Tuesday, 29 Jan 2019

Written Answers Nos. 51-74

Passport Applications Data

Questions (51)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

51. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the waiting times for passport express applications. [3858/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Passport Service offers a range of convenient channels for the submission of passport applications by Irish citizens at home or abroad. These include a postal application system, an online passport application service, and a counter service for applicants who have immediate travel plans.

The current waiting times for postal applications through the postal application system, Passport Express, will depend on the category of application.

Renewal applications are currently being processed in 13 working days. First-time applications, or those applicants who are applying to replace a lost or stolen passport, are being processed in 15 working days.

I would like to remind Deputies that the Passport Service recently expanded its online renewal service to include renewal of children's passports, as well as of adults. The online service brings significant benefits for citizens with faster turnaround times of 10 working days for all online applications, excluding postage.  In addition, the cost of renewing a passport online is cheaper than alternative methods, with fees for all online applications being reduced by €5 across all application types.

As the online service is the most convenient and most efficient method of renewing a passport, I would urge all applicants who are eligible to do so, to consider using this application channel.

Question No. 52 answered with Question No. 43.

Questions Nos. 53 and 54 answered with Question No. 50.

Brexit Negotiations

Questions (55, 78)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

55. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of his engagement with the EU Brexit negotiating team and the UK Government with a view to ensuring regulatory alignment on agriculture matters post the UK leaving the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3770/19]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

78. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if regulatory alignment on agriculture matters post the UK leaving the European Union has been discussed and agreed as part of the negotiations between the EU Brexit negotiating team and the UK Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3769/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 78 together.

Throughout the negotiations on the Withdrawal Agreement, I, as well as officials from my Department, engaged in extensive contact with representatives from EU Member States, the Commission and Taskforce, and the UK, to advance Ireland’s priorities.

The Withdrawal Agreement, as agreed in November, and adopted by the European Council, provides for a period of transition, up to December 2020, during which EU rules and regulations will continue to apply to the UK, including regulatory alignment on agriculture matters. 

Under the measures included for a backstop, should it need to be invoked, a UK-wide customs territory would apply, ensuring no tariffs or quotas. This includes well-established rules with regard to ensuring a level playing field. Northern Ireland would remain aligned to those rules of the Single Market that are indispensable to avoiding a hard border. As regards the movement of animals and agricultural products between North and South, this provides for complete regulatory alignment, including with respect to SPS controls, and rules on agricultural production and marketing.

 I should be clear that the backstop acts simply as an insurance policy, which we hope will never have to be used. It remains our priority to achieve a future relationship agreement that can resolve all these issues, and obviate the need for the backstop. 

Regarding the future relationship, both the EU and the UK have identified cooperation in the area of agriculture and trade in agrifood products as important aspects of the future trading relationship. Ireland wants the closest possible relationship between the EU and the UK, including in the area of trade, and in particular as regards agriculture and trade in agrifoods. This will be a priority for us in negotiations on the future relationship.

Question No. 56 answered with Question No. 47.

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Questions (57)

Niall Collins

Question:

57. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made to find a solution to the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3975/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Taoiseach and I have prioritised the immigration issue in the US since taking office. We will continue our efforts in this regard until we secure progress – both in terms of future legal immigration opportunities for Irish citizens; and in securing a pathway for those Irish who are undocumented in order to regularise their status. 

Special Envoy to the US Congress on the Undocumented, John Deasy, T.D., has worked closely on these issues with my Department, and with Ireland's Ambassador to the US, Dan Mulhall, and his team at the Embassy in Washington DC in particular, since his appointment.  

Building on this work, I look forward to visiting the US in early February, for a series of engagements with the US Administration and Congressional leaders on a full range of issues of mutual interest.  I will raise immigration issues in these meetings, as I have done in all my interactions with the US Administration and US political leaders since taking office. 

Additionally, I expect that the Taoiseach will have a range of engagements at the highest levels of the US Administration and with Congressional leaders over the St Patrick's Day period.

