Tuesday, 14 Jul 2015

Human Rights Issues

Questions (130)

Brendan Smith

Question:

130. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the directions he or his Department have provided to State agencies or non-governmental organisations with regard to the continuous incarceration of an Irish citizen (details supplied) in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28337/15]

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Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

This case is being treated with the utmost priority by me and by officials in my Department, both in Dublin and Cairo.

My Department has a clear strategy in place, focussed on achieving a positive outcome at the earliest time possible. It 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 as soon as possible and, secondly, to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention.

A number of NGOs and other parties who are interested in this case have made representations to, or are in ongoing contact with, my Department. At no time did my Department ever seek to direct or circumscribe any actions taken by any NGO or state agency.

In April the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission contacted my Department and sought its advice on whether making a public statement on this case would be helpful. This request was made a few days prior to the first hearing when a bail application, formally supported by the Irish Government, was due to be considered by the court.

The Department's advice to the Commission was that a statement issued at that precise time might not be in the citizen's best interests. This advice was entirely consistent with the ongoing approach of the Department in this difficult case which has been to avoid, where possible, any actions which might prejudice the citizen's case in the eyes of the Egyptian authorities. It also did not seek to foreclose on the option of the IHREC issuing a statement after 26 April, when the bail application was in the event refused by the Court.

NGOs and relevant state agencies are of course free to pursue such courses of action they feel appropriate and I fully respect their right to do so. The Deputy will appreciate that all actions and statements by my Department must be guided by the imperative of what we judge to be in the citizen's best interests and in furtherance of the two key objectives outlined above.

Northern Ireland Issues

Questions (131)

Clare Daly

Question:

131. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding any contact he has had with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, Mr. David Ford, or with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, regarding prison conditions in Maghaberry; the implementation of the Stocktake report, with particular reference to the need for the establishment of the forum, with an independent chair, empowered to make recommendations, and with personnel from senior prison management authorised to make decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28220/15]

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Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

This is a repeat of my answer to Question No. 111.

Prison issues in Northern Ireland, in particular those which affect prisoners in separated accommodation, regularly feature in my discussions with Minister for Justice, David Ford MLA, and, on non-devolved matters, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP.

In my contacts, I emphasise the importance of building trust between separated prisoners and prison management in Maghaberry Prison, significantly damaged by the 2012 murder of prison officer David Black.

The way forward will be through the implementation of the recommendations of the September 2014 Stocktake Report of the Independent Assessment Team, which reviewed progress in implementing the August 2010 Maghaberry Prison Agreement.

Both the NI Prison Service and prisoners are agreed on the importance of implementing the Stocktake Report. The appointment of a new, independent, chair of the Prison Forum should assist progress on implementation, which to date has not moved as quickly as I would wish.

Strip searching, controlled movement, and detention in the Care and Supervision Unit (CSU) of Maghaberry Prison continue as points of difference and tension between prisoners and prison management. Balances are required to be found between vindicating the rights of prisoners in very restrictive imprisonment with the duty on management to ensure an environment where the health and safety of staff and inmates are protected. There are differences in emphasis between management and prisoners in where that balance lies, complicated by the differing responsibilities of the Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Office on these matters.

The effective address of strip searching, controlled movement, and the vindication of the rights of those in the CSU features in my regular discussions with Minister Ford and Secretary of State Villiers. In addition, my officials follow-up with the relevant Departments, with the NI Prison Service, and with the Prisoner Ombudsman on these and other matters. I am aware also that the new independent chair of the Prison Forum is seized of the importance of these issues.

Departmental Funding

Questions (132)

Noel Harrington

Question:

132. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a list of each of the current grant schemes administrated by his Department and available to community groups or projects; the total amount paid for each of these schemes for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27790/15]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

My Department currently administrates the following grant schemes:

1. Communicating Europe Initiative;

2. Europe for Citizens Programme, and

3. Local Diaspora Engagement.

The following table shows the total amount paid for each of the grant schemes administrated by my Department for each of the past four years to date.

