Written Answers Nos. 188-197
188. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of occasions in each of the years from 2011 to 2016 to date in which the powers vested in him or any other Minister in his Department were exercised, without any express act of delegation, by departmental officials of certain seniority and responsibility, as per the Carltona doctrine. [17476/16]
View answerThe Carltona doctrine (or Carltona principle) expresses the concept that the acts of departmental officials are synonymous with the actions of the Minister with responsibility for that Government department. It recognises the reality that because Ministers have so many functions and duties they cannot be expected to carry them out themselves. These functions and duties are normally exercised by a Minister’s officials. Constitutionally the decision of the official is the decision of the Minister.
Due to the nature of the Carltona doctrine and, especially, the scale of my Department’s remit it is not feasible to provide the numerical information requested.
189. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the significant insurance increases for many community employment schemes; his plans to deal with correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17555/16]
View answerThe Department has become aware in recent times of an increase in insurance premiums for community employment (CE) schemes. The main reasons cited for this is an increase in claims frequency over recent years by such schemes. In the first instance, the Department recommends that schemes seek alternative quotes to ensure they get value for money. In this context schemes are asked to be especially mindful of their obligations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
Insurance premium costs are reimbursed from the CE materials budget for the scheme. While the Department is not in a position to allocate additional monies to the materials budget in 2016, if there is a scheme experiencing particular difficulties, the sponsor should contact their local DSP office and the matter will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
190. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17580/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 14 April 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.
Frequently, delays are outside the control of my Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, the person concerned is in receipt of a weekly social welfare support for the family.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
191. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17596/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 11 March 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.
Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, both the person concerned and his spouse are in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
192. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions that have taken place at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council regarding the possibility of suspending trade agreements with Israel until such a time as peace talks resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17382/16]
View answerThe difficulties of, and possibility for, resuming peace talks in the Middle East is a constant topic at the Foreign Affairs Council, and Ireland is active to ensure that the Council maintains a focus on it, despite many other crises in the region. It was discussed most recently at the Council on Monday, which discussed in particular the current initiative by France to create the conditions for a return to talks. This began with a conference of Foreign Ministers in Paris on 3 June, in which I participated, at the invitation of France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault. I expect the Middle East Peace Process to be discussed again at the July meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. However, no proposal of the nature suggested by the Deputy has been made or discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council. Successive Ministers have made clear in the House that there is no possibility whatever of obtaining EU consensus in favour of such a move.
193. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of the money that was pledged at donor conference in Cairo in 2014 to rebuild Gaza which has been delivered; the contribution, if any, that Ireland made to this fund; the total of the pledged money has been used to date; the number of homes that have been reconstructed in Gaza with the pledged money to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17388/16]
View answerAt the International Gaza Reconstruction Conference, held in Cairo in October 2014, donors pledged USD 3.5 billion to support recovery efforts in Gaza in the aftermath of the 2014 conflict. As an immediate response to the Gaza crisis, Ireland provided €500,000 in July 2014 to the Emergency Appeal of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to help provide urgently needed food, shelter and medical aid to thousands of families many of whom had to flee their homes. At the International Gaza Reconstruction Conference, I pledged a further €2.5 million towards urgent immediate needs and long term recovery efforts. €2 million of this has been provided to UNRWA’s Gaza Emergency Appeal. During my visit to the Middle East last week, I met with UNRWA’s Deputy Commissioner General, Sandra Mitchell, who provided me with a detailed briefing on the very significant progress made in rebuilding UNRWA’s educational and medical facilities. I was pleased to announce, therefore, a further €500,000 for UNRWA’s response in Gaza. This fulfils our pledge of €2.5 million made at the International Gaza Reconstruction Conference in 2014 and brings our total support to the Gaza crisis to €3 million.
The World Bank is taking the lead on monitoring pledges made at the Conference and its most recent report of 19 April 2016 indicates that USD 1.409 billion has been disbursed, which represents 40% of the funding pledged at the Conference. I am aware that the current rate of disbursement is less than expected, contributing to a pace of reconstruction much slower than needed. According to the report, only 9% of totally damaged houses and 45% of partially damaged houses have so far been rebuilt, and 14,800 families continue to be displaced. While recent indications are that residential reconstruction is picking up momentum, the amount of construction material imported into Gaza continues to be lower than needed.
