Thursday, 9 Jul 2015

Written Answers Nos. 242-251

Medical Card Delays

Questions (242)

Noel Harrington

Question:

242. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for discretionary medical cards to be processed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28227/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Questions (243)

Seán Crowe

Question:

243. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount each Irish embassy overseas cost in 2014. [28006/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The work of our missions around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation. Our embassies’ work in support of Ireland’s interests include: promoting Ireland as a source of high-quality exports, a destination for investment, research, study and tourism to targeted audiences and contacts; supporting trade missions and other trade-focused high-level visits, record numbers of which have taken place in the last four years; directly assisting Irish companies with advice, introductions and working to resolve regulatory or market access issues, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland; providing frontline consular and passport services to Irish citizens overseas; influencing and negotiating for Ireland on issues that could impact our interests and priorities.

The cost of each Irish Embassy in 2014 is set out in the following table. The cost of running Embassies includes staff costs, office costs, building rental and/or maintenance and other overheads.

Mission	€
ABU DHABI	706,322
ABUJA	606,671
Addis Ababa	1,370,619
ANKARA	719,245
ATHENS	770,084
BANGKOK	50,666
BEIJING	2,174,101
BERLIN	1,779,040
BERNE	839,305
BRASILIA	778,378
BRATISLAVA	370,390
BRUSSELS (EMBASSY)	942,160
BUCHAREST	718,372
BUDAPEST	604,538
BUENOS AIRES	574,243
CAIRO	797,917
CANBERRA	1,038,499
COPENHAGEN	762,001
Dar es Salaam	1,241,336
Freetown	652,495
Hanoi	1,269,073
HELSINKI	777,716
HOLY SEE	32,461
JAKARTA	687,812
Kampala	1,418,132
KUALA LUMPUR	655,499
Lilongwe	842,705
LISBON	581,539
LJUBLJANA	596,435
LONDON	5,453,778
Lusaka	881,854
LUXEMBOURG	525,757
MADRID	1,439,721
Maputo	1,541,664
Maseru	517,118
MEXICO	839,604
MOSCOW	1,294,529
NEW DELHI	1,109,847
NICOSIA	374,274
Nairobi	277,937
OSLO	792,583
OTTAWA	956,667
PARIS	3,330,617
PRAGUE	633,903
PRETORIA	1,197,544
RIGA	271,558
RIYADH	690,322
ROME	1,356,399
SEOUL	553,871
SINGAPORE	1,009,308
SOFIA	557,847
STOCKHOLM	737,995
STRASBOURG	664,547
TALLINN	492,693
TEL AVIV	1,004,707
THE HAGUE	1,102,539
TOKYO	1,759,801
VALLETTA	443,603
VIENNA	1,151,334
VILNIUS	424,813
WARSAW	1,070,963
WASHINGTON DC	2,157,206
ZAGREB	34,877

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Questions (244)

Seán Crowe

Question:

244. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish embassies overseas which are based in properties that his Department owns; and the value of each of these properties. [28007/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The work of our missions around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation. Our embassies’ work in support of Ireland’s interests include: promoting Ireland as a source of high-quality exports, a destination for investment, research, study and tourism to targeted audiences and contacts; supporting trade missions and other trade-focused high-level visits, record numbers of which have taken place in the last four years; directly assisting Irish companies with advice, introductions and working to resolve regulatory or market access issues, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland; providing frontline consular and passport services to Irish citizens overseas; influencing and negotiating for Ireland on issues that could impact our interests and priorities.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. However, I would caution that the figures include valuations which are subject to the price volatility of the current global property market.

The embassies listed have been acquired in locations where the Government considers that the State should be represented and where there is clear advantage to owning, rather than renting, accommodation. These premises provide platforms for the promotion of Ireland’s trade and economic interests and cultural heritage, while also serving as showcases for Irish arts, crafts and products.

Embassies owned overseas by the Department at carrying value in the Appropriation Account at 31 December 2014:-

Embassy	€
Australia	4,071,432
Denmark	932,628
Ethiopia	2,365,886
France (Paris)	45,000,000
France (Strasbourg)	1,816,500
Italy	18,455,260
Mozambique	2,815,000
Netherlands	6,153,522
Saudi Arabia	3,065,959
Tanzania	1,404,959
USA (Washington)	2,794,160
Zambia Chancery	476,605

Carrying value includes the valuation amount plus additional costs incurred since the valuation was completed.

Diplomatic Representation Expenditure

Questions (245)

Seán Crowe

Question:

245. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of overseas Irish embassies based in properties that are rented by his Department; and the amount spent in rent by each embassy. [28008/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The work of our missions around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation. Our embassies' work in support of Ireland’s interests include: promoting Ireland as a source of high-quality exports, a destination for investment, research, study and tourism to targeted audiences and contacts; supporting trade missions and other trade-focused high-level visits, record numbers of which have taken place in the last four years; directly assisting Irish companies with advice, introductions and working to resolve regulatory or market access issues, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland; providing frontline consular and passport services to Irish citizens overseas; influencing and negotiating for Ireland on issues that could impact our interests and priorities.

The information requested by the Deputy is listed in the following table. Figures relate to rental payments in 2014. My Department proactively manages our lease portfolio and engages actively with our Missions on an ongoing basis to ensure value for money and that, where possible, savings are made.

