Written Answers Nos. 508-527
508. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the next steps that the Government will take to secure the release of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38351/17]
View answerThis complex consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government. The Government is doing everything it can to ensure that the Egyptian authorities are in no doubt about our determination to see this young Irish citizen returned to his home and family as soon as possible. The Government has raised this case directly with Egyptian President el-Sisi on numerous occasions, calling on him to exercise his powers under Egyptian law to resolve this case and return our citizen to Ireland. The Taoiseach spoke to him by telephone about the case on Monday 28 August. During that conversation, the Taoiseach made clear to President el-Sisi that his priority is to secure the return of our citizen to Ireland as soon as possible. President el-Sisi gave the Taoiseach his word that he would resolve the matter swiftly within the Egyptian constitutional and legal framework once the trial concludes and the verdict is known.
I have also been doing everything possible to step up the pressure on the Egyptian authorities, raising this case with Egypt’s Ambassador to Ireland, Soha Gendi, and with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry, as well as discussing the matter with EU partners and other international contacts.
The trial in which this citizen is a defendant is, at last, drawing to an end. The current indications are that verdicts for the defendants will be handed down on 18 September. The Irish Government has had official observers in the court throughout the trial, and our Embassy will again be represented at the hearing on 18 September.
President el-Sisi has consistently advised that he cannot intervene while the case remains before the courts. However, in response to our firm and determined advocacy on our citizen’s behalf, the Irish Government has secured a commitment from the Egyptian President that he will act to resolve this issue once the trial has ended, and he reaffirmed this commitment when the Taoiseach spoke with him recently.
The Irish Government cannot intervene in a case that is before the courts in another country. What we can do, and what we are doing, is working relentlessly to make sure that the Egyptian Government fully understands our concerns about this case, and to provide this man and his family with every possible consular support while he remains in detention. We will be continuing to work day-in and day-out on this citizen’s behalf to do everything possible to keep the pressure on the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to Ireland as soon as possible.
509. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Irish passports issued in each of the years 2012 to 2016 inclusive, and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38352/17]
View answerThe number of passports issued in the years requested is as follows:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2012 |
635,600 |
|
2013 |
634,635 |
|
2014 |
632,156 |
|
2015 |
672,760 |
|
2016 |
733,060 |
|
2017 (1 January – 5th September) |
615,971 |
510. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the target turnaround time for passports; the actual time it is taking to process passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38353/17]
View answerInformation on the turnaround times for passport applications is updated weekly on the Passport Service website, www.dfa.ie/passport. The target turnaround time for Passport Express renewal applications is 15 working days. Applications in other categories such as first time applicants or those involving lost or stolen passports take longer, as additional checks are undertaken. The actual current turnaround times for these applications is 12 working days for renewals and 14 working days for applications in other categories.
As the Deputy may be aware, a new Online Passport Application Service was launched in March which allows adult citizens to renew their passports online from anywhere in the world without any paperwork or witnesses. The target turnaround time for the online service is 10 working days plus postage time. While the actual turnaround time is subject to change due to volumes of applications received, at present 92% of online applications are processed by the end of day 6. I urge Deputies to encourage all eligible applicants to avail of this fast, secure and convenient facility. As more applicants avail of the service, the efficiency gains will help improve turnaround times more broadly.
Applicants who have insufficient time to make an application through Passport Express or are not eligible to apply online are advised to book an appointment to submit an application in person at the Passport Office in either Dublin or Cork. The appointment can be booked online at www.passportappointments.ie. It should be noted that the number of appointments available each week is limited.
511. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the percentage of public service staff under the remit of his Department who were women in each of the years 2010 to 2016 inclusive, and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [38387/17]
View answerThe percentage of women full time equivalents (FTEs) employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the years in question is provided in the following table. These figures do not include local staff employed in missions overseas or temporary staff employed on short term temporary contracts.
|
Date |
Percentage of women FTEs |
|
31.12.2010 |
55% |
|
31.12.2011 |
56% |
|
31.12.2012 |
57% |
|
31.12.2013 |
57% |
|
31.12.2014 |
56% |
|
31.12.2015 |
57% |
|
31.12.2016 |
56% |
|
30.06.2017 |
57% |
512. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the safeguards he envisages the EU will put in place to protect the rights of Irish citizens living in the UK, including Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38517/17]
View answerIt is a priority for the Government to ensure that the rights of Irish citizens living in the UK will be protected through the withdrawal process of the UK from the European Union. To this end, the Government prioritised the protection of the Good Friday Agreement and the maintenance of the Common Travel Area for the withdrawal negotiations. The Government was therefore pleased at the strong affirmation in the EU's negotiating directives that the fact that Irish citizens residing in Northern Ireland will continue to enjoy rights as EU citizens will be taken into account in the Withdrawal Agreement. The EU's position also provides for the recognition of existing agreements and arrangements between Ireland and the UK, such as the Common Travel Area, which are in conformity with EU law. In this context, I further welcome and support the European Commission Task Force’s paper on Guiding Principles for Ireland/Northern Ireland in the context of the Brexit negotiating process. This paper reflects the priority Irish areas identified by the Government, including those concerning the protection of Irish citizens living in the UK.
