Thursday, 25 Oct 2018

Written Answers Nos. 70-82

Defence Forces Personnel Data

Questions (70)

Jack Chambers

Question:

70. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of sick days taken by members in each service of the Defence Forces to date in 2018. [44411/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

In line with other sectors, sick leave statistics for the Defence Forces are compiled annually and provided to the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform (D/PER).  These statistics are used in order to track the levels of absenteeism across the public service.  The absence rates for the public service are then published by D/PER.

The total number of sick leave days claimed by members of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps as of the 23rd October is outlined in the tabular format below.

Service	Sick leave days 2018
Army	55,242
Naval Service	5,420
Air Corps	6,889
Total	67,551

Departmental Budgets

Questions (71)

Barry Cowen

Question:

71. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the breakdown of the €106 million capital allocation, that is, Vote 36 of the budget 2019 expenditure report within his Department for 2019 by specific project; the projects that will be commenced in 2019; the projects that will be completed in 2019 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44551/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The National Development Plan provides for an overall capital allocation of €541m for Defence for the period 2018 to 2022, including an allocation of €106m for 2019, as confirmed in the recent Budget. This capital funding will allow the Defence Organisation to undertake a programme of sustained equipment replacement and infrastructure development as identified in the White Paper, over the lifetime of the Plan.

The following major projects are being progressed during 2019:-

- Mid-life upgrade of the Mowag Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) fleet;

- Procurement of Fixed Wing Utility aircraft (Pilatus) as replacement for Cessna aircraft;

- Procurement of replacements for the two CASA 235 Maritime Patrol aircraft;

- Mid-life refit of the Naval Service vessels LÉ Niamh and LÉ Róisín and ongoing planning for the acquisition of a multi-role vessel;

- Virtual Desktop Architecture (VDA) project for Defence Forces IT infrastructure;

- Investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure, including the following specific projects -

- Secure storage facilities in the Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp;

- Target range facilities in the Defence Forces Training Centre;

- Training facilities in Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick and Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny;

- Accommodation facilities in the Defence Forces Training Centre and Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin;

- Accommodation upgrade in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel;

- Catering facilities in Custume Barracks, Athlone;

- Fuel storage safety system upgrade in the Naval Base, Haulbowline.

These projects are multi annual and precise expenditure timeframes are not finalised. Accordingly, the Department is not in a position to provide a more detailed breakdown of the 2019 allocation. However, I am satisfied that the capital allocation for Defence for 2019 and for the period to 2022 will allow the Defence Organisation to undertake a programme of sustained equipment replacement and infrastructural development as identified and prioritised in the White Paper.

Military Neutrality

Questions (72)

Clare Daly

Question:

72. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he maintains the position asserted in September 2018, that he supports Irish neutrality, in view of the 2003 judgment in a case (details supplied). [44363/18]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

As has been repeatedly stated, the Government is fully committed to that longstanding policy of military neutrality, which is characterised by non-participation in military alliances. This commitment was most recently detailed in the White Paper on Defence published in August 2015. This reaffirmed that Ireland’s policy of military neutrality is a core element of Irish foreign policy, as had been previously articulated in the 2015 review of Foreign Policy, “The Global Island”. This Government upholds, and will continue to uphold, this deeply rooted, publicly valued policy. Whilst the judgment of Mr. Justice Kearns in the 2003 High Court case of Horgan v Ireland did include certain observations on the customary international law of neutrality, these were not relevant to the outcome of the case. The plaintiff’s action failed on other grounds.

Human Rights Cases

Questions (73)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

73. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland has taken action at intergovernmental or bilateral levels on the human rights violations perpetrated by the Nicaraguan Government against its people which are documented in reports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44246/18]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I continue to be deeply concerned about the situation in Nicaragua.

The violence, intimidation and arbitrary arrest and detention of those seeking to peacefully protest is wholly unacceptable and I have unreservedly condemned these actions on a number of occasions. The right to freedom of expression and to peaceful demonstration are fundamental to a functioning democracy.

I am aware of the OHCHR, IACHR and Amnesty reports to which the Deputy refers. These reports highlight a worrying number of human rights abuses, which are yet to be addressed. Compounding this climate of impunity is a lack of official cooperation with the international missions investigating human rights abuses.

The Deputy will be aware that the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was expelled from the country following the publishing of its report. I would once again urge the Government of Nicaragua to allow the OHCHR officials to re-enter the country and continue their valuable work.

