Tuesday, 14 Jul 2015

Written Answers Nos. 712-726

Humanitarian Aid Provision

Questions (712)

Finian McGrath

Question:

712. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 23 June 2015, if any officials of his Department visited Tbilisi in Georgia to gather first-hand information on the damage caused, and to assess the practical assistance Ireland may provide; if he has been in contact with his counterpart in Georgia, and if he has offered assistance, in particular Irish expertise in flood defence measures, to help prevent a re-occurrence of damage caused by flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28290/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The flooding in Tbilisi last month had terrible consequences, including a death toll of at least 20. I wrote at the time to my Georgian counterpart to express the deepest condolences of the Irish Government. More recently, President Higgins attended a memorial service in Dublin for the victims of the floods, at which the Georgian Chargé d’Affaires and members of the Georgian community in Ireland were present. My Department was represented at official level. Ireland’s humanitarian funding is channelled through our UN and NGO partners, and no request has been made to date by UN humanitarian response operations to deploy members of Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps to Georgia to assist with relief efforts and the clean-up, nor have we received any requests for humanitarian funding from our NGO partners. The EU is providing €400,000 in humanitarian assistance for families affected by the floods. This funding is supporting the Georgian Red Cross and Non-Governmental Organisations to deliver relief, including food, household items, and water, sanitation and hygiene support. In addition, up to €3 million will be made available by the EU to help provide durable housing solutions.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will work through the EU in providing assistance to the people of Georgia at this difficult time.

Irish officials closely monitored the situation in the aftermath of the flooding. In particular Irish citizens resident in Georgia were contacted to establish if any had suffered as a result of the flooding. I can confirm to the House that no Irish citizen was among the victims of this tragedy.

Election Monitoring Missions

Questions (713)

Finian McGrath

Question:

713. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 504 of 23 of June 2015, if any additional persons have been added to the election roster since it was established in May 2013; if so, on what basis; the expertise the assessors had in assessing linguistic and computer skills; the way the assessors evaluate the language skills of the various applicants; if this involved an oral testing of the applicants; his views on whether his Department’s selection process meets the high standards expected by the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe; his further views on whether the current model of selection would be in a position to stand up to review through the Irish courts system, such as from roster members who were not selected, but who have significantly better qualifications and experience than those who were; if he will commission an independent review of the roster system including selection processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28291/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of 200 observers for such missions. The aim is to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international election observation missions organised in the main by the OSCE and the EU. In recent years, Ireland has successfully nominated monitors to participate in a large number of missions led by the OSCE and EU, the details of which can be found on the Irish Aid website.

The current election observation roster was established in May 2013 for a period of five years, following a review of the previous roster and a public call for applicants. An independent appraisal and ranking of all 263 eligible applicants was undertaken by two assessors external to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, against four criteria specifically related to election observation. These criteria were experience of election observation; knowledge of human rights and/or governance issues; language skills; and experience of challenging environments.

Arising from this, the 200 individuals who achieved the highest scores were selected to serve on the new election observation roster and a reserve panel of the next 10 highest scoring individuals was also established, from which replacements would be drawn should any members leave the roster during the five year period. Since its formation, four members have resigned from the roster. Three replacements drawn from the reserve list in order of ranking have been appointed to the roster and the process of appointing the fourth replacement is underway.

Ireland actively participates in the European Commission and European External Action Service - led European Observation network, which brings together election observation Focal Points from all EU Member States, together with Norway, Switzerland and Canada. The network facilities exchange of information and international best practice on all aspects of election monitoring and roster administration and helps to ensure that we are acting in accordance with that best practice.

I am satisfied that all applicants have been treated fairly and impartially and all unsuccessful applicants were invited to request feedback on their applications. Furthermore the independent review process which was established has facilitated two applicant reviews. In both cases, as set out in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 4 February 2014, the reviewer was of the view that the scoring of both applications was fair and impartial across all four published criteria.

I am confident that the current roster is well equipped to deal with the requisite requirements of the EU and OSCE. The Department will keep the process under review taking into account developments in the EU and OSCE context.

Diplomatic Representation

Questions (714, 715)

Micheál Martin

Question:

714. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will clarify statements made to Dáil Éireann on 14 May 2015 by An Taoiseach, in relation to the case of a person (details supplied), and specifically regarding the charges against this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20231/15]

Micheál Martin

Question:

715. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied), given the statements made to Dáil Éireann on 14 May 2015 by An Taoiseach, specifically regarding the charges against this person, and the scheduled hearings on the case; if he has discussed this specific matter with his Egyptian counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20236/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 714 and 715 together.

