Written Answers Nos. 128-149
128. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the Rohingya; the efforts being made by the EU and international community to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6409/19]
View answerSince military security operations in Rakhine State escalated in August 2017, approximately 720,000 refugees, mostly Rohingya, have fled to Bangladesh. There have been reports of further violence emerging from Rakhine State in recent weeks.
In response, Ireland has sought to deploy political pressure with the aim of easing the crisis. We have done this through bilateral contacts in Myanmar, and through our membership of both the EU and UN. This included active support for the establishment of an Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (IIFFM) on Myanmar.
The report of the Mission, which was published in August 2018, found that human rights violations amounting to crimes against humanity and war crimes have been committed by members of the Burmese Military (Tatmadaw) and other security forces in Rakhine as well as in Kachin and Shan States. The IIFFM report also finds that there is sufficient evidence of crimes committed in Rakhine State being so grave that they warrant a competent court to determine the liability for the crime of genocide of those in the Tatmadaw chain of command.
Ireland has worked closely with EU and UN partners to respond to this crisis and one of the key issues we have focused on so far is the issue of accountability. At the 39th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Ireland actively supported the creation of a resolution on Myanmar which mandates a new impartial independent mechanism to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of the most serious violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011. This is an important step in facilitating fair and independent criminal proceedings for these crimes. We will continue to advocate for this mechanism including at the upcoming 40th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Within the EU, Ireland has pressed for progress within Myanmar on these issues. The EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted Conclusions on Myanmar on 10 December 2018, which respond to the IIFFM report and call on Myanmar to hold those responsible for these crimes to account and to take meaningful action towards the creation of conditions conducive to a safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of those displaced from Rakhine State to their places of origin. This new set of Conclusions builds on the earlier Council Conclusions on Myanmar of 26 February 2018, which provided for targeted restrictive measures against senior military officers of the Myanmar Security Forces responsible for these acts.
Ireland has also provided direct funding of €2.325 million since 2017 to the Rohingya crisis response, supporting vulnerable communities living in conflict-affected areas of Rakhine state and Rohingya refugee settlements in Bangladesh. Our support has focused on food, nutrition, shelter, water and sanitation. In addition, experts in water and sanitation and humanitarian coordination were deployed from Irish Aid’s Rapid Response Corps and 37 tonnes of Irish Aid pre-positioned emergency relief supplies were dispatched for distribution by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Ireland has also provided substantial humanitarian support via the UN-administered Central Emergency Response Fund.
It is clear that, ultimately, the long-standing drivers of conflict in Myanmar need to be addressed. In regard to Rakhine State, the IIFFM recognises that the implementation of the findings of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State (The Annan Commission) provides a roadmap for sustainable and community-led peacebuilding in Rakhine State, and for the development of impoverished regions there. Ireland has strongly and repeatedly called for the full implementation of the Advisory Commission’s findings and will continue to do so. Officials in my Department, including in the Embassy of Ireland in Thailand which is also accredited to Myanmar, will continue to monitor the situation.
129. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the efforts to double Ireland's global footprint by 2025; the actions taken to date; the actions that will be taken in the short to medium-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6410/19]
View answerIn launching 'Global Ireland 2025', the Government committed to the most ambitious renewal and expansion of Ireland’s international presence ever undertaken.
We have committed to a range of measures to advance our strategic international objectives. This includes deepening our network by strengthening our presence in key existing locations, and opening new offices. This will enable us to leverage the opportunities to grow our trade and inward investment, to further strengthen political relationships with our partners and promote our values, and to support Irish citizens and our diaspora abroad.
Work is advancing on the expansion and strengthening of Ireland’s diplomatic network. Our new Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand, opened officially in August 2018. Since its opening the Embassy has been busy campaigning for Ireland’s Security Council Campaign; has hosted a number of events to engage with the political and business community; and has successfully supported a number of high level bilateral visits.