Ireland regularly engages on this issue with our European partners. Earlier this month, we supported the declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the situation in Nicaragua.

The statement expresses the EU’s serious concern at the situation, and urges the government of Nicaragua to allow the return of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) to enable it to continue its mission, as well as calling on the government of Nicaragua to stop the disproportionate use of force against demonstrators, halt arrests based on laws which criminalise peaceful protest, allow free peaceful demonstrators and re-establish the full respect of due process for all detainees.

The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, call on the government of Nicaragua to act on the findings and recommendations of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) and UNOHCHR, to ensure full accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses and the disarming and disbanding of armed groups.

I support the EU call on the government of Nicaragua to resume the national dialogue. I believe that inclusive dialogue remains the only way of negotiating a peaceful and democratic resolution to this crisis, and of restoring the trust of the Nicaraguan people in the country’s institutions.

Ireland also supports EU action taken to support international and local initiatives to address the human rights situation, promote a culture of peace, and to provide support to victims of the crisis and their families.

Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Dublin and in our Embassy in Mexico, which has responsibility for diplomatic relations with Nicaragua, have been monitoring the situation closely. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, Valdrack Jaentschke, was met by officials in my Department on 1 October last and was informed of our strong attachment to the European Union position on Nicaragua. He was also advised of the importance we attach to the establishment of a genuine national reconciliation process. We have been engaging regularly with partner organisations on the ground, and raising the issue at international level where appropriate. Ireland greatly values the work of these partner organisations and will continue to engage with them.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (74)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

74. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the breakdown of staff in his Department by grade. [44356/18]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The number of full time equivalent staff by grade in my Department as at 30 September 2018 is outlined in the table.

Grade	Number of Staff
Secretary General	1
Second Secretary General	4
Deputy Secretary General	1
Assistant Secretary	23
Counsellor	84
Principal Officer	20
Principal Development Specialist	3.9
Senior Development Specialist	10
Assistant Legal Adviser	8
First Secretary	140
Assistant Principal	76.6
Professional Accountant	5.8
Development Specialist	33.6
Architect	3
Third Secretary	129
Administrative Officer	5
Higher Executive Officer	94.9
Systems Analyst HEO	4
Executive Officer	163.9
Executive Officer Trainee Systems Analyst	1
Clerical Officer	482.5
Civilian Driver	4
Cleaner	12
Services Officer	29
Services Attendant	1
Night Watchman	3
Political Appointees	7
Temporary Clerical Officers	130
Total	1480.2
Local Staff	380.8
Total	1861

Military Aircraft Landings

Questions (75)

Clare Daly

Question:

75. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason conditions are not imposed on all civilian aircraft on contract to the US military that are approved by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the position of his Department (details supplied) and in further view of the presence of an aircraft. [44364/18]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The regulation of civil aircraft is governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention). From that Convention and subsequent international treaties, international rights and freedoms of air for civil aircraft, including the right to refuel, are derived.

Ireland’s rights and obligations under the Convention have been incorporated into Irish law through the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1946 (as amended). The legislation provides that the Minister for Transport has primary responsibility for the regulation of civil aircraft, including those chartered to other States.

Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of War, Weapons and dangerous Goods) Order 1973, as amended, civil aircraft are prohibited from carrying weapons or munitions in Irish sovereign airspace or into Irish airports unless they receive an exemption from the Minister for Transport.

In considering such applications, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport seeks the advice of relevant Government Departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Consistent with our stated policy my Department recommends against the carriage of munitions, with exceptions made for unloaded personal weapons or those intended for international crisis management and peace support operations.

In the first six months of this year, my Department has recommended against approval of 12 applications for exemptions.

Passport Applications Data

Questions (76)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

76. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of passport applications made from outside Ireland in the past three years to date; the number of those passport applications that were refused; the number of foreign applications for passports that were granted by an Irish embassy or consulate (details supplied); the number of passports issued by way of online application since the scheme commenced to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44413/18]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The number of passport applications received in the categories and years requested are outlined below.

	2016	2017	2018*
Applications received from outside of Ireland	190,905	227,223	191,271

*1 January to 30 September

All Passport applications must meet the requirements of the Passports Act, 2008 as amended (“the Act”) before they can be processed. In all cases, the Passport Service must be satisfied as to the identity of the applicant and that the applicant is an Irish citizen. Furthermore, all guardians must provide consent for a minor’s application or if unavailable or unwilling, submit a court order as appropriate.

