Written Answers Nos 314-338
314. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to compensate social protection recipients who receive sterling payments with top-up payments from his Department in view of the decline in sterling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19684/16]
View answerSocial Assistance payments act as a safety net for people who have insufficient income and who do not qualify for a contributory payment. The use of a means test is to ensure that scarce resources are directed to those in greatest need.
Payments from the United Kingdom (UK) are assessed as income under current legislation. If the person applying for a Social Assistance payment has a UK pension, it is assessable, together with all other means such as savings and investments, when determining the rate of payment. In assessing means derived from payments received from non-European Monetary Union (EMU) States, the Department uses the conversion mechanism provided for under Article 107 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 574/72 on Social Security for Migrant Workers. Under this mechanism the conversion rate used for means testing purposes is derived from the average of the daily exchange rates in the first month of a quarter. This rate is then used in all conversions during the course of the succeeding quarter. The exchange rates for converting sterling and other non EMU currencies are published quarterly in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Department obtains this rate at the beginning of each quarter.
Following the outcome of the UK referendum, negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU will take time. In the interim, it is important to stress that all payments made by the Department of Social Protection, including those to recipients who are resident in Britain and Northern Ireland, and payments from the UK to residents in Ireland, will continue to be paid.
My Department is keeping the currency situation under review. In the event that serious currency fluctuation should arise, resulting in significant negative impact for means-tested pensioners, the Department will take steps to adjust and rebalance the amounts payable to these pensioners to minimise the possibility of hardship.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
315. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend the pilot microfinance scheme, which was launched in November 2015 and operated by 30 credit unions, to the other 300 credit unions given its widespread success and satisfaction rate; if he will extend it to social protection customers, not just those who get paid in cash, and to persons and families on low incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19690/16]
View answerA Personal Micro Credit Scheme providing for small scale loans by Credit Unions to borrowers who have difficulty accessing low cost credit has been piloted in 30 credit unions. The loans under the scheme range from €100 to a maximum of €2,000, and have a maximum interest rate of 12% per annum. Over 1,200 loans have been drawn down under the Scheme to date with an overall value of over €720,000. The average individual loan value drawn down is €500. The focus of the pilot scheme was social welfare recipients who availed of the loans from their Credit Union and were facilitated, with their consent, in the repayment of such loans through the Household Budgeting facility, operated by An Post. The deductions from their weekly social welfare payments are then transmitted on to the relevant Credit Union.
The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for the roll-out and extension of the Personal Microcredit Scheme. Following an evaluation of the pilot, the Implementation Group, which is chaired by my Department and comprises all relevant stakeholders, is committed to achieving this aim.
Incremental progress is being made towards extending the geographical coverage of the loan scheme through efforts to recruit credit unions to participate in the scheme. Engagement is continuing with the Credit Union representative bodies and individual credit unions to encourage wider participation.
While the pilot scheme was targeted towards social welfare customers with access to the Household Budgeting facility, the scheme has recently been extended to include all social welfare recipients, provided the loan repayments are made by direct debit or standing order. Efforts are also underway to examine ways the Personal Micro Credit scheme can be made available to low-income individuals and families. The Implementation Group is working with the relevant stakeholders to find solutions within prudential lending guidelines.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
316. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring means testing rules to pre-budget 2012 levels under the farm assist scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19699/16]
View answerThere are two costings in relation to the cost of restoring means testing rules to pre-Budget 2012 levels under the Farm Assist Scheme:
a) To reintroduce the 70% means assessment of farm income as per the situation pre-Budget 2012;
b) To reintroduce the additional disregards for children as follows (pre-budget 2012 rate was €254 for 1st and 2nd child and €381 for subsequent children).
It is estimated the cost of restoring the above two measures is approximately €13 million in a full year based on the current farm assist recipients. It is envisaged that there would be an inflow of new farm assist claims if these measures were reintroduced. The Department cannot quantify the inflow number and as such cannot calculate these costs. Therefore the cost of €13 million should be regarded as a minimum cost.
317. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the rural social scheme to 3,000, 3,500, 4,000, 4,500, 5,000, 5,500 and 6,000 places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19700/16]
View answerThe rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support for farmers and fishermen who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. One of the key criteria for participation and continued eligibility for the scheme is that the participant must be underemployed in their primary activity i.e. either farming or fishing, and that their earnings are insufficient to support their family circumstance. It should be noted that the Government has maintained the level of funding for RSS and the number of places available on the scheme at the current level for the last five years.
The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The funds allocated for the Scheme for 2016 are €44.3m. Assuming that the existing participants supported by the RSS remain at the current payment rate, the estimated cost of an additional 500 places for a full year is €8.5m. This costing consists of wages paid to participants, fuel allowance, supervisory costs and other overhead costs.
The following table provides an estimate of the costs for the various participant numbers outlined in the Deputy’s question:
|
Number of participants |
Estimated full year programme cost € million |
|
3,000 |
€51.0m |
|
3,500 |
€59.5m |
|
4,000 |
€68.0m |
|
4,500 |
€76.5m |
|
5,000 |
€85.0m |
|
5,500 |
€93.5m |
|
6,000 |
€102.0m |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
318. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications his Department has received under the carer's allowance scheme in each of the years 2015 to 2016 to date; the number of these it has approved and refused; and the number that are pending. [19727/16]
View answerMy department received applications for the carer’s allowance scheme as follows:
|
Year |
Received |
Allowed |
Disallowed |
|
2015 |
18,929 |
14,378 |
9,808 |
|
2016* |
9,130 |
6,030 |
4,005 |
* End May 2016
At the end on May 2016 there were 6,398 pending applications.
319. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will reverse the cuts the previous Government imposed on persons under the farm assist scheme as promised in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19736/16]
View answerThe farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2016 Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of €85 million on the farm assist scheme.
Changes introduced in Budgets 2012 and 2013 brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed people. Farm families with the lowest income were least impacted by these changes as the headline rates of farm assist were maintained.
Farm assist customers continue to receive more beneficial treatment than other self-employed persons as payments received under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme, the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme or the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme are assessed separately from other farm income. Farm Assist remains a flexible payment and any farmer experiencing lower levels of income or cash flow issues, due for example to bad weather, can ask his/her local INTREO office to review the level of means applying to his/her claim.
The Programme for Government contains the commitment to undertake a "Review of the Farm Assist Scheme, recognising the challenges facing farmers on low incomes". I have asked my officials to review the farm assist scheme from a policy and an administrative point of view. This review has commenced and its outcome may be considered in the context of Budget 2017 subject to the overall budgetary context.
321. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the waiting times experienced by those applying for domiciliary care allowance in 2015 and in 2016 to date; the number of applicants for the allowance over the past three years by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19814/16]
View answerThe average time taken to process domiciliary care allowance (DCA) applications in 2015 was 13 weeks and over the first five months of 2016 (to 31 May) it was 12.5 weeks.
The numbers of DCA applications that were received from 2013 to 31 May 2016 are detailed in the following table. Information on applications is not collated or held on a county basis, so it is not possible to provide the more detailed information requested.
Number of Domiciliary Care Allowance applications
|
Year |
Applications Received |
|
2013 |
4,829 |
|
2014 |
5,743 |
|
2015 |
6,422 |
|
2016 (to 31/05/2016) |
3,246 |
322. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new public sector workers in his Department hired to replace retiring staff and those who left the Department in each of the years 2013 to 2015; the overall percentage of staff turnover this represents; the cost or savings in payroll and pensions accrued in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20154/16]
View answerIn the time available it has not been possible to produce the information being sought. This is currently being prepared and will be sent to the Deputy shortly.
323. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline the areas within the Belfast Agreement and subsequent agreements raised by him in discussions with the British Prime Minister or the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on the basis of a concern that implementation is incomplete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17907/16]
View answerA number of elements of the Good Friday Agreement and St Andrews Agreement have not yet been fully implemented including an Irish Language Act, a North South Consultative Forum and, a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
The Government’s firm position is that these Agreements must be implemented in full, and this is reflected in the Programme for Government. These Agreements, as well as the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s approach to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island. I had the opportunity to draw attention to these outstanding commitments last week at the Review Meeting of the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements.