I have also welcomed the publication by the UK of its paper on Ireland/Northern Ireland, where there is convergence on the shared objectives to protect the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process, and to maintain the Common Travel Area. However, I have underlined that the UK needs to back this up with tangible commitments that can pave the way for practical solutions.
I was happy with the progress made in the most recent round of negotiations. However, the Government is not complacent and is clear that there is substantial work to be done still in this first phase of negotiations. I am confident that our EU partners understand the priority placed by Ireland on the protection of the rights of Irish citizens, in the context of our unique circumstances, and I will continue to work with our partners and the EU Taskforce to that end.
513. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had discussions with the US authorities regarding the appointment of a special envoy to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38552/17]
View answerThe question of a US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland is a matter for consideration by the US Administration. Successive US Administrations have provided immensely valuable support to the peace process over the last three decades. The Government look forward to the continued engagement by the current US Administration in Northern Ireland, including that of the US State Department. In the immediate period ahead, the Government would particularly welcome the continued support of the US Administration and Congress in encouraging the parties in Northern Ireland to take the necessary steps to ensure that the devolved power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are re-established without delay, which is in the interests of everyone in Northern Ireland.
514. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had discussions with the US authorities regarding the appointment of an ambassador to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38553/17]
View answerThe appointment of ambassadors by the United States is solely a matter for the U.S. authorities. Pending the nomination of a new U.S. Ambassador to Ireland by President Trump and the subsequent confirmation of the appointment by the US Senate, we will continue to engage closely with the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, under the leadership of Chargé d’Affaires, Reece Smyth, on the whole range of issues pertaining to the Ireland-US relationship. We do of course look forward to the arrival of a new US Ambassador in due course.
515. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the required additional resources needed to address additional demand for passport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38667/17]
View answerSince January 2017, a total of 230 Temporary Clerical Officers have been assigned to the Passport Service and appointed to the Passport Offices in Balbriggan, Mount Street and Cork. Temporary Clerical Officers in the Passport Service are typically hired on twenty-six week contracts and most of these initial contracts were extended during the year for a further six – eight weeks. Further, a number of additional permanent Clerical Officers from within the Department have been assigned to the Passport Service in response to the exceptionally high volumes of applications received this year. Targeted overtime for the Passport Service was also sanctioned to increase processing capacity. These measures contributed to bringing the average turnaround time for Passport Express renewals in line with the target of fifteen working days. First-time applications and applications to replace lost, stolen or damaged passports take longer due to additional security checks.
The Passport Service launched an Online Passport Renewal Service on 30 March 2017, through which adult citizens resident anywhere in the world can renew their passports quickly, securely and efficiently. As take-up of the Online Passport Application service increases, it will enhance overall passport processing capacity and contribute to reducing turnaround times for all channels. I therefore urge all Deputies to encourage adults who are renewing their passports to do so online. The turnaround time for online renewals is just ten working days plus postage time.
Further, I urge all Deputies to encourage citizens to register for the free passport renewal reminder email service provided by my Department at the following web address: www.eforms.gov.ie/en/reminder/passport/.
My Department will continue to monitor the situation and the need for additional resources will be kept under active review.
516. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the development of sectorial response plans to Brexit, the publication date of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38695/17]
View answer517. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit including opportunities and their prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38711/17]
View answer518. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit including threats and their prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38727/17]
View answer519. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the scenario planning that has been conducted by his Department for Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38743/17]
View answer520. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the methodology employed in the prioritisation of responses to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38759/17]
View answer521. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funds that have been requested in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38775/17]
View answer523. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funds have been allocated in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38807/17]
View answer525. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his Department’s priorities for risk mitigation in response to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38839/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 516 to 521, inclusive, 523 and 525 together.
The comprehensive document “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’ Approach” published on 2 May outlined in detail the structures put in place by the Government to ensure a strategic and whole-of Government response to Brexit that ensures a coordinated approach to the identification of key priority issues for the EU-UK negotiations and the wider domestic response.
Since the publication of the comprehensive document, the Government has sought to further increase its strategic oversight of Brexit through the addition of a dedicated responsibility for Brexit matters to the role of the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade. The Cabinet Committee structures have also been reformed and a new Cabinet Committee has been established to deal with EU Affairs including Brexit.
