Written Answers Nos. 130-139
130. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the waiting time for applications to be processed under the carer's allowance scheme, and the strategies he has implemented to alleviate the exorbitant waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21905/16]
View answerThe Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, there are currently delays occurring in the processing of carer’s allowance (CA) applications. The average waiting time for new carer's allowance (CA) applications at the end of June was 20 weeks. At the end of June, there were 6,375 CA applications awaiting decision. The volume of CA claims on hands are a consequence of continued strong claim intake. The delays in processing are frequently exacerbated by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
An in-depth Business Process Improvement (BPI) review has recently been completed for the CA scheme. This project focused on optimising output, improving customer service and the elimination of backlogs.
The outcome of this review is a detailed plan outlining the process required to manage both the continuous weekly intake and reduce the average waiting time. The Department has introduced a number of measures to address the efficiency of claim processing for CA in light of the current waiting times, including the assignment of temporary and full-time staff and the facility to assign overtime working where appropriate.
It is expected that these measures will, over the next few months, lead to a significant reduction in the average waiting time. The position is being closely monitored and kept under review by the Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
131. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the full-year cost in 2017 of reaching the 0.36%, 0.37%, 0.38%, 0.39% and 0.4% of the United Nations target for overseas development aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21654/16]
View answerThe Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. “One World, One Future”, our policy for international development, clearly articulates the Government’s commitment to the UN target of providing 0.7% of Gross National Product (GNP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA) and to making progress towards that target.
The current Programme for Government sets out our ambition to making progress towards the UN Target as resources permit. It is important that such progress is made in a sustainable and manageable way which strengthens Ireland's recognised role as a reliable and effective partner in providing humanitarian assistance and contributing to the fight to end global poverty and hunger.
For 2016 we have provided a total of €641 million for Official Development Assistance, the first substantial increase in budget allocation in seven years. As our economic recovery continues to consolidate, I am confident we can make further progress towards meeting the UN target.
The table below sets out the volume of ODA which would be required to deliver an ODA/ GNP percentage of between 0.36% and 0.40% in 2017. These calculations are based on the most recent Department of Finance forecast for GNP 2017.
|
ODA as a % of GNP Target |
Total ODA required €Millions |
|
0.36% |
732.06 |
|
0.37% |
752.40 |
|
0.38% |
772.73 |
|
0.39% |
793.07 |
|
0.40% |
813.40 |
132. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience in China; the actions he has taken to address this disturbing practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21655/16]
View answerThe Government follows closely reports of human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners, including reported cases of organ harvesting. Human rights issues are discussed on a regular basis with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral and multilateral meetings, including during the visit of Premier Li Keqiang to Ireland in May 2015.
Through the formal framework of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, which was established in 1995, the EU continues to share with China its experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion, and to urge China to take clear steps to improve the human rights situation. The latest session of this dialogue took place on 30 November and 1 December 2015, and provided the EU with the opportunity to express its concerns about a wide range of human rights issues in China, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, freedom of religion or belief, freedom of assembly and association, arbitrary detention, torture and the death penalty. The individual case of Gao Zhisheng, a human rights defender detained for denouncing the persecution of practitioners of Falun Gong, was also raised at the dialogue. Most recently, human rights issues were discussed at the 18th EU-China Summit which was held in Beijing on 12-13 July 2016.
In 2013, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade held a series of meetings with representatives of the Irish Falun Dafa Association and human rights lawyers. During these meetings the Irish Falun Dafa Association discussed the issue of organ harvesting and ways in which human rights issues are raised with Chinese authorities by both Ireland and the EU. However, it should be noted that the Chinese Government denies accusations of human rights abuses against those who practice Falun Gong.
New laws on organ donation came into force in China at the beginning of 2015 with a view to ending the practice of forced organ transplants, including from prisoners. The Embassy of Ireland in Beijing, in cooperation with our EU partners, is monitoring the implementation of this new legislation.
Ireland, together with our EU partners, will continue to address human rights issues with China, in frequent and regular dialogue, through our contacts in both Dublin and Beijing and through the relevant multilateral channels.
133. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on Palestine’s call, the open letter from 45 Palestinian political and civil groups calling on the Government to act to bring justice to Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21705/16]
View answer134. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the open letter from Palestinian civil and political society sent to all Oireachtas Members; the action he will take to exert pressure on the State of Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestine and to grant the Palestinian people rights in accordance with UN resolutions and international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21734/16]
View answer135. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on Palestine’s call, the open letter from 45 Palestinian political and civil groups calling on the Government to act to bring justice to Palestine; the further actions he will take on this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21765/16]
View answer136. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on Palestine’s call, an open letter from Palestinian civil and political society sent to all Oireachtas Members; and if he will exert pressure on the State of Israel, through the use of sanctions and other parliamentary actions to end its illegal occupation of Palestine and to grant the Palestinian people their rights in accordance with UN resolutions and international law, as requested in the letter. [21766/16]
View answer144. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on Palestine’s Call, an open letter from Palestinian civil and political society sent to all Oireachtas members; the way he will address its demand for the Government to exert pressure on the state of Israel, through the use of sanctions and other Parliamentary actions, to end its illegal occupation of Palestine and to grant the Palestinian people their rights in accordance with United Nations resolutions and international law as requested in the letter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21786/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 133 to 136, inclusive, together.