The matter of an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland is a devolved one and is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and, in particular, of the recently appointed Minister for Communities Paul Givan MLA. A public consultation process on an Irish Language Bill was held in 2015 following on from the launch of a 20 year Strategy for both Irish and Ulster Scots in January that year. The Government is closely following progress on this and continues to advocate for an Irish Language Act and to encourage those who currently support an Act to continue to build the necessary enabling consensus among their Executive colleagues.
In the 2014 Stormont House Agreement, the Government and the British Government, recalling the commitments from previous Agreements, endorsed the need for respect for and recognition of the Irish language in Northern Ireland, consistent with the Council of Europe Charter on Regional or Minority Languages.
Of course the Irish Government continues to support the work of Foras na Gaeilge whose objective is the promotion of the Irish language on an all-island basis and my own Department has also provided support, through its Reconciliation Fund, to number of projects promoting the use of the Irish language on a cross community basis within Northern Ireland.
With the establishment in 2012 of the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association, which is in effect the North/South Parliamentary Forum envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement, the only Strand Two institution that remains outstanding is the North/South Consultative Forum. The Government continues to support the establishment of the Consultative Forum and the Taoiseach has raised the Forum at successive Plenary meetings of the North South Ministerial Council.
On a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, the Government advanced the view during the 2014 Stormont House talks, that a Bill of Rights could set out precisely and formally the rights upon which a shared society for Northern Ireland could be based. While there was not sufficient consensus to take this forward, the final Agreement did provide that the parties commit to:
“serving the people of Northern Ireland equally, and to act in accordance with the obligations on government to promote equality and respect and to prevent discrimination; to promote a culture of tolerance, mutual respect and mutual understanding at every level of society, including initiatives to facilitate and encourage shared and integrated education and housing, social inclusion, and in particular community development and the advancement of women in public life; and to promote the interests of the whole community towards the goals of reconciliation and economic renewal”.
The implementation provisions of the Stormont House Agreement provide for regular review meetings with the participation of the Government, the British Government and the Executive party leaders. Through these review meetings, I have and will continue to seek the implementation of all aspects of the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements, including those outstanding commitments from the Good Friday and St Andrews’ agreements.
As the Programme for a Partnership Government makes clear, we are also determined to pursue the outstanding commitment for a full public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane as agreed by the British and Irish Governments in the Weston Park Agreement of 2001. This is something which the Government has continued to pursue through the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
The Government will continue to engage with the British Government and the Executive, to ensure that the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements is realised towards achieving effective partnership government, genuine reconciliation and economic prosperity for all in Northern Ireland.
324. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to detail any bilateral contacts or lobbying that he has received concerning the issue of the European Council's imposition of sanctions following the Russian Federation's invasion and partition of Ukrainian territory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17908/16]
View answerI can confirm that I have received no direct representations relating to the EU sanctions against Russia, which were extended last week for a further six months until 31 January 2017.
Unfortunately, key elements of the Minsk agreements, which provide the basis for a comprehensive and lasting political resolution to the conflict, remain far from implementation. These include the maintenance of a comprehensive ceasefire and the withdrawal of all heavy weapons from the contact line. The absence of a stable ceasefire is hampering ongoing efforts to advance key provisions of the agreements, in particular the holding of local elections in Donetsk and Luhansk in accordance with OSCE standards and the passing by the Ukraine parliament of a law granting a special status to the regions.
Given the lack of progress in implementing the Minsk agreements to date, Ireland supported the decision to roll over the sanctions until 31 January 2017.
325. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent report on the Loughinisland massacre that confirmed there was police collusion. [19368/16]
View answer326. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he discussed the report on the massacre in Loughinisland with the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron. [19369/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together.
The report by the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland into the events surrounding the appalling attack and murder of six men in Loughinisland in 1994 causes deep concerns.
My thoughts are first and foremost with the families of these victims for whom this report will be a very difficult reminder of their loss and pain. The Ombudsman’s report fundamentally vindicates the concerns the families have raised over many years and their continuing search for justice.
