Written Answers Nos. 634-47
634. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 610 of 6 April 2016, the steps he is taking to ensure correct labelling of goods from Israeli settlements, as per European Union guidelines; the details of the correct labelling of such goods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6897/16]
View answerThe Interpretative Notice on Indications of Origin, published by the European Commission on 12 November, provides guidance to importers and retailers on how EU rules on place of origin labelling should be applied in the specific case of the occupied Palestinian territory.
It does not alter or extend existing EU rules that were already in force. As I have indicated previously, therefore, what arises is dissemination of the guidance rather than implementation. I have placed the Commission Notice on my Department’s website, and my Department has also written to other relevant Government Departments asking them to bring the Notice to the attention of any relevant bodies with which they engage. In addition, of course, the extensive media coverage of the Commission Notice will have brought it to the attention of many.
As there is no change in the rules, no new enforcement machinery or procedure arises. Accuracy of product labelling will continue to be a consumer protection issue, monitored and enforced as heretofore. This is a matter for all relevant Government Departments.
635. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of vacant State properties and land, including car parks not in use, owned by his Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of his Department by square footage, by location, by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6915/16]
View answerMy Department does not own any State properties or land. Any properties occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the State are rented and discharged by the Office of Public Works. There are no State Agencies or bodies under the aegis of my Department.
637. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the waiting time for a properly completed passport express application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7005/16]
View answer638. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to expedite passport applications, given the anticipated summer rush; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7006/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 637 and 638 together.
The target turnaround time for properly completed passport applications submitted in person at the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork and through the An Post Passport Express service is ten working days. All applications which were submitted in person at the Passport Offices so far this year have met the guideline turnaround times. Due to a significant increase in demand Passport Express applications are currently being processed within 11/12 working days and first time applications within 20 working days.
I would underline that the ten day turnaround time for the An Post service is a target rather than a stated guarantee. It is strongly recommended that all citizens apply at least six weeks in advance of any planned travel.
To respond to the anticipated increase in seasonal demand the Passport Service has recruited additional Temporary Clerical Officers who will work for a total of 5,122 weeks this year. This represents approximately a 15% increase in the number of weeks sanctioned over last year. Application processing work has been redistributed across passport offices in recent weeks and staff re-deployed from other areas of the Department as needed to respond to the increased workload. The Passport Service will continue to closely monitor the situation, including with respect to the deployment of resources, to ensure that the impact of the high volume of demand on turnaround times is minimised.
The busy season for applications has started. I would remind customers to check in advance of applying which service is best suited to their needs to ensure they receive their passports in good time for travel. Once an application is submitted for a particular service, such as through An Post Express or Rapid Renewal, it cannot be switched to another service.
If travelling in more than ten working days the Passport Express service through the An Post office network is the most convenient and cost effective channel. If travelling in three to ten working days applications should be submitted in person, with an appointment, at either the Dublin or Cork Passport Offices. Appointments are available at the website, www.passportappointments.ie. If customers are travelling in under three working days and have a renewal application they may avail of the Rapid Renewal Service. This service is only available in the Passport Office Dublin. A flight booking will be needed as part of the appointment booking service and an emergency fee applies. Appointments are available at the website www.passportappointments.ie.
The Passport Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website is updated weekly to advise customers of current turnaround times for passport applications.
640. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the expenditure profile for his Department at the end of March 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7037/16]
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 March has been published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Vote 28 figures at end of March are outlined in the following table.
|
- |
Profile to 31 March €’Million |
Expenditure to 31 March €’Million |
Variance 31 March €’Million |
|
Pay |
18.24 |
18.20 |
(0.04) |
|
Non-pay |
34.35 |
41.16 |
6.81 |
|
Capital |
0.427 |
0.397 |
(0.03) |
|
Total Expenditure |
53.02 |
59.75 |
6.73 |
Under Vote 28 Payroll expenditure was on profile to end of March, while expenditure against non-pay was ahead by €6.81m. This is mainly due to payments to international organisations being ahead of profile to the end of March 2016.