The Government’s National Risk Assessment 2017, which provides a systematic overview of strategic risks facing the country, was published on 29 August following a public consultation process. The National Risk Assessment acknowledges the significance of risk arising from Brexit, and that Brexit represents an overarching theme that could have far-reaching impacts on nearly all aspects of national life. It identifies areas where Brexit poses a specific risk, particularly in relation to the economy.
As set out in comprehensive document of 2 May, the Government’s continuing work to ensure that Ireland’s interests are reflected in the EU’s approach to the ongoing EU-UK negotiations is a central dimension of Ireland’s strategic response to Brexit.
Work is also continuing across Government on Ireland’s wider response to the challenges and opportunities posed by Brexit, building on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders and encompassing the following themes:
- sustainable fiscal policies to ensure capacity to absorb and respond to economic shocks, not least from Brexit;
- policies to make Irish enterprise more diverse and resilient, to diversify trade and investment patterns, and to strengthen competitiveness;
- prioritising policy measures and dedicating resources to protect jobs and businesses in the sectors and regions most affected by Brexit;
- realising economic opportunities arising from Brexit, and helping businesses adjust to any new logistical or trade barriers arising;
- making a strong case at EU level that Ireland will require support that recognises where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy.
Policy decisions in support of these objectives also arise across a wide range of areas, including the annual budgetary process; the forthcoming National Planning Framework 2040; the new 10-year National Capital Plan; the Review of Enterprise 2025 Policy, and sectorial policies and investment decisions in areas such as agriculture, enterprise, transport, communications and energy.
My Department has lead responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government approach to the EU-UK negotiations and it will continue to work closely with all Departments in this context to work towards ensuring that Ireland’s priorities – including in relation to sectorial issues – are appropriately reflected in the EU’s negotiating position as the process evolves.
Brexit will also have implications for a broad range of policy areas that fall under the responsibility of my Department. We have cooperated closely with the UK within the EU on a number of these important areas, including in areas such as trade, the single market, and development policy. A key priority for my Department is therefore to build on our partnerships with the remaining EU Member States and develop new alliances within the EU and engage more proactively with the EU institutions. This work is already underway. Discussions with EU partners have revealed that they too are very mindful of the need to intensify alliances post-Brexit and are also looking at how best to do so.
We have already seen the implications that Brexit has had for our consular and passport services. There has been a marked increase in demand for passports and citizenship via foreign birth registration from applicants in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In this regard, the Passport Service in Dublin, Cork and London as well as Consular Division have recruited a number of additional temporary and full-time officers to meet increased Passport and Foreign Birth Registration demands including increased demand as a result of Brexit.
It is also the Government’s objective to exploit fully any opportunities arising from the UK’s decision to leave the EU and my Department, in collaboration with other Government Departments and State Agencies, is working to support Irish businesses to identify new opportunities for their products and services by diversifying into new markets as well as intensifying efforts in existing markets.
522. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of meetings he has had with the Brexit negotiation task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38791/17]
View answer527. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the planned meetings with his European colleagues and officials to address Brexit related issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38871/17]
View answer540. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his meeting with Mr. Michel Barnier in Brussels; the issues that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38953/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 522, 527 and 540 together.
Since taking up office, engagement on Brexit with EU partners has been a central element of my work. This approach has yielded clear results in ensuring that Ireland’s unique issues and concerns have been fully understood by our EU 27 partners and have been reflected in the EU’s negotiating position. As the negotiations enter an important phase over the coming weeks and months, continuing such engagement with EU partners, both at political and official level, will remain a key priority.
On Monday 4 September, I met with Michel Barnier, the EU’s Chief Negotiator on Brexit, and his team, our second meeting since my appointment. It was a constructive meeting in which we discussed the evolution of the negotiations. I welcomed the progress that has been made in the areas of citizens’ rights and a range of technical separation issues. However, it is clear that there are still many issues outstanding and much work is still required ahead of any decision by the European Council on whether sufficient progress has been made. In this regard, Mr Barnier and I agreed on the need for the UK to engage constructively on all of the withdrawal issues, including the financial settlement, which, not unexpectedly, has been the most contentious issue in the negotiations so far.
During our discussion, I also thanked Mr. Barnier for pursuing Ireland’s unique interests in the Brexit negotiations and for the high level of engagement that Ireland enjoys with his team. We agreed that, while good progress was made in the last round of negotiations on the Common Travel Area, more detailed work is required on protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the peace process, including in regard to North South cooperation and to avoiding a hard border, as well as other issues such as protecting the EU rights of Irish citizens in Northern Ireland. Overall, I welcomed the indications that EU and UK objectives on the Irish issues are converging but noted that the UK needs to back this up with tangible commitments that can pave the way for practical solutions. During the meeting, Mr Barnier confirmed that the Taskforce would publish a paper on “Guiding Principles for the Dialogue on Ireland/Northern Ireland” , building on the European Council Guidelines agreed earlier this year.
