Written Answers Nos. 123-131
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the deterioration in the health of a person (details supplied) who has been in prison in Egypt for considerable time; if he will re-engage with the Egyptian authorities with a view to emphasising the seriousness of the situation and the need for early release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14669/17]
View answerThis long-running and complex consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and exceptional levels of resources are being devoted to the provision of consular support to the citizen and his family. The Government is doing everything it possibly can in our ongoing engagement with the Egyptian authorities to seek to have this young man returned to his home and his family at the earliest possible time. The reality is that it is the Egyptian authorities that are detaining this citizen, and only the Egyptian authorities can make the decision to return him to Ireland. The Government maintains open lines of communication at all levels with the Egyptian Government on the case. I once again urged the Egyptian Government to release this citizen without further delay when I met with my Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Shoukry, in Brussels on March 6th.
My Department does everything possible to monitor the health and welfare of this citizen and we have emphasised the need to protect his health and welfare directly with the Egyptian authorities. Minister Flanagan raised the issue with Minister Shoukry earlier this month. Following representations from the Irish Embassy, the Court ordered a medical assessment of Ibrahim Halawa at the second last hearing. A further assessment was ordered at the last hearing (22 March). It is important that these medical assessments take place. I am disturbed by recent reports about Mr. Halawa’s health and I am seeking urgent clarification in this regard.
We have made it clear to the Egyptian authorities that we hold them responsible for ensuring this citizen’s welfare by carrying out regular medical checks and providing all required medical treatment. The Egyptian authorities have consistently given us assurances on these points.
Our Embassy in Cairo has paid an unprecedented number of consular visits to this citizen, more than 55 in all. The most recent consular visit was on March 1st. A further consular visit will be arranged in the coming days.
The trial in which this citizen is a defendant was back in court on Wednesday 22 March. Officials from the Embassy were present in the court to observe the proceedings, as they have been at every hearing in the case to date.
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of the ongoing strife in the Horn of Africa and the likelihood of increased famine and starvation, the EU and UN can mobilise its resources sufficiently to address the issue of starvation and the protection of civilians; if a comprehensive aid programme supported by peacekeeping forces can be organised to address the most serious issues arising in Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Nigeria; if the African Union can also be engaged to combat the activities of Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab in the short term; if an equally aggressive campaign to supply clean drinking water to the areas in question can be organised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14670/17]
View answerI am deeply concerned by the situation of the more than 20 million people currently facing famine, or threat of famine, in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and north-east Nigeria.
In 2016, Ireland provided a total of some €195 million in humanitarian assistance to people affected by crisis and conflict, including in the countries mentioned. This funding is directed towards the provision of life-saving assistance including food support, shelter, and the provision of basic services including health, education and water and sanitation. In 2016, we also provided €7.5 million in core funding to UNICEF, the UN Agency which leads efforts, globally, to provide clean drinking water in humanitarian crises.
The continued provision of timely humanitarian assistance to those in need in these countries is crucial, and we are currently preparing a package of assistance for the crises in South Sudan and in Somalia. This will be in addition to the €31 million Ireland has provided to South Sudan since December 2013 and the €27 million provided for Somalia since 2012. In the case of Yemen, Ireland has provided almost €6 million in humanitarian assistance since the conflict began in early 2015 and we intend to maintain similar levels of support in 2017. At the recent Oslo Conference, Ireland made an indicative commitment of at least €5 million in humanitarian funding for 2017 for north-east Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.
Intractable conflict is the main driver of the humanitarian emergencies for people in these countries. It is clear that action at political level and by humanitarian organisations is required to protect the rights of the populations affected. Ireland is working with our international partners, including the EU and the UN, to support a strong focus on the need for peaceful resolution of these conflicts. The EU has pledged up to €50 million in support of the Multinational Joint Taskforce to combat Boko Haram, which supports 8,700 troops from Nigeria and neighbouring countries to promote regional security. The EU is also funding the African Union peacekeeping Mission in Somalia, AMISOM, which is mandated by the UN Security Council to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabab.
Together with our EU and UN partners, we will continue to monitor these four crises closely and to provide significant life-saving humanitarian assistance for those in most need.
125. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of any payments made by his Department, its agencies or any bodies under his aegis to any broadcasters here in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016; the broadcaster to which the funds were provided; the reason for the payments; and if there are any reasons for payments to broadcasters in 2017. [14724/17]
View answerMy Department made payments to broadcasters here in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017 as detailed in the table. Payments made to broadcasters here in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017.
|
Division/Unit |
Year |
Payee |
Amount |
Reason for Payment |
|
Irish Abroad Unit |
2014 |
RTÉ |
€50,000 |
This amount was paid to RTE in connection with broadcasting of the Ceiliúradh (Celebration) concert held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 10th April 2014. The Ceiliúradh concert marked the occasion of President Higgins’ State Visit to Britain. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade co-funded the broadcast, along with RTÉ and Tourism Ireland, as an important celebration of the cultural links between Ireland and Britain and to ensure that it could be viewed by as many people worldwide as possible. |
|
Ireland, United Kingdom and Americas Division |
2014 |
RTÉ |
€11,000 |
A grant payment was made to RTÉ to support the production of five one-hour episodes of the “History Show” which were broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 in August 2014. These episodes looked at Irish involvement in the First World War, including reaction to, and participation in, the war by nationalist and unionist communities across the island of Ireland. The project also examined how the events of the First World War have been commemorated in Ireland both generally and also within nationalist and unionist traditions. The project fell within the Reconciliation Fund’s criteria of promoting reconciliation through education, dialogue and culture. |
|
Coordination and Compliance Unit |
2015 |
RTÉ |
€72.60 |
Purchase of “Ireland & The United Nations” video. |
|
Communications Unit |
2017 |
RTÉ |
€300 |
Attendance at RTE ‘Mojocon’ Mobile Journalism Conference (upcoming). |
126. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a matter (details supplied) with regard to recruitment in the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14631/17]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) recruitment advertisement for General Operatives Band 3 Rural positions at locations in Counties Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Tipperary and Wexford refers to positions that may be permanent, fixed-term or seasonal. The next stage of this recruitment competition is to form a short-list of those applicants to be invited for interview in May 2017. The purpose of the recruitment competition is to form a panel of suitable candidates which may be used to fill positions identified in the OPW’s workforce planning process.
127. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the final amount of money received from the sale of Bord Gáis; the details of the allocations made using the proceeds from the sale of Bord Gáis shares; the proportion that was used to pay off a portion of the national debt; the proportion that was used for other uses; if he has consulted with the Housing Agency and the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on the possible uses of the proceeds of Bord Gáis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14667/17]
View answer128. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the detail of items the proceeds from the sale of Bord Gáis shares were spent on; if all of it was used to pay off the national debt; if he has consulted with the Housing Agency or the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on the use of Bord Gáis proceeds for the provision of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14665/17]
View answer129. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he was in consultation with the Minister for Finance on the possible uses of the proceeds from the sale of Bord Gáis shares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14666/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 127 to 129, inclusive, together.
To date, the Exchequer has received nearly €1.5 billion in cash arising from the State Assets Disposal Programme and the sale of the National Lottery licence, of which €350m was from Ervia in respect of the sale of Bord Gais Energy.
Under Eurostat rules, the amount of any dividends received from a State company, including proceeds from asset disposals, which can improve the GGB is limited by reference to the entrepreneurial income of the relevant company in the previous year. In order to comply with the fiscal rules of the Stability and Growth Pact, the scope for the Government to use such dividends for additional expenditure on a GGB neutral basis is therefore limited to the amount by which the dividends paid actually improves the GGB. This has meant that in order to take maximum advantage of the asset disposal proceeds, they cannot all be availed of at once but must be remitted to the Exchequer over a number of years.
When all of the remaining proceeds from the sale of Bord Gais Energy have been received, the final total from all of these State asset disposals is expected to be about €2.1 billion.
Since the State Asset Disposal Programme was agreed by Government, a number of significant announcements have been made of allocations of additional funding for capital investment to be funded from the proceeds of these asset disposals. Details of these investment programmes are on my Department's website, and further detail about individual projects and programmes is available from the relevant Ministers and their Departments. However, in summary:
- In July 2012, in its first infrastructure stimulus plan involving a total investment of €2¼ billion, the Government announced that on foot of the State Assets Disposal Programme, it would undertake further Exchequer investment including enabling works to support the PPP projects. Almost €100m was made available for enabling works on the roads and education PPPs.
- In June 2013, the Government allocated €150m additional Exchequer investment to schools, energy efficiency and roads projects;
- At Budget 2014, the Government announced that along with the €200m already committed to the National Children's Hospital, some €200m, would be invested from the proceeds of the Lottery Licence transaction and used for a range of projects and programmes;
- In May 2014, the Government allocated a further €200m of investment for a range of capital projects in a number of different sectors and regions across the country.
- At Budget 2015, the Government announced that €400m of the proceeds to be received from the sale of Bord Gais Energy would be made available to support the Government's Social Housing Strategy.
- In 2015, the Government allocated the €335m proceeds from the sale of its shareholding in Aer Lingus to establish a Connectivity Fund, to support commercial projects that enhance connectivity both within and for the State. The Connectivity Fund was established as a sub-Fund of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and is being managed by that Fund.