My Department, including through our Embassy and Consulates in the US, work alongside the Irish Immigration Centres across the US to provide support to those Irish who are undocumented on an ongoing basis. Each Irish Centre receives significant Government funding through the Emigrant Support Programme each year for its work, including support for vulnerable Irish and the undocumented. In 2018, over €3 million was allocated to 76 organisations across the US, including the Irish Centres.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (58, 79)

Niall Collins

Question:

58. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the situation in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3972/19]

Thomas Byrne

Question:

79. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent re-election of Mr. Nicolas Maduro as the President of Venezuela. [3859/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 79 together.

I continue to be deeply concerned by the political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, which has had a grave impact on the Venezuelan people, and has resulted in mass migration, affecting countries in the region and overall regional stability.

On 10 January, President Maduro started a new mandate on the basis of non-democratic elections held in May 2018. Ireland was not represented at the inauguration, and fully supports the declaration by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini of 10 January. This statement reiterates that the May 2018 Presidential election was neither free nor fair, and that its outcome lacked credibility. The statement also urges President Maduro to release all political prisoners, to uphold the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to urgently address the needs of the population.  

I, alongside my EU partners, have repeatedly called on the Venezuelan Government to engage in dialogue with the opposition, to respect the electoral calendar and to fully restore the country’s democratic institutions. It is regrettable that the Venezuelan Government has not heeded these calls for fresh presidential elections in accordance with internationally recognised democratic standards and the Venezuelan constitutional order.  

Ireland is committed to finding ways to foster shared democratic solutions that can bring political stability and address the pressing needs of the Venezuelan people. It is my continued belief that a credible, meaningful dialogue is the most effective way of achieving a peaceful solution to the current crisis in Venezuela. In that regard, Ireland regrets the negative impact the assumption of this new mandate may have on the possibility of achieving this negotiated solution. It will be vital that the EU remains engaged with all stakeholders in Venezuela.   

The recent protests in Caracas are a demonstration of the Venezuelan people's will and their demand for democracy. It is imperative that the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are respected, and I wholly condemn the use of violence against these protesters by the Venezuelan authorities. I would like to offer my condolences to the families of those affected.  

Ireland fully supports the statement made by High Representative Mogherini on 26 January, which reaffirms that a peaceful and inclusive democratic solution is the only sustainable way out of the current political and social crisis. The statement also reaffirms the full support of the EU to the democratically elected National Assembly, emphasising that its powers need to be restored and respected. The EU calls again for the urgent holding of free and fair Presidential elections in accordance with internationally democratic standards and the Venezuelan constitutional order. If no announcement regarding fresh elections is made over the coming days, the EU will take further actions regarding the issue of recognition of the country's leadership. Ireland stands firmly with our EU partners in support of this declaration. 

I welcome the high priority given to the issue by the EU, and I expect there will be further discussions on developments in Venezuela at the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council meeting in February. I believe that it is important for us to work in step with our like-minded regional partners.  

Our Embassy in Mexico is responsible for our diplomatic relations with Venezuela and is monitoring the situation closely, engaging with partner organisations on the ground and with EU Missions in Caracas. Ireland will continue to engage regularly with our EU partners on this issue, as well as with affected countries in the region.

EU Migration Crisis

Questions (59)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

59. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on discussions he has had with his European counterparts with regard to the recent reports of 170 migrants missing in the Mediterranean Sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3967/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am deeply troubled by the recent reports of 170 migrants missing in the Mediterranean Sea. Any death at sea is tragic.  

Saving lives at sea is a priority for Ireland and for this reason we have been active in operations to tackle people-trafficking in the Mediterranean since 2015, first through Operation Pontus, a bilateral agreement between Ireland and Italy running in parallel to Operation Sophia. Ireland has been a full member of Operation Sophia since 2017. Since 2015, Irish naval vessels have rescued thousands of migrants in the Mediterranean.

In June, the European Council reconfirmed that a precondition for a functioning EU policy on migration relies on a comprehensive approach to migration which combines effective controls of the EU's external borders, external action to strengthen co-operation with countries of transit and origin and dealing with the management of migrants within the European Union, where a balance of solidarity and responsibility is needed. 

