Written Answers Nos. 74 - 82
74. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the impending strike of caterers in a college (details supplied) arising from a ten year pay freeze endured by the workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39183/16]
View answerBased on information I have received from the Institute concerned it is my understanding that the dispute relates to a company which is a subsidiary company of Cork IT and which is operating on the Institute's campus. I have been informed that the company have attempted to engage the services of the Workplace Relations Commission but the Union involved have not engaged with the process. I understand that the company is currently in discussions with the employees' union with a view to averting industrial action.
75. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the 300 hours of mental health classes to be provided to students in schools will commence, as announced by the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People on 3 December 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1901/17]
View answerThe Department of Education and Skills is introducing a new Wellbeing programme for schools which forms part of the new Framework for Junior Cycle. It will be introduced to first year students from September 2017. Wellbeing is not just about mental health. It is about enhancing the physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing of students. Therefore, the area of learning will include Physical Education (PE), Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE). Schools can include other areas in their provision for wellbeing, such as guidance.
Guidelines on Wellbeing in Junior Cycle have been developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and will be published shortly. Schools will use the guidelines in formulating their individual Wellbeing programmes from September. Up to 400 hours will be available for learning in the area of Wellbeing over the Junior Cycle period, beginning with a minimum of 300 hours of timetabled engagement in 2017/18 and moving to the full complement of time as the new Junior Cycle is fully implemented in schools.
Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Deputy Helen McEntee, has established the National Taskforce on Youth Mental Health which will provide national leadership around youth mental health and wellbeing issues.
Other supports available to schools in the area of student wellbeing are the Wellbeing in Post-primary Schools Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention (2013) and Wellbeing in Primary Schools Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion (2015). They provide a Framework for schools to present, in an integrated way, the existing elements of good practice to promote positive mental health and direct them to new practices as appropriate.
The curriculum at primary and senior cycle level also includes topics relating to student wellbeing. The Social, Personal and Health Education curriculum provides particular opportunities to foster the personal development, health and wellbeing of the individual child.
76. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for developing apprenticeship opportunities for persons with disabilities. [1898/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, in order to be registered as an apprentice by SOLAS, a person must be employed by an approved employer. Recruitment to apprenticeship is therefore driven by employers rather than by SOLAS or by education and training providers.
Currently the Apprenticeship Council is overseeing the expansion of the apprenticeship system into a range of new areas, following a call for proposals from employers and education and training providers. In recent months, we have seen the first of these new apprenticeships getting underway with the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship launching in September 2016 and the Industrial Electrical Engineer Apprenticeship commencing in November 2016.
Over the coming months further new apprenticeships will get underway in occupations such as international financial services, accounting and new craft and services areas. Once a number of these new apprenticeships have commenced and SOLAS has assessed the providers’ experience with regard to recruitment, they will commission a review on pathways to participation in apprenticeship, including participation of people with a disability. The review will identify any potential barriers that may exist in the system and, if necessary, will make recommendations for the future.
My Department will continue to engage with education and training providers to contribute to the implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy to support people with a disability in gaining and sustaining employment.
77. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the functions of the parliamentary liaison unit in his Department; and the way in which these differ from the Office of the Government Chief Whip. [1911/17]
View answerThe role of the Parliamentary Liaison Unit is to facilitate the enhanced relationship between the Government and the Oireachtas and in this regard its work is complementary to that of the Office of the Government Chief Whip in helping to ensure the implementation of the Government’s legislative programme.
In addition, however, the Parliamentary Liaison Unit works closely with Government Departments on their input to Private Members’ Business in both the Dáil and the Seanad.
The Unit also liaises on a regular basis with advisers and Departments with a view to ensuring that they are aware of Oireachtas issues and to assist them in engaging with the new processes arising from Dáil reform.
78. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach the issues discussed at the European Council in December 2016. [1990/17]
View answerThe agenda for the European Council which took place in Brussels on 15 December included migration; security; economic and social issues; and international relations, specifically the situation in Syria, and the Dutch ratification of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine. We discussed a number of other topics, including: Russia; Cyprus; energy union; the single market; the digital single market; and the European economy, on which President Draghi spoke. The digital single market is of course particularly important to Ireland and, in advance of the European Council, I wrote a letter to President Juncker, which was co-signed by 15 other EU leaders, calling for greater ambition in the period ahead.
Following the European Council, there was a short meeting of the 27 EU Heads of State of Government, i.e. without Prime Minister May. This meeting focussed on the mechanics and timing of the Brexit negotiations from the EU perspective. President Tusk outlined the process whereby the European Council will agree guidelines for the negotiations, once the UK Government has triggered Article 50. We re-confirmed the principles that we agreed last June i.e. that there can be no negotiation without notification; that the Single Market and the four fundamental freedoms are indivisible; and that, until the withdrawal negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a member of the EU with all the rights and responsibilities that implies. There was no detailed discussion about the future of Europe: this will be the focus of a separate summit in Malta on 3 February.
