Written Answers Nos. 386 - 395
386. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on all public and private, official and unofficial, engagements and meetings with a person (details supplied), and with senior executives within the person's media companies here; and the outcome of such meetings. [23042/15]
View answerI have not met with the person referred to by the Deputy or with any senior executives within that person’s media companies since being appointed as Minister for Defence.
387. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence if he raised any opposition to the European Union proposal to commence a military mission to prevent illegal smuggling off the coast of Libya; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23335/15]
View answerThe humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean remains of great concern to Ireland, and to its EU and Southern partners. On 20 April, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister for Justice & Equality attended a joint meeting of EU Foreign Affairs and Justice and Home Affairs Councils in Luxembourg. At that meeting, the Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner presented a 10 point plan of immediate action to be taken in response to the crisis situation in the Mediterranean. The key focus of the plan is on preventing loss of life.
On 23 April the Taoiseach attended a special meeting of the European Council at which the 10-point action plan was considered. A comprehensive range of commitments were agreed, including at least tripling financial resources for Operations Triton and Poseidon, thereby enabling an increase in the search and rescue possibilities within the mandate of FRONTEX. EU leaders also committed to actions to prevent illegal migration flows, to reinforce internal EU solidarity and responsibility in relation to the processing of asylum applications and relocation of migrants, and to combat traffickers in accordance with international law. As part of the Comprehensive plan, the Council invited High Representative Mogherini to begin preparations for a possible CSDP mission.
Subsequently, at the formal Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council with Ministers of Defence in Brussels on 18 May, a Council Decision to establish a European Union military operation, EUNAVFOR Med, in the South Central Mediterranean was adopted. The Mission’s mandate will be implemented in sequential phases. The first phase of the operation will support the detection and monitoring of migration networks through information gathering and patrolling in accordance with international law. A second phase, involving the targeting, seizure and possible destruction of the vessels and assets of human traffickers will only begin once appropriate UN Security Council authorisation is in place. The third phase is an operational/disruption phase, and the fourth and final phase is a mission withdrawal and completion phase.
While our focus remains on the humanitarian search and rescue mission to which we have deployed L.É. Eithne, Ireland is fully supportive of the first phase of the CSDP operation which is being carried out in full accordance with international law. In relation to further phases of the CSDP operation, we believe that many elements of the proposed action will require a UN Security Council Resolution. The Permanent Defence Force will not be participating in the mission in the absence of such a resolution. Ireland continues to support the actions of the Union to address the major challenge of migration in the Mediterranean. We cannot allow criminal gangs and smugglers to continue to exploit people at risk.
388. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Defence if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the White Paper on Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23344/15]
View answerThe preparation of a new White Paper on Defence is a key priority and drafting of the document is well under way.
I anticipate that the final draft of the White Paper will be submitted to Government by the end of July. Subject to Government approval, the White Paper on Defence will then be published.
389. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff in his Department currently on a sabbatical or career break, broken down by zero to six months, six months to 12 months, one year to two years, two years to three years, four years to five years and five years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23401/15]
View answerCivil Service policy on leave without pay is decided centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. There are a range of options open to staff wishing to apply to avail of periods of unpaid leave. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of staff in my Department currently on sabbatical/career breaks/carers leave is set out in the following table.
|
Duration |
Number of Staff |
|
0-6 months |
Nil |
|
6-12 months |
1 |
|
1-2 years |
3 |
|
2-3 years |
Nil |
|
4-5 years |
Nil |
|
5 years plus |
2 |
390. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form, by year, the total photography costs for his Department since coming into office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; if he will provide the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23417/15]
View answerThe total costs for photography paid by the Department in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 to date is set out in the following table:
|
Date |
Company |
Cost |
|
25/3/2011 |
Maxwell Photography |
€393.25 (Including VAT) |
|
9/11/2011 |
Maxwell Photography |
€849.42 (Including VAT) |
|
21/11/2012 |
Fennell Photography |
€116.85 (including VAT) |
|
10/07/2013 |
Maxwell Photography |
€17.22 (including VAT) |
|
21/11/2014 |
Maxwell Photography |
€713.40(including VAT) |
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, following an EU-level advertised procurement process, has established a Framework Agreement comprising five firms for the provision of photography services. The Framework was established in February 2012 and is open for use by all Government Departments and Offices. My Department avails of this Framework Agreement for photography needs.
391. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form, by year, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming into office; if he will provide the list of uses of the external public relations firm, internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23433/15]
View answerMy Department has not incurred any expenditure on external public relations since March 2011.
392. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence the total amount spent on external information technology consultants by his Department in each of the years 2010 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23449/15]
View answer395. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if his Department has re-negotiated external information technology consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23566/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 395 together.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the total amount of expenditure on external IT consultants by my Department in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and in 2015 to date is set out in the following table.
My Department is always mindful of the costs involved in engaging consultants. External consultants are engaged only when there is a clear need for specialised expertise and following a rigorous examination of skills and resources available in-house.
The objective of using outside consultants is to ensure that my Department achieves value for money by implementing recommendations for improvements in order to maximise efficiency and effectiveness.
My Department adheres to the standards set out in the Public Procurement rules & guidelines in awarding contracts. My Department has not re-negotiated any external IT consultancy contracts or costs since March 2011. Multi-annual contracts are regularly reviewed to ensure best value for money and are extended, within the terms of the contract awarded, provided that the quality of service required by my Department is being met.
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2010 |
€82,770 |
|
2011 |
€22,009 |
|
2012 |
€201,224 |
|
2013 |
€93,977 |
|
2014 |
€75,866 |
|
To date in 2015 |
€14,218 |
393. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence the protocols in place, since March 2011, to set standards in parliamentary replies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23497/15]
View answerA comprehensive guide to answering Parliamentary Questions, both written and oral, is available to all staff on the Department’s intranet. This guide, inter alia, addresses issues such as registration, distribution, drafting replies and formatting. All draft replies are initially approved by Heads of Branches, subsequently at Assistant Secretary level and ultimately by the Secretary General of my Department in advance of being submitted to me for consideration and, in due course, my reply.
394. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that parliamentary questions are adequately replied to within his Department; the steps he has taken, since March 2011, to ensure parliamentary questions are fully responded to within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23513/15]
View answerI am satisfied that Parliamentary Questions (PQs) are being adequately replied to within my Department.
In certain circumstances, particularly in cases where providing a comprehensive response to a PQ requires the gathering of data from across the Department, it will not be possible to respond in full to a PQ in the time available. In such instances, a holding reply issues to the Deputy and my office in the Department subsequently liaises with the relevant Branch in the Department to ensure that a full response issues as soon as is practicable.