Ireland’s new Consulate General in Vancouver opened in October 2018 and has been working closely with the local business community, the Vancouver Chapter of the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce and the Irish Community in the region.
An Embassy was established in Liberia in June 2018 (which replaced the Development Office in the country). This is an important first step in bolstering our existing political and economic connections in West Africa and seeking out new opportunities and links in the region.
Looking ahead, staff recently arrived on the ground in Bogotá, Amman, Mumbai and Santiago de Chile, and these Missions will officially open shortly. These new Missions will promote Ireland and Irish interests over the St. Patrick’s Day period with each hosting a Ministerial visit. The next phase of expansion will focus on Cardiff, Los Angeles and Frankfurt in 2019, and Embassies in Kiev, Manila and Rabat shortly thereafter.
Global Ireland also recognises the importance of reinforcing our existing network to enable us to better shape and influence international events in our interests. At a time of considerable challenge for the European Union, I see it as imperative that we deepen our engagement with our EU partners. That’s why we are augmenting our Embassies in Rome and Madrid, Warsaw and The Hague, as we have already done in Paris and Berlin. It will allow us to play a more active role in supporting and promoting a rules based international environment and will help us play our full role in addressing some of the global challenges that will impact us over the period ahead.
130. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the actions taken to address difficulties being experienced by returning Irish emigrants; the progress in implementing the recommendations from the report on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6411/19]
View answerThis Government is committed to making it as easy as possible for Irish emigrants to return to live and work in Ireland. Reducing barriers to returning emigrants has important implications for national competitiveness; in a growing Irish economy facilitating the return of skills will be of importance in sustaining economic growth.
My colleague, the Minister of State for the Diaspora, Ciarán Cannon, chairs the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Irish Abroad which works to ensure that Government works in a joined up way to realise the objectives of Ireland’s Diaspora Policy, including addressing issues affecting the Irish abroad and those seeking to return.
On foot of the work by the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Irish Abroad my Department commissioned an independent economic report on difficulties experienced by Irish people returning home. This report was completed in February 2018, considered by Government, and published on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
Since the publication of the Indecon Economic Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has undertaken a number of steps, in conjunction with other Government Departments and State Agencies, to address the thirty recommendations made in the report. Most recently, Minister of State Cannon wrote to relevant Ministers in December 2018 seeking a further update on progress on their individual areas of responsibility, which will be addressed at the next IDC meeting on 21st February.
My Department has already implemented several of the Indecon Report’s recommendations in relation to information provision. An enhanced ‘Returning to Ireland’ section containing more information and advice for returning emigrants has been developed for our dedicated diaspora website, the Global Irish Hub. Officials are working closely with the Citizen’s Information Board to ensure that returning emigrants have the best information and advice possible to assist them in making the return back to Ireland.
Currently, nineteen of the total thirty recommendations have been addressed. Departments are aware of further action to be taken in respect of 6 recommendations. The remaining 5 recommendations are being partially implemented, or are being considered as part of a wider issue rather than in the context of the recommendation alone.
All responses made in respect of these recommendations will inform a further Memorandum to Government, and will, at the request of Government, provide an update on the progress made since the publication of the Indecon Report.
131. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the necessary documentation required when applying for a passport; and if an applicant whose passport is expired in excess of five years must provide a public services card with the application. [6445/19]
View answerAll passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 as amended ("the 2008 Act"). The 2008 Act, provides among other things, that the Passport Service must be satisfied as to the identity of an applicant.
Since March 29th, 2016, the Passport Service has required all first time passport applicants, aged 18 and above, who are resident in Ireland to submit a copy of their Public Services card (PSC) with their passport application. In cases where the applicant's most recent passport has expired by more than 5 years, ie their last passport application was more than 15 years ago, the new passport application will have the same requirements as a first time passport application.
The requirement to submit a copy of the PSC has been an important step in protecting against fraud and identity theft and in upholding the integrity of the Irish passport.
132. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of advisers and special advisers employed by his Department in 2017 and 2018 and to date in 2019; the areas of expertise covered by such advisers; the annual salaries associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6572/19]
View answerI appointed four Special Advisers in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2017.
- Mr. Matthew Lynch is my Special Adviser on Cabinet, Oireachtas and Leader’s Questions.
- Mr. Chris Donoghue is my Special Adviser and Communications Director.
- Ms. Caitríona Fitzpatrick was my Special Adviser and Political Director. She has recently concluded her role with the Department.
- Mr. Paul Fox is Special Adviser to the Minister of State for European Affairs
The Special Adviser to the Minister of State is on the Assistant Principal Officer salary scale. My Special Advisers are on the Principal Officer salary scale.
I did not appoint any further advisers in 2018 nor to date in 2019.
All appointments were made in line with “Instructions to Personnel Officers – Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil” which included “Guidelines on staffing of Ministerial offices” issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Every appointment in my Department is subject to the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour.
133. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of boards or agencies his officials have been appointed to; if there are guidelines or protocols for members of staff being appointed to boards or agencies; if so, when same were last updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6647/19]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has no boards or agencies under its remit and consequently no officials from my Department have been appointed to any boards or agencies.
134. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the conflict in Syria; the efforts being made at EU and international level to bring a political resolution to the conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6808/19]
View answerThe Syria conflict, which will have lasted eight years next month, has cost the lives of well over 400,000 people. Over 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, over 6 million people are displaced internally, and a further 5.6 million have fled to neighbouring countries and the wider region. The Assad regime and its allies have repeatedly targeted civilians, through deliberate attacks, including chemical attacks, on civilian infrastructure such as homes, hospitals and schools, the use of “starve or surrender” techniques and the denial of humanitarian assistance, and forced displacement in the interest of demographic engineering. Other groups, most notably ISIS, have also perpetrated atrocities.
The situation in Syria remains grave, and there are particular fears with regards to the situation in Idleb, where conflict between the regime and opposition groups is continuing and could escalate; and in north-east Syria, where tensions between Kurdish groups and Turkey are rising. ISIS has yet to be fully defeated, and vigilance is needed to ensure that it does not re-emerge. I remain deeply concerned about the wellbeing of the Syrian people, both those inside Syria, including those who continue to suffer under an oppressive and murderous Government, as well as those in neighbouring countries, who are watching anxiously to see whether conditions will develop which will allow them to return home. Humanitarian needs remain extensive, and a major donor conference will take place in Brussels next month to discuss how these can be addressed.
Those with influence on the Syrian regime have a responsibility to exert pressure 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 nearly eight years of war have shown that military action cannot bring lasting peace to Syria. We strongly support the UN-led efforts to bring about a political resolution to the conflict, in accordance with the 2012 Geneva Communiqué and UN Security Council Resolution 2254. These parameters make it clear that this needs to be a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led process. 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.
The UN Special Envoy’s efforts are currently focused on establishing a constitutional committee, made up of Syrians of different political views, to chart the way forward for the country. The UN Special Envoy has been engaging directly with Russia, Turkey and Iran on this, and we believe that they have a responsibility to support and assist his efforts.
EU Foreign Ministers met with former UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, in the margins of the 2018 UN General Assembly, and the EU will continue engagement with the new UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen, who took up his position at the end of 2018. At the recent EU-League of Arab States Ministerial meeting on 4 February, I raised the ongoing conflict in Syria with my EU and Arab counterparts. The tragedy in Syria will remain on the agenda for EU Foreign Ministers, and the Brussels conference next month will give the EU an opportunity to set out our plans to support the Syrian people.
Ireland is a strong and consistent donor to the Syria crisis response and our overall funding supports those in need inside Syria as well as Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities in the region, including Jordan. At the 2018 Brussels Donor conference, Ireland pledged to contribute a further €25 million in 2018, bringing Ireland’s total humanitarian assistance in response to the Syria crisis to over €116 million since 2012. This is our largest response to any single crisis and a clear indication of our concern for Syria and its people. Through its annual contributions to the EU Institutions, Ireland also supports the EU’s humanitarian response in Syria.
