Written Answers Nos. 618 - 634
618. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total cost of public advertising, statutory and non-statutory, funded by his Department in 2013 and 2014; the corresponding figure for agencies under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30026/15]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Vote 27: International Cooperation. There are no agencies under the aegis of my Department.
Advertising undertaken by my Department relates mainly to notification of changes to passport and consular fees, public office opening hours, and occasional notices concerning employment, grants, and other matters, including Irish Aid activities, which require communication to a national audience.
Total expenditure on public advertising under Vote 28 was:
2013 - €34,212
2014 - €26,238
Total expenditure on public advertising under Vote 27 was:
2013 - €20,461
2014 - €23,592
Publication of notices in Iris Oifigiúil amounted to €115 in 2013 and €559 in 2014.
619. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost in 2013 and 2014 of printing reports by his Department and agencies under the control of his Department; the corresponding figure for annual reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30041/15]
View answerDepartment is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation).
The Annual Reports of Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) are published online and do not incur printing costs.
The cost of printing other reports by Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) is outlined as follows.
|
Year |
|
|
2013 |
€2,005 |
|
2014 |
nil |
The cost of printing reports by Vote 27 (International Cooperation) is outlined as follows.
|
Year |
|
|
2013 |
€40,430 (including annual report €14,708) |
|
2014 |
€28,060 (including annual report €16,046) |
620. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost in 2013 and 2014 of issuing hard copy payslips to staff or retired staff by his Department and agencies under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30056/15]
View answerMy Department implemented a system of online payslips a number of years ago. Since then the vast majority of the 1,300 staff paid by the Department access their payslips electronically. However, approximately 85 staff per week, receive paper payslips as they do not have access to the electronic system. The cost of issuing these hard copy payslips to staff by my Department was approximately €500 in 2013 and €500 in 2014.
621. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade If he will outline and itemise all expenditure undertaken by his Department on private travel for him and-or his private office, on legal fees, on consultancy fees and on hotel accommodation during the 12-month period to 30 June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30071/15]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes, Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation).
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not bear the cost of private travel.
It has not been possible to compile the requested information in the time available. I have asked my officials to provide the requested information directly to the Deputy as soon as it is collated.
622. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the expenditure profile for his Department at the end of June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30082/15]
View answerThe Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation).
Monthly profiles for expenditure are in place in my Department and performance against profile is reported regularly to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is published as part of the Monthly Exchequer Statement. The Monthly Exchequer Statement for June has been published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Vote 28 figures at the end of June are outlined in the following table:
|
- |
Profile to 30th June €’Million |
Expenditure to 30th June €’Million |
Variance 30th June €’Million |
|
Pay |
37.6 |
37.5 |
(0.1) |
|
Non-pay |
51.2 |
54.7 |
3.5 |
|
Capital |
1 |
0.8 |
(0.2) |
|
Total Expenditure |
89.8 |
93 |
3.2 |
Pay was on profile to end June. Non-pay was ahead by €3.5M mainly due to payment to international organisations being higher of expectation. Capital is behind profile by €0.2M.
International Co-operation Vote 27 figures at the end of June are outlined in the following table:
|
- |
Profile to 30th June €’Million |
Expenditure to 30th June €’Million |
Variance 30th June €’Million |
|
Pay |
7.4 |
6.9 |
(0.5) |
|
Non-pay |
193.9 |
246.9 |
53.0 |
|
Capital |
0.1 |
0 |
0.1 |
|
Total Expenditure |
201.4 |
253.8 |
52.6 |
Pay was behind profile by €0.5M with non-pay ahead of profile by €53M due to funding to Key Partner Countries and Civil Society Organisations being paid slightly ahead of expectation.
623. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council and with the United Nations the urgent need to comprehensively address the ongoing major loss of life and utter devastation caused by the use of barrel bombs in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30083/15]
View answerI have repeatedly condemned all violence against civilians in Syria by the Assad regime, militia forces and terrorist groups, including the abhorrent use of barrel bombs which are an indiscriminate weapon aimed primarily at terrorising the Syrian population.