Ireland has met its pledge in full in the timeframe specified and I would urge all countries to fulfil their pledges. It should be recalled, of course, that many of the pledges made, like Ireland’s, were to be phased over a period of time. Many States also made clear that their willingness to donate was linked to progress in discussions to ensure that this type of conflict did not happen again. Unfortunately there has been little progress in this regard.
Ireland will continue to press, at EU level and elsewhere, to maintain focus on the humanitarian needs in Gaza and for an end to the blockade on the territory.
194. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made by him and his European Union counterparts to ensure that Palestinian people have access to an adequate and safe water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17389/16]
View answerA combination of increased aridity and growing populations mean that water supply is becoming an increasingly critical issue across the wider Middle East, and large populations are now becoming water vulnerable. However, there are specific additional stresses on Palestinian people resulting from the Israeli control of their land and resources, and the discrimination in favour of Israeli settlers in relation to water as well as other issues. Ireland provides annual funding to a local NGO that provides clean-water services to off-grid communities in the West Bank using environmentally and socially sustainable methods. To date, the NGO’s rural electrification and clean-water services have reached nearly 2000 people in 20 communities in Area C of the West Bank. In addition to Ireland’s annual core support to UNOCHA, we also contribute to the UNOCHA Humanitarian Pooled Fund (HPF) for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, an emergency fund with the aim of supporting the delivery of strategic humanitarian assistance. Examples of recent projects funded by the HPF are improvement of access and quality in relation to municipal water services in Gaza; improvement to basic sanitation and hygiene services in Gaza; improvement of access to safe, sufficient and affordable water and sanitation facilities for the vulnerable population in Area C.
Ireland also provides annual support to UNRWA, which provides assistance and protection for Palestinian refugees, including in the West Bank and Gaza. UNRWA’s programmes include work to ensure access to safe drinking water through comprehensive water-supply networks. It also provides sewerage systems and storm-water drainage to combat the spread of sanitation and hygiene related diseases. In addition to providing funding to UNRWA’s General Fund, Ireland also supports UNRWA’s Gaza Emergency Appeal.
The EU has provided humanitarian funding of EUR 25 million to the Occupied Palestinian Territory in 2015 through ECHO. In Gaza, ECHO funds humanitarian projects including those that deal with water and sanitation.
Last week the EU agreed to provide €10 million in funding to UNICEF for stage two of the Gaza small scale desalination plant, following €10 million already provided for stage one. Stage two is to begin construction in the next few weeks, and will produce 12,000 cubic metres of safe drinking water each day.
Other EU partners are also engaged in specific projects, for instance Germany has been engaged on building new sewage treatment works in Gaza.
In addition to these efforts directly related to water issues, Ireland and our EU partners continue to work politically for an end to the occupation and the expansion of settlements which are the root cause of many of these problems.
195. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent measures or sanctions put in place to stop the illegal advancement of Israeli settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17390/16]
View answerI have consistently made clear, both here in the House and in discussions at EU level, Ireland’s view that the relentless expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank is a major driver of the continuing conflict. I raised the issue of settlements last week with the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also Israel’s Foreign Minister. Settlements also featured in my discussions with the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riad Malki, and with the Secretary General of the Arab League, Mr. Nabil Al Araby. Settlement expansion acts to make more difficult and, possibly, ultimately close off the possibility of a peace agreement, and contributes significantly to the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
The European Union continues to work to distinguish its relations with Israel itself from any with settlements.
The principal measure in place is that goods from settlements, both produce and manufactured goods, are not eligible for the reduced tariffs on entry to the EU which apply to goods from Israel and most other countries. They are therefore charged an unusually high tariff.
Israeli veterinary certification is not accepted for meat from settlements, which cannot therefore be imported to the EU.