At a hearing of the case in April, Irish Embassy officials in Cairo were informed by this individual’s legal team that not all defendants were facing the same charges and that this individual is among the group of defendants who are not facing the most serious charges. This information was confirmed at a further meeting. As the local lawyers in any consular case are generally best placed to clarify issues relating to local law and the charges being faced by a citizen, this information has been relied upon in good faith.

This is the information which has previously been relayed to the House. However, any charges being faced need to be addressed - the situation is serious and the trial is ongoing.

The Government continues to seek further clarification in respect of the charges and their likely implication.

I discussed the case with my Egyptian counterpart on a number of occasions and we agreed to keep our channels of communication open. Moreover, at official level, my Department remains in ongoing contact with the relevant Egyptian authorities, both in Cairo and through the Embassy of Egypt in Dublin.

My Department has a very clear strategy in place focussed on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible. That strategy is based on two clear objectives: firstly to see this individual released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland and, secondly, to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention.

Since his arrest in August 2013, this citizen has been visited a total of 42 times by Embassy officials. This unprecedented level of consular visitation indicates clearly the priority we are placing on doing all that we can to carefully monitor his welfare in detention, and to advocate strongly on his behalf to the Egyptian authorities.

Human Rights Issues

Questions (716)

Micheál Martin

Question:

716. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the recent announcement by the British Government regarding its Human Rights Act; the implications of this announcement for the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21857/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The commitment of Ireland to the promotion and protection of human rights is an underlying principle of Ireland’s foreign policy and is a priority for the Government. Ireland is currently a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council and we pursue our human rights priorities in many international fora. Ireland is a firm supporter of the European Court of Human Rights and the European Convention of Human Rights system and liaises regularly with the UK in relation to the Council on Europe Committee of Ministers’ supervision of states’ implementation of Court judgments. There is not at this time any legislation before the British Parliament at Westminster to repeal the 1998 UK Human Rights Act. However, the British Government has announced its intention to bring forward proposals for a Bill of Rights to replace the Human Rights Act. These proposals have not yet been published. In the absence of any detailed proposal it is difficult to speculate on potential consequences. Obviously were any proposal to be made it would have to be carefully analysed. On the broad question of human rights and the Good Friday Agreement, the views of the Government are clear and unchanged. The protection of human rights in Northern Ireland law, predicated on the European Convention on Human Rights, is one of the key principles underpinning the Agreement. As a guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government takes very seriously its responsibility to safeguard its institutions and principles. The fundamental role of human rights in guaranteeing peace and stability in Northern Ireland cannot be taken for granted and must be fully respected. The Good Friday Agreement is clear that there is an obligation to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into Northern Ireland law and this is an ongoing obligation.

Placing human rights at the heart of the peace process in Northern Ireland has helped to ensure the participation and trust of all communities. The Government will work closely with the UK Government and with the power-sharing Executive in Belfast to ensure that the protection of human rights remains at the heart of civic life, politics and ongoing societal change in Northern Ireland.

I have conveyed the Government’s views on these issues to the British Government, as have other Government colleagues. We will continue to closely follow all developments on this matter.

Northern Ireland

Questions (717, 718, 719)

Micheál Martin

Question:

717. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the status of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21860/15]

Micheál Martin

Question:

718. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the review and monitoring meeting of the Irish and British Governments in relation to the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22960/15]

Micheál Martin

Question:

719. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions that will be taken following the review and monitoring meeting held on 2 June 2015 regarding the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22961/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 717 to 719, inclusive, together.

The full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement remains a priority of this Government and continues to be a key focus in contacts with the Northern Ireland Executive and with the British Government. The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Cameron discussed implementation of the Agreement at their meeting in London on 18 June, underlining the collective benefit of full implementation.

To continue to take forward this work, I represented the Government at the Implementation and Review meetings of the Stormont House Agreement in Belfast on 2 June and again on 25 June. A major focus of the 2 June meeting was the failure the previous week of the Welfare Bill to secure approval in the Northern Ireland Assembly, the potential consequent budgetary implications of this and its potential impact on the prospects for implementing the totality of the Stormont House Agreement. In the period since this meeting took place, a Budget Bill was agreed by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The 25 June meeting was an important opportunity to take stock of progress, including in the context of the ongoing political impasse in relation to welfare reform and wider budgetary issues. The meeting considered and approved for publication a progress report which outlines overall implementation of the Agreement, including work towards establishing new mechanisms to deal with the legacy of the past. In addition to the new mechanisms, the Northern Ireland Executive has undertaken to take appropriate steps to improve the way the legacy inquest function is conducted to comply with ECHR Article 2 requirements.