I take this opportunity to reiterate my unreserved condemnation of the violence perpetrated against civilians that has characterised the Syrian conflict to date, most notably by the Government and its allies, and the appalling acts committed by ISIS.
135. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has considered reopening an embassy in Iran, particularly in the context of plans to double Ireland's global footprint by 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6809/19]
View answerThe Embassy of Ireland in Ankara is currently accredited on a non-residential basis to Iran. The Ambassador of Ireland in Ankara travels regularly to Iran in support of our broad policy objectives, including the development of political relations, trade relations and supporting the needs of Irish businesses operating or hoping to operate there.
Ireland is also represented in Iran by an Honorary Consul. Honorary Consuls are an important element of the State’s global engagement and provide consular services and assistance, as well as a range of other supports, to citizens and to the Embassy in Ankara.
The Government is of course conscious of the political, economic and trade factors which might warrant the opening of a resident diplomatic mission in Iran. Iran is an important local and regional power, as well as a large potential market.
Further, and as part of the Global Ireland 2025, the Government is committed to significantly expanding our diplomatic, commercial and cultural networks globally, while also continuously reviewing the scale of Ireland’s overseas network. In considering the expansion of our diplomatic representations overseas, a range of factors are taken into account, including our national political, economic, and trade priorities, as well as availability of resources. Regrettably resource constraints do not allow us to have resident representation in all locations that might objectively justify it having regard to those factors. Nonetheless, the question of a resident Mission in Iran will continue to form part of our on-going considerations under the Global Ireland initiative.
136. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to specifically help the Yazidi; if he will consider providing specific funding to assist the Yazidi women and children who have escaped sexual slavery and abuse at the hands of ISIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6811/19]
View answer137. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has given consideration to recognising formally the brutal campaign against the Yazidi by ISIS as genocide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6812/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.
I absolutely and unreservedly condemn the vile and criminal acts committed against Yazidis by the terrorist group ISIS in Iraq and Syria. I am appalled by the suffering which the innocent people caught up in these events have endured, especially women and girls who were the targets of sexual and gender-based violence. While the situation has improved with a successful fight back against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, challenges remain in terms of healing the trauma victims have endured, ensuring humanitarian aid reaches them, and ensuring displaced populations can return to their homelands once it is safe to do so.
In September 2015, Ireland addressed the UN Human Rights Council on the topic of a report by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which concluded that ISIS had committed the crime of genocide against the Yazidis. In our statement, we noted that the Human Rights Council and the membership of the United Nations have "an inarguable duty to end these crimes and work to achieve justice and accountability for the victims”.
I regard the report of the Commission of Inquiry and its findings of genocide as authoritative. However, the responsibility for a legal determination of the crime of genocide is a matter for a legally competent and internationally recognised court. These atrocities took place in both Syria and Iraq and reported crimes in both States need to be investigated and prosecuted.
In this regard, I welcomed the UN Security Council Resolution of September 2017 requesting the creation of an independent investigative team to help to hold ISIS accountable for its actions in Iraq. The resulting body, known as UNITAD, has now been established, and is currently focusing on a number of core activities, such as the collection of existing evidence, conducting field-based investigations, and preserving evidence of acts that may amount to genocide and other grave crimes committed by ISIS in Iraq. Ireland fully supports the efforts of UN Special Adviser and Head of UNITAD, Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, in helping to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.
Ireland is of course a substantial humanitarian donor in Syria, having contributed over €116 million in funding since 2012. And Ireland has provided over €9.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraq since 2012, including €2 million to the UN Iraq Humanitarian Fund (IHF) in 2018. The Fund is managed by UN OCHA, and provides emergency assistance to those affected by conflict and displacement, including the Yazidi. In addition, Ireland contributes to the humanitarian response in Iraq via our contributions to the EU budget. The EU’s humanitarian response provided over €40 million to Iraq in 2018. This funding is for a wide range of interventions targeted at the most vulnerable parts of Iraqi society. Last year this included assistance of €5 million towards emergency reproductive and mental health care for victims of violence.
