Written Answers Nos. 736-750
736. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions at recent EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings regarding the persecution of Christians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1762/15]
View answer737. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions at recent EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings regarding the persecution of religious minorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1763/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 736 and 737 together.
The persecutions of religious minorities, including Christians, while not appearing as a stand-alone item for discussion at recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meetings, is regularly reviewed as a critical dimension of developments on the ground in many regional crises.
In recent months, discussion in this area has been dominated by the ongoing crises in the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood, notably in Syria, Iraq and Egypt. As the Deputy will be aware, the Middle East is home to the some of the world’s most ancient Christian denominations. However, the violence and instability of recent years across the region has had a negative impact on many minority groups in the region, including Christians, with many of them reported to have left the region.
The European Union supports the protection of fundamental rights for all communities across the wider Middle East and throughout the world. This is reflected in the relevant Council Conclusions from FAC meetings where the EU has consistently voiced its unequivocal concern for the plight of vulnerable groups, including religious minorities, being targeted by extremists, and has strongly condemned acts of violence targeted towards religious and other minorities.
From Ireland’s perspective, I can assure the Deputy that we attach great importance to the fundamental rights of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. However, in situations of open conflict neither we nor the EU have any means to offer direct physical protection to populations located in combat zones. Whenever possible, we raise the issue of the safety of Christians and other religious minorities with the national governments through the appropriate bilateral and multilateral channels and consistently press for effective action to counter the persecution of all minority groups. I highlighted the issue when I addressed the UN General Assembly in New York on 29 September 2014. I also raised it during my meeting with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.
In cases such as Syria and Iraq, where the collapse of national government authority across large areas has been a key factor leading to the problem, the restoration of control by broadly accepted authorities is a critical prerequisite for safeguarding minority communities.
738. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the Stormont talks involving the Irish and British Governments and the five Northern Ireland Executive parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1772/15]
View answerFollowing eleven weeks of discussion, political talks in Stormont House, Belfast concluded successfully on 23 December. The Stormont House Agreement covers a broad range of political, social and economic issues and has the potential to advance significantly its twin aims of reconciliation and economic renewal. It sets out a plan for financial and budgetary reform. It proposes a way forward on flags, identity, culture and tradition through the establishment of a commission. It envisages the devolution of responsibility for parades to the Northern Ireland Assembly. It establishes a programme of institutional reform at Stormont and progresses a number of outstanding aspects from the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements. Very significantly, it establishes a new comprehensive framework for dealing with the legacy of the Past. This framework includes an oral history archive; a dedicated independent Historical Investigations Unit which will investigate Troubles-related deaths; and an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval to enable victims and survivors, North and South, to seek and receive information about the death of their loved ones.
As is the case with all participants in the talks, there were a number of additional issues which the Government would have wished to see progressed further but there was not sufficient consensus among the parties at this time.
Notwithstanding that it was included in a paper tabled by the Government at the outset of the talks, we were disappointed that a commitment to an Irish Language Act, either enacted in Westminster or the Northern Ireland Assembly, did not form part of the final Agreement. We welcome, however, the explicit endorsement in the Agreement by the British Government of the principle of respect for and recognition of the Irish language in Northern Ireland.
Similarly, while the Government would have wished to see the establishment of a North South Consultative Forum and a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, the necessary enabling consensus was not forthcoming during the Stormont talks. The Government will nevertheless avail of other opportunities to secure progress on these outstanding issues.
The months of the negotiations involved a huge commitment from both Governments and from all of the parties concerned. As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is conscious of our responsibilities to all of the people of this island. In the months ahead, we will continue to advance political progress and to play our part in the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. To this end, I will be attending the first quarterly meeting to review progress on implementation of the Agreement later this month.
739. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the proposal to establish a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1773/15]
View answer740. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the proposed Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1774/15]
View answer741. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the proposal to re-establish the Northern Ireland Civic Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1775/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 739 to 741, inclusive, together.
Key outstanding matters from the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreement were discussed in the recent Stormont House talks. In relation to the particular outstanding matters raised by the Deputy, the following is the position.