International Co-operation Vote 27 figures at the end of March are outlined below.
|
- |
Profile to 31 March €’Million |
Expenditure to 31 March €’Million |
Variance 31 March €’Million |
|
Pay |
3.33 |
3.13 |
(0.19) |
|
Non-pay |
94.46 |
97.84 |
3.38 |
|
Capital |
0.04 |
- |
(0.04) |
|
Total Expenditure |
97.83 |
100.98 |
3.23 |
Under Vote 27 expenditure against the payroll profile is on target, while expenditure against non-pay is slightly ahead of profile by some €3 million. The variance is as a result of expenditure to UN Agencies being ahead of profile to the end of March 2016.
641. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his proposals to raise the need for a co-ordinated response to the persecution of Christians in many regions throughout the world at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, the United Nations or other international fora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7085/16]
View answerIreland 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 combating 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.
On 9 March 2016 at the United Nations Human Rights Council Ireland presented a statement addressing the importance of freedom of religion or belief at an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Professor Heiner Bielefeldt. The statement can be found on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the following address: https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/alldfawebsitemedia/ourrolesandpolicies/int-priorities/humanrights/HRC31-ID-on-FoRb-IE-statement-for-delivery.pdf.
Ireland was also active in the negotiation of the EU led resolution on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the Third Committee in 2015 and the EU led resolution on Freedom of Religion of Belief at the 31st session of the Human Rights Council in March 2016.
During the past year, Ireland has reiterated its commitment to defending the right to freedom of religion or belief on many occasions, including during a UN Security Council debate on the victims of attacks and abuses on ethnic or religious grounds in the Middle East on 27 March 2015, during my address to the UN General Assembly in New York on 1 October 2015 and during my meetings with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, in September 2014 and May 2015.
Ireland 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. Ireland also pressed for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief to be included in the EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019, which was adopted by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 20 July 2015.
Ireland will also continue to raise the issue of the persecution of Christians through its official bilateral contacts, stressing the responsibility of governments 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.
642. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding he has provided to the emigrant support programme in 2016 to date and the various programmes he will fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7086/16]
View answerThe Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. The focus of the Emigrant Support Programme is on initiatives that:
- address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants;
- enhance access for Irish emigrants and Irish community organisations to local statutory and voluntary services;
- foster a more vibrant sense of community and Irish identity amongst the Irish abroad; and,
- encourage closer links between Irish communities abroad and Ireland, to the benefit of both.
A total of €11,595,000 has been allocated for the Emigrant Support Programme in 2016. This matches the allocation for 2015.
The closing date for applications for the 2016 round was 24th February 2016 and applications from over 230 organisations were received. Applications are currently being assessed with a view to awards for funding being approved and communicated to organisations in the coming months. One application for funding from Age Action was fast-tracked and awarded funding in the amount of €15,000 given the time-sensitive nature of the project.
A full list of previously funded organisations under the ESP can be found at https://www.dfa.ie/global-irish/support-overseas/emigrant-support-programme/.
643. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on the ceasefire agreed in Yemen; the efforts made at European Union level to secure peace in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7087/16]
View answerAfter over a year of fighting, a UN-brokered cease-fire came into effect in Yemen on 10 April. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has urged all parties to work to ensure that the terms and conditions of the truce are fully respected. Importantly, these include commitments for the unhindered access for humanitarian supplies and personnel to all parts of Yemen. Though there have been some reports of isolated violations of this “cessation of hostilities”, by and large it seems to be holding. This cease-fire aims to create a conducive environment for peace talks scheduled to take place in Kuwait beginning on 18 April. These talks, to be held under the auspices of the UN, include military representatives from both the pro-Government and Houthi/anti-Government camps, who together form the De-escalation and Co-ordination Committee. The Committee’s discussions will focus on five areas: the withdrawal of militias and armed groups; the handover of heavy weapons to the State; interim security arrangements; the restoration of state institutions and the resumption of inclusive political dialogue; and the creation of a special committee for prisoners and detainees. The EU Council of Ministers adopted conclusions last November expressing deep concern at the situation. The conclusions emphasised that the solution to the Yemeni conflict must be a political one. The Council expressed particular concern at the impact of the fighting on the civilian population, as well as on civilian infrastructure and cultural heritage. The indiscriminate targeting of civilian infrastructure was heavily criticised and the EU appealed to all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.
