Written Answers Nos. 74-83
74. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of meetings he has attended since the beginning of September 2018 with his officials to discuss and prepare for Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3594/19]
View answerThe outcome of the vote of 23 June 2016 in the UK will have implications across all aspects of the business of the European Union. While the vote does not give rise to fundamental strategic issues for Defence Forces operations or for Ireland’s continuing engagement within the EU in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), it is expected that Brexit will have an impact on future developments in the Defence sphere.
Brexit is a priority issue for this Government, and the Taoiseach, my cabinet colleagues and I have taken every opportunity to engage with EU partners and the UK to advance Ireland’s priorities.
I have continually engaged with my EU counterparts to highlight Ireland’s concerns in relation to Brexit and to ensure that these concerns are fully reflected in the EU position during negotiations. My activities are reinforced by extensive engagement at diplomatic and official level. At Ministerial level I have ongoing contact with my EU colleagues, both in the context of European Defence and Security, and other matters, including Brexit.
As Chair of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I have regularly emphasised at our meetings the need for all Departments and Agencies to consider any implications that Brexit might have specifically on emergency planning in Ireland. In addition to Departmental planning for Brexit, the Government Task Force has been periodically briefed by those with the lead responsibilities for managing Ireland’s position on Brexit.
The overarching response to the decision of the UK is being dealt with within the existing organisational structure of the Department of Defence and the Department operates within the Government structures which are in place to manage the process on a whole-of-government basis.
These structures include:
A Cabinet Committee on Brexit chaired by An Taoiseach that oversees the overall Government response, including both the economic impact and the negotiations at EU level and with the administrations in London and Belfast;
An Assistant Secretary group looking at no-deal planning and Ireland's contingency responses. This group was established in Q4 2018 and forms a key part of our whole-of-Government, interdepartmental approach to contingency planning for the non-central case;
An integrated Division within the Department of the Taoiseach having responsibility for supporting the Taoiseach in his work on EU, Northern Ireland, British-Irish and International affairs;
The strengthening of the EU policy role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as the strengthening of other key Departments, agencies and overseas missions.
This is complemented by additional structures including:
- An Interdepartmental Group on EU-UK Affairs;
- The Cabinet Committee on EU Affairs and the Senior Officials Group that supports it;
- The joint UK Permanent Secretaries/Irish Secretaries General group and its North-South equivalent;
- The identification of a senior official in every Government Department, including in the Department of Defence, to oversee this issue;
- A wider consultative group of stakeholders, chaired by Department of the Taoiseach, comprising key business representative groups, ICTU and NGOs.
Engagement with these structures is carried out on a day-to-day basis by officials at my Department who are active participants in the whole-of-Government approach to planning for Brexit.
75. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 110 to 112, inclusive, of 28 November 2018, the reason for the delay in answering the questions; when responses to these questions will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3625/19]
View answerI am advised that the delay in providing the information sought was brought about by the need to source material to provide a comprehensive reply. The questions and subsequent reply were also connected to another Ministerial Representation in the system at the time. The reply to all three questions is expected to issue shortly.
76. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with the procedures for height measurement and determination at entry to the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3626/19]
View answer77. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of times a person (details supplied) was measured during the recruitment and training process prior to discharge; the exact reading of each measurement; the number of Defence Forces medical personnel involved in measuring the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3627/19]
View answer78. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will reconsider the discharge of a person (details supplied) and immediately move to reinstate the person in view of his acknowledgement that he is reviewing the procedures for height measurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3628/19]
View answer79. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is considering remeasuring all Defence Forces personnel in view of his acknowledgement that he is reviewing the procedures for height measurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3629/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 76 to 79, inclusive, together.
The minimum height requirement for general service recruitment is set out in Defence Forces Regulation. This prescribes a minimum height requirement for enlistment for general service in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) of 157.48cm. This requirement was made following recommendations by a Defence Forces Working Group which reported in January 2006 and reduced the previous height requirement for both males and females.
The determination of a minimum height requirement for enlistment in the Defence Forces is based on the ergonomic requirements for all members of the Defence Forces to train and carry out operations both at home and overseas with service Personal Load Carrying Equipment.
The height requirements in place were introduced following detailed consideration and were intended to ensure that personnel can conduct safely the various military tasks assigned to them, and they are of general application to all recruits. Accordingly, the height requirements remain in place. The military authorities have informed me that they will conduct another review of DF height standards to update, if necessary, the 2006 report.
It is not permissible for me to release personal data relating to the individual named in your questions but I wish to inform you that I have replied to queries raised by her.
80. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his most recent conversation with Mr. Michel Barnier following the result of the vote on the withdrawal treaty which was defeated in the House of Commons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3541/19]
View answerI met with Michel Barnier on 21 January, in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. We discussed the disappointing but not unexpected outcome of the 15 January vote in the House of Commons on the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. Both Mr Barnier and I are in agreement that what we need from the UK is clarity on how it proposes to move forward, and ultimately what it wants to achieve. The EU could then consider any next steps it might take. The EU continues to take a united approach to the negotiations and I thanked Mr Barnier for his unwavering support for Ireland.