In addition, Ireland has provided humanitarian assistance in solidarity with other Member States on four separate occasions by making pledges to take migrants who were rescued in the Mediterranean Sea and to process their applications for international protection. On 9 January, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, T.D., announced that Ireland will accept five unaccompanied minors from Malta as a gesture of solidarity and humanitarian assistance. 

Ireland also supports measures to address the root causes of irregular migration, through humanitarian and developmental programmes in developing countries. Indeed, Ireland’s pledge of €15 million for the EU’s Trust Fund for Africa is the third highest per capita contribution by an EU Member State.  

Solving the migration crisis will ultimately require deeper political, economic and development relationships between the EU and neighbouring countries, including many in Africa, that will form a basis for dealing with a variety of challenges on the basis of shared responsibility.

Brexit Negotiations

Questions (60, 69)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

60. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of negotiations particularly those relating to the Border region of counties Cavan and Monaghan in view of Brexit and the possible reintroduction of a hard border. [3771/19]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

69. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland’s position on a potential hard border will be reaffirmed in the event of a no-deal UK withdrawal from the EU in view of the statement made by a spokesperson for Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker reaffirming the EU external border position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3896/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 69 together.

The Government has been consistent that we will not accept a hard border on this island. The EU and UK both accept that avoiding a hard border is essential.

Throughout the negotiations it has been a priority to protect the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, and to ensure that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland under any circumstances. Naturally, the counties of Cavan and Monaghan are included in this commitment, which is of very particular relevance to people and businesses there. Only the Withdrawal Agreement, with its backstop provisions, provides the essential legal guarantee to avoid a hard border in any circumstances and protect the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts.

However, if the Withdrawal Agreement does not enter into force, Ireland and the EU will have responsibilities in terms of ensuring protection of the Single Market and Customs Union. The UK will have its own responsibilities, including meeting WTO requirements. As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, Ireland and the UK have solemn and binding obligations to ensure peace and stability in Northern Ireland. As such, whether the UK leaves with or without an agreement in place, we will all have to work together to ensure that we deliver on the shared goal of avoiding the return of a hard border.

The President of the European Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, understands the importance of these commitments, and he provided further reassurances on this in a phone call with the Taoiseach on 24 January. This position is fully shared by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and our fellow EU 27 Member States. As the Commission spokesperson also stated on 23 January, the, "EU is determined to do all it can, deal or no deal, to avoid the need for a border and to protect peace in Northern Ireland. The EU is fully behind Ireland and has expressed, on numerous occasions, full solidarity with Ireland. That has not changed".

We are committed to doing all in our power to ensure that goal is met. But it is preferable for us all to resolve this now, as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement.

Middle East Issues

Questions (61, 67)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he plans to take with regard to the ongoing and worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4138/19]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

67. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with his European counterparts the worsening humanitarian situation in Palestine since the United States of America implemented cuts to infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3968/19]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Simon Coveney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 67 together.

Ireland is a longstanding and steadfast supporter of the Palestinian people and of a two-state solution. In 2018, we provided €15.38 million in development and humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of the most vulnerable Palestinian men, women and children, our highest level ever.  

In the Tánaiste's recent visits to the region, he has witnessed first-hand the increasingly fragile humanitarian situation on the ground and the daily challenges for the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. The ongoing Gaza blockade and recurrent outbreaks of hostilities have eroded basic infrastructure, service delivery, livelihoods and coping mechanisms. It is clear that humanitarian needs in Gaza are critical and that all key services, particularly the health service, are under severe strain. 

Ireland has responded to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people, including in Gaza, for many years. Our funding is channelled primarily through UN and multi-lateral partners. In 2018, we significantly increased our funding to the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, providing an overall contribution of €9 million, so that it could continue to provide basic services such as food aid, education and health to some 5.3 million registered Palestine refugees, 1.4 million of whom are in Gaza. This was an increase of €3.5 million on their 2017 allocation.

We also provided €500,000 in 2018 to support the work of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, in the occupied Palestinian territory. This included €300,000 for the OCHA-managed Humanitarian Fund. The fund played a particularly important role in the international response to the injuries suffered by thousands of Gaza residents during the, “Great March of Return”, protests last year. 

