
In relation to the EU, my Department contributes to the funding of the Junior Professionals in Delegations (JPD) programme run by the European External Action Service and the European Commission, under which four Irish citizens last year secured extended paid traineeships in EU delegations.
The Department is also an active stakeholder in the EU Jobs campaign, coordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach, which provides a range of services to advise Irish citizens about current recruitment opportunities in the EU institutions and which supports them through the application process.
728. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent of support and assistance, including financial assistance and in what circumstances, that his Department and the Irish consular service globally provides to Irish families in the event of a tragedy abroad and especially when a loved one's remains are to be repatriated to Ireland; if there is an accessible service and fund to assist families in such challenging circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1335/15]
View answerA core objective of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the provision of high-quality consular assistance to Irish citizens who find themselves in difficulty while travelling abroad. This assistance is delivered through the Department’s network of diplomatic missions abroad and through the Department’s Consular Division based in Dublin.
The Department’s website also has detailed country-specific travel advice to assist citizens in planning their travel and acquainting them with particular issues they should bear in mind when travelling to particular places.
The Consular Assistance provided by the Department includes providing emergency and other official documents to citizens, and liaising with local authorities on behalf of a citizen or their family, especially in cases where there may be language barriers. Depending on the circumstances of the difficulty encountered by the citizen, we can also provide information on legal experts, medical facilities and other such locally based services that may be required.
In 2014, the Department provided assistance in 221 cases involving a death abroad. In cases where the Department is notified of the death of an Irish national abroad, the Department will offer the deceased’s next-of-kin assistance in liaising with relevant local authorities and organisations as they seek to repatriate their loved one’s remains to Ireland.
Whilst the Department provides a highly accessible consular service, given the number of people travelling abroad it is not possible for budgetary reasons for the Department to fund repatriations in the case of death abroad. The Department strongly recommends to citizens that they purchase suitable travel insurance prior to undertaking their travels, so that they can pay for medical bills and other additional costs as may be required, up to and including the repatriation of remains.
729. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to open an office of the Consulate General in Melbourne, Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1381/15]
View answer742. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to extend the diplomatic network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1781/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 729 and 742 together.
The Government decided in January 2014 to expand Ireland's diplomatic network, with the establishment of five new embassies and three new consulates general. With these and other changes to the diplomatic network, my Department now operates a global network of 80 overseas missions consisting of 61 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions, 11 Consulates General and one Representative Office.
The scale and deployment of our diplomatic network is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. Any possible reconfiguration would require a Government Decision and would have regard to national priorities and available resources. Those priorities include the State’s strategic economic and political interests, including trade and inward investment, support for Irish citizens abroad, support for Irish exporters, and the promotion of our values as regards human rights, international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes within and among states.
There are no proposals currently under consideration with regard to the opening of a consulate in Melbourne.
730. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála bunaithe ar an treoir a thug an Roinn Caiteachas Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe do gach Roinn, cad é líon agus cad iad gráid na bpost dá mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla ag teastáil; cad é líon na bpost sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla iontu cheana féin, arna bhriseadh síos de réir gráid; cén cháilíocht Ghaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; i gcás nach bhfuil an treoir ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe comhlíonta, cad é údar na moille agus cén uair a dhéanfar an scrúdú; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [1432/15]
View answerTá mo Roinn go h-iomlán tiomanta do sheirbhísí trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar agus freagraí a thabhairt ar comhfhreagras trí Ghaeilge nuair atá siad de dhíth. Is iad Oifig na bPasanna agus an Rannán Consalachta na príomh rannóga ina mbíonn idirgabháil idir an Roinn agus an pobal agus tá riachtanais acu i dtaca le h-oifigigh le scileanna Gaeilge. Freisin, tá riachtanais ginearálta tríd an Roinn i dtaca le h-oifigigh atá ábalta deileáil le comhfhreagras agus fiosrúcháin trí Ghaeilge.