The Ombudsman’s findings are deeply disturbing; in particular his determination that “collusion is a significant feature of the Loughinisland murders”.
The report must be carefully examined with a view to the question of further investigations and possible prosecutions. The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has made clear that the PSNI remains firmly committed to investigating any leads that arise that could lead to prosecutions of those responsible for these appalling sectarian murders.
Despite its disturbing findings, the report is an important reminder of the central importance of the Police Ombudsman in supporting public confidence in the new policing arrangements in Northern Ireland, as envisaged in the Patten Report. I welcome the full cooperation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland with the Police Ombudsman’s investigation.
Cases involving collusion such as the Loughinisland Massacre, must be adequately addressed if we are to achieve a genuinely reconciled society. Successive Irish Governments, in our ongoing bilateral relations with the UK and through the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg, have consistently raised the issue of collusion with the British Government, and will continue to do so.
I raised the Police Ombudsman’s report into the Loughinisland killings during my bilateral meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last week. Secretary of State Villiers also welcomed the report, noted her support for the work of the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland, and echoed the concern over the Ombudsman’s finding that collusion was a ‘significant feature’ in the murders. The Secretary of State and I agreed that cases such as these serve as a stark reminder of the need to agree mechanisms for dealing with the painful legacy of the past in Northern Ireland.
Accordingly, both Governments remain committed to the establishment of the Stormont House legacy institutions as soon as possible and continue to work to achieve this with the Northern Ireland Executive and opposition political parties, as well as broader society.
This determination is underscored by the Government’s view that the comprehensive provisions of the Stormont House Agreement for dealing with the legacy of the past offer the best prospect of bringing whatever healing is possible to those affected by the Troubles – including those affected by collusion. For this to be achieved, it is vitally important that the envisaged legacy institutions would have the trust and confidence of the victims and survivors and their families. Their needs will therefore remain central to the Government’s approach in this area.
I am hopeful that agreement can be reached on the outstanding issues in the near future and that work can finally get underway on establishing the legacy institutions.
327. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the most recent response to an independent inquiry into the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. [19370/16]
View answerDealing with the legacy of the past relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland and pursuing the issue of the Dublin Monaghan bombings is a major priority for me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for the Government. This commitment is reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government that was agreed in May.
The all-Party Dáil motion on the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombing that was adopted in this House on 25 May has been conveyed to the British Government. This motion, like the two previously adopted in 2008 and 2011, calls on the British Government to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents relating to the bombings.
The Government is committed to actively pursuing the implementation of these all-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin Monaghan bombing atrocities. To this end, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in late May, conveying a copy of the recent resolution. In addition, I raised the matter in my bilateral meeting with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Belfast last week. In this meeting I advised the Secretary of State that this latest motion represents the consensus political view in Ireland that an independent, international judicial review of all the relevant documents is required to establish the full facts of the Dublin Monaghan bombings.
I underlined that the absence of a response from the British Government was of deep concern to the Government and indeed this House and emphasised the urgent need to respond to the three Dáil motions. Secretary of State Villiers recognised the importance that the Government and Dáil Éireann attach to this case and she indicated that the British Government is considering a response which would adequately address the motions.
The Government will continue to raise this matter with the British Government, urging them to provide a satisfactory response to the motions that have been adopted by this House. I have made clear to the Secretary of State that there is a pressing need to provide answers to the families of the victims. The Taoiseach has also raised this issue with Prime Minister Cameron emphasising the Government’s continued support for the Dáil motions.
Many families continue to deal not only with the awful pain of losing a loved one, but also with the struggle for answers decades after these traumatic events. Accordingly, the establishment of a new comprehensive framework for dealing with the past, as envisaged in the Stormont House Agreement, is a priority for the Government.
I continue to engage with the British Government, the Executive and the Northern Ireland political parties in discussions to find a route to a final agreement on legacy issues. The Government believes that the legacy institutions agreed under the Stormont House Agreement offer the best hope of helping the thousands of families impacted by the Troubles. I am therefore working to secure the necessary political agreement to get the legacy bodies established and up and running as soon as possible.
328. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the increase in the number of Palestinian children arrested by Israeli security forces in the past year; the number of these children who were arrested without their parents being informed; and his views on the use of unnecessary force in arresting and detaining these children, in some cases beating them and holding them in unsafe and abusive conditions. [19426/16]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to his Question No. 55 (19412/16) today, which was as follows:
“The treatment of Palestinian children in the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem is of deep concern, and an issue on which Ireland has been active for some time.
The significant rise in the number of children arrested, which has been highlighted in reports by UNICEF and others, is largely connected to the wave of violent incidents over the last ten months in which, tragically, many children and young people have been involved.
At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in October 2013, during the universal periodic review of Israel’s human rights record, Ireland expressed this concern and urged Israel to fully implement the recommendations of the February 2013 UNICEF report, entitled “Children in Israeli Military Detention”. We recommended that Israel end urgently night arrests of Palestinian children, the admissibility in evidence in military courts of written confessions in Hebrew signed by Palestinian children, the use of solitary confinement and the denial of access to family members or to legal representation.
Bilaterally, our concerns regarding the detention of Palestinian minors have been raised as part of our ongoing dialogue with the Israeli authorities on the overall situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian population, both with the Israeli Embassy here and through our own Embassy in Tel Aviv.
My clear view is that Palestinian children should be afforded the same rights and protections under the law which Israel rightly considers to be appropriate for Israeli children living alongside them.
The overall human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the treatment of children in detention, remains a matter of concern and will continue to be raised in the relevant multilateral fora, and to feature in the EU’s broader concerns about human rights in the area.
Similar concerns would exist in relation to the detention of children in many other states in the region."
329. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met representatives of Campaign to Raise Awareness of Collusion, CRAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19064/16]
View answerOfficials in my Department have recently undertaken a round of consultation meetings with various victims’ groups connected to the Troubles in Northern Ireland to discuss the establishment of the Stormont House legacy framework. As part of this work, officials met with more than 20 victims’ groups who represent those affected by the Troubles. These included groups from both sides of the community within Northern Ireland, as well as those representing victims and survivors both in this jurisdiction and in Britain.
This is in addition to ongoing work that both I and my Department undertake on legacy issues including those where collusion is an element. My Department has not as yet had any engagement with the Campaign to Raise Awareness of Collusion (CRAC), which I believe may be a newly formed group. Should the group wish to make contact with my Department, directly or through Deputy Martin, I would be happy for them to do so.
330. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress that has been made to reach agreement on measures to address victims' issues since the conclusion of the agreement called A Fresh Start; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19065/16]
View answerThe Government committed to full implementation of both the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements, including the establishment of a comprehensive framework for dealing with the legacy of the past, and this is reflected in our Programme for Government.
Under the Fresh Start Agreement of last November, the two Governments committed to reflect on options for a process to enable the establishment of the institutions for dealing with the legacy of the past, as had been envisaged in the previous Stormont House Agreement. Shortly after the conclusion of the Fresh Start Agreement, which did not succeed in reaching full agreement on all these issues, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, and I agreed that there was merit in proceeding in a way that involved victims’ groups and civic society.
To that end, I wrote to the Northern Ireland Political Parties and over 50 victims’ groups in January this year. I included with my letter the Government’s policy paper on dealing with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland and invited groups to respond with their thoughts and ideas on ways to move forward on this issue. Furthermore, officials from my Department met with over 20 victims’ groups, from across the community in Northern Ireland, as well as groups representing victims and survivors of the Troubles from this jurisdiction and Britain. The purpose of this engagement was to discuss the legacy institutions and listen to perspectives on their establishment and future operation. Secretary of State Villiers and officials from the Northern Ireland Office held their own round of consultation meetings.
Both Governments remain committed to the establishment of the Stormont House legacy institutions as soon as possible and continue to work to achieve this outcome – engaging both with the Northern Ireland Executive and opposition political parties, as well as broader society.