In total, the Government has, to date, allocated over €1.5 billion from the proceeds of the State Assets Disposal Programme and the sale of the National Lottery licence to support jobs and economic development across the country. As indicated above, Ervia has to date paid €350m of the proceeds of the Bord Gais Energy transaction to the Government by way of special dividends. A further special dividend of €100m is expected in 2017. The remainder of the proceeds will be paid to the Government on a phased basis, as required by Government and in a manner that is consistent with protecting Ervia's investment grade credit rating while also maximising the GGB impact of the payments. In relation to the Bord Gais Energy proceeds earmarked for social housing, the Deputy will be aware that in Budget 2015 the Government announced that €400m of these proceeds were to be made available to establish an off-balance sheet financial vehicle to provide financing to Approved Housing Bodies, with the aim of facilitating the provision of additional housing units in support of the Government's Social Housing Strategy. However, despite a high level of engagement by the Department of Housing Planning, Community and Local Government with a wide range of potential providers and financiers of social housing, no new model of provision and/or financing of social housing on an off-balance sheet basis could be identified. This reflects the strict requirements under Eurostat rules to qualify for off-balance sheet status. In response to this outcome, it was decided to commit €10m per annum from the Bord Gais Energy proceeds, over a longer 20 year period, which could be used to secure the development of a pilot affordable rental scheme as envisaged in Rebuilding Ireland.
A decision on the use to which the remainder of the Bord Gais Energy proceeds is to be put is under consideration. In the meantime, pending payment of the proceeds to the Government by way of special dividend, Ervia has used the sale proceeds, on a temporary basis, to reduce debt balances, including debt associated with the assets disposed of, and to restructure its current debt facilities, resulting in cheaper finance for the Company.
130. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of any payments made by his Department, its agencies or any bodies under his aegis to any broadcasters here in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016; the broadcaster to which the funds were provided; the reason for the payments; and if there are any reasons for payments to broadcasters in 2017. [14728/17]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question, the tables outline the details of payments made to broadcasters by my Department and the bodies under its aegis since 2014.
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
|
Year |
Supplier |
Amount |
Description |
|
2015 |
Pi Communications |
€780 |
Provision of sound engineering and manned camera support on Budget Day 2015 |
Special EU Programmes Body
|
Year |
Supplier |
Amount |
Description |
|
2014 |
Éanna ni Lamhna |
€386 |
Acted as Master of Ceremonies for an environmental themed conference for the EU's INTERREG IVA Programme, held in Dundalk |
|
2014 |
Speakers Corner Monty Hall |
£6,108 |
Was the keynote speaker for an environmental themed conference for the EU's INTERREG IVA Programme, held in Dundalk |
|
2014 |
David Hull Productions Ivan Lyttle |
£840 |
Acted as Master of Ceremonies for the PEACE III annual information event held at the MAC Theatre, Belfast |
|
2016 |
David Hull Productions Mark Carruthers |
£1,200 |
Acted as Master of Ceremonies for the official launch of the EU's PEACE IV and INTERREG VA Programme, held at the Skainos Centre in East Belfast |
Please note, the figures quoted in the above table represent 100% of the costs, which includes contributions from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the EU Programmes/ERDF.
Office of the Ombudsman
|
Year |
Supplier |
Amount |
Description |
|
2015 |
Donegal Highland Radio |
€701 |
Advertising for the Ombudsman regional visit to Donegal |
|
2016 |
Radio Kerry |
€563 |
Advertising for the Ombudsman regional visit to Kerry |
Public Appointments Service
|
Year |
Supplier |
Amount |
Description |
|
2015 |
Clear Blue Water |
€29,561 |
Promote and encourage submission of expressions of interest for State Board roles |
|
2015 |
Clear Blue Water |
€30,231 |
Promote and encourage submission of expressions of interest for State Board roles |
|
2016 |
K Brady Media Limited |
€30,156 |
Promote and encourage submission of expressions of interest for State Board roles |
Under the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, the Public Appointments Service are required to promote and encourage submissions of expressions of interest for State Board roles. In 2015 and 2016, PAS ran three radio campaigns on RTE Radio 1, Today FM and Newstalk to raise awareness of the process for applying for State Boards appointments. The above payments relate to the radio campaigns and were paid through the indicated agency.
Institute of Public Administration (IPA)
|
Year |
Supplier |
Amount |
Description |
|
2014 |
RTE |
€12,012 |
Advertising of IPA products and services |
|
2015 |
RTE |
€15,120 |
Advertising of IPA products and services |
|
2016 |
RTE |
€8,386 |
Advertising of IPA products and services |
Similar payments for advertising may be made during 2017.
131. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason for the failure of her Department to put in place an appropriate preservation order when it became aware of toghers in the ancient bog at Mayne, Coole, County Westmeath; the reason unlimited extraction of peat is allowed to continue despite her Department's full knowledge of the importance of this ancient bog road; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14602/17]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 426 on 7 March 2017.