Cuireadh iniúchadh scileanna i gcrích i 2012 a thaispeáin go bhfuil scileanna Gaeilge ar chaighdeán líofa nó ardleibhéal ag 55 oifigeach i mo Roinn, agus dhearbhaigh 160 oifigeach eile go bhfuil scileanna Gaeilge acu ar chaighdeán idirmheánach; is é seo timpeall ar 20% den fhoireann bhuan ag ceanncheathrú na Roinne.
Cuirtear ranganna Gaeilge ar fáil go rialta go h-inmheánach i mo Roinn agus, ó 2010 go 2014, chláraigh 200 oifigeach chun freastal ar na ranganna seo. Tá rangannga Gaeilge seancheaptha, inmheánach ar fáil in Oifig na bPasanna i gCorcaigh agus beidh siad ar fáil go luath in Oifig na bPasanna ar Shráid Theach Laighean. Spreagtar oifigigh na Roinne chun a scileanna Gaeilge a fhorbairt ina n-am féin agus tá mo Roinn sásta chun tacú le agus maoiniú a thabhairt do na h-iarrachtaí seo.
Faoi láthair, tá an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí ag reachtáil comórtas earcaíochta d’oifigigh feidhmiúcháin le sruth speisialta sa Ghaeilge le haghaidh iarratasóra atá líofa sa Ghaeilge. Beadh sé ar intinn ag an Roinn eacrú ón bpaineál sin nua.
My Department is fully committed to providing services and answering correspondence through Irish whenever required. The Passport Office and Consular Section are the Department’s main interface with the public and have requirements for officers with Irish language skills. There are also general requirements throughout the Department for officers who can deal with correspondence and queries in Irish.
A skills audit of all staff carried out in 2012 revealed that 55 staff members in my Department had advanced or fluent Irish language skills while a further 160 officers declared that their Irish language skills were at an intermediate level. In total, this is approximately 20% of permanent HQ-based staff.
Irish Language classes are regularly provided in-house in my Department and from 2010 to 2013 over 200 officers registered to attend these classes. Tailored, in-house Irish language classes are currently available in our Passport Office in Cork and will shortly be available in the Passport Office in Molesworth Street. Officers are also encouraged to develop their Irish language skills in their own time and my Department is happy to support and fund this.
The Public Appointments Service is currently running an Executive Officer recruitment competition which includes a specialist Irish language stream for candidates who are fluent in the Irish language. It would be the intention of my Department to recruit from this new panel.
731. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the total photography costs for his Department per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; the costs incurred from use of the Ministerial allowance; a list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; a breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1442/15]
View answerMy Department only avails of the services of external photographic agencies where it is warranted, in particular, for major events and State occasions. This is a service which my Department provides so that the media can easily and freely avail of photography where their own staff photographers cannot be fully accommodated. Events such as the visit of State Visit of Queen Elizabeth, the Global Irish Economic Forum and the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards resulted in positive coverage of Ireland. In September 2011, my Department led a collaborative advertised tender process for the procurement of a multi-supplier competitive framework of photographic service providers. This is now available for use by all Government Departments. Details of the framework arrangements and the photographers used are posted on the National Procurement Service website: www.procurement.ie/suppliers/contracts/1298. The purpose of this framework is to ensure Departments’ compliance with EU procurement rules and to ensure value for money by having a competitive process for photographic assignments. In addition, my Department now makes greater use of in-house resources for photography, including, for example, at the Irish-Africa Economic Forum in October.