While good progress has been made across many of the Agreement’s work streams, a way forward needs to be found in relation to the ongoing impasse on welfare reform and wider budgetary issues. There is currently a limited window of opportunity to resolve these issues. It is essential that the political leaders in Northern Ireland face up to their responsibility to find a sustainable resolution to the issues at hand, and intensify their efforts on delivering the Agreement as a whole. The Irish Government will continue to support this collective effort.

Northern Ireland

Questions (720, 721)

Micheál Martin

Question:

720. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his Department officials are concerned regarding the allegations made in a recent programme (details supplied) broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation on alleged British state-linked murders during the troubles in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22958/15]

Micheál Martin

Question:

721. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be asking the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, to agree to a full independent investigation into the scale of the policy where the police, army, and MI5, worked with illegal paramilitary groups, resulting in the deaths of persons during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, as reported in a British Broadcasting Corporation's programme (details supplied) in May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22959/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 720 and 721 together.

It is a matter of public record that collusion occurred during the Troubles between British State forces and paramilitaries. Successive Irish Governments, in our ongoing bilateral relations and through the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg, have raised the issue of collusion with the British Government.

We continue to do so, including in relation to a number of individual cases of long-standing concern such as the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the case of the late Pat Finucane. In particular, we advocate that all relevant documentation be made available to be examined by the appropriate mechanisms. Such cases must be adequately addressed if we are to achieve a genuinely reconciled society.

Many families, including those bereaved by incidents in which collusion has been alleged, continue to deal not only with the awful pain of losing a loved one, but with the struggle for answers decades after these traumatic events. I understand and acknowledge the frustration of families who for too long have had to contend with inadequate mechanisms for addressing their cases. For that reason, the establishment of a new comprehensive framework for dealing with the legacy of the past, as envisaged in the Stormont House Agreement, remains a priority of the Government. We believe that these mechanisms offer the best hope of helping the thousands of families touched by the Troubles – including those affected by collusion.

These institutions will include a Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) to take forward investigations into Troubles-related deaths, as well as an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR) to enable victims and survivors seek and privately receive information about Troubles-related deaths. Good progress is being made on the establishment of these institutions which I believe will assist all victims, including the victims of collusion, in their quest for justice and the truth.

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Questions (722)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

722. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in addressing the undocumented Irish in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28304/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US remains a priority for the Government in our contacts with the United States. Through our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the U.S., we continue to work closely on this agenda with high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond. The aim of these contacts is to achieve relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and to improve channels for legal migration between Ireland and America. The administrative measures announced last November by President Obama, which could benefit thousands of undocumented Irish immigrants based in the US, were very welcome. I am conscious however that they remain under legal challenge in US Federal Courts and that in any case legislation in Congress is still needed to build on what has been promised in President Obama’s announcement. For that reason, the Government and our Embassy continue to avail of all contacts with the Administration and with Republican and Democratic political leaders to make the case for comprehensive immigration reform legislation. To that end, I recently met with John Boehner, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a number of his Congressional colleagues, when they visited Dublin. The Taoiseach also met with him and we both took the opportunity to re-emphasise the Government’s wish to see comprehensive legislative reform so as to provide relief for the undocumented Irish and a legal pathway to allow for future Irish immigration to the US.

The Government has also repeatedly raised the issue of immigration reform during other high level visits with US officials. During the Taoiseach’s visit to Washington for St. Patrick’s Day, he met with President Obama, Vice President Biden as well as other senior US Administration figures and key Congressional contacts from both sides of the aisle. These meetings provided an important opportunity to reiterate our concerns in regard to the position of the undocumented Irish, to seek further information on the detail of President Obama’s executive action and to encourage progress on a comprehensive legislative package by Congress.

I raised immigration reform issues when I met with Vice President Biden in Boston on 30 March. I have also discussed these matters on a number of occasions recently with US Ambassador O’Malley.

The Government as a whole, including my Department in Dublin and our Embassy in Washington, will continue to actively follow up on all of the issues raised in recent contacts with the US Administration, with Congress, in particular with the Republican leadership, and with the US Embassy in Ireland.