During the course of the talks, the Government advanced the view that a Bill of Rights could set out precisely and formally the rights upon which a shared society for Northern Ireland could be based. Sufficient consensus between the Northern Ireland Executive Parties did not exist to take this forward within the context of the Stormont House Agreement. However, the final Agreement provided that the parties commit to serving the people of Northern Ireland equally, and to act in accordance with the obligations on government to promote equality and respect and to prevent discrimination; to promote a culture of tolerance, mutual respect and mutual understanding at every level of society, including initiatives to facilitate and encourage shared and integrated education and housing, social inclusion, and in particular community development and the advancement of women in public life; and to promote the interests of the whole community towards the goals of reconciliation and economic renewal.
It is a matter of regret that agreement could not be reached on an Irish Language Act as part of the Stormont House Agreement. While the St. Andrews Agreement did provide a commitment to introduce an Irish Language Act, the British Government made it clear during the recent talks that, as language matters were now devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly, it would not legislate at Westminster for such an Act. It was equally clear that the necessary consensus among the parties for such legislation in the Northern Ireland Assembly was not forthcoming.
Nevertheless, the Stormont House Agreement does contain an important and formal recognition by the British and Irish Government of the need for respect for, and recognition of, the Irish language in Northern Ireland. An Irish Language Act remains an outstanding matter. The Government will continue to advocate for its enactment and to encourage those Northern Ireland parties which currently support an Act to continue to build the necessary enabling consensus among their Executive colleagues.
In line with the Good Friday Agreement, a Northern Ireland Civic Forum was set up in October 2000 but was suspended, along with the Northern Ireland Assembly, in 2002. Following the restoration of devolved powers in May 2007, the then First Minister and deputy First Minister considered the position of the Civic Forum in the re-established devolved arrangements and commissioned a review of the effectiveness and appropriateness of its structure, operation and membership.
The Government believe that greater civic engagement would stimulate informed public debate in Northern Ireland in relation to key societal challenges. This was the position put forward by the Government in the recent Stormont House talks. I welcome that the Stormont House Agreement provides for the establishment of a civic advisory panel to meet regularly on key social, cultural and economic issues and to advise the Northern Ireland Executive.
The Government will continue its efforts to ensure that the full potential of the Agreements is realised towards achieving effective partnership government, genuine reconciliation between divided communities and economic prosperity for all in Northern Ireland.
743. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures being taken at a national and an EU level to address the persecution of Christians across the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1782/15]
View answerIreland condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who are the victims. Ireland is deeply concerned by the persecution of Christians.
Ireland attaches great importance to combatting all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.
Where possible, Ireland raises the issue of the safety of Christians through its official bilateral contacts with the countries in question, stressing the responsibility of the government to protect all citizens and minorities. We consistently press for effective action to counter the persecution of minorities in all relevant international fora, including the EU and UN. I highlighted the issue when I addressed the UN General Assembly in New York on 29 September 2014. I also raised it during my meeting with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.
Ireland works within and alongside the EU to address the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities, notably with the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief adopted during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013. These Guidelines provide EU officials with an overview of the legal and policy framework within which the right to freedom of religion or belief is protected. They also elaborate an EU strategy on how to engage with third countries on the right to freedom of religion or belief, a strategy which we hope to see bear fruit as we assess the implementation of the Guidelines.
The EU leads resolutions on freedom of religion or belief at both the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and at the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, of which Ireland is currently a member. Ireland is an active participant in the negotiation of these resolutions. In 2014, the EU-led resolutions on freedom of religion or belief were successfully adopted without a vote by the HRC (March 2014) and by the UN General Assembly during its 69th session (December 2014). Ireland also raised concerns in relation to persecution on the basis of religion or belief in interactive dialogues with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion during the 69th session of the Third Committee in 2014.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique peer review mechanism whereby the human rights records of individual states are reviewed in the UN Human Rights Council. Ireland is an active participant in the UPR, and where applicable, raises concerns in relation to persecution on the basis of religion or belief during the dialogue with states under review.
I can assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to actively support freedom of religion or belief across our foreign policy.
744. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures being taken at a national and an EU level to address the persecution of women and the abuse of female human rights across the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1783/15]
View answerIreland has a strong track record in addressing gender equality through its foreign policy and development cooperation programme, and remains fully committed to combatting all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.