The total cost of photography to my Department over the period in question is €161,493.37.
|
Year |
Total |
|
2011 |
60,661.53 |
|
2012 |
38,150.98 |
|
2013 |
35,554.34 |
|
2014 |
27,126.52 |
|
Total |
161,493.37 |
The table below indicates the cost associated with particular events.
|
Events |
Amount |
|
Expenditure at Missons* |
34,167.51 |
|
Credential Ceremonies |
30,332.54 |
|
State Visit of Queen Elizabeth II |
22,662.70 |
|
Official visit by Chinese Vice President |
7,321.58 |
|
State visit Prince Albert of Monaco |
6,213.35 |
|
OSCE Ministerial Council |
4,786.55 |
|
Visit of President of Mozambique |
3,102.50 |
|
Official Visit to New York and Washington Minister |
2,683.78 |
|
Official Visit by Japanese Prime Minister |
2,555.94 |
|
Official Visit by Canadian Prime Minister |
2,553.36 |
|
Official visit by the King and Queen of Lesotho |
2,473.14 |
|
Official Visit to Mozambique, Malawi & Tanzania |
2,388.30 |
|
Global Irish Economic Forum 2013 |
2,175.20 |
|
Diplomatic Corp New Years Greeting |
2,015.97 |
|
Global Irish Economic Forum |
1,923.90 |
|
Inauguration of President Higgins |
1,817.30 |
|
OSCE Event Lessons Learned from Northern Ireland |
1,479.35 |
|
Visit of Thai Royal Family |
1,377.60 |
|
Launch of Our World Awards |
1,268.05 |
|
African Ireland Economic Forum 2011 |
1,220.59 |
|
Presidential Distinguished Service Awards 2013 |
1,074.20 |
|
Our World Irish Aid Awards (National and Regional) |
942.18 |
|
Hati Photographic exhibition |
919.9 |
|
Presidential Distinguished Service Awards 2014 |
841 |
|
Irish Aid Centre Education materials |
741.8 |
|
Science for Development Award at BT Young Scientist |
711.71 |
|
National Ploughing Championship |
687 |
|
Launch of Commemoration Lecture |
658.82 |
|
Irish Aid - One World One Future |
637.14 |
|
Official Visit to Kenya |
606.4 |
|
Official Visit by Indian Minister |
599.75 |
|
2010 Irish Aid Annual report |
596 |
|
Schools Awareness Programmes |
561 |
|
Irish Aid Awards 2014 |
560.88 |
|
Launch of EU Presidency Logo |
560.84 |
|
Visit of Scottish Minister Hyslop |
551.04 |
|
Launch of Africa Day 2011 - Dublin |
526.35 |
|
Official farewell for the British Ambassador |
524.84 |
|
Meeting of EU Development Ministers |
521.19 |
|
Reconciliation Forum |
516.6 |
|
Western Balkans Conference |
482.16 |
|
Africa Day 2013 |
478.45 |
|
Visit of Elders |
430.5 |
|
OSCE 5+2 Conference |
417.76 |
|
Visit of Congressman Morrison |
412.05 |
|
Irish Aid Zero Hunger Event |
398.46 |
|
Visit of Aung Sang Suu Kyi |
393.92 |
|
Official visit of US Congressional Delegation |
388.62 |
|
Hunger Envoy's Report |
379.33 |
|
Unveiling of W.B. Yeats Statue |
378.84 |
|
Visit of Canadian Foreign Minister |
378.84 |
|
Visit of Governor of Massachusetts |
361.62 |
|
Simon Cumbers Fund Exhibition |
350.86 |
|
Launch Event of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy |
344.4 |
|
Official Visit By First Lady |
327.18 |
|
Iveagh House Commemorative Lecture |
327.18 |
|
Africa Ireland Economic Forum - 2012 |
319.8 |
|
Meeting with Japanese Ambassador |
318.84 |
|
Launch of Certificate of Irish Heritage |
296.23 |
|
HNCJ Conference |
284.63 |
|
Irish Aid, Trade and Development Conference |
282.41 |
|
UNRWA Commissioner General |
246 |
|
Irish Aid Volunteering Fair |
241 |
|
Meeting with Senator Gary Hart |
240.45 |
|
Official Visit by Chinese Vice Premier Ma |
223.86 |
|
Our World Irish Aid Awards 2014 |
223.86 |
|
Minister meeting with representatives of Orange Halls |
223.81 |
|
Meeting with British Delegation |
209.1 |
|
Irish Aid Annual Report Launch |
206.64 |
|
100 Objects Launch |
206.64 |
|
Visit of Bill Gates |
195.2 |
|
Visit of German Opposition Leader |
194.88 |
|
Visit of Norwegian Foreign Minister |
189.19 |
|
Irish Aid Our World Awards |
171.23 |
|
Northern Voices Exhibition |
167.28 |
|
EU Affairs Minister Meeting |
166.05 |
|
Visit of French Minister for European Affairs |
166.05 |
|