In 2019, Ireland is committed to increasing our support to the Palestinian people. This will involve an expanded programme of scholarships for Palestinian students. I believe that Ireland can greatly increase its engagement with Palestine in this area. We are also working with the Palestinian Water Authority on the delivery of solar energy in Gaza to help alleviate the critical shortage of power there. This power shortage is crippling the Gazan economy and makes daily life and any form of economic activity very difficult and is one of the factors contributing to political instability.

Issues related to the situation in Palestine, including the humanitarian situation in Gaza, are regularly discussed with our EU partners. The EU and its Member States are the largest contributors of assistance to the Palestinian people.

Brexit Negotiations

Questions (62, 84)

Joan Burton

Question:

62. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his ongoing discussions with Mr. Michel Barnier in respect of the proposed agreement between the EU and UK in terms of Brexit. [49100/18]

Michael Moynihan

Question:

84. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the comments by Mr. Michel Barnier on the vote on the withdrawal treaty on 15 January 2019 in the House of Commons that the UK is not ready to agree the treaty; and his views on whether attempts will be made to change, further clarify or weaken the backstop. [2655/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 84 together.

I met with Mr. 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 in December and the joint letter from Presidents Tusk and Juncker have provided reassurances with regard to the backstop. 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. 

I welcomed Mr Barnier’s statement to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 16 January, in which he publicly reaffirmed his commitment to the backstop and to the Withdrawal Agreement as a whole, which represents the best possible compromise between the European Union and the United Kingdom. In our discussion, Mr Barnier and I agreed that it 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.

As Mr Barnier stated in Strasbourg, an orderly Brexit remains our top priority, but we must be prepared for all scenarios. In light of the ongoing uncertainty in Britain, the European Council has asked that preparedness work at the national and EU level intensify, taking account of all possible outcomes. I have outlined Ireland’s approach in this regard to Mr Barnier, 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.

Human Rights Cases

Questions (63, 86)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

63. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised the issue of the reports of ill-treatment of eight female activists detained in a prison in Saudi Arabia with his counterparts across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4137/19]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

86. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will establish a cross-party group to visit the detainees in a prison in Saudi Arabia in view of reports of ill-treatment and torture of eight female activists detained at the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4136/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 86 together.

Promoting respect for human rights is a cornerstone of Ireland’s foreign policy. Ireland has consistently supported the human rights of prisoners and detainees, and continually advocates for the freedom of civil society actors to operate in a safe and enabling environment. 

Overall, through our engagement at the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, Ireland works tirelessly to promote gender equality, to combat all forms of discrimination against women and prevent gender-based violence.   

Ireland has also co-sponsored resolutions at the Human Rights Council calling upon states to investigate alleged human rights violations and abuses suffered by persons deprived of their liberty, in particular cases involving death, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Ireland has also co-sponsored resolutions concerning human rights in the administration of justice, and resolutions concerning torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishments.   

It is completely unacceptable that women should be imprisoned, let alone mistreated in any way, for peacefully seeking their basic rights. In December, the UN Committee against Torture cited serious allegations that a number of activists have been detained without charge in Dhahban prison since May 2018 and that they had suffered torture, sexual harassment and other forms of ill-treatment during interrogation. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have alleged shocking abuses subjected on these activists, which the Saudi government has vehemently denied.  

The Irish Embassy in Riyadh regularly works with other EU Member States to ensure that human rights issues in Saudi Arabia are addressed, and the EU Delegation has raised the cases in question directly with the Saudi authorities on multiple occasions and at various levels. The EU Head of Delegation in Riyadh raised these reports last week.  

On a national basis, Ireland consistently raises issues of human rights in Saudi Arabia with the Saudi Embassy in Dublin, and at international level. I understand that many members of the Oireachtas share my deep concerns, and that their status as parliamentarians will give them their own contacts and channels for highlighting these.    

During the last Universal Periodic Review of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record at the Human Rights Council, in November 2018, Ireland registered its concern about the imprisonment of Human Rights Defenders and recommended that Saudi Arabia bring its laws into line with international standards for the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

My Department will continue to monitor the cases in question, and continue to relay our concerns to the Saudi government, at bilateral, EU and international levels.