Last week, officials from my Department met with an NGO which advocates on behalf of the Yazidi people to discuss the current challenges their community faces in Iraq and internationally, including the issue of justice and accountability for the terrible crimes that have been perpetrated against them. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
138. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the name and age of each observer appointed to the 2018 election observer roster; the county each lives in; if they were members of the previous roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6829/19]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of suitably skilled individuals who are available to participate in election observation missions overseas, organised in the main by the EU and the OSCE. A new roster was put in place in January 2019. This followed a Call for Volunteers which issued in July 2018.
Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Department cannot disclose the personal data of any member of the election observation roster without their specific, informed, unambiguous and freely-given consent. There is of course a public interest in disclosing the names of roster members. For this reason, as roster members are being trained, the Department is seeking the consent of individual roster members to allow us to disclose the list of names of the new roster by way of a response to a Parliamentary Question. This process is ongoing.
Data regarding the age or place of residence of members of the new roster has not been captured for statistical analysis. For insurance purposes, as roster members complete security vetting the Department will be capturing the age profile of the new roster. When this process is complete, the Department will consider the information which can be provided regarding the demographics of the new roster, subject of course to the GDPR. While security vetting is on-going, based on the shortlisted candidates, slightly more than half of the new roster were not members of the last roster. With almost twice as many applications to available roster places, the intense competition will ensure that the quality of Ireland's election observation nominations remains high.
139. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the breakdown of the allocation in 2019 for the passport reform programme; the phases that will be delivered in 2019; the date in 2019 each will be delivered; if it will be impacted by the cost overrun with the national children's hospital; if he or his officials have been consulted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6862/19]
View answerThe Passport Reform Programme (2016 - 2021) is delivering major upgrades to the passport service technology platforms and business processes as well as making significant customer service improvements to the Passport Service.
The Programme consists of over 30 individual projects and the award winning online passport renewal service has been the most significant project launched under the Programme to date.
In March 2017, Phase 1 of the online renewal service was launched which facilitates the online renewal of straightforward adult passports. In November 2018, Phase 2 of the project extended the service to the renewal of children's passports, introduced a passport card for children and expanded the cohort of adults eligible to renew online.
To allow for further reform and development of the Passport Service €6.6 m will be made available to the reform programme in 2019 which is focused mainly on 5 major projects.
1. Mailing Machines – to be completed this year at a cost of €1 million
2. Business Process Automation – to be completed this year at a cost of €150,000
3. Passport Integrated Processing System – due to start in Q4 this year at a cost of €1.5 million
4. Improvement to customer service systems – to be completed this year at a cost of €2 million
5. Upgrading document management system – due to start Q2 this year at a cost of €750,000
I can confirm that the funding available to the programme has not been impacted by any other funding allocation.
140. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if funding was provided in 2018 to support the work of the United Nations population fund in humanitarian settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7037/19]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a long standing supporter of UNFPA. We provide non-earmarked core funding to the agency on an annual basis and intend to continue this in 2019.
Between 1990 and 2015, maternal mortality was reduced by 44%, yet approximately 830 women die each day from preventable causes related to maternal and child health. Virtually all maternal deaths occur in developing countries; more than half of maternal deaths occur in fragile and humanitarian settings. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) works in development and humanitarian contexts to deliver lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services in order to respond to the impacts of poverty, inequality, and humanitarian emergencies.
