Written Answers Nos. 146-151
146. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health the average age of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, State bodies, semi-State bodies and State agencies under the aegis of his Department on the State's payroll; the number of directors on the board of more than one such body; the number of women; and his plans to make savings from this area. [12558/15]
View answerA table sets out the Exchequer funded agencies currently under the remit of my Department. My Department does not keep a record of the age of Chairpersons or Ordinary Members of these boards. I can confirm to the Deputy that none of these members serves on more than one board under the aegis of my Department. The table also sets out the number of women on each board and summarises the gender balance on each.
Composition of these Boards is set out in legislation. There are currently no plans to amend the composition of any Board. Each aims to carry out its functions in a cost effective fashion.
|
Board |
Male Membership |
Female Membership |
Current Ratio |
|
Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
5 |
2 |
71:29 |
|
Safefood |
5 |
6 |
46:54 |
|
Health and Social Care Professionals Council |
13 |
12 |
52:48 |
|
Health Information and Quality Authority |
5 |
7 |
38:62 |
|
Health Research Board |
9 |
1 |
90:10 |
|
Health Products Regulatory Authority (Approx. 14% Exchequer funded) |
5 |
4 |
56:44 |
|
Mental Health Commission |
5 |
8 |
38:62 |
|
National Cancer Registry |
3 |
4 |
43:57 |
|
National Treatment Purchase Fund |
6 |
3 |
67:33 |
|
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council |
15 |
2 |
88:12 |
147. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health the total number of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, State bodies, semi-State bodies and State agencies under the aegis of his Department on the State's payroll; the total cost to the State from the pay-out to these non-executive directors including fees, travel and other expenditure; his plans to reduce the number of these chairpersons or directors [12608/15]
View answerThe detailed information requested by the Deputy regarding fees paid to Chairpersons and Directors of State or partially owned State companies is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
148. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent trip to the Middle East and his meetings with the foreign Minister of Israel, Mr. Avigdor Lieberman, the Palestinian President, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr. Rami Hamdallah. [12200/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 155 on 25 February, which was as follows: "From 15th to 19th February, I visited Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territory.
I had also intended to visit Jordan but it was not possible to visit on this occasion due to deteriorating weather conditions. I hope to reschedule that visit in the near future.
In Lebanon, I had the opportunity to meet with the UNIFIL Force Commander, Lieutenant General Portolano, who briefed me on UNIFIL's operations and, in particular, on the impact on those operations of the continuing regional instability. I also visited the Irish UNIFIL troops and I had the honour of laying a wreath at the memorial in Tibnin in honour of the Irish soldiers who have died in UNIFIL service.
The primary purpose of my visit to Israel and the Palestinian territory was to gather information and develop a deeper understanding of the situation on the ground in the context of the Middle East Peace Process.
What was striking overall was that increasing instability, in particular arising from the conflict in Syria and the violence unleashed by the so-called Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, but including the deteriorating situation in Yemen and Libya, is casting a shadow over the entire region.
I met with a range of interlocutors, including the Foreign Minister of Israel, Avigdor Liberman, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah. I did not meet with Hamas in Gaza.
I also met with UN agencies and with civil society groups to develop a better understanding of the issues faced on all sides.
In Gaza, I was struck by the desperation of the humanitarian situation for so many people on the ground. There, I met with Pierre Krahenbuhl, the Commissioner General of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
I visited an UNRWA school and a temporary shelter for families displaced by last year's conflict, where I met with a number of families directly affected by the conflict.
In my subsequent meeting with Foreign Minister Liberman, I raised the need to make further progress in lifting the blockade, to meet humanitarian need and as an enabler of social and economic progress.
One of the big challenges for the reconstruction of Gaza is that much of the money committed at the Cairo Conference on Reconstruction has not yet materialized. I was pleased to announce funding of €4.7 million for UNRWA and the UN's Emergency Response Fund in the course of my visit. I hope that other donors can move quickly to deliver on their commitments.
I also met Israelis living near the border with Gaza who live in fear of Hamas attacks.
In the West Bank, I saw at first-hand the impact of settlements, including on the daily life of Palestinians. In my meeting with Minister Liberman, I raised the issue of settlements and the fact that their continued expansion is a threat to the viability of a two-State solution.