On 5 April, the UN Special Envoy held talks in Brussels with HRVP Mogherini, where they discussed how to support the ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks. The HRVP emphasised at a joint press conference that "the only sustainable solution to the conflict in Yemen is a political solution", and pledged both political and practical support. She also announced that the EU had mobilised technical support for the UN Special Envoy, with EU experts having conducted a capacity-building exercise with the De-escalation and Co-ordination Committee in advance of the peace talks.
I believe that the only solution to this conflict can be a political one. I hope that the cease-fire will hold and that these peace talks will be successful, so that the focus can turn to the country’s reconstruction, to the benefit of all Yemenis.
644. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding he has provided to countries neighbouring Syria who have been affected by the conflict; his plans to increase funding to these countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7088/16]
View answer651. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on his efforts to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those most in need in Syria; to stop starvation being used as a weapon of war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7095/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 644 and 651 together.
Over five years since the start of the conflict, the suffering of the Syrian people has become a defining crisis of this generation. More than 260,000 people have been killed and some 13.5 million people within Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN estimates that over 4.8 million Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries.
The UN has appealed for over $7.7 billion in 2016 to meet the needs of those affected by this crisis. At the London Pledging Conference on Syria in February 2016, Ireland pledged €20 million in support for the Syria crisis this year, on top of the €42 million in humanitarian assistance which we have already provided since 2012. Ireland’s humanitarian assistance is delivered through UN, Red Cross and NGO partners. Our allocation of funding seeks to balance the needs of those inside Syria, particularly in besieged and hard-to-reach areas, with the needs of those who have fled to neighbouring countries.
We strongly condemn the refusal to allow medical supplies to be included in convoys to besieged areas, the attacks directed against medical facilities, and the deliberate blocking of food aid to civilians, all of which have been used as tactics by the parties to the conflict in this brutal war. There must be legal accountability for victims of the Syrian conflict.
In 2015, Ireland provided €1 million in support to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which played a key role in negotiating the delivery of aid in January 2016 to besieged towns such as Madaya, where many people were on the brink of starvation due to the blocking of aid convoys. Ireland has also provided total support over 2014 and 2015 of €1.25 million to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), which has a unique presence on the ground in many areas which other humanitarian agencies cannot reach.
We are very conscious of the particular strain which this crisis has placed on smaller countries such as Lebanon, where more than one in five residents is now a refugee, and Jordan. Of the €42 million we have provided in humanitarian aid since 2012, over half is flexible funding, which our partners can use in whichever country that has the greatest needs. We have also allocated a total of €4.2 million specifically for Lebanon, €2.5 million specifically for Jordan, and €1.5 million for the response in Turkey since 2012. We have also provided smaller sums to support Syrian refugees in Iraq and Egypt.
In 2016, we are providing funding of €20 million to our UN, Red Cross and NGO partners to address humanitarian need both inside Syria and in neighbouring countries. We will keep the situation under close review in the light of developments over the coming months.
645. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures being taken at a national and European Union level to address the persecution of women and the abuse of female human rights across the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7089/16]
View answerIreland has a strong track record in addressing gender equality through its foreign policy and development cooperation programme, and remains fully committed to combating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. Through our international engagement on human rights at the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Third Committee of the General Assembly, Ireland advocates for gender equality and combatting all forms of discrimination. We have used our membership of, and participation in, discussions at these UN bodies to negotiate and support resolutions on the elimination of discrimination against women; violence against women; female genital mutilation (FGM); preventable maternal mortality and morbidity; realising the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl; strengthening efforts to prevent and eliminate child, early and forced marriage and women human rights defenders. We have also raised our concerns regarding the situation of women in specific countries during our interventions at the Universal Periodic Review where the human rights records of individual states are reviewed by other UN Member States. As part of our commitment to advancing gender equality, Ireland played a key role in the establishment of UN Women, and is an active participant in the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). On 5 April 2016 Ireland was elected as a member of the CSW for the 2017-2021 term. This will be our first term of membership of the CSW and an important opportunity for Ireland to further enhance our contribution to the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
We are also a longstanding advocate for the Women, Peace and Security Agenda at the UN while the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment is also an integral part of our policy on disarmament. Ireland’s policy on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 is framed in its 2nd National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security which is an inter- and intra-departmental policy initiative that seeks to promote the protection of the human rights of women and girls living in Ireland and abroad, the empowerment of women in decision-making and participation, the prevention of conflict including sexual and gender-based violence and the promotion of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in relevant international fora.
Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are priorities in our official development assistance programme. All recipients of Irish Aid funding are required to demonstrate their commitment to these goals. Both bilaterally in our engagement with partner countries, and at the UN and in other multilateral bodies, we consistently emphasise the importance of gender mainstreaming as a key aspect of ending poverty, hunger, discrimination and vulnerability across the globe.
Ireland also actively supports EU engagement on gender equality. On 20 July 2015, the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) adopted the EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019 and I welcome the commitment in this Plan to prioritising the protection of the rights of women and protection against gender-based violence. Measures taken at national level are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, and our respective Departments cooperate closely on these issues.
646. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he has made to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon, to put new structures in place, given that the current structures are outdated, and the lack of effectiveness of the United Nations in dealing with conflict in many parts of the world and the political changes over many decades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7090/16]
View answerThe United Nations celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, and like any organisation of that age, there are a number of structures, systems and procedures that need to be updated to better reflect the diverse and complex needs of the 21st century. There is a growing recognition that despite its considerable achievements and successes, there have also been a number of serious failures. The government believes that a UN reform agenda must be put in place to make the organisation more transparent and accountable, and to ensure that the structures and procedures of the UN are effective. I have maintained contact with the UN Secretary General since his visit to Ireland in May 2015 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Ireland joining the UN. In September of last year I used our bilateral meeting on the margins of the UN General Assembly to discuss the role of the United Nations in addressing a number of the major conflicts threatening international peace and security, and the need for sustained UN engagement not just in peacekeeping and responding to crisis situations, but also in terms of peacebuilding and conflict prevention. In the latter half of 2015, the Secretary General initiated three major UN review exercises which were aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of the UN’s response to conflict. The high level policy reviews on (1) UN Peace Operations, (2) Peacebuilding Architecture and (3) Women, Peace and Security were published. Each of the reviews offered recommendations on how the UN can improve and reform its functions and structures particularly in relation to the global challenge presented by conflict, war and implementing peace operations.
My department engaged fully with all three reviews, calling for the recommendations to be discussed and implemented as part of our broader calls for UN reform. Ireland co-sponsored one of the three reviews, and was involved in the co-launch of the Global Study on Women, Peace and Security in October 2015.
Ireland is also strongly supportive of Security Council reform and has consistently stated that the Council needs to become more representative, more transparent and more efficient. We have been frustrated with many of the blockages on the Council which have had such disastrous consequences for the resolution of conflicts in various parts of the world, most notably Syria.
Just last month, Ireland delivered a statement during the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform calling for an expansion of the Security Council membership and for the veto of the five permanent members (P5) of the Council to only be used in very extreme situations. Ireland is a member of ACT, the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group in the UN, that calls for a more accountable and transparent UN system. We are a strong supporter of the ACT Code of Conduct calling on all member states, including the P5, to support timely and decisive action by the Security Council aimed at preventing or ending genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.
647. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his efforts to stem electoral violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo; if he has raised the issue at recent European Union Foreign Affairs Council meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7091/16]
View answerIreland does not have an Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo and therefore we have been working with our partners in the European Union who are closely monitoring the upcoming elections. We have provided significant development assistance to the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Between 2010 and 2015, Ireland provided a total €44.61 million including €15 million to civil society partners working in the areas of democracy, peace building, rule of law and human rights. Ireland has been active in discussions within the EU which recently highlighted the respect of human rights, civil liberties and the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo as prerequisites for transparent and credible elections, while also expressing concern at reports of harassment and intimidation of local civil society actors.
At present four Irish Defence Force personnel are serving with United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) which is making a critical contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights.
Ireland referred to the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a recent UN Security Council Open Debate on Prevention and Resolution of Conflicts in the Great Lakes Region, again stressing the importance of respect for the rule of law, human rights and Constitutional provisions in the coming period.
The issue of electoral tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo was raised by the Irish side at a recent meeting with representatives from the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in London. We expressed concern about the current situation and reiterated the importance of timely elections and peaceful cooperation between all relevant parties.
We will continue to monitor developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo closely over the coming period.