Irish Aid International Conference on Agricultural |
164.6 |
|
EU working Group on Humanitarian Aid |
154.98 |
|
OSCE 5+2 Conference (2) |
153.75 |
|
Irish Aid Volunteering Fair 2013 |
137.76 |
|
Visit of Romanian Foreign Minister |
137.76 |
|
Visit of Head of International Rescue |
137.76 |
|
Forum on Female Entrepreneurship |
134.33 |
|
Lecture by Mark O'Neill |
124.54 |
|
Irish Aid AWEPA Conference |
120.54 |
|
Visit of Swiss Foreign Minister |
120.54 |
|
Volunteering Fair, Limerick - 2011 |
119.55 |
|
Irish Aid Fellowship Annual Meeting |
119.55 |
|
Forum with Arab Ambassadors |
116.85 |
|
Africa Day Launch, Limerick - 2011 |
115.85 |
|
BT Young Scientist 2013 |
109.29 |
|
Meeting with UN Special Envoy to the Great Lakes |
103.32 |
|
Visit of Secretary General Council of Europe |
103.32 |
|
Irish Aid Annual Report Launch |
103 |
|
Global Irish Network Advisory Group |
102.15 |
|
Official visit to Korea/Japan |
95 |
|
Launch of Review of Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy |
86.1 |
|
Images of Seal of Office |
34.44 |
|
Image of Xi Jinping Visit |
17.22 |
|
|
161,493.37 |
*It was not possible to provide a full breakdown in the time available.
732. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; a list of uses of the external public relations firm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1450/15]
View answerOver the years 2011 to 2014, my Department did not incur expenditure on external public relations and communications services. Although it has been our practice not to engage the services of external public relations firms, we have from time to time commissioned consultants or companies with a public relations and communications background to provide other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management. DHR Communications is the only company which has been contracted since 2010, to manage and administer grants under the Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF) and Africa Day celebrations. The SCMF involves managing three funding rounds each year and managing the SCMF student competition. This typically involves the following activities:
- Convening national and regional information workshops;
- Managing and administering the application process;
- Organising the judging process;
- Providing detailed feedback to all applicants;
- Processing grant payments and keeping detailed administrative and financial records;
- Maintaining and updating the SCMF website.
It should be noted that expenses paid to third parties account for approximately 30% of the total paid to DHR for managing and administering the Simon Cumbers Media Fund. This includes costs associated with maintaining and updating the SCMF website, facilitating the judging process and raising awareness of the Fund among journalists. DHR was awarded a two-year contract to 2012 and was re-engaged in February 2012 for a further two years following a competitive tendering process. The contract was extended in 2014 for a further year.
Following a competitive tendering process, DHR was also engaged to plan, manage and execute a national Africa Day flagship event in Dublin. This includes the administration of a small grants scheme for regional events which DHR managed on behalf of the Department in partnership with a number of local authorities. DHR also worked to raise public awareness of the Africa Day events, including through the use of social media and the Africa Day website. This public awareness work represented a very minor element of the overall project and was conducted in close cooperation with my Department’s communications office.
Africa Day Family Days were hosted by the Department in Iveagh Gardens in 2009 and 2010, in CHQ in Georges Dock in 2012 and at the Farmleigh Estate in 2013 and 2014. In 2011, the Department supported a series of smaller-scale performances, family events, art exhibitions, debates and educational activities instead of hosting a flagship event.