Passport Services

Questions (723)

Noel Harrington

Question:

723. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to include the new Eircode postcode in all schemes and administrative roles operated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28316/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

My Department’s Passport Service communicates with a significant number of our citizens each year. As such, we have considered this area in particular detail as we review areas of our work where the new Eircode rollout may require changes to our systems. We continue to review our systems to assess how we can support the implementation of Eircode and how we can maximize the benefits of Eircode to improve our communications. In particular, the Passport Office has upgraded its processes to allow for the capture and use of Eircodes. In recent weeks, a modified passport application form has been introduced which includes a new Eircode field in the address section.

We will continue to keep this issue under review.

Overseas Development Aid

Questions (724)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

724. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will be present for any part of the financing for development summit in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia; and his Department's key proposals. [28361/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

This week’s Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa is the first of three major inter-linked global conferences on sustainable development this year. The others will be on a new framework for global development at the UN in New York in September and on a new climate change agreement in Paris in December. Taken together, they aim to deliver a new and transformative sustainable development agenda, with Sustainable Development Goals, up to 2030. My colleague, the Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North-South cooperation, Seán Sherlock T.D., is leading the Irish delegation in Addis, which also includes representatives of the Oireachtas and civil society. Ireland is playing a strong international role in the overall process to agree a new framework for global development to succeed the Millennium Development Goals. The contours of agreement at Addis will need to be broad if they are to support the new set of Sustainable Development Goals to be adopted at the Summit at the UN in New York. Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be a vitally important element of the package, but agreement will also be needed on a much wider range of resources for development. It will be important that all parties contribute on an equitable basis and that we also look at measures to unlock all available sources of financing. These must include domestic resource mobilisation, the most rapidly growing component of development finance over the last decade, taxation, science and technology and ways of involving the private sector as inclusive partners in development. While ODA will not be sole focus of negotiations at Addis, it remains particularly important for the fight to end poverty in the Least Developed Countries. The Government remains firmly committed to the 0.7% target for ODA and to making further progress towards it as our economic recovery consolidates. Ireland played a vital role in the reconfirmation of the EU’s collective commitment to reaching the 0.7% target within the timeframe of the post-2015 agenda when Development Ministers met at the Council meeting on 26th May. The EU also agreed on the need to direct more aid to the Least Developed Countries, and especially to the poorest African countries. Ireland is a world leader in the proportion of our aid which we provide to the poorest countries.

Ireland is committed to working with our EU and UN partners to secure an inclusive agreement at Addis that will support the new, transformative Sustainable Development Goals.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (725)

Paul Murphy

Question:

725. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to mark the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre that occurred in Bosnia Herzogovina. [28393/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

On the twentieth anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, one of the most appalling atrocities ever to take place in Europe, we remember the more than 8,000 victims of this terrible massacre and our thoughts are with their families, friends and loved ones. The principal commemoration took place in Srebrenica on 11 July and Ireland was represented by Ambassador Pat Kelly, who is accredited to Bosnia.

Members of the Bosnian diaspora in Ireland organised a memorial event, which was supported by my Department, outside Leinster House on 7 July. That day, I issued a statement in which I recalled the lasting impact of the events on the victims and their families, as well as on the wider international community.

I reiterated the need to challenge and condemn any attempts to minimise or deny the genocide that took place at Srebrenica, and my belief that we must redouble our efforts to promote tolerance and respect as fundamental values.

I reaffirmed Ireland’s ongoing support for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina on their path to accession to the European Union.

Overseas Development Aid Expenditure

Questions (726)

Brendan Smith

Question:

726. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the time frame for Ireland to reach the United Nations target of providing 0.7% of gross national product for official development assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28419/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, which is at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future” our policy on International Development, sets out our vision for a sustainable and just world, and reaffirms our commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) in Official Development Assistance (ODA), and to making further progress on it as our economic recovery consolidates. On 26 May, EU Development Ministers, meeting in the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, reached agreement to reconfirm the EU’s collective commitment to reaching the 0.7% target within the timeframe of the post 2015 agenda, which will run until 2030. The Council also agreed on the need to direct more aid to the Least Developed Countries, particularly to the poorest African countries. Ireland is a world leader in the proportion of our aid which we provide to the poorest countries, and played a crucial role in helping reach agreement at the Council. 2015 is a crucial year for international development and Ireland is playing a strong international role in the overall process to agree a new framework for global development to follow on from the Millennium Development Goals, post-2015. We look forward to working with our EU and UN partners to secure an inclusive agreement in the coming months which will support the new, transformative Sustainable Development Goals.