Wednesday, 4 Jul 2018

Written Answers Nos. 132-139

National Debt

Questions (132)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the extent to which Ireland's total debt and current debt compare with other European countries. [29376/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The following table outlines the government consolidated gross debt for the 28 Member States for 2017.

General Government Gross Debt (GG Debt) is defined in the EU regulations implementing the Maastricht Treaty as the gross debt liabilities of the consolidated General Government sector, at nominal value. ‘Consolidated’ means that any money owed by one entity within General Government to another is excluded from the total GG Debt.

Also included in the table is the percentage of debt to the relevant country's GDP.

Government consolidated gross debt, 2017

Country	€ million	% of GDP
European Union (current composition)	12,504,713	81.6
Belgium	452,170	103.1
Bulgaria	12,815	25.4
Czech Republic	68,500	34.6
Denmark	104,895	36.4
Germany	2,092,643	64.1
Estonia	2,066	9.0
Ireland	201,294	68.0
Greece	317,407	178.6
Spain	1,144,298	98.3
France	2,218,436	97.0
Croatia	38,080	78.0
Italy	2,263,056	131.8
Cyprus	18,725	97.5
Latvia	10,782	40.1
Lithuania	16,632	39.7
Luxembourg	12,709	23.0
Hungary	90,535	73.6
Malta	5,643	50.8
Netherlands	416,067	56.7
Austria	289,490	78.4
Poland	240,220	50.6
Portugal	242,620	125.7
Romania	64,565	35.0
Slovenia	31,860	73.6
Slovakia	43,227	50.9
Finland	137,286	61.4
Sweden	189,961	40.6
United Kingdom	2,013,316	87.7

National Debt

Questions (133)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the degree to which Ireland's total debt has fluctuated in each of the past ten years to date expressed as a percentage of GNP and GDP. [29377/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The following table sets out Ireland's Gross General Government Debt as a percentage of GDP, GNP and GNI*.

Modified Gross National Income (GNI*) is a new indicator (introduced in July 2017), recommended by the Economic Statistics Review Group, and is designed to exclude globalisation effects that are disproportionately impacting the measurement of the size of the Irish economy (2017 GNI* not yet available).

Ireland's Gross General Government Debt, 2007-2017

Year	% of  GDP	% of  GNP	% of  GNI*
2007	23.9	27.9	28.0
2008	42.4	49.4	49.6
2009	61.5	74.4	75.6
2010	86.1	103.7	108.7
2011	110.3	137.3	144.5
2012	119.6	147.9	157.8
2013	119.4	141.7	150.6
2014	104.5	123.4	131.7
2015	76.9	97.9	116.6
2016	72.8	88.5	106.1
2017	68.0	83.5	not available

European Council Meetings

Questions (134)

Micheál Martin

Question:

134. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he contributed to the discussion at the June 2018 EU Council meeting regarding immigration. [29354/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I attended the European Council in Brussels on 28 and 29 June. Our discussions covered Brexit; economic and monetary union; migration; security and defence; jobs, growth and competitiveness; digital and innovation; the Multiannual Financial Framework; external relations and other items. I will be reporting on the meeting to the House today, 4 July.

Migration has been a divisive issue for the EU and our discussions at the European Council were difficult and lengthy.

However we reached agreement on a number of new steps including the need to increase funding for the Africa Trust Fund; launch the next tranche of funding for the Facility for Refugees in Turkey; establish dedicated funding through the EU budget; strengthen the role of Frontex; explore the concept of regional disembarkation platforms; and the voluntary establishment of control centres within EU Member States.

This reinforces the importance of what I have described as our three-pronged approach: securing our external borders; strengthening cooperation with countries of transit and origin; and dealing with management of migrants within the EU - where a balance of solidarity and responsibility is needed.

From Ireland’s perspective, I stressed the need to develop a close partnership with Africa. We have to build up institutions, improve security and provide economic opportunity there so that people can enjoy better prospects in their home countries. Because of this, we offered last week to substantially increase our commitment to the EU Trust Fund for Africa to €15 million.

The concept of regional disembarkation platforms is at a very early stage and we will take careful note of how it develops. As I said at the meeting, any such platforms would have to be managed in close cooperation with the UNHCR, the IOM and relevant third countries, and with full respect for international law and human rights standards.

Ireland is less directly affected by migration than many other Member States: however, in a spirit of solidarity, we have played a constructive role including by opting into the 2015 EU relocation and resettlement measures; sending a series of naval vessels to help with humanitarian efforts in the Mediterranean; and significantly increasing our financial contributions.

In advance of the June European Council, we offered to take in migrants from aboard the MV Lifeline. I intend that we will continue to play an active and constructive role in relation to migration.

Strategic Communications Unit

Questions (135, 141)

Micheál Martin

Question:

135. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if his Department has received legal correspondence from a company (details supplied) on the strategic communications unit. [29041/18]

Micheál Martin

Question:

141. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if his Department has received legal correspondence from a company (details supplied) on the strategic communications unit. [29047/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 141 together.

The Department did receive legal correspondence from the company mentioned. This correspondence was received during the review of the Operation of the Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) conducted in March of this year, as a result of clarification sought by my Department specifically on the facts of matters relating to the SCU and Project Ireland 2040.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (136)

David Cullinane

Question:

136. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach the annual expenditure on commercial archaeology services in his Department by provider in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28753/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

There was no expenditure on commercial archaeology services by my Department in each of the years 2013 to date.

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Questions (137, 138)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

137. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department working on the visit of Pope Francis. [28756/18]

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

138. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach the overall cost to his Department for the visit of Pope Francis. [28757/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together.

Staff from the Protocol Division in my Department are involved with a number of elements of the forthcoming visit by Pope Francis to Ireland. The Division includes the Head of Protocol (Principal Officer), 2 Assistant Principal Officers and 5 Protocol Officers (Executive grade, 2 part-time). In addition two members of staff from Government Information Services are involved in the media elements of the Visit. These staff work closely with the Protocol and Press staff at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Event Management Unit at the Office of Public Works.

There will be a minimal cost to my Department for the event which Pope Francis will attend in Dublin Castle on Saturday 25 August. The majority of costs for the visit will be borne by the Office of Public Works.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (139)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

139. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach the cost of operating a web page related to the visit of Pope Francis which outlines the programme of religious events. [28758/18]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The development and management of the public safety information regarding the upcoming visit of Pope Francis on gov.ie is managed by in-house resources and therefore no direct costs were incurred with these aspects. €1,216 was spent on the translation of these pages to the Irish language.