In relation to the expenditure on Africa Day, expenses paid to third parties accounted for between 70% and 80% of the total costs listed below. This included expenditure on security, sanitation, venue set-up, health and safety issues and small grants to facilitate the participation of community groups.
DHR also provided short-term management support services for the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid, including the logistical management of the nationwide public consultation activities.
The table below sets out the payments to DHR since 2011.
Payments to DHR Communication for Project and Event Management 2011 to 2014
|
Name of Project/Event |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
SCMF |
€73,237 |
€47,430 |
€73,836 |
€60,338 |
|
White Paper Review |
€25,000 |
€26,026 |
nil |
nil |
|
Africa Day |
€6,806 |
€90,851 |
€118,644 |
€143,829 |
|
TOTAL |
€105,043 |
€164,307 |
€192,480 |
€204,167 |
733. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the information required for a person (details supplied) to obtain a passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1550/15]
View answerA passport application for this child was received by the Department on 29 May, 2012. However, it could not be finalised for passport issue under the Passports Act, 2008 on the grounds that his entitlement to Irish citizenship had not been demonstrated. The Department wrote to the applicant’s mother on three occasions about the application. The key points of this correspondence were:
(i) citizenship entitlement is based on s.6A of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 as amended. This requires three years actual lawful residence on the part of the child’s mother within a four year period preceding the child’s date of birth;
(ii) the evidence submitted by her only established reckonable residence (for the purposes of section 6A of the Act) for her from June, 2010 to January, 2012. The amount of her reckonable residence did not meet the statutory requirement of three years;
(iii) further evidence of the mother’s residence from February, 2008 to May 2010 was needed to finalise her son’s application. She was requested to provide this evidence. She was advised of the range of evidence that was acceptable to the Department for this purpose. This includes:
(a) tax records (i.e. P60s and/or P45s);
(b) Original copies of rent leases or bank mortgage repayments;
(c) employment pay slips; or
(d) record of social welfare benefit payments.
734. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of all consultancy firms engaged by his Department during 2014; if he will also provide details of all the relevant fees paid to those firms during the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1668/15]
View answerThe Department commissions professional external service providers and consultants where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not available within the Department. These services can be provided by individual contractors, partnerships or by organisations. In 2014 the Department engaged the following consultancy firms and paid fees as detailed.
Consultancy Firms Engaged in 2014
Groundworks
Nutrition Expertise to support Ireland’s engagement in the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement 2014-2015
Fees Paid: €39,555.39
NutritionWorks
Global nutrition policy expertise
Fees Paid: €18,873.92
Fitzpartick Associates
Appraisal of CAFE Aviation Conference on Africa
Fees Paid: €6,150.00
Carole Pretorius - Actra Advisors
Public Financial Management Specialist Services 2014 - 2016
Fees Paid: €33,306.90
Oghma Consultancy
Web Editor & CMS Trainer
Fees Paid: €25,070.00
Mokoro
Evaluation of Irish Aid Uganda Country Programme
Fees Paid: €79,215.99
Willis Risk Services (Ireland) Limited
Consultancy for insurance policy report and tender documentation for the Rapid Response Corps
Fees Paid: €5,150.00
Ecorys Nederland BV
Senior Evaluation Expert Irish Aid Malawi Country Strategy Paper, 2010-2014
Fees Paid: €0.00
ASM (B) Ltd
Auditing Services
Fees Paid: €7,933.50
735. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No 166 of 11 December 2014 if there have been any further developments in the provision of assistance for the proprietors of the company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1715/15]
View answerThere have been no further developments in our interactions on this case since 11 December 2014. The case currently remains under consideration in the United Arab Emirates’ legal system. My Department is therefore restricted in what it can appropriately do and it may be more helpful for the family to seek expert advice from their lawyers.
Officials of my department both in Dublin and at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, continue to monitor the situation. Should any material updates be received by the Embassy from the relevant authorities of the United Arab Emirates, the information will be forwarded to the family immediately.