Ireland has consistently supported greater engagement by the Security Council on tackling the crisis in Syria. All EU Member States, including Ireland, co-sponsored a resolution calling for referral of the Syrian conflict to the International Criminal Court. I reiterate Ireland’s support for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
Any decision on measures to prevent the use of barrel-bombs, such as the possible establishment of a no-fly zone in Syria, is a matter which falls to the UN Security Council.
Regrettably, the Security Council has in recent years repeatedly failed to agree on effective measures to tackle the political and security situation in Syria, with repeated vetoes on proposed action by permanent members of the Council. There is little prospect that any proposal for such a resolution will be approved by the Council at this time.
624. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is responsible for all board appointments where such power to appoint persons to State boards is vested in him by statute; if any politically appointed State employee outside of his Department is involved in decision-making concerning such appointments, in particular, if, during the lifetime of the Government, a named person (details supplied) has had any influence over any appointments made by him; if he or officials from his Department have corresponded with that person regarding the composition of and appointments to State boards to which he has statutory power to make appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30111/15]
View answerThere are no State Boards operating under the aegis of my Department.
625. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total current and capital funding allocated to his Department; the underspend or overspend in 2015 to date under each category based on his Department's spending profile; the funding made available within and external to his Department's functions to support innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30126/15]
View answerThe Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation).
Monthly profiles for expenditure are in place in my Department and performance against profile is reported regularly to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is published as part of the Monthly Exchequer Statement. The Monthly Exchequer Statement for June has been published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Vote 28 figures at the end of June are outlined in the following table:
|
- |
Profile to 30th June €’Million |
Expenditure to 30th June €’Million |
Variance 30th June €’Million |
|
Pay |
37.6 |
37.5 |
(0.1) |
|
Non-pay |
51.2 |
54.7 |
3.5 |
|
Capital |
1 |
0.8 |
(0.2) |
|
Total Expenditure |
89.8 |
93 |
3.2 |
Pay was on profile to end June. Non-pay was ahead by €3.5M mainly due to payment to international organisations being higher of expectation. Capital is behind profile by €0.2M.
International Co-operation Vote 27 figures at the end of June are outlined in the following table:
|
- |
Profile to 30th June €’Million |
Expenditure to 30th June €’Million |
Variance 30th June €’Million |
|
Pay |
7.4 |
6.9 |
(0.5) |
|
Non-pay |
193.9 |
246.9 |
53.0 |
|
Capital |
0.1 |
0 |
0.1 |
|
Total Expenditure |
201.4 |
253.8 |
52.6 |
Pay was behind profile by €0.5M with non-pay ahead of profile by €53M due to funding to Key Partner Countries and Civil Society Organisations being paid slightly ahead of expectation.
There is not a specific budget line for supporting innovation in my Department. However a number of internal resources are dedicated to reviewing and improving internal processes and external service delivery. is delivered both through the Department’s Knowledge Management Taskforce and through encouraging innovation across the Department’s business units through the business planning process. The Department’s new Statement of Strategy commits to strengthening our influence and our capacity to deliver our goals and the Department is regularly in touch with colleagues working on innovation across Government Departments including through our participation in the cross Departmental Business Process Improvement Network led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
626. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department or agencies under the authority of his Department have performed an assessment of the potential savings to be accrued, if current paper-based application processes by members of the public were replaced with a fully on-line application system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30141/15]
View answerSignificant progress has been made on the Consular Services side of my Department in providing online application processes. Both applications for Citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration and applications for Certificats de Coutume (letters of freedom to marry or enter a civil partnership abroad) use online systems to launch applications. However, while this has resulted in more efficient processing, in both these cases it remains necessary for applicants to submit original supporting documentation, including birth and other certificates, to prove their entitlement. Therefore, a totally on-line service is not possible, as original documents must be physically seen to be assessed for authenticity.
We also provide an e-apostille system which is an online service which allows users worldwide to check the veracity of Irish documents for use abroad which have been authenticated by my Department. This provides a speedier and more responsive service for applicants, but has not delivered significant cost savings.
In terms of passport applications, the application process for the passport card, which is due to be launched in September, will be used to pilot an online system which could be used in due course for adults wishing to renew their passports. An assessment of potential savings and customer service improvements likely from an online service will be undertaken as part of the pilot.