This determination is underscored by the Government’s view that the comprehensive provisions of the Stormont House Agreement for dealing with the legacy of the past offer the best prospect of bringing whatever healing is possible to those affected by the Troubles. For this to be achieved, it is vitally important that the envisaged legacy institutions would have the trust and confidence of the victims and survivors and their families. Their needs will therefore remain central to the Government’s approach in this area.
I am hopeful that agreement can be reached on the outstanding issues in the near future and that work can finally get underway on establishing the legacy institutions. We owe this to the many victims and survivors of the Troubles.
331. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total funding allocated to the Reconciliation Fund per annum from 2011 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19066/16]
View answerIn 2011 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Reconciliation Fund was allocated €3,000,000; in each of the subsequent years, including this year, it was allocated €2.7 million. Detailed lists of the grants awarded through the Reconciliation Fund since 2012 are available on the Department’s website: https://www.dfa.ie/about-us/funding/reconciliation-fund/.
The purpose of the Reconciliation Fund is to fund civil society organisations to support reconciliation and to create better understanding between people and traditions on the island of Ireland, and between Ireland and Britain. It was originally established in 1982, and funding was significantly increased following the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Applications for funding are accepted twice a year, and applications for the next round of funding will be accepted until 16 September 2016. Under the 2014 Stormont House Agreement, the Irish Government has committed itself to the continued annual provision of €2.7m to the Reconciliation Fund.
332. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications by United Kingdom citizens currently being processed; the extra resources he will be deploy to the Passport Office to deal with the increased demand following Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19187/16]
View answerAs of 1 July, there were 53,139 passport applications in progress across the Passport Service. While it is not possible to identify which of these applicants also hold British citizenship, I can confirm that of this amount, 6,201 were submitted using Northern Ireland Passport Express. A further 6,659 were submitted via our Embassy in London.
Passport applications figures, including those relating to applications submitted from Northern Ireland, are lower than they were at the same time last month. On 31 May, there were a total of 68,009 applications in the system, of which 8,254 were submitted using Northern Ireland Passport Express and 5,501 submitted via Embassy London.
While there is likely to be an increase in the number of first-time applications submitted from the UK and from British people living overseas, it is too early to assess how significant this will be. We are, however, seeing an increased number of queries relating to passports and citizenship from Northern Ireland, Great Britain and elsewhere.
The Passport Service will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure the effective deployment of staff resources and to minimize the impact of the high volume of applications on turnaround times and on customer service. The need for additional resources will be kept under review.
333. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish citizens currently working in the United Kingdom, indicated by area in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19188/16]
View answerData on the number of Irish citizens currently working in the United Kingdom is not available as the UK Office for National Statistics does not differentiate between EU citizens for the purposes of employment and labour market data. According to the most recent data of 18 May 2016, there is nearly 2.2 million EU citizens working in the UK.
The United Kingdom’s 2011 census data, which is the most recently available, indicates that the number of Irish born citizens resident in the UK at that time was 430,309 of which 395,182 were resident in England, 22,952 in Scotland and 12,175 in Wales. Of course the number of people living in the UK who are Irish citizens through descent is considerably larger.
334. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on growing calls for the independence of West Papua, especially given increasing and alarming human rights violations there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19233/16]
View answerIreland, along with the EU, respects the territorial integrity of Indonesia and regards the province of West Papua as being part of Indonesia.
Nevertheless, the human rights situation in West Papua remains an issue of concern. This is raised regularly in contacts between the EU and Indonesia, and developments in this area will continue to be monitored closely by the Embassy of Ireland in Jakarta.
The 6th Indonesia-EU Human Rights Dialogue, held on Tuesday 28 June in Brussels, provided a framework for open and constructive discussions between the EU and Indonesia on a wide range of human rights issues of mutual interest.
This dialogue took stock of progress in implementing key human rights commitments, including the implementation of Indonesia’s 2015-2019 National Human Rights Action Plan. A broad range of issues was discussed such as non-discrimination and tolerance, access to justice, the death penalty, the rights of migrants, the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as persons belonging to minorities and vulnerable groups.