Brexit Negotiations

Questions (64)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

64. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he continues to emphasise the fundamental importance of the Good Friday Agreement in the context of discussions between the EU and UK on Brexit with particular reference to the need to retain the status quo in respect of the island of Ireland with unimpeded access to traditional markets and recognition of the need to ensure that Ireland remains at the centre of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4122/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Throughout the negotiations and Brexit process, it has been a priority of this Government to protect the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the gains of the peace process, which includes ensuring that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland under any circumstances. The Withdrawal Agreement, which was agreed by the UK and EU in November and endorsed by the European Council on 25 November, fully reflects this through the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, including its provision for a “backstop” on avoiding a hard border. This reflects the commitment provided by the UK in the joint progress report of December 2017 that it would maintain the full alignment with those rules of the EU's Customs Union and internal market necessary to protect North South cooperation, the all-island economy and the Good Friday Agreement. 

The UK is leaving the EU and that means that some changes are unavoidable. However, in addition to the guarantee on avoiding a hard border in all circumstances, the Protocol contains provisions on a number of important areas for Ireland, including provision for the maintenance of the Common Travel Area, that North South cooperation can continue and develop, and that the Single Electricity Market will be maintained on the island of Ireland. It also includes commitments to ensure no diminution of rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity as set out in the Good Friday Agreement and confirms that people in Northern Ireland will continue to enjoy their rights as EU citizens. The Protocol also makes clear that these arrangements fully respect the constitutional status of Northern Ireland and the principle of consent under the Good Friday Agreement. All of this is aimed at ensuring that impact of Brexit on the everyday lives of people, both North and South, is minimised and that the status quo on the island is protected.

I have continued to engage directly with my EU counterparts, and with the Commission with regard to the ratification and implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement agreed between the EU and the British Government. On 21 January, I met with Mr. Michel Barnier, who expressed his ongoing support for our position on the backstop and agreed that the Withdrawal Agreement remained the best way to ensure an orderly UK withdrawal that fully protected the Good Friday Agreement. He echoed his statements of 16 January; that the backstop must remain a backstop, and it must be credible.

In all my meetings, I am struck by the continued solidarity and unity of our EU partners with Ireland on the issue of the backstop, and I am grateful for their continued public and private expressions of support. 

Following the vote in Westminster on 15 January, and as the President of the Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, has stated, what we need from the UK is clarity on how it proposes to move forward. We will then consider what next steps to take with our EU partners.

Middle East Peace Process

Questions (65)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

65. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the work he has undertaken on the Palestine-Israel situation; the expected outcome of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3897/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Middle East Peace Process is a matter of deep concern to me, and the Deputy will be aware of the attention I have given to this issue since assuming this office. It is a priority for the Government, and for the Irish people, to do what we can to bring the Israel-Palestine situation to a resolution which is just and equitable for both peoples.

With the political process having been at a standstill for some time, I have made my views clear that the international community needs to increase their engagement in order to move forward. Ireland has worked consistently, particularly at EU level, to maintain an international focus on the issue and support for the two-state solution. The violent events in recent months have highlighted that the situation is only likely to deteriorate if solutions continue to be put off.   

I have visited Israel and Palestine three times over the last 18 months, holding meetings with the key interlocutors in both places, including both President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu. These visits have allowed me to raise Ireland's priorities forthrightly and directly with the key decision makers, as well as listening to their concerns for the security and dignity of their peoples. I was also delighted to welcome President Abbas to Ireland in September, his first visit in ten years, during which he had good meetings with the President and the Taoiseach.

In December, Ireland proposed a Resolution at the UN General Assembly on a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. This Resolution, which reaffirmed the long-standing and broadly agreed parameters for a two-state solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, was adopted by an overwhelming majority of 156 UN states. Ireland has, and will continue, to take a firm stance on matters relating to the Palestinian people and the Middle East Peace Process.

At Israel’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council last year, Ireland raised the continued expansion of settlements, and urged that Israel abide by its international legal obligations, including under the Fourth Geneva Convention, on the treatment of a civilian population under military occupation. I reiterated our concerns about these policies in my speech to the UN General Assembly in September.