In 2018, my Department provided €3,500,000 to UNFPA, an increase of €700,000 on our 2017 core contribution. As the Tánaiste outlined in his speech at the launch of the UNFPA’s State of the World Population Report in October 2018, Ireland is proud to be a consistent supporter of UNFPA. Since 2006 we have provided funding of around €55 million to the Population Fund, the majority of which is core funding. Ireland values the important work of UNFPA and is committed to core funding on the principle that this allows the agency to set their priorities and plan according to need which is, we believe, critical to the on-the-ground delivery of results in complex contexts.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is not currently providing additional funding to the UNFPA’s Humanitarian Appeal and no decision to fund this specific programme in 2019 has been taken to date.
141. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of his visit to the United States of America, including meetings and engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7048/19]
View answerI travelled to the United States from 5 - 7 February, for a series of engagements in New York and Washington, D.C.
In New York, I met with representatives of a number of UN Member States for wide-ranging discussions, including on Ireland’s candidature for a seat on the UN Security Council for the term 2021 – 2022.
In Washington DC, I attended a Ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, of which Ireland is a member. This was a good opportunity to meet with representatives of some of the 70 approx. countries in attendance, and to sit down with US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, for discussions over lunch.
Engaging with Secretary Pompeo, my meetings with the Congressional Friends of Ireland, as well as other meetings with Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress, were valuable opportunities to discuss priority issues, in particular in relation to Northern Ireland, Brexit, immigration, our economic relationship and foreign policy issues.
Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet with US Special Representative for International Negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, to discuss Middle East issues.
The centrepiece of the visit was a large event on Capitol Hill, with the Congressional Friends of Ireland, to mark the centenary of the First Dáil at the opening of the 116th Congress. I thanked the Friends of Ireland for their unwavering commitment to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland - a commitment which is as vital as ever.
I was also delighted to launch at this event the Government’s new Strategy for the US and Canada, under the Global Ireland Initiative. This Strategy will see Ireland doubling its impact in both the US and Canada, through investment and engagement; deepening, broadening and securing these hugely important relationships at every level for the future.
142. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his lunch meeting with the US Secretary of State, Mr. Mike Pompeo; the issues that were discussed; the responses that were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7085/19]
View answerIn the context of my recent visit to the US, I attended a Ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat-ISIS on Wednesday 6 February in Washington DC. The meeting was chaired by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and we had the opportunity for a useful and wide-ranging discussion over lunch.
As with all of my meetings with the US Administration and Congressional leaders, Northern Ireland was a central focus; specifically, the importance of protecting the Good Friday Agreement in the current Brexit context, and supporting peace and reconciliation. Secretary Pompeo acknowledged the importance of this task, and the important role successive US Administrations have played in supporting the peace process.
I outlined the Government's ambitions for the US-Ireland relationship, as set out in our new US and Canada Strategy, which includes protecting and growing our strong, reciprocal economic relationship; and ensuring our people can work and live more easily in both the US and Ireland.
Our discussion also covered some of the issues which arose in the course of the Ministerial meeting; Ireland's contribution to the aims of the Global Coalition; as well as a number of long-standing and emerging foreign policy priorities for both the Government and the US Administration.
143. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is considering a long-time limit on the European backstop in view of the difficulties in the House of Commons. [6681/19]
View answerThe Government is not considering a time limit on the backstop.
The backstop acts as an insurance policy to avoid a hard border in all scenarios, and a time-limit would be contrary to its purpose.
The EU27 have consistently, and unanimously, stated that they stand by the Withdrawal Agreement and that it is not open for renegotiation.
President Juncker reiterated this to Prime Minister May directly, during their meeting in Brussels on 7 February, and made clear that the EU is not in a position to agree to anything that is inconsistent with what has been agreed with the British Government in the Withdrawal Agreement, including on the backstop.
President Juncker did express his openness to add wording to the Political Declaration agreed by the EU27 and the UK in order to be more ambitious in terms of content and speed when it comes to the future relationship between the European Union and the UK.
144. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the fact that the Government of the United States of America may implement Title 3 of the Helms-Burton Act (details supplied); and if he will raise the matter with his US counterpart. [7137/19]
View answerThe 1996 Helms Burton Act is a US federal law which reinforces the US's long standing economic embargo against Cuba.