As set out in the statement which issued from the meeting, the 27 EU Heads of State and Government will remain permanently seized of Brexit and will update the guidelines as necessary. The Commission will lead the detailed negotiations, with Michel Barnier as the chief negotiator for the Commission. The General Affairs Council, the European Parliament, the Committee of Permanent Representatives and official level working groups will also play important roles in the negotiations process.
During conversations with my counterparts in the margins of the meeting, I took the opportunity to reiterate and explain Ireland's particular concerns arising from Brexit, including in relation to Northern Ireland, the Peace Process, the Common Travel Area and our deeply entwined economic and trade links with the UK.
79. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he has sought a meeting with the DUP. [1992/17]
View answerLast Tuesday, following the resignation of deputy First Minister McGuinness, I met with Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Féin to discuss developments.
I then spoke by phone to both Martin McGuinness and DUP Leader Arlene Foster to explore the possibility of a resolution to the difficulties.
Later that day I spoke with Prime Minister May to discuss the events. We agreed that our two Governments would continue to work closely on these matters over the coming period and that we would keep in close contact. We also agreed that Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, would work together to see if a way forward could be found before an election had to be triggered.
I spoke with Prime Minister May again last evening when it became clear there would be no nomination of a deputy First Minister and that an election was inevitable.
Minister Flanagan and I remained available over the course of last weekend to assist but unfortunately a way forward for the Executive could not be found and the date for Assembly elections has now been set for 2 March.
The Government will continue to be proactive in seeking input on Northern Ireland’s interests, as we prepare for the Brexit negotiations.
80. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the bilateral meetings he has had with foreign Heads of Government outside of European summit meetings since the UK referendum to leave the EU took place at which the issue of Brexit and the unique challenges faced by the island of Ireland as a consequence were discussed (details supplied), in tabular form. [2165/17]
View answerAn extensive programme of engagement with all other EU Governments and the EU institutions, including the Commission’s Brexit Negotiations Task Force, is under way. This engagement is being intensified in 2017. As requested, the Taoiseach's meetings with other heads of Government since the UK referendum are set out in the following table.
|
HOSG |
Date |
Venue |
|
PM Rajoy, Spain |
12 January 2017 |
Madrid |
|
PM Muscat, Malta |
28 November 2016 |
Dublin |
|
President Anastasiades, Cyprus |
18 October 2016 |
Dublin |
|
PM May, UK |
26 July 2016 |
London |
|
President Hollande, France |
21 July 2016 |
Dublin |
|
Chancellor Merkel, Germany |
12 July 2016 |
Berlin |
Although not a head of Government, it is worth noting that the Taoiseach met with Donald Tusk, in his capacity as President of the European Council, on 7 September. The Taoiseach also met the head of the Commission negotiating team, Michel Barnier, in Dublin on 12 October.
The Taoiseach and Ministers will continue to meet and engage with their EU counterparts over the coming weeks to emphasise Ireland’s concerns and to ensure that they are fully reflected in the EU position once negotiations commence. This activity is reinforced by extensive engagement at diplomatic and official level. The Government is acutely aware of the potential risks and challenges for the Irish economy and will remain fully engaged on this aspect as the negotiations proceed. An important part of our preparations for the Brexit negotiations is ensuring that our particular concerns are heard and understood across Europe. Engagement with our EU partners and with the EU institutions is therefore critical.
Of course, Ireland will be part of the EU 27 team and looks forward to working with our fellow Member States in delivering the best possible result for Ireland and for the EU.
81. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Taoiseach the cost to the Exchequer of any ongoing investigations or inquiries in his Department. [2397/17]
View answerI am the specified Minister under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 in relation to two Commissions of Investigation which are ongoing, the Fennelly Commission which was established in April 2014, and the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Commission which was established in June 2015. To the end of December 2016, the cost to the Exchequer of the Fennelly Commission was €3,019,100 while the cost of the IBRC Commission was €1,498,983. The IBRC Commission has also indicated in its Interim Report that significant third party costs have been incurred which are likely to arise for payment in due course.
82. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans and an anticipated timeframe on the issue of recognition for Traveller ethnicity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2037/17]
View answerAs I have indicated previously, the question of recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group in Ireland is being considered in the context of the development of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy.
In September 2015, my predecessor brought a paper to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Social Policy on the question of recognising Travellers as a distinct ethnic group within Irish society. This followed a process of dialogue with the national level Traveller NGOs during 2015 which culminated in the presentation of an agreed position paper by them and confirmation that there are no legal or expenditure implications arising from such recognition. The key point is that recognition of the distinct heritage, culture and identity of Travellers and their special place in Irish society would be hugely important to Traveller pride, to Traveller self-esteem and to overcoming the legacy of marginalisation and discrimination that the community has experienced.
I have had a long standing interest in this area, most notably through my chairing of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality when it produced its report on the Recognition of Traveller Ethnicity (April 2014). My officials and I have been working to advance this matter and I made a presentation to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy in December 2016. An invitation has been extended to Traveller representatives to meet that Cabinet Committee to further these discussions.