On the ground, Ireland works closely with like-minded countries to protect Palestinians in the West Bank from individual and mass forcible transfer, through the provision of humanitarian assistance. Ireland takes a leading role in coordinating advocacy on these issues. Ireland also provides significant humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian people, and I increased Ireland's contribution to UNRWA by €3 million in 2018, in view of the strain it is under following the withdrawal of US support. I have also initiated new solar energy and scholarship programmes as a contribution to the development of the Palestinian people.

However, I am all too aware that the pressure on Palestinian communities continues to grow.  I have considered ways considered how the EU and the wider international community can productively engage and better use all the levers at our disposal to influence the parties to the conflict. I am convening a small gathering of European and Arab Foreign Ministers in Dublin in February, to discuss the Middle East Peace Process. Ireland will work with the Palestinians, as well as supportive Arab and European participants on discussing the current situation, longer term prospects and developments, and where best to go from here.

Foreign Policy

Questions (66)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

66. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a company (details supplied) that continues to import coal for use by the ESB from a mine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3893/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am aware of the specific mine to which the Deputy refers, although I should say at the outset that queries regarding where the ESB sources its coal would be more properly directed to my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.  

I understand that there have been complaints from some non-governmental organisations regarding private sector activities in the Cerrejón Mine, and I am aware of negative publicity that has surrounded the mine. I remain concerned at reports of mining activities having a negative impact on local populations or on the environment, as well as of reported abuse of workers.  

The EU Delegation in Bogotá has been monitoring the situation closely and the EU Head of Delegation has visited the Cerrejón Mine in order to hear stakeholders' views on the allegations and to assess the situation on the ground.  Several follow-up meetings have taken place, and the EU has maintained contact with representatives of sectoral trade unions and other civil society and environmental organisations.  

Ireland is currently in the process of opening its first resident Embassy in Colombia, with Ambassador-designate Alison Milton having arrived in Bogotá earlier this month.  This significant step demonstrates this Government’s commitment to developing Ireland’s relationship with Colombia and in particular our commitment to supporting Colombia’s transition to a peaceful post-conflict society, including the vindication and protection of human and social rights.  

This, combined with the opening of the Colombian Embassy in Ireland last year, marks a period of exceptional relations between our two countries and will greatly enhance our ability to engage on issues on the ground. 

While our Embassy’s focus will be on developing the political and economic relationship and on continuing to support Colombia’s transition to a post-conflict society, having a permanent presence in Bogotá means that we will be much better positioned to monitor issues such as the impact of the Cerrejón mine on the local community and the environment. 

Historic strides have been made in Colombia in recent years in the transition to a post-conflict society and addressing social and environmental issues is part of that process. Significant challenges remain, but Ireland remains committed to supporting the full implementation of the peace agreement, which will ensure a more peaceful, stable and prosperous future for all Colombians.

We will continue to monitor developments in the country and the particular issue raised by the Deputy as closely as possible. Officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin, and at our new Embassy in Bogotá, will continue to engage with human rights defenders and civil society organisations active on the ground, and with our EU colleagues in Bogotá.

Question No. 67 answered with Question No. 61.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (68)

Bríd Smith

Question:

68. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the budget and spending of his Department in order to secure UN Security Council membership over the past period. [3772/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ireland is seeking election to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2021-22 term. The election will take place in the General Assembly of the United Nations in June 2020.

Ireland’s candidature was announced in 2005 and the campaign is intensifying as the election date draws closer. There are two seats available on the Security Council for elected members of the Western Europe and Others Group, WEOG. Canada and Norway are the two other candidates for the 2021-22 term.

Our campaign to be elected to the UN Security Council was launched by the Taoiseach and I at the United Nations in New York in July 2018, with an event that highlighted Ireland’s commitment to multilateral engagement, including our strong record of 60 years of unbroken peacekeeping service with the United Nations, our long-standing development programme and our consistent commitment in the areas of human rights, humanitarian relief and disarmament.

I believe that Ireland’s track record at the UN is widely recognised, along with our spirit of Empathy, Partnership and Independence which are keynotes of our Security Council campaign and which reflect our policy interests, our values and our history of positive engagement with the wider world. 

