Micheál Martin
Question:135. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13105/16]
View answerNorthern Ireland
Questions (135)
Written answers
Full and timely implementation of the Stormont House Agreement 2014, and indeed the Fresh Start Agreement of 2015, is a key focus for the Government, and this is reflected in the Programme for Government.
A quarterly review process established under the Stormont House Agreement, and now also taking account of commitments under the Fresh Start Agreement, tracks progress on the implementation of these agreements. These meetings are led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I, along with the political parties in Northern Ireland.
The last such review meeting was held on 14 January 2016 and, following the completion of the electoral cycle in Northern Ireland, the next meeting is currently being scheduled.
Implementation of a number of aspects of the Stormont House Agreement have proceeded over the last two years. On budgetary issues, the Fresh Start Agreement facilitated a comprehensive resolution which took in a number elements set out in the Stormont House Agreement. In addition the recently-elected Assembly and newly-formed Executive are operating on the basis of the institutional reforms provided for under the Stormont House Agreement, including a formal opposition. I understand that preparatory work has been advanced by the Executive on the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition and I look forward to it being established at an early stage.
The establishment of the institutional framework on the past agreed at Stormont House has yet to be implemented. Significant progress was made on this in the all-party talks last autumn that produced the Fresh Start Agreement, although ultimately final agreement could not be reached on legacy issues, a situation which I found extremely disappointing.
Over the last number of months, I tasked my officials with holding consultations with a range of victims’ groups from across the affected communities, to hear their perspectives on how best to establish legacy institutions and to listen to their views on possible solutions to outstanding issues. These consultations proved very valuable and will inform our approach to seeking an agreement on addressing the legacy issues.
Following the Assembly elections in Northern Ireland in May, I have been in a position to engage further on this important issue, including during visits to Belfast and Derry over the last two weeks, where I had discussions about how we might reach a final political agreement on the detail of the establishment of these institutions.
I will be actively engaging with the political parties in Northern Ireland and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the weeks ahead with a view to securing an agreement on dealing with the legacy of the past which is so vital both for individual victims and survivors and for society as a whole.
Military Aircraft Landings
Questions (136)
Mick Wallace
Question:136. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade why a Boeing C-32B aircraft of the air force of the United States of America special forces, registration number 02-4452, was in Shannon Airport, County Clare, on 25 May 2016; if he granted permission for it to land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13966/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland.
Permission must be sought in advance for landings by all foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft and, if granted, is subject to strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations.
My Department approved a request to permit a US military C-32B aircraft to land at Shannon Airport on 25 May 2016 for re-fuelling, subject to the strict conditions set out above.
Military Aircraft Landings
Questions (137)
Mick Wallace
Question:137. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade why a C-21A aircraft of the air force of the United States of America, registration 84-0072, was in Shannon Airport, County Clare, on 25 May 2016; if he granted permission for it to land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13967/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland.
Permission must be sought in advance for landings by all foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft and, if granted, is subject to strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations.
My Department approved a request to permit a US military C-21A aircraft to land at Shannon Airport on 24 May 2016 for the purpose of crew rest, subject to the strict conditions set out above.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (138)
Thomas Pringle
Question:138. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost to the State of the visit by Charles Windsor to County Donegal this week, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13971/16]
View answerWritten answers
The recent visit to Ireland by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall served to increase the international profile of Donegal and the North-West as a whole in terms of trade and tourism, while showcasing 21st century cross-border and British-Irish co-operation in the fields of education, science, business and environmental conservation. Particularly welcome was the emphasis on partnerships between counties Donegal and Derry, with representatives of the Derry and Strabane Council present at the civic reception. I know directly from my own engagement with the Derry Chamber of Commerce on the evening before the visit to Donegal how important the preservation and development of these links is to the region as a whole.
We are finalising the costs that will be charged to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. These costs will cover items such as transport, official photography and the expenses associated with the presence in Donegal of officials of my Department (accommodation, overtime and subsistence). Once this material has been checked and paid, I will be happy to provide to the Deputy this information in tabular form.
Human Rights
Questions (139)
Mick Barry
Question:139. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the permanent mission of Ireland to the United Nations at Geneva in Switzerland has received communication from the United Nations special rapporteur on the human right to water and sanitation, and from the United Nations special rapporteur on the human right to adequate housing and on the access to sanitation and housing in County Cork; if he will reply to the special rapporteurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13973/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade receives correspondence from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on a regular basis. Where such correspondence relates to domestic policies, Departments with lead responsibility for the relevant policy issues are asked to provide input for the reply to the United Nations.
We have received correspondence from the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living and on the rights to non-discrimination in this context, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation seeking the Government’s position on information they had received in relation to homelessness and water and sanitation services in Cork city.
I wish to confirm that this matter has been addressed and that a comprehensive response will be forwarded to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on this matter this week.
I will be happy to provide a copy of this response to the Deputy.
Public Sector Pay
Questions (140)
Micheál Martin
Question:140. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his departmental officials will have any role in formulating the public sector pay commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13109/16]
View answerWritten answers
I would refer the Deputy to my answer of 19 May (Parliamentary Question No. 153), which sets out the Government's position.
Flood Relief Schemes
Questions (141)
Thomas Byrne
Question:141. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of ongoing maintenance of flood relief works on the Tolka river in Dunboyne, County Meath. [13935/16]
View answerWritten answers
The River Tolka flood alleviation scheme was carried out under local authority powers and not under the powers of the Commissioners of Public Works under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. Responsibility for the maintenance of this scheme therefore rests with Meath County Council.