LOCATION	EMBASSY
ABU DHABI	€50,882
ANKARA	€83,976
ATHENS	€106,800
BEIJING	€476,368
BERLIN	€253,899
BERNE	€61,699
BRASILIA	€79,384
BRATISLAVA	€103,757
BRUSSELS	€148,783
BRUSSELS (PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE OFFICE)	€165,518
BRUSSELS (REPRESENTATION TO THE EU)	€1,024,730
BUCHAREST	€140,582
BUDAPEST	€164,216
BUENOS AIRES	€98,599
CAIRO	€88,308
FREETOWN	€33,161
GENEVA (Mission to the UN)	€306,606
HANOI	€163,416
HELSINKI	€113,594
JAKARTA	€17,120
KAMPALA	€279,316
KUALA LUMPUR	€77,867
LILONGWE	€62,624
LISBON	€90,460
LJUBLJANA	€111,640
LONDON	€692,374
LUXEMBOURG	€45,871
MADRID	€225,588
MEXICO	€123,332
MOSCOW	€275,847
NEW DELHI	€229,766
NEW YORK – Mission to the UN	€689,849
NICOSIA	€42,000
OSCE (VIENNA)	€121,788
OSLO	€175,949
OTTAWA	€96,678
PRAGUE	€164,917
PRETORIA	€49,707
RAMALLAH REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE	€45,392
RIGA	€34,655
SEOUL	€137,528
SINGAPORE	€200,114
SOFIA	€104,477
STOCKHOLM	€229,731
TALLINN	€98,536
TEL AVIV	€109,047
TOKYO	€126,931 (see footnote ii below)
VALLETTA	€95,709
VIENNA	€121,778
VILNIUS	€53,381
WARSAW	€206,890

(i) Abuja - No rent was paid in 2014 as rent was paid in 2012 to cover 3 years from July 2012 to June 2015.

(ii) Tokyo– this represents 3 months’ rent as 9 months was paid in advance in 2013.

Passport Applications

Questions (246)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

246. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28086/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

In the past five years over 630,000 passports have been issued annually by the Passport Service. Demand is currently up 4.5% over of the same period last year, meaning we are currently on track to issue 655,000 passports this year. Queries received by the Department through the dedicated channel of communication for Oireachtas representatives are dealt with without delay. When the Passport Service is notified by an Oireachtas member of the need to issue a passport in a situation of genuine urgency or emergency, such as death or serious injury or illness abroad of a close relative or a medical emergency relating to the applicant him/herself, a passport is issued as soon as possible. Due to the short time frame between receipt of the information concerning the emergency and issuance of the passport it is often not feasible to give an interim update to the Oireachtas Member.

Greek Referendum

Questions (247, 251)

Paul Murphy

Question:

247. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the result of the referendum in Greece that took place on 5 July 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28140/15]

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

251. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the "No" vote in the Greek referendum held on 5 July 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28158/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 251 together.

The Government has noted the result of the referendum in Greece. The position of the Irish Government is that we will continue to engage in an effort to reach a successful outcome. Following the referendum, Finance Ministers of the euro area Member States (the Eurogroup) met in Brussels to take stock of developments and to try to find a way forward. Heads of State or Government of the euro area Member States (the Euro Summit) subsequently met.

The Greek government submitted a new request for financial assistance from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) yesterday, which will be assessed by the Institutions in order to assess and analyse Greece's financing needs and the debt sustainability. Following the assessment the Eurogroup will be able to take a decision on whether formal negotiations can start.

Middle East Issues

Questions (248)

Paul Murphy

Question:

248. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the killing of a person (details supplied) by the Israeli defence forces; and on the resulting escalation of tensions in Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28141/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am aware of the tragic case in question and I deeply sympathise with the victim’s family on their loss. Without knowing the precise truth of the matter, serious questions should be asked in any responsible jurisdiction in a case where lethal force is used in such circumstances. I have expressed for some time in discussions at EU level my concern that the use of lethal force against demonstrators in the West Bank is becoming increasingly common.

I call on the Israeli authorities to urgently review both this case and the general use of live fire in policing the occupied territory.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (249)

Paul Murphy

Question:

249. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on possible air strikes against the group calling itself the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the parts of Syria this group controls. [28142/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ireland fully supports the removal of the terrorist threat posed by the ISIS group, consistent with international law. Air strikes have been conducted against ISIS in Iraq and Syria for a number of months. It is for individual States to determine in what way they might best contribute to the concerted international effort underway to tackle the threat posed by ISIS and other fundamentalist jihadists. I understand that the states involved in military action against ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria are acting at the request of the Iraqi government in the exercise of its inherent right to individual or collective self-defence pending action by the Security Council to restore international peace and security as recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and as notified by the US to the UN Secretary General on 23 September 2014.

Air Accident Investigations

Questions (250)

Paul Murphy

Question:

250. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on an international investigation of the shooting down of the MH17 flight in Ukraine; if he will support such measures at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28143/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH 17 over eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014 resulted in the tragic loss of 298 innocent lives. This event was met around the world with widespread shock and condemnation. On 21 July 2014 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2166, which Ireland co-sponsored, calling for a full, thorough and independent investigation into the crash in accordance with international civil aviation guidelines. An international investigation team consisting of experts from 24 countries, including most of the countries directly affected by this tragic incident and the International Civil Aviation Organisation has been working on and off the site since July 2014.

In September 2014, the investigative team issued a preliminary report which confirmed that the aircraft was most likely brought down as a result of impact from a “number of high-energy objects from outside.”

The investigation team is expected to release its full report later this year. Until that investigation has been completed it would be inappropriate to comment on its outcome.

Question No. 251 answered with Question No. 247.