Campaign costs to date have been approximately €500,000, including the launch event at the United Nations in New York, travel and promotional materials.

Alongside the Taoiseach and cabinet colleagues, I have utilised bilateral and multilateral meetings, and other international fora and engagements, to promote Ireland’s candidature and make the case for the strong and independent role we would play on the Council. 

In addition, my Department’s staff in Ireland, our Permanent Representation to the UN in New York, and our entire Embassy network have been actively presenting and highlighting our case and seeking support. UN Member States will be very aware of Ireland’s candidature, our commitment to the United Nations and multilateralism and the values we seek to bring to the work of the Security Council.

Question No. 69 answered with Question No. 60.

Human Rights Cases

Questions (70)

Seán Crowe

Question:

70. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the mass hunger strike of over 200 Kurdish political prisoners in Turkey; if he is concerned for the health and well-being of a person (details supplied); and if he has raised the hunger strike and the continued jailing of political activists by Turkey with his Turkish counterpart. [3965/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am very concerned with the hunger strike of the Kurdish prisoners, and in particular the case of Ms. Leyla Guven, the deputy of the People’s Democratic Party, HDP.

As the Deputy is aware, we had called for the Turkish authorities to address our concerns about Ms. Guven and we are pleased to see that she has been released, although we remain concerned that her hunger strike is continuing.  

Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have conveyed our concerns to the Turkish Embassy in Dublin in regard to the arrest of HDP MPs, along with other elected politicians, journalists and academics over the past two years. We are well-aware of the challenge faced by Turkey in July 2016, with the attempted coup d'état – but the state of emergency is over and the rule of law and freedom of expression must prevail. This is a point I have made in the past and will continue to make.

On the wider Kurdish issue, it is clear that this can only be addressed through dialogue aiming at establishing a peaceful, comprehensive and sustainable solution.

Ireland has called for the resumption of such a dialogue to allow the political process to resume and we continue to support efforts to maintain contacts between the Kurdish and Turkish sides through our funding of the Democratic Progress Institute’s Turkey Programme.

On the wider issue of rights within Turkey, we have been consistent in expressing our grave concern at the disproportionate scale and scope of measures taken by the Turkish authorities in the wake of the failed coup attempt in July 2016. Together with our European partners, we have conveyed our concerns on the backsliding on the rule of law and fundamental rights; the deterioration of the independence and functioning of the judiciary; and the restrictions, detentions, imprisonments and other measures targeting parliamentarians, journalists, human rights defenders and others exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms.

I want to assure the Deputy that the Irish Government will continue to monitor developments in Turkey on the specific issue of the hunger strike, and also on the wider issues of human rights, freedom of expression, rule of law, and democracy.

Human Rights Cases

Questions (71)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

71. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he and his EU counterparts have investigated the situation and welfare of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3775/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am aware of reports regarding the individual referred to by the Deputy. As with most individual cases, this has not been discussed at Foreign Minister level.

The Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi regularly coordinates locally with other EU Member States on Human Rights issues in UAE. This can include sharing information in relation to individual cases.  In relation to the individual in question, developments are being monitored regularly.  

I understand the Office of Special Procedures at the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has also received reports on the situation.

Syrian Conflict

Questions (72, 73)

Clare Daly

Question:

72. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will reiterate the call to all regional participants to show restraint and avoid an escalation in the Syrian conflict in view of recent Israeli airstrikes on Syria; and if the intervention of Israel in the Syrian conflict will be condemned. [3969/19]

Catherine Connolly

Question:

73. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions that have taken place regarding the withdrawal of foreign military powers from the conflict in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4135/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together.

I have frequently called on all regional actors, and all those involved in the Syria conflict to show restraint and avoid any escalation, which could further undermine regional stability, as well as adding to the suffering of civilians. I take this opportunity to reiterate that call. I also repeat my call on all parties with influence on the Syrian regime to exert that influence to ensure that civilians are protected, and to encourage the Syrian Government to engage fully with the UN-led peace process.  

Ireland and the EU firmly believe that there can be no military solution to the Syria crisis. The misery caused by the long-running conflict in Syria has been further prolonged by military support which has been provided to the Assad regime. The EU’s consistent position since the crisis began has been that the conflict can only be resolved by the Syrian people themselves.