As a member of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the term 2013-2015, Ireland has prioritised efforts to combat all forms of discrimination and promote gender equality. At the HRC, Ireland has actively participated in the negotiations of, and co-sponsored, resolutions on the elimination of discrimination against women; violence against women; female genital mutilation (FGM); preventable maternal mortality and morbidity; realising the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl; and strengthening efforts to prevent and eliminate child, early and forced marriage.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique peer review mechanism whereby the human rights records of individual states are reviewed in the UN Human Rights Council. Ireland is an active participant in the UPR, and regularly raises concerns in relation to the promotion of women’s rights and equality.
The protection and fulfilment of women’s human rights is also a priority for Ireland at the UN Third Committee, which deals with social, humanitarian and human rights issues. At the Third Committee, Ireland has led negotiations for the EU on resolutions on women human rights defenders, and on trafficking in women and girls.
As part of our commitment to advancing gender equality, Ireland played a key role in the establishment of UN Women, and is an active participant in the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which is the principal global policy-making body on gender equality and the advancement of women. Ireland presented its candidature in November 2014 to one of the seats on the CSW for the term 2018 – 2022. If elected, this will be the first time that Ireland has served on the Commission, and will enhance our commitment to the promotion of gender equality.
Ireland has also been a strong advocate of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and has taken a leadership role in the international arena calling on other states to commit to implementation of this resolution. The resolution calls for an increase in the participation of women in peacemaking and peacebuilding processes; the protection of women and girls in armed conflict; and the incorporation of a gender perspective into peacekeeping and peacebuilding processes. In 2011 Ireland adopted its first National Action Plan on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 for 2011-2014. This Plan has been recognised as a model of best practice internationally in terms of civil society involvement in drafting and monitoring.
Today, I was very pleased to launch Ireland’s second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2015-2018). The Plan outlines the steps Ireland will take in order to ameliorate the unique adverse effect of conflict on women and girls, and to increase the empowerment and participation of women in decision-making in conflict and post-conflict situations.
Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are priorities in our official development assistance programme. All recipients of Irish Aid funding are required to demonstrate their commitment to these goals. Both bilaterally in our engagement with partner countries, and at the UN and in other multilateral bodies, we consistently emphasise the importance of gender mainstreaming as a key aspect of ending poverty, hunger, discrimination and vulnerability across the globe.
Currently, the final phase of the post-2015 negotiations on a new framework for global development is getting underway at the United Nations. Those negotiations will produce a set of Sustainable Development Goals which are expected not only to continue the effort to eliminate extreme poverty but also address areas of climate, governance, consumption and production and economic growth and be universally applicable to all countries. Ireland has been consistent in the post-2015 negotiations to date on the need for a strong goal on gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as effective mainstreaming across all other goals, targets and indicators. Such a goal would reflect the renewed commitment to fulfilling our obligations to dismantle the structural underpinnings of gender inequality, transform gender relations and effect positive change in the lives of all women and girls. We are also prioritising an end to gender-based violence, which remains the most pervasive yet least recognized human rights abuse in the world.
In 2008, the EU adopted guidelines on violence against women and girls and combatting all forms of discrimination against them. The EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy was adopted in 2012 and states that the protection of the rights of women and protection against gender-based violence is a clear priority for the EU. The EU also regularly raises abuse of the rights of women in human rights dialogues with third countries and gives support to civil society initiatives which tackle gender-based violence and feminicide.
I can assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to advocate for the respect, protection and fulfilment of women’s human rights worldwide.
745. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the number of EU directives which remain to be implemented within his Department; the name of these directives; the timeframe for the implementation of these directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1794/15]
View answerThere are currently no EU Directives remaining to be implemented within my Department.
746. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas. [1815/15]
View answer747. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department since September 2013. [1830/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 746 and 747 together.
No bills have been initiated by my Department since September 2013.
748. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of secondments from his Department to external private firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1844/15]
View answer749. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of secondments based in his Department from external private firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1858/15]
View answer750. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [1872/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 748 to 750, inclusive, together.
No secondments have taken place between my Department and any external private firm during the period in question. To date, the usual secondment arrangements in my Department have involved staff coming from or going to other Departments and State Agencies such as the IDA. However, as I announced at this week’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Conference, my Department is in the process of finalising an initiative which will provide for the temporary exchange of personnel between the Department and leading global Irish firms. The first exchanges will take place in the coming months with global aviation leasing company, Avolon Holdings, with further exchanges planned for later this year.
Such exchanges will further Ireland’s role in the global economy through enhancing the skillsets, contacts and experience of personnel in both the public and private sectors.