EU research funding granted to Israeli institutions may not be spent within settlements.
Ireland and other EU countries advise citizens against investing in settlements.
The EU has issued guidelines, in response to requests from Ireland other partners, making clear that settlement goods may not be misleadingly labelled as being produce of Israel.
We will continue to consider what other measures might be appropriate and effective.
196. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the money given by Ireland, if any, in 2016 to support the Middle East peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17391/16]
View answerIreland’s programme of assistance to the Palestinian people supports our political objectives and reflects a longstanding commitment to the peaceful development of a viable, sovereign Palestinian State. Through the Irish Aid programme, we currently provide some €10 million annually in development and humanitarian assistance. This involves support to the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees and civil society organisations working to promote human rights. To date in 2016, I have approved funding totalling €6 million for the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA. Ireland, like other EU Members States, is committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority as part of our overall programme of support for the Palestinian people. This support which enables the Palestinian Authority to build its institutions and provide essential public services to its people is critical to laying the foundations for a future Palestinian State. Ireland’s funding to the Palestinian people has traditionally had a strong focus on the education sector which is crucial to Palestine’s long-term economic viability. I recently approved €1.5 million in support to the Palestinian Authority’s Education Development Strategic Plan, which will be channelled through a joint donor fund in the education sector. Ireland’s contribution will help support the Palestinian Authority in delivering its education services and ensuring improved access to and quality of education for Palestinian children. While we work to ensure that Palestinian institutions are ready for statehood, we continue to have to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. The humanitarian situation continues to be precarious as the key drivers of vulnerability remain in place. The protracted crisis is compounded by recurrent escalations in hostilities, such as the conflict in Gaza in 2014, which increase humanitarian needs.
Ireland has been a longstanding supporter of UNRWA’s vital work in delivering humanitarian and development assistance to Palestine refugees. During my visit to the Middle East last week, I announced funding of €4.5 million for UNRWA; €4 million for UNRWA’s General Fund to support the Agency in delivering core services, especially in education and health to some 5 million Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and €500,000 for UNRWA’s Gaza Emergency Appeal to help meet urgent humanitarian needs.
Ireland will continue to actively support the search for a lasting and peaceful political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the meantime, we will continue to offer the humanitarian support which is essential in addressing the ongoing basic and emergency needs of the Palestinian people.
My Department also contributed €58,000 this year supporting visits to Ireland by groups of Israelis and Palestinians who wish to share and draw from the experiences of participants in the Irish peace process. This is a developing area of support I hope to continue.
197. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the agenda for the next meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council; and if European Union funding for cross-Border bodies and the Narrow Water Bridge is available. [16860/16]
View answerWhile a date for the next meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Plenary format has not yet been agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive, I would hope that the meeting, to be held in Dublin, will take place shortly. This will provide an opportunity for the Government and the new Northern Ireland Executive to discuss North/South co-operation in the months ahead. I would expect the Plenary agenda to include discussions on economic and financial matters, co-operation on EU matters, review of existing NSMC work programmes and new priorities for cooperation, as well as a range of other issues including the North West Gateway Initiative and North/South commitments made under the Fresh Start Agreement (November 2015).
As agreed in Section E of the Fresh Start Agreement, a report by Senior Officials from relevant Departments, North and South, on implementation of the commitments for targeted investment in cross-border economic infrastructure will be considered at the forthcoming Plenary meeting. This will include a review of the Narrow Water Bridge and Ulster Canal projects and on opportunities to source further investment for all-island infrastructure projects for mutual benefit. An update on the A5 Western Transport Corridor is also expected.
The availability of EU funds for the North South Implementation Bodies would be a matter for the relevant Ministers who exercise direct responsibility for those Bodies in this jurisdiction together with the corresponding Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive. As reported at the December 2015 Plenary, recent NSMC sectoral meetings have seen good discussions by Ministers on drawing down EU funding to support the specific work of the Bodies and North South cooperation in general.
As regards the Narrow Water Bridge project, the identification of funding sources for any future project must await the outcome of the above-mentioned ongoing review.