I support President Widodo’s stated intention to address the concerns of the people of West Papua and to make reconciliation in West Papua a priority. In this regard, I note the decision to grant clemency to several political prisoners and open access to Papua for foreign journalists. I welcome efforts to find a peaceful, inclusive and lasting solution to this situation
335. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the report on human rights and business. [19234/16]
View answerOn the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2015, I was pleased to announce the publication of the Working Outline of the National Plan on Business and Human Rights. The Working Outline has provided a basis for further consultations on the development of the National Plan.
During the first quarter of 2016 my Department hosted consultations on the Working Outline of Ireland’s National Plan which were attended by representatives of Government Departments, civil society, academics and the business community. The Department also issued an invitation for written submissions on the Working Outline; these submissions are available on the Department’s website.
The input received through these discussions and submissions is being reviewed in consultation with Government Departments and with a view to producing a first draft of the National Plan.
Ireland continues to engage in EU and UN discussions aimed at promoting the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. On 20 June 2016 the Foreign Affairs Council adopted Conclusions on Business and Human Rights. The Conclusions reaffirm the EU’s commitment to advancing the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
On 23 June 2016 Ireland also participated in discussions on Business and Human Rights which were held during the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council. We took this opportunity to highlight the contribution of human rights defenders and civil society organisations and the risks they face as well as the importance of multi-stakeholder participation in discussions on business and human rights.
336. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on recognising the sovereign state of Somaliland which has celebrated 25 years of independence and democracy; and if he will support an allocation through the European Development Fund to Somaliland for the Addis-Berbera corridor. [19235/16]
View answerIreland, in common with our EU partners, the UN and the African Union, considers Somaliland to be a region of Somalia, though with a special autonomous status. Ireland believes a permanent solution to the status of Somaliland should be reached through negotiations between the authorities of Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia. This solution must be acceptable to both parties and we do not seek to influence the outcome of the process.
Funding from the European Development Fund (EDF) for the Addis Ababa-Berbera corridor would fall under an EDF contribution to the EU’s Africa Investment Facility in support of regional economic integration. The overall objective of this measure is to contribute to sustainable economic development through regional economic integration, with an emphasis on the improvement of economic infrastructures. This in turn is part of a wider EDF regional programme for Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Ireland supported the approval of the EDF contribution to the African Investment Facility in January. The measure includes an indicative list of priority projects, one of which is the Berbera Corridor. Funding decisions on projects are taken by the Africa Investment Facility's Board, on which Ireland is represented, and this project will be given every consideration on its merits.
337. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on the very dangerous situation of the Baha'is in Iran, especially given the unprecedented number of anti-Baha'is comments in official news media and Government sponsored website releases with some referring to the Bah'ai as the enemy and a polluted sect. [19236/16]
View answerI am aware of the situation of the Baha’i in Iran; it is an issue that my Department follows closely.
The human rights situation in Iran in general is a matter of serious concern. Freedom of religion and belief, of expression and of assembly are not always upheld, and there are particular concerns about the treatment of some religious and ethnic minorities, political activists, journalists and bloggers, and human rights defenders. Human rights issues therefore continue to constitute an important part of our engagement and dialogue with Iran.
The intolerance and persecution of Baha’i by the Iranian authorities, which has continued at varying levels of intensity throughout the existence of the Islamic Republic, is a grave reproach to Iran and its reputation, and a matter of deep concern.
In March 2015, I addressed the UN Human Rights Council and expressed my concern that “Freedom of Religion and Belief is in peril in many places worldwide, with members of minority religious communities, including those of Christian, Muslim and Baha’i faith, disproportionately affected by violence, discrimination, and harassment.”
I am aware that seven Baha’i leaders remain in detention in Iran, and that a further 73 Baha’is are imprisoned there solely on the basis of their religious beliefs. I am aware that people of the Baha’i faith in Iran are routinely discriminated against, and persecuted on a daily basis. Ireland will continue to call, through bilateral contacts, with our EU partners and at the UN, for the release of those Baha’i imprisoned on the basis of their faith, and for Iran to cease persecuting members of the Baha’i community. Ireland has been instrumental in ensuring that the EU consistently raise the discriminatory treatment of the Baha’i in Iran, and will continue to ensure that this remains firmly on the political agenda.