Ireland and the EU strongly support the UN-led efforts to bring about a political resolution to the conflict. The EU provides direct assistance to the Geneva peace talks and has launched, in coordination with the UN, an initiative to develop political dialogue with key actors from the region to identify common ground. EU Foreign Ministers met with former UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, in the margins of the 2018 UN General Assembly, and reaffirmed our strong support for his work and that of his team. The EU will continue engagement with the new UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen. The UN Special Envoy’s work to bring about an end the conflict is undertaken in accordance with the 2012 Geneva Communiqué and UN Security Council resolution 2254, which are clear on the need for this to be a Syrian-led political process.

We support the UN Special Envoy’s ongoing efforts to establish a constitutional committee, made up of Syrians of different political views, to chart the way forward for the country. As part of his work to establish a constitutional committee, the UN Special Envoy has also been engaging directly with Russia, Turkey and Iran, and we believe that they have a responsibility to support and assist his efforts.

I do not condone or support the recent Israeli attacks into Syria. Nor do I support or condone the presence in Syria of other external forces who have been assisting the regime in the violent suppression of its own people, and who have used Syrian territory to launch attacks into Israel. There are significant Iranian forces in Syria, which have been assisting the regime in the violent suppression of its own people. This is unhelpful and unwelcome. It is also quite clear that Russia’s support for the Assad regime has prolonged the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia has also repeatedly vetoed UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, which has seriously undermined the protection of Syrian civilians.

Turkey has borne a heavy burden in terms of knock-on effects of the Syria conflict, including hosting millions of refugees, as well as a risk of spill-over of violence and its concern about the conflict raging on its southern border is understandable.  However, our messages to Turkey, in relation to its operations in Syria, have emphasised our overarching concern for the protection of civilians, and urged caution to avoid escalating the conflict any further. Our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides of the border, especially displaced and vulnerable communities, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds, all of whom are entitled to protection and safety.

I take this opportunity to reiterate my unreserved condemnation of the violence perpetrated against civilians that has characterized the Syrian conflict to date, most notably by the Government and its allies, and the appalling acts committed by Da'esh.

I expect that the upcoming EU-League of Arab States Ministerial meeting in February will provide an occasion to discuss the ongoing conflict in Syria with my EU counterparts, as well as with those neighbouring countries most directly affected by the crisis in Syria. 

Brexit Negotiations

Questions (74)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which he continues to find support for the Irish position on Brexit (details supplied) in view of recent developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4121/19]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

We maintain frequent contact with our EU partners. The Taoiseach, my cabinet colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage with EU partners to advance Ireland’s priorities in the Article 50 process. I, as well as officials from my Department, remain in ongoing contact with representatives from EU Member States, the Commission and Task Force, and the UK. 

I discuss Brexit collectively with my EU27 counterparts on a regular basis at the General Affairs Council (Article 50), where I take every opportunity to speak informally with them. I also regularly meet with my counterparts from other EU Member States, most recently the German Foreign Minister. In December, I met with my Polish counterpart and I made clear to him the Irish and the European Council’s position that the backstop cannot be a time-limited solution but that it, if triggered, it would be temporary unless and until it is superseded by a better solution. 

In all of these contacts, I am struck by the continued solidarity and unity of our EU partners with Ireland on the issue of the backstop, and I am grateful for their continued public and private expressions of support.   

I met separately with Michel Barnier during the GAC (Article 50) meetings of 15 October and 12 November, and most recently on 21 January in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council. Mr Barnier reaffirmed his commitment to the backstop provisions contained in the Withdrawal 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.  The EU continues to take a united approach and I thanked Mr Barnier for his unwavering support for Ireland. The EU stands ready to work further on the Political Declaration as we look to the future relationship. 

The negotiations have been long and difficult, with flexibility and compromise shown on both sides. The European Council in December and the joint letter from Presidents Tusk and Juncker have provided important reassurances with regard to the backstop. They have also made clear that the Withdrawal Agreement cannot be renegotiated and that the European Union will not agree to anything that changes or is inconsistent with it.