Section 12 of the Act makes provision to refuse a passport in certain circumstances. The Passport Service does not compile data on the number of applications which are refused. However, in general the number of applications that do not result in the issuance of a passport is small. Where applications are incomplete, applicants will often be contacted for clarifications or requested to provide further documentation.

The figures below provide the number of passports issued per Embassy or Consulate in the years requested. Many Irish Embassies are accredited to, and provide passport services for, Irish citizens in more than one country. The following table is organised by Mission.

Passports issued per Embassy	2016	2017	2018*
LONDON (Passport Office)	63,452	65,678	47,217
NEW YORK	7,032	6,297	3,786
CANBERRA	6,828	5,002	3,134
SAN FRANCISCO	4,331	4,220	2,438
SYDNEY	3,850	2,982	1,654
PRETORIA	3,207	2,969	1,771
OTTAWA	3,346	2,754	1,841
AUCKLAND	2,254	1,814	1,149
PARIS	2,205	1,985	993
BOSTON	2,027	1,597	1,360
CHICAGO	1,126	2,046	1,435
BERLIN	1,959	1,548	919
ABU DHABI	1,667	1,449	1,053
MADRID	1,662	1,480	900
WASHINGTON	1,117	1,013	600
BERNE	941	762	444
THE HAGUE	928	663	435
BRUSSELS	813	596	344
HONG KONG	548	574	394
SINGAPORE	539	496	338
ROME	524	403	232
RIYADH	451	424	281
BANGKOK	411	294	252
ABUJA	268	265	226
LUXEMBOURG	325	246	162
STOCKHOLM	324	227	133
VIENNA	294	220	138
COPENHAGEN	232	232	103
TEL AVIV	229	152	142
BEIJING	193	169	132
BUENOS AIRES	168	188	93
LISBON	155	153	132
KUALA LUMPUR	174	147	107
MEXICO	180	158	78
CAIRO	140	158	113
NEW DELHI	153	124	128
WARSAW	119	156	114
TOKYO	185	137	58
OSLO	182	125	62
ATHENS	169	118	87
NICOSIA	137	134	77
BRASILIA	131	128	79
SHANGHAI	114	113	97
PRAGUE	121	110	87
HANOI	131	115	70
VALETTA	127	100	65
ANKARA	112	96	81
MOSCOW	94	92	72
LUSAKA	97	89	61
HELSINKI	102	70	37
SEOUL	97	65	47
BUCHAREST	95	54	53
JAKARTA	68	70	53
BUDAPEST	72	60	37
LJUBLJANA	55	35	22
SOFIA	31	43	36
DAR-ES-SALAAM	42	35	15
MAPUTO	39	35	17
VILNIUS	32	31	30
KAMPALA	43	31	11
BRATISLAVA	25	26	20
LILONGWE	14	30	17
ADDIS ABABA	18	20	16
RIGA	17	14	7
TALLINN	11	9	8
MANILA	0	2	5
NAIROBI	0	0	4

*1 January to 30 September.

Since the launch of the Online Passport Application service on 30 March 2017 to 30 September 2018, a total of 270,187 passports were issued using this service.

The following revised reply was received on 21 November 2018.

The number of passport applications received in the categories and years requested, are outlined below.

	2016	2017	2018*
Applications received from outside of Ireland	190,905	227,223	191,271

*1 January to 30 September

All Passport applications must meet the requirements of the Passports Act, 2008 as amended (“the Act”) before they can be processed. In all cases, the Passport Service must be satisfied as to the identity of the applicant and that the applicant is an Irish citizen. Furthermore, all guardians must provide consent for a minor’s application or if unavailable or unwilling, submit a court order as appropriate.

Section 12 of the Act, makes provision to refuse a passport in certain circumstances. The Passport Service does not compile data on the number of applications which are refused. However, in general the number of applications that do not result in the issuance of a passport is small. Where applications are incomplete, applicants will often be contacted for clarifications or requested to provide further documentation.

The figures below provide the number of passports issued per Embassy or Consulate in the years requested. Many Irish Embassies are accredited to, and provide passport services for, Irish citizens in more than one country. The following table is organised by Mission.