Since 1996, European persons or entities have remained potentially affected by the extraterritorial elements in Titles III and IV of the Act, but a 1998 Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and US has waived Title III every six months and, as a result, European persons and entities have been protected from the relevant provisions of the Act.
On 16 January 2019, the US State Department announced that the next waiver, effective from 1 February 2019, would have a duration of 45 days only, the first time since the Act’s promulgation that the US has not waived Title III for six months.
This development has been noted by Ireland and our EU partners and I can confirm that the Helms-Burton Act was recently discussed at the EU Council Working Party on Transatlantic Relations (COTRA), at which Ireland was represented at official level. A presentation was given by the European External Action Service on this development and on the potential risks impacting the EU and its economic operators.
It is not clear at this stage what this move to a 45-day waiver period means for Irish and other EU entities that have operations in/with Cuba. My officials are in close contact with the EU Commission on this matter and are monitoring the situation closely.
I will engage with my US counterpart on the issue in due course, if required.
145. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the customs arrangements (details supplied) in the event of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6460/19]
View answerI am advised by Revenue, that they have had extensive engagement with businesses throughout the State over the last 18 months in the context of preparing for Brexit. That engagement has intensified since the last quarter of 2018 and is continuing.
I am aware that Revenue have written to all businesses who trade with the UK advising them of the steps they need to take to prepare for Brexit. Revenue’s Trader Engagement Programme provides information and assistance on the EU customs requirements and formalities that apply to trade with and through a 3rd country which the UK will become for customs purposes after it leaves the EU. Revenue’s engagement has included seminars for large economic operators, customs agents/brokers, software providers and business representative bodies. Seminars have taken place in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Wexford, Limerick and Sligo. Full details of the customs procedures are available on Revenue’s dedicated Brexit webpage.
In relation to transit arrangements, the UK submitted an instrument of accession to the Convention on Common Transit (CTC) on 30 January 2019. This means that goods moving from Ireland to another Member State via the UK post-Brexit can move under the customs transit procedure. As part of their preparations for Brexit, I am advised that Revenue has recruited additional Customs officers who will work on a 24/7 basis in the ports and airports. There will be sufficient resources in place to support businesses in complying with the necessary transit formalities.
146. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if he will address the issue of returning emigrants being charged high car insurance due to the fact they have lost their no claims bonuses (details supplied). [6244/19]
View answer149. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to ensure that the 28,000 returning Irish emigrants in 2019 will not be treated as first-time drivers or novice drivers in the calculations of insurance companies (details supplied). [6304/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 149 together.
At the outset it is important to note that 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, I am not in a position to direct insurance companies as to the pricing level or terms or conditions that they should apply in respect of particular categories of drivers or vehicles.
Notwithstanding this, the difficulties faced by returning emigrants in respect of motor insurance are being addressed as part of the Cost of Insurance Working Group’s ongoing implementation of its recommendations. The Deputy may be aware that in fulfilment of one of the Working Group’s recommendations, a protocol was agreed between Insurance Ireland and the Department of Finance under which insurance companies committed to accepting the driving experience returning emigrants gained while abroad, when the driver has had previous driving experience in Ireland.
The guiding principle of the protocol is to ensure that a returning emigrant is not treated differently to any other driver, subject to verification of their continued driving experience and the normal acceptance criteria of the company. Thus, a returning emigrant will not be disadvantaged from spending that time abroad. Furthermore, under the protocol, insurance companies will not distinguish between countries on the basis of which side of the road driving takes place therein.
Insurance Ireland submitted a report on the implementation of this recommendation to the Department in December 2017. This report confirmed that Insurance Ireland members have agreed to publish the wording of the agreed protocol on their company websites and other forms of social media, in addition to providing training for staff who can work through issues with emigrants before they leave, whilst they are out of the country and when they return to Ireland. The stated intention is “to resolve any issues well before they arise and for the consumer to be aware of the considerations when moving abroad”. The wording