The Reconciliation Fund - formerly known as the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds - awards grants to organisations (mainly small community groups) working to address sectarianism and to further peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain. The Fund currently operates a paper-based application system. Options for a Departmental-wide approach to an on-line application process for funding schemes will be considered by the Department’s Knowledge Management Working Group in 2016 and potential cost savings will be considered as part of that exercise.
628. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an application for a passport by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be examined urgently; and dealt with expeditiously, given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30173/15]
View answerThis passport has been printed, and has been available for collection in Cork Passport Office since 14/07/2015.
629. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the ongoing conflict in the Republic of Yemen with his European Union counterparts; if he will do so at the next European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30196/15]
View answerAt the April meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, I engaged in a discussion with EU Foreign Ministers of the crisis in Yemen which has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation.
This meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council adopted conclusions which reflect the EU position on the conflict and which called for an inclusive political process to find a solution.
Subsequently, in mid-June, and with the fighting continuing, the warring factions in Yemen finally came together in Geneva for proximity talks brokered by the UN Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. Unfortunately, these talks ended without an agreement. Ireland supports the peace talks and their aims of funding agreement on a ceasefire, consensus on a political way forward for Yemen as well as the securing of humanitarian access so that so that vital assistance to the most vulnerable can be delivered immediately.
In March of this year, Ireland contributed €500,000 to the Yemen Humanitarian Response Fund, matching a similar contribution made in 2014. Ireland also supports Oxfam and the ICRC who are working on the humanitarian response to the crisis in Yemen.
I share the disappointment expressed by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday of this week that the weeklong unconditional humanitarian pause negotiated by the UN, which was to start on Friday 10 July, did not take hold.
The EU has already made its position on the crisis very clear, including our full support for the UN-led efforts, and I do not expect that Yemen will be discussed at the next meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 20 July.
630. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the Government's and non-governmental organisations' efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Boko Haram; the discussions held at an European Union level on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30197/15]
View answerThe brutal activities of Boko Haram continue to represent a serious threat to the peace and security of Nigeria, and to the wider region, including Cameroon, Chad and Niger. They also involve the clear and persistent abuse of human rights, especially of women and girls, and a direct threat to the provision of education and education facilities. The abduction over a year ago of more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok appalled the world. It has been one of a number of attacks on defenceless young people, seeking to destroy their education and their futures.
I cannot speak for the work being undertaken by Non-Governmental Organisations.
The Government has consistently condemned the acts of violence being perpetrated by Boko Haram. Most recently, at a meeting convened by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 30 June and at a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 1 April, we highlighted the terrible human rights and humanitarian impact of the terrorist violence. The extent of the humanitarian crisis has also been emphasised by EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council on 9 February. The EU has pledged to continue providing immediate relief to those in need and to increase its efforts at a regional level. Ireland recently provided some €1 million in humanitarian stocks to the NGO, Plan, for Nigerian refugees fleeing Boko Haram who are living in camps in northern Cameroon.
It is the responsibility of the new Nigerian Government, as well as of its military authorities, to create a secure environment in which the human rights of civilians are promoted and protected, including in those areas affected by Boko Haram.
The recent military success in pushing Boko Haram back from major towns in north-eastern Nigeria provides an opportunity to bring the conflict to an end and it is critically important that the recently-established Multinational Joint Taskforce of troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin continues its efforts to protect innocent people and to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists.
The new President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, was inaugurated on 29 May. I welcome his recent comments on the need to address corruption and security threats, including those posed by Boko Haram. I would again urge the Government of Nigeria to commit the necessary resources to finding the girls and returning them to their families and their education.
I will continue to monitor the situation through our Embassy in Abuja, which is in regular contact with the Government of Nigeria on developments, and will ensure, with our EU partners, that we maintain the focus on the human rights abuses being perpetrated against innocent civilians, and especially young people, in the region.
631. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when his Department's annual report for 2014 will be published. [30214/15]
View answerThe Annual Reports of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for 2013 and 2014 will be published jointly before the end of 2015. The reports will be published online on my Department’s website and in both official languages.
632. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Irish Government has formally requested the release of a person (details supplied) under a presidential decree; and if not, his plans to do so. [30302/15]
View answerI can confirm that the Government formally supported an application by the citizen’s legal team for release under the Presidential decree on foreign prisoners in February 2015.
633. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position in respect of a person (details supplied); if representations have been made by Ireland to the Government of Pakistan on that person's behalf, in particular to ensure the person's health and safety is protected and that the person is released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30309/15]
View answerI remain very concerned about this case and my Department avails of every opportunity to convey our concerns at this conviction.
Ireland does not have a resident Embassy in Pakistan, and our Embassy in Turkey is accredited to Pakistan. The former Irish Ambassador accredited to Pakistan (from Ankara, Turkey) conveyed our concern at this conviction on a number of occasions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, most recently in early November 2014. In the course of his meetings there in November 2014, he met with a senior Pakistani Foreign Ministry representative and raised this case, noting that it is a matter of grave concern in Ireland. Officials in my Department have also raised this case, and our concerns regarding the blasphemy laws and persecution of Christians generally, with the Embassy of Pakistan.
The European Union also continues to raise this conviction with the Pakistan authorities, including through the EU Delegation in Islamabad. In the course of a statement made on behalf of the then EU High Representative Catherine Ashton at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 22 October 2014, it was noted that the EU, particularly its Delegation in Islamabad, would continue to both follow the case closely and to advocate for the verdict to be overturned. While not trying to intervene in an ongoing court case, the Statement noted that the EU would use any opportunity to raise this case and the wider issues of the death penalty and blasphemy law, with Pakistan.
On 18 October 2014, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service expressed deep concern and sadness at the High Court decision to uphold this conviction. They also called on Pakistan to ensure for all its citizens, full respect of human rights as guaranteed by international conventions to which it is party.
The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr Stavros Lambrinidis, also visited Pakistan in October 2014 where he held an in depth dialogue with the Pakistan authorities on key human rights issues.
A spokesperson for the European External Action Service issued a statement on executions in Pakistan on 10 June 2015, in which the EU Spokesperson reiterated its opposition to capital punishment in all cases, and called on Pakistan to reinstitute the moratorium on executions and to fully respect all of its international obligations.
Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We attach great importance to combatting all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. Ireland is deeply concerned by the persecution of Christians.
Ireland and the EU consistently press for effective action to counter the persecution of minorities in all relevant international fora, including at the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Human Rights Council, of which Ireland is currently a member. Ireland reiterated its commitment to defending the right to freedom of religion or belief during a recent UN Security Council debate on the victims of attacks and abuses on ethnic or religious grounds in the Middle East, on 27 March 2015. I personally highlighted the issue when I addressed the UN General Assembly in New York on 29 September 2014 and the UN Human Rights Council at its 28th session in March 2015. I also raised it during my meetings with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, in September 2014 and May 2015.
Ireland also works within and alongside the EU to address the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities, notably with the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief adopted during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013. These Guidelines provide EU officials with an overview of the legal and policy framework within which the right to freedom of religion or belief is protected.
Ireland will also continue to raise the issue of the persecution of Christians, through its official bilateral contacts with the countries in question, stressing the responsibility of the government to protect all citizens and minorities, irrespective of their religion or belief.
I can assure the Deputy that Ireland will continue to actively support freedom of religion or belief across our foreign policy.
634. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department will review its discussions with the Egyptian authorities in the case of a person (details supplied) [30379/15]
View answerMy 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.
To further those objectives I have discussed the case with my Egyptian counterpart on a number of occasions, and we have 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.
Any decision to release this individual will ultimately be taken by the Egyptian authorities, and it is therefore the Government's considered view, supported by decades of diplomatic experience in other consular cases and extensive consultation with states which have had citizens in similar circumstances, that the firm and measured diplomatic approach we are taking remains our best hope to return this citizen to Ireland at the earliest possible date. In this context, the Deputy will appreciate how important it is that we continue to maintain good bilateral relations with Egypt.
Nonetheless, we continue to review our approach in line with developments and retain the flexibility to adjust our approach as and when that may be required.