Passports issued per Embassy	2016	2017	2018*
LONDON (Passport Office)	60,290	61,028	46,750
NEW YORK	7,032	6,297	3,786
CANBERRA	6,828	5,002	3,134
SAN FRANCISCO	4,331	4,220	2,438
SYDNEY	3,850	2,982	1,654
PRETORIA	3,207	2,969	1,771
OTTAWA	3,346	2,754	1,841
AUCKLAND	2,254	1,814	1,149
PARIS	2,205	1,985	993
BOSTON	2,027	1,597	1,360
CHICAGO	1,126	2,046	1,435
BERLIN	1,959	1,548	919
ABU DHABI	1,667	1,449	1,053
MADRID	1,662	1,480	900
WASHINGTON	1,117	1,013	600
BERNE	941	762	444
THE HAGUE	928	663	435
BRUSSELS	813	596	344
HONG KONG	548	574	394
SINGAPORE	539	496	338
ROME	524	403	232
RIYADH	451	424	281
BANGKOK	411	294	252
ABUJA	268	265	226
LUXEMBOURG	325	246	162
STOCKHOLM	324	227	133
VIENNA	294	220	138
COPENHAGEN	232	232	103
TEL AVIV	229	152	142
BEIJING	193	169	132
BUENOS AIRES	168	188	93
LISBON	155	153	132
KUALA LUMPUR	174	147	107
MEXICO	180	158	78
CAIRO	140	158	113
NEW DELHI	153	124	128
WARSAW	119	156	114
TOKYO	185	137	58
OSLO	182	125	62
ATHENS	169	118	87
NICOSIA	137	134	77
BRASILIA	131	128	79
SHANGHAI	114	113	97
PRAGUE	121	110	87
HANOI	131	115	70
VALETTA	127	100	65
ANKARA	112	96	81
MOSCOW	94	92	72
LUSAKA	97	89	61
HELSINKI	102	70	37
SEOUL	97	65	47
BUCHAREST	95	54	53
JAKARTA	68	70	53
BUDAPEST	72	60	37
LJUBLJANA	55	35	22
SOFIA	31	43	36
DAR-ES-SALAAM	42	35	15
MAPUTO	39	35	17
VILNIUS	32	31	30
KAMPALA	43	31	11
BRATISLAVA	25	26	20
LILONGWE	14	30	17
ADDIS ABABA	18	20	16
RIGA	17	14	7
TALLIN	11	9	8
MANILA	0	2	5
NAIROBI	0	0	4

*1 January to 30 September.

Since the launch of the Online Passport Application service on 30 March 2017 to 30 September 2018, a total of 270,187 passports were issued using this service.

Departmental Budgets

Questions (77, 78, 79, 80)

Barry Cowen

Question:

77. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the €5.5 million capital allocation under A, our people, in Vote 28 of the budget 2019 expenditure report within his Department for 2019 by specific project in tabular form; the projects that will be commenced in 2019; the projects that will be completed in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44539/18]

Barry Cowen

Question:

78. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the €4 million capital allocation under D, our prosperity, in Vote 28 of the budget 2019 expenditure report within his Department for 2019 by specific project in tabular form; the projects that will be commenced in 2019; the projects that will be completed in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44540/18]

Barry Cowen

Question:

79. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the €9 million capital allocation under E, our influence, in Vote 28 of the budget 2019 expenditure report within his Department for 2019 by specific project in tabular form; the projects that will be commenced in 2019; the projects that will be completed in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44541/18]

Barry Cowen

Question:

80. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the €2.5 million capital allocation under international co-operation, in Vote 27 of the budget 2019 expenditure report within his Department for 2019 by specific project in tabular form; the projects that will commence in 2019; the projects that will be completed in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44542/18]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 to 80, inclusive, together.

The total capital allocation for my Department in 2019 across its two Votes – Vote 27: International Co-operation and Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade – will be €21 million, €17 million of which had been allocated under the National Development Plan 2018-2027. The 2019 allocation will represent an increase of €8m on the 2018 capital allocation.

The main focus of capital investment in 2019 will be the cost of constructing and maintaining State properties overseas under the Global Ireland Initiative, the Passport Reform Programme and the continuing investment in ICT to support the Department’s global ICT network and Ireland’s participation at EXPO 2020.

