Written Answers Nos. 120-125
120. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role of local market teams; the plans, if any, he has to extend these structures to other embassies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15884/15]
View answerFollowing the launch of the Government Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, a list of 27 priority markets was identified based on the experience and expertise of stakeholders and State agencies on the ground. This was formally adopted at the first meeting of the Foreign Trade Council, now the Export Trade Council (ETC), on 27 October 2010. Local Market Teams were established in each priority market, headed by the Ambassador and also comprising representatives of the Embassy and relevant State agencies. Each Local Market Team is responsible for drawing up annual Local Market Plans, ensuring that there is a coordinated approach in these priority markets. The implementation of the plans is reviewed by the ETC, which has responsibility for overseeing the overall implementation of the Strategy and issuing guidance to Local Market Teams as necessary. In a review of the Strategy, led by my Department and published in February 2014, a new market approach was introduced in order to reflect the opportunities available in dynamic, rapidly developing economies not currently listed as priorities in the Strategy. The outcome of the new market approach was the creation of a new category of ‘Exploratory and High Potential Markets’.
While the Local Market Team structure is not at this time operating in the seven markets designated as Exploratory and High Potential Markets*, reports have been submitted to the ETC identifying trade, tourism, investment, and education opportunities. This approach reflects the different stage of development in the markets involved, as well as the scale of State agency representation on the ground. Depending on developments in relation to State agency representation in these markets, it may be appropriate to establish additional Local Markets Teams in the future.
In all instances, the Embassy network, in both priority and other markets, working in close cooperation with the State agencies, continues to play a crucial role in supporting Irish businesses seeking to grow overseas, including through the organisation and conduct of Ministerial-led Trade Missions.
* Turkey, Indonesia, Nigeria, Chile, Mexico, Vietnam and Thailand
121. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the achievements of the previous global economic forums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15885/15]
View answerThere have been three Global Irish Economic Forums held to date in 2009, 2011 and 2013. The fourth Global Irish Economic Forum will take place from 19 – 21 November, 2015. The first Forum in 2009 was convened by the previous Government in response to the economic crisis that the country was facing. This Forum developed a new and more strategic level of engagement with the most influential members of the Irish diaspora. One of the most significant recommendations to come from this was the establishment in 2010 of the Global Irish Network. The Global Irish Network is a group of approximately 350 of the most influential Irish or Irish-connected individuals based in almost 40 countries worldwide. This Network is an invaluable resource to the Government and works closely with our embassies, consulates and state agencies around the world. The Global Irish Network has been convened twice since it was established at the Global Irish Economic Forum in 2011 and 2013. In addition a number of regional meetings of the Network have also taken place.
The Forum themes and outcomes have been closely aligned with the Action Plan for Jobs process. The Forums held in 2009 and 2011 were focused primarily on recovery, reputation building and job creation and a number of the initiatives that came out of these are still helping to create jobs in Ireland today including:
- Over 120 members of the Global Irish Network take part in the Global Irish Contacts Programme managed by Enterprise Ireland. This Programme directly links the diaspora with Irish companies looking to achieve international growth.
- Greater involvement of local Network members in the planning and organisation of trade missions in their respective regions. Network members were involved in the Invest in Ireland roundtable hosted by President Clinton in New York in 2012, and they are involved in the planning of high level visits abroad and Enterprise Ireland organised trade missions.
- The launch of ConnectIreland, which aims to create 5,000 jobs in five years, the first 1,000 of which have already been created.
In addition a number of other initiatives were established to recognise and celebrate the contributions of the Irish diaspora:
- The establishment of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.
- The establishment of the Certificate of Irish Heritage.
- The launch of the Gathering held in 2013 which saw over 5,000 gatherings held across Ireland, bringing 250 – 275,000 additional overseas visitors worth approximately €170m in revenue to the economy.
The 2013 forum took place in a different context to its two predecessors, looking to the future in the context of a country that has come through crisis with a restored reputation. Among the recommendations from the 2013 Forum that are complete or have been significantly advanced are:
- Irish Design 2015, which is showcasing the best of Irish design both at home and internationally throughout 2015;
- Considering whether Ireland can have a competitive advantage in the area of Smart Ageing;
- The launch of an agency to market Irish agri-business expertise globally;
- Inviting Global Irish Network members to bring conferences to Ireland; and
- The placement of Origin Green ambassadors in international businesses.
While most of the initiatives recommended at previous Forum have been advanced by Government, some of the ideas generated have been led by members of the Global Irish Network. Once such initiative which came from the first Forum in 2009 is Uversity - a Recognised College of the National University of Ireland. Uversity offers a Master of Arts in Creative Process and has been founded by twenty four higher education institutions across the island of Ireland.
The above is a flavour of the achievements of previous Forums and full details and reports of these can be found at www.globalirishforum.ie.
122. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the areas that have been identified for enhanced North / South co-operation arising from the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15928/15]
View answerThe Stormont House Agreement is a significant achievement that has the potential to advance genuine reconciliation between divided communities and progress economic prosperity for all in Northern Ireland and across this island. One of the commitments we made at Stormont House last December was to agree a report on new priorities for North-South co-operation. At the North South Ministerial Council Institutional Meeting that took place in Belfast on 25 February, I, along with Minister of State Sherlock, agreed that report with First Minister Robinson and deputy First Minister McGuinness. The report reflected discussions which have focused on areas of mutual benefit including economic recovery, job creation and improving service delivery and will be discussed further at the next North South Plenary meeting taking place in Dublin in June. While more work needs to be done, the additional areas of co-operation that I would wish to see prioritised on a North South basis would be those that deliver tangible benefits to the people of this island such as higher level education, agri-food, energy, climate change, creative industries, sport and other joint initiatives ensuring the most effective use of scarce public funds on both sides of the border.
Other possible areas include the benefits that could result from cooperation between Fáilte Ireland and their colleagues in Northern Ireland in areas of cultural and heritage tourism. Enhanced cooperation on Research and Development and Innovation is another area that is ripe for further collaboration for our mutual benefit.
On a final point, I would note that another commitment that was made as part of the Stormont House Agreement was to hold a meeting of Ministers in the North West. I look forward to this meeting taking place as soon as is practically possible and I believe it will provide an additional opportunity to drive forward additional North South cooperation.
123. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade How a person who is 16 years of age, who is living in Thailand for the past 14 years, but was born here (details supplied) can go about applying for an Irish passport. [15942/15]
View answerIrish officials in Bangkok are in the process of setting up a permanent Embassy. However, in the interim period, passport queries should be directed to the offices of the Honorary Consuls of Ireland in Bangkok and Phuket. An APS2 (passport application) form should be obtained from the office of the nearest Honorary Consul.Contact details for the Honorary Consuls in Thailand may be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs website at https://www.dfa.ie/embassies/irish-embassies-abroad/asia-and-oceania/thailand/. The APS2 application form is accompanied by an information sheet which gives detailed instructions with regard to completing the application form.
For an Irish born (pre 2005) minor applying for their passport the following documentation is required:
A fully completed and witnessed APS2 application form
4 Passport Photographs (2 witnessed)
Previous passport if applicable
Long form birth certificate.
There is an additional requirement for children; everyone under the age of 18 must have the consent of their parents/guardians to get a passport and this consent must be witnessed. The only exception to this is if the child is married. More detailed information regarding the consent of guardians may be found in Section 7 of the APS 2 information sheet.
124. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 651 of 15 April 2015 and 742 of 24 March 2015, the procedures around determining if someone applying for a passport has reduced capacity; if the view of a medical professional is required in making this determination; if it is on the basis of other information, or on the opinion of a Garda or other official; if the determination that the applicant is of reduced capacity is contested by the person, if there are any mechanisms in place to appeal this, or to have the opinion of a third party, with appropriate medical expertise, to determine the matter; if there are no procedures in place, his views that such procedures are necessary. [15953/15]
View answerThe Passport Service operates on the presumption that an adult making an application to the Passport Office has the capacity to do so. In the rare occurrence that the Passport Service is informed to the contrary, the application is reviewed in accordance with the provisions of S6 (4) of the Passports Act 2008. Section 6 (4) states, “An application for the issue of a passport to a person who is suffering from a physical or mental incapacity may be made on his or her behalf by a person duly authorised to act on his or her behalf.” Evidence supporting the claim of reduced capacity is required from a medical professional, HSE appointed social worker or court appointed legal guardian. In the situation where the passport applicant wishes to challenge the information received concerning his/her incapacity, this appeal can be made to the Director of Passport Services and all appropriate evidence will be examined. A circumstance has not yet arisen where the application of S6 (4) of the Passports Act 2008 has been contested by an applicant.
125. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has investigated the reason counties with the lowest disposable income have seen a significant drop-off in the number of students availing of a higher education grant; if it is the case that the grant is no longer sufficient to meet the costs for students who cannot commute to college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15324/15]
View answerThere are a variety of factors which impact on the number of student grant awards in any academic year which include but are not limited to, the number of applications, numbers transitioning from second level to third level, financial circumstances of individuals & their parents and increases in third level participation generally. With the establishment of SUSI as a single awarding authority greater consistency in terms of interpretation of a new single student grant scheme was introduced. Prior to the establishment of SUSI, the responsibility of processing and paying student grants, under four separate schemes, rested with 66 separate awarding authorities. The aim of the student maintenance grant scheme has always been to make a contribution to the cost of going to college; covering the full cost has never been a feasible option.