Grants paid by Department between 2011 and 10th July 2015

Grant Scheme	Year	Total Paid
Communicating Europe Initiative	2012	€83,000
	2013	€174,489
	2014	€50,000
	2015	€32,500
Europe for Citizens Programme	2015	€25,000

A total of €200,000 has been allocated to the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund in 2015. Applications to the fund were invited from local and community groups and organisations based in Ireland on 7 May 2015, with a closing date for applications on 29 May. The purpose of the funding is to promote diaspora engagement at a county, local and community level, which is in line with objectives of the Global Irish: Ireland's Diaspora Policy published by Government earlier this year. Applications are currently being assessed and allocations will be announced shortly.

National Postcode System Implementation

Questions (133)

Noel Harrington

Question:

133. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Taoiseach 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. [28322/15]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

It is intended that the new Eircode postcode will be included where appropriate in all schemes and administrative roles operated by my Department. It is envisaged that my Department will be able to order its new stationery, including the Eircode, later in the year. There are no projected costs to my Department specifically arising from conversion to using Eircode.

European Council Meetings

Questions (134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142)

However, following the breaking off of negotiations by the Greek government, the holding of a referendum on 5 July, and the radical deterioration of Greece's financial situation, the situation in Greece was discussed at a special Euro Summit meeting on 7 July. At that meeting, it was agreed that the Greek government would, on Thursday 9 July at the latest, present proposals for a comprehensive and specific reform agenda for assessment by the three institutions and presentation to the Eurogroup. The Eurogroup considered these proposals at its meetings on 11 and 12 July.

After all-night talks, the Euro Summit reached agreement yesterday, 13 July, on a series of measures that will enable negotiations on a third programme of assistance, funded by the ESM, to begin. The Greek government has committed to legislate for a first set of measures by tomorrow. It is in everyone's interests that our Greek colleagues move swiftly with partners to ensure that the programme is finalised, with a view to providing certainty for the Greek people and returning stability and growth to the Greek economy.

The Euro Summit recalled that Member States have, throughout the last few years, adopted measures supporting Greece's debt sustainability, which have smoothed Greece's debt servicing path and reduced costs significantly. Against this background and in the context of the possible future ESM programme, they agreed to consider possible additional measures to ensure that gross financing needs remain at a sustainable level. It was stressed that nominal haircuts on the debt cannot be undertaken.

Throughout these negotiations, I have expressed Ireland's understanding and empathy with the difficult situation faced by the Greek people. I have highlighted our willingness to negotiate a way forward and achieve a sustainable solution that takes account of the realities of the situation in Greece, while also respecting existing commitments. I have stressed our determination to ensure that Greece can continue as a member of the euro area. At the two Euro Summits I intervened along these lines, and participated in the Summit's negotiations on the texts of the Conclusions.

The negotiations were undoubtedly difficult and Greece remains in a very challenging situation. However, if the agreed measures are now taken forward swiftly, I believe that there is a basis for Greece, with the support of partners, to return to stability and growth within the euro area. That is the objective towards which we have all worked and will continue to work.

While ECB President Draghi participated in the Euro Summit meetings of 7 and 12/13 July with a particular focus on financial stability and the situation of the Greek banks, there was no discussion on the general role of the ECB, nor is this in question. The ECB is, of course, independent in carrying out its mandate and tasks.

The issue of youth unemployment was not specifically discussed. However, the importance of supporting growth and job creation in Greece, as part of an overall agreement, was fully recognised, and is reflected in particular in the final paragraph of yesterday's Euro Summit conclusions which deals with the funding of investment in Greece.

I did not attend any bilateral meetings in the margins of the Euro Summit meeting on 7 July. Neither have I had specific bilateral contacts with Chancellor Merkel, President Hollande or President Juncker since the Greek referendum. However, I did, of course, meet and talk to these three leaders and my other euro area counterparts at the two Euro Summit meetings.

On 10 July, I had a detailed meeting with Prime Minister Renzi in Rome. During that meeting, we reviewed a range of issues on the EU agenda, including the situation in Greece, and discussed proposals to enhance our bilateral cooperation.