My Department engaged in political consultations with Iran in January 2015 here in Dublin, and took this opportunity to directly communicate Ireland’s concerns regarding the treatment of the Baha’i community to the visiting Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Majid Takht Ravanchi.
I personally voiced these concerns directly to Mr. Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Majlis (Iranian Parliament), during his visit to Ireland in June 2015.
Iran was reviewed under the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review process in 2014. Ireland raised concerns in its intervention regarding the situation of religious minorities. We recommended that Iran review its policies discriminating against students on account of their faith, ensure that the trials of members of religious minorities are conducted in a fair and transparent manner, and accord to these people the full rights of citizens of Iran.
At the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council in March 2015, during the interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Iran, and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ireland raised concerns that some groups, including those of the Baha’i faith and some Christian groups, are subject to significant persecution. We also raised this concern at the 27th Session of the Human Rights Council in 2014, under Agenda Item Four (human rights situations that require the Council’s attention).
My Department also maintains contact with the Irish Baha’i community, through meetings and regular correspondence.
I can assure the Deputy that Ireland, along with the EU, will continue to encourage progress in relation to religious minorities in Iran, in particular regarding those of the Baha’i faith, and to make clear our concerns to the Iranian authorities at every appropriate opportunity.
338. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the threats of violence against ASTRACATOL, Farmers Union, in Columbia by state-sponsored groups; and if he agrees that while the international community is praising the peace process between the government and FARC there also needs to be more scrutiny of human rights violations in the country, particularly against farmers and trade unions. [19237/16]
View answerThe agreement on a definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities between the Colombian Government and the FARC guerrilla organisation is an important step in bringing to an end more than half a century of conflict in which more than 220,000 people have been killed and 6.4 million people displaced.
I congratulate all of the parties to the agreement for their courage in pursuing peace, in particular the President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos. I also commend former Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eamon Gilmore, for his ongoing work as the European Union’s Special Envoy to the Colombian Peace Process. Mr. Gilmore was the EU’s representative at the signing ceremony in Havana on 26 June 2016.
A central element of the bilateral ceasefire agreement is the commitment by the Government of Colombia to intensify its fight against paramilitarism and organised crime, as well as stepping up its protection of rural communities, social movements such as ASTRACATOL and opposition political movements and parties. In addition, the Colombian government has pledged to establish a National Commission on Security Guarantees and a Special Unit, within the Public Prosecutors Office, for investigation for organised crime and paramilitarism. It has also committed to incorporating, as necessary, FARC ex-combatants into the government’s National Protection Unit for the protection of members of social and political movements. The effective implementation of these measures and of the other provisions of the agreement will be critical to its success.
Ireland attaches the greatest importance to the protection and promotion of human and civil rights in Colombia and globally. For many years Ireland has supported civil society groups and international agencies working to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights in Colombia and officials from our Embassy in Mexico, which is accredited to Colombia, regularly meet human rights groups from that country. In addition I recently sent a group of senior Irish officials to Colombia, who met United Nations and civil society representatives, including from groups involved in the promotion and defence of human rights. Subsequently, officials from my Department met Colombian human rights defenders visiting Ireland with Peace Brigades International. These discussions focused on the legacy of the conflict and the implications of the ongoing peace process.
Ireland has also been a long-time supporter of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Christian Aid and other organisations working in the area of human rights in Colombia. We have provided more than €400,000 in funding for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia since 2014. At the Human Rights Council in Geneva in March of this year, Ireland commended the work of the OHCHR in Colombia and called for the renewal of its mandate beyond 31 October 2016. As emphasised in our national statement, human rights must be central to the peace agreement. This is something we have consistently advocated and will continue to advocate.
Ireland also engages with Colombia on human rights in the EU context, including through the EU-Colombia Human Rights Dialogue. Ireland is an active contributor in this process which addresses the subject directly with the Colombian government at official level. Through this mechanism, the Union engages in a structured manner across the full range of human rights issues, including human rights defenders, trades unionists, prisoners, land restitution and environmental issues.
The promotion and protection of human rights is and will continue to be a central element of our engagement with Colombia - including during the implementation of the peace agreement.