At the end of my visit, I had an opportunity to discuss the situation with the Quartet representative, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
I also had a telephone conversation with the leader of Israel's Labour Party, Isaac Herzog, who has strong links with Ireland.
In all of my meetings, I emphasised the need for political leadership and risk-taking.
Israel is currently in the middle of an election and I hope that we will also soon see elections to the Palestinian Authority.
I met last month in Dublin with the EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, and I spoke with her again from Israel last week.
She is committed to increasing the EU's engagement in the Middle East Peace Process. She is proposing a reappraisal of the EU's approach and how it can best contribute to creating the conditions for a resumption of purposeful negotiations aimed at the achievement of a two-State solution in cooperation with other key players.
This accords with my own thinking, and my visit will enable me to contribute substantively to the discussions she will convene.
I also had a number of engagements not directly related to the Middle East Peace Process.
I visited the site of Teva, an Israeli pharmaceutical company that employs more than 500 people in Ireland. This was an important reminder that Ireland's relations with Israel are, and should be, multifaceted.
I was also honoured and moved to lay a wreath at Yad Vashem, the memorial to the victims of the Holocaust."
149. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the fact that Sweden recently recognised the state of Palestine, his plans to do the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12201/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 449 on 10 March, which was as follows: "The Government's approach to the question of the recognition of Palestine was set out in detail during the course of the debate held in the Dáil on 9 and 10 December. The Dáil motion called on the Government to recognise a State of Palestine as a further positive contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Achieving and recognising a Palestinian state has always been the Government's objective, and our policies are directed towards that aim. While successive Governments have always seen recognition coming as part of an agreed peace, I have made clear that I have no difficulty in principle with the idea of early recognition, if I believe it can contribute to achieving a settlement of the conflict. The present stalemate is not acceptable, and I am open to any action that can move things forward positively. The EU at the November 2014 Foreign Affairs Council, with my strong support, began a process of reflection among Ministers as to the implications and possibilities of recognition.
In parallel to the work ongoing at EU level, I continue to reflect on what early recognition could mean both for Palestine and for Ireland's influence on this critical issue.
During my visit to the region at the end of February, I met with leaders on both sides, including the Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Liberman and the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas. The issue of recognition came up in those meetings.
I expect a discussion at the April Foreign Affairs Council, after the Israeli election on 17 March. I welcome the High Representative Mogherini's indications that she intends to enhance EU engagement in the Middle East Peace Process."
As the Deputy is aware, the Israeli election has taken place and the process of trying to form a Government is underway.
I look forward to an early discussion among EU Foreign Ministers.
150. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the latest update on the situation regarding an Irish citizen (details supplied) who has been in Egyptian custody since August 2013 and who is still awaiting trial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12202/15]
View answerI remain deeply concerned at this individual's continued detention as well as the numerous postponements of his trial.
The trial is due to be heard this coming Sunday, 29 March; officials of the Irish Embassy in Cairo are scheduled to attend the hearing. I and officials in my Department are monitoring all developments closely. This is a difficult case involving a foreign legal system and the judicial processes of another state. However, it remains the Government's view that this individual should not be tried as part of a group trial involving a large number of defendants and on the basis of group charges.
I would like to assure the deputy that officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Dublin and in Cairo, remain in ongoing contact with this individual and his family, and will continue to work actively towards the achievement of a positive outcome to this case while continuing to offer full consular support to this Irish citizen.
151. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the recent election results in Israel and the Israeli Prime Minister reneging on his commitment to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, if he will be arguing for trade and other economic sanctions to be imposed by the European Union at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. [12271/15]
View answerThe new Israeli Government has not yet been formed, although the strong expectation is of a renewed conservative coalition under Prime Minister Netanyahu. It is too early to speculate on what that government might do, or what effects this might have.
While some statements made during the campaign were certainly unhelpful, we must pay closest attention to what the incoming Government actually does and what is agreed in its Programme for Government. I will continue to evaluate Ireland's approach in this context.
The Irish Government remains firmly committed to a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is a view shared in the international community as the reaction to the Israeli election outcome made clear.
All of our actions and policies at EU and international level are constructively designed to advance the goal of peace and secure a comprehensive peace agreement at the earliest opportunity.