I welcome that the paper, which was subsequently published on 7 September, reflects the priority Irish issues identified by the Government: protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, and the peace process, including avoiding a hard border, and maintaining the Common Travel Area. The paper also sets out a number of principles that will guide the ongoing dialogue on Ireland and Northern Ireland. I and my officials will continue to work closely with Mr Barnier and his team to advance Ireland’s concerns in these negotiations.
During my visit to Brussels last week I also met with MEPs from across the political spectrum within the European Parliament, including with Guy Verhofstadt, the Parliament's Coordinator on Brexit, and with Irish MEPs. This provided a valuable opportunity to engage with them at the beginning of a new parliamentary term and to update them on Ireland’s perspective on the negotiations. I am glad that Guy Verhofstadt will be visiting Ireland on 21 September, which is a further indication of the priority afforded by the European Parliament to Ireland’s unique concerns within the context of Brexit.
Since my appointment, I have also held bilateral meetings with a number of my EU colleagues, including my Estonian, Luxembourg, French, Slovak, Belgian and Spanish counterparts. I also welcomed the Finnish Foreign Minister to Ireland in July. Over the weekend I met with my counterparts from Cyprus, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Slovenia at the Gymnich/Informal Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.
My officials also continue to meet their counterparts in other Member States, and of course the Permanent Representation in Brussels is also key to this work.
In my meetings with EU partners to date, I have laid particular emphasis on Ireland’s objective of protecting the gains of the peace process and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland. I have strongly emphasised the need for an imaginative and flexible political solution. In so doing, I have been equally clear that we will only pursue solutions that are compatible with our aim of protecting the integrity of the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it. I will continue to deliver this message in my engagements in the coming weeks.
524. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of vacancies in his Department for Brexit related roles; the expected date for these roles to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38823/17]
View answerAdditional capabilities and resources have been assigned across my Department to address issues arising from the complex process of the UK exit from the EU. Currently, no Brexit related vacancies remain to be filled in the Department. My Department is continually monitoring the additional needs associated with management of this process and engages with the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform as necessary. The measures my Department put in place to manage the initial phase of our response to the UK decision to leave the EU remain under review. The Department will require additional staff resources as specific decisions are taken to further augment our diplomatic network.
526. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the membership and role of all Brexit related stakeholder engagement groups working with his Department on Brexit issues; the number of times each stakeholder group has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38855/17]
View answerEngagement with stakeholders is an important pillar of the Government’s overall response to Brexit. A major initiative undertaken under the joint leadership of my Department and the Department of the Taoiseach has been the All-Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit, which was established in November 2016. Its inaugural plenary session marked the beginning of a series of public consultations with a broad range of stakeholders. Following on from this, nineteen All-Island Sectorial Dialogues have taken place across the country. The second plenary session held in February 2017 enabled my Department to take stock of the progress of the sectorial dialogues to date. It also provided an opportunity to capture the views of many of those most directly affected from across the island of Ireland. To date, over 1,500 representatives from a range of industry and civil society groups have taken part in the All-Island Civic Dialogue process. A list of participating organisations and groups at the second plenary session in February 2017 is contained in the document All-Island Civic Dialogue: A Compendium, which is available on the Government’s Brexit portal.
The work of Civic Dialogue process to date has reaffirmed the priority issues identified by the Government ahead of the negotiations. The concerns and issues identified across a range of sectors were included in the Government’s comprehensive document “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’s Approach” published on 2 May. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, I am fully committed to the continuation of this valuable initiative and I am convening the third plenary session of the All-Island Civic Dialogue on 28 September.
Additionally, I have decided to establish a Brexit Stakeholder Forum as a means to inform and explain the Government’s position during the Article 50 negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. The Forum will be of particular value as the negotiations enter Phase Two, when parallel discussions are expected to begin on the framework of the future relationship between the EU and the UK.
Membership of this Forum is naturally more limited than that of the All-Island Civic Dialogue, to allow for a more focused and interactive discussion with key players. It may be augmented as required. Its first meeting will take place this week and will include representatives from the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce, Chambers Ireland, European Movement Ireland, the Institute of International and European Affairs, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Exporters’ Association, the Irish Universities Association, IBEC and the North/South Joint Business Council. State agencies will also be present, and, in a personal capacity, some experts on EU issues. As the Deputy is aware, party Brexit spokespersons have also been invited: himself from Fianna Fáil, Brendan Howlin (Labour), David Cullinane (Sinn Féin) and Eamon Ryan (Green Party). The Forum is organised by my Department and other Departments will attend in an observer capacity. The intention is for the Forum to meet every four to six weeks.