Like other Deputies, I myself received a copy of the letter referred to, which appears to have been drawn up by the Irish NGO concerned, and then Palestinian signatories gathered.
The Government remains active and engaged on the objective of trying to achieve a two state solution in the Middle East, including a fully sovereign and free Palestinian state. There are few western countries as consistently engaged on this issue as Ireland. I have worked continuously to try and maintain the problems of Palestine on the EU and international agenda, despite a wave of concurrent crises in the immediate neighbourhood, and have urged stronger international actions. We will continue to do so.
I have myself recently returned from my second extensive visit to the area in just over a year, meeting the parties and trying to urge them to move forward.
Ireland is also engaged on the ground in trying to combat the effects of the occupation, both through our own humanitarian work and through our support of local NGOs engaged on justice and human rights work, a number of whom are among the signatories of this letter.
I fully share the frustration of the signatories, of Deputies in the House, and of others, that the process has been completely stalled in recent years, and that there is not a stronger international will to drive it forward. I have therefore given the Government’s full support to the efforts by France in recent weeks to do just that.
The letter, and the Questions posed by Deputies, make particular reference to the call for trade sanctions upon Israel. We have discussed this question on many occasions, with this NGO, here in the House, and elsewhere. The essential point remains unchanged: I am opposed to sanctions and, in any event, there is no possibility of obtaining any support for such sanctions at EU level, which is where they would have to be implemented. I have, however, been an advocate of measures which differentiate clearly between Israel and the illegally occupied settlements. These include the guidelines adopted on research co-operation which exclude entities based in the settlements from benefitting from funding under the EU-Israel research agreement, and on origin of products to ensure that consumers are not misled as to the provenance of any products emanating from the settlements.
137. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he is proposing to ensure that there is a formal and clear mechanism for Colombian civil society involvement in the decision-making process of the allocation of the €3 million his Department has contributed to the EU trust fund for the implementation of the peace agreement in Colombia. [21767/16]
View answer138. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make representations to ensure that the peasant reserve zones in Colombia are properly considered by the seven-EU-member-state committee that is allocating EU funds which are ring-fenced for equitable access to land in national protected areas. [21768/16]
View answer139. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make representations to the EU-member-state committee that is deciding where and how to allocate the EU trust fund for the implementation of peace in Colombia to ensure that proper vigilance is followed to guarantee that the fund is well spent. [21769/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 to 139, inclusive, together.
Ireland will contribute €3 million to the European Union Trust Fund for Colombia, which will be formally established as soon as a final peace agreement is signed between the Colombian Government and the FARC guerrilla group.
The Fund will support the implementation of the peace agreement and Ireland has been closely involved in discussion of its governance structures and strategic direction. In this context, Ireland has advocated a strong human rights and gender perspective in the Fund’s strategic plan, as well as a focus on the most vulnerable conflict-affected communities in Colombia.
Ireland’s contribution of €3 million guarantees it full voting rights in the governance structures of the Fund, which will consist of an Operational Committee based in Bogotá and a Trust Fund Board, based in Brussels. Irish officials will participate in both governance bodies and will be fully involved, along with representatives of the European Commission and other contributing Member States, in decision-making on the actions supported by the Fund during its five year term.
The Trust Fund foresees provision of funding through a range of implementing partners including civil society organisations and prioritizes support for civil society participation in decision-making at local and national level in post-conflict Colombia.
The Fund also prioritizes improving land tenure with a view to ensuring equitable access to land, along with programmes to support rural development and strengthen the cooperative system of farmer and producer organisations. There will be a particular focus on ensuring that the rights of marginalised communities such as peasants, indigenous groups and the Afro-Colombian community are respected and supported.
Civil society organisations in Bogotá were briefed by the European Union Delegation on 28 June on how the mechanisms for engagement with the fund will work. This consultation with civil society will continue on a regular basis. In addition, it is planned to develop a consultation mechanism between national institutions and the regional and local level (including civil society) to promote a bottom up approach to local economic development.
Regarding vigilance over Trust Fund expenditure, both the Fund and the actions financed by it will be subject to the monitoring and evaluation rules applicable to all EU external aid programmes with a view to ensuring economy, efficiency and effectiveness. The Constitutive Agreement of the Fund provides for strong audit and control oversight by the European Anti-Fraud Office, the European Commission’s internal auditor and the Court of Auditors. The Fund’s annual accounts will be submitted to the Operational Committee, on which Ireland will be represented, for its approval.
Ireland has provided more than €5 million since 2009 to international and local civil society organizations in Colombia and, through our Embassy in Mexico, maintains an ongoing dialogue with Colombian civil society on development and human rights priorities, as do many other EU Member States based in Bogotá. Ireland, along with other EU partners, will bring these perspectives to discussions in the Operational Committee and Trust Fund Board.