The main project under the Global Ireland Initiative in 2019 will be the development of a new Embassy/Ireland House in Tokyo. The allocation for EXPO 2020 is towards the cost of a pavilion, to be designed and built by the Office of Public Works, for Ireland’s participation at EXPO 2020 in Dubai as envisaged in the Global Ireland Initiative.

The breakdown of the 2019 total capital allocation of €21 million, across the various areas referred to above, is as follows:

2019
State properties overseas	€8.5 million
Passport Reform Programme	€5.5 million
EXPO 2020	€4.0 million
ICT	€3.0 million
Total	€21 million

The breakdown of these allocations by specific project is currently in the process of being finalised.

Motor Insurance Costs

Questions (81)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

81. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance the reason motor insurance costs are still rising; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is making it almost impossible for young drivers to get cover when starting out on their own. [44242/18]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

As Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation.  Neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept.  This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance which expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions of insurance products.  Consequently, it is not possible to direct insurance companies as to the pricing levels or terms or conditions that they should apply in respect of particular categories of drivers.

However, in relation to the Deputy’s main contention that insurance costs are still rising, I disagree. In this regard, it should be noted that the most recent CSO data (for September 2018) indicates that private motor insurance premiums have decreased by 21.5% since peaking in July 2016.  I appreciate that these figures represent a broad average; however, we have to recognise that these are the same figures that showed the large increase that many commentators regularly reference.  Therefore, I am satisfied that the overall trend currently is downward, which is welcome.

The above said, I am aware that some policyholders, like younger drivers, may not be seeing reductions in their insurance premiums, and may indeed have difficulty obtaining cover at a reasonable price.  Unfortunately, younger drivers have historically tended to face higher premiums as they are seen by insurers as a category which poses a higher risk.  In making their individual decisions on whether to offer cover and what terms to apply, insurers will also use a combination of rating factors, which include the age and type of the vehicle, as well as the age of the driver, the relevant claims record and driving experience, the number of drivers, how the car is used, etc.  My understanding is that insurers do not all use the same combination of rating factors, and as a result prices and availability of cover varies across the market.  In addition, insurance companies will price in accordance with their own past claims experience, meaning that in relation to the age of the driver, and the relevant experience they may have, different insurance companies will price the risk differently.

In conclusion, I am hopeful that with the continuing implementation of the recommendations of the Cost of Insurance Working Group there will be a further positive impact on pricing over the next 12 months or so.

Tax Data

Questions (82)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

82. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the report on tax expenditures of October 2018; the key components and estimated total cost of tax expenditures as a percentage of total voted expenditure and of gross national income, GNI, in 2017; the likely costs in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43863/18]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I refer the Deputy to my reply to his two parliamentary questions of 24 July this year (Nos. 221 and 222; reference Nos. 33483/18 and 33484/18).

My Department's Report on Tax Expenditures for 2018 is now available and can be found on the Budget 2019 website at:

http://www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2019/Documents/Tax%20Expenditures%20Report%20Budget%202019.pdf.

The annual Tax Expenditure Reports (of which there have been four to date) do not purport to be a complete record of all revenue foregone through tax expenditures in a given year. This is due to a number of factors including:

- data for many tax expenditures for the most recent full year may not be available due to filing dates for returns for a given year falling late in the following year (so that returns for 2017 may not have been returned and/or collated by the time the report is published);

- there is a concern on the part of Revenue that the release of data on some tax expenditures availed of by a small number of taxpayers could present a risk that they could be identifiable;

- the data necessary is not required to be provided to/gathered by Revenue;

- the tax expenditure has recently been abolished; or

- the tax expenditure concerned may be new so data is not yet available.

Pages 307 to 328 of the Tax Expenditures Report 2018 list 165 tax expenditures. This presents the revenue foregone in the most recent year for which information is available, which may in some instances include figures for 2016 or estimates and comes to a total of just below €3 billion.  Revenue foregone data on 74 of the listed tax expenditures is not available for the reasons listed above.

Due to the challenge of providing the full cost of revenue foregone figure for tax expenditures in 2017, it may not be useful to compare this figure to the GNI* for 2017 of €181,175 million (nominal and rounded to nearest €25 million) or the gross provisional outturn figure (current and capital) of €58,525 million for 2017.

I am aware of the recent report on tax expenditures from the Parliamentary Budget Office "Tax Expenditures in Ireland: Key Issues for Consideration".  My Department is reviewing the main issues raised in the report.