Mr Barnier and I remain firmly of the view that the only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal is to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement as endorsed by the European Council and agreed with the British Government. The European Council has made clear that it stands by the Withdrawal Agreement and that it is not open for renegotiation. The EU stands ready to work further on the Political Declaration as we look to the future relationship.
Mr Barnier reaffirmed his commitment to the backstop provisions contained in the Agreement, which is the only agreement on the table that provides the essential legal guarantee to avoid a hard border in any circumstances and protect the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts.
In light of the ongoing uncertainty in Britain, however, the European Council has asked that preparedness work at the national and EU level intensify, taking account of all possible outcomes. I outlined Ireland’s approach in this regard, including planned legislation and other contingency measures. I also thanked Mr Barnier for the Commission’s continued helpful and constructive engagement in this area, and their understanding of the particular challenges faced by Ireland.
81. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the budgetary increases in both capital and non-capital allocation for processing passport applications in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3542/19]
View answerDecisions on the final total allocation to the Passport Service in 2019 are currently being finalised in the Department. As already announced in Budget 2019 , last October, further funding is being earmarked for the Passport Service, which has seen a significant increase in demand for Irish passports from Irish citizens in Northern Ireland and Great Britain since the UK voted to leave the EU.
2019 Estimates allocations will help the Department to address critical challenges that are facing Ireland at EU and international level in the context of Brexit. Including a greater focus on delivering further improvements in our services to citizens in such areas as passports.
The agreed additional allocation for Brexit-readiness work includes increased funding for additional staffing to facilitate the processing of increased passport applications (€2m) and applications for Irish citizenship via the Foreign Birth Registration system (€0.6m). There will also be additional funding in 2019 for the operational costs of passport processing.
A key part of the Passport Service’s strategy in managing increasing application volumes is a focus on implementation of service improvements. Since 2016, a significant programme of reform to enhance passport services for citizens has been underway, including the introduction and expansion of online passports services and a new passport card. The award winning online passport application service will continue to make a major contribution to the effective management of exceptionally high volumes by allowing existing resources to be more effectively deployed within the Passport Service. The Online Renewal Service allows Irish citizens (both adult and children) to renew their passport twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in the world, has led to an exceptionally enhanced customer service experience. To allow further reform and development of the Passport Service €6m in capital funding will be made available to the Passport Reform Programme in 2019.
Staffing needs in the Passport Service are assessed on the basis of a number of factors including forecasted demand, the balance between more complex first-time applications and renewals as well as the uptake of online services and associated productivity gains. As noted above, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sought and has been provided with additional funding in the 2019 Estimates for additional full-time staff in the Passport Service in order to better cope with periods of peak demand and the rising volumes of applications. Additional full-time staff have already been recruited and the Passport Service will continue to monitor operational requirements during the year.
82. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of meetings he has attended since the beginning of September 2018 with his officials to discuss and prepare for Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3598/19]
View answerBrexit is a major priority for the Government, for me and the work of my Department.
I meet regularly every Thursday with senior officials from all relevant Divisions in my Department, and the Secretary General, to be briefed on and to discuss the latest developments regarding the Article 50 process and our ongoing preparations for Brexit. The Permanent Representation to the EU and the Embassy London take part by video link. In addition, I meet or talk to officials virtually every day to prepare for my very large number of Brexit-related engagements, and to assess developments. I also of course receive numerous reports and other papers from our Embassies and from officials at Headquarters.
83. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the bombing incident and attack in Derry on 19 January 2019; if he is satisfied that the necessary resources are available in Northern Ireland and here to deal with and counteract such threats from paramilitary groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3686/19]
View answerI know that I speak for all members of this House in our utter condemnation of the hijacking and bombing in Derry on 19 January and the subsequent hijackings and security alerts. The people behind such violence have neither mandate nor legitimacy nor support in the community. Their actions show a callous and reckless disregard for human life, and risk causing serious injury and loss of life to innocent bystanders and members of the police and emergency services.
I also wish to welcome the leadership shown by political and civic leaders from across the community in Derry in the past few days. The people who have carried out these attacks do not speak for the people of Derry, nor the people of this island. Their methods are repugnant to the desire of the Irish people for peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland.
I spoke with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley about the situation in Derry on Monday last and we reiterated our condemnation of these incidents, as well as our support for An Garda Síochána and PSNI who continue to work together to keep people safe.
Dissident republican activity continues to poses a threat to public safety on both sides of the border. There is close, ongoing co-operation between all levels of An Garda Síochána and the PSNI. The Gardaí work seamlessly with their counterparts in Northern Ireland in actively bearing down on those involved in such activity and on the organised crime gangs to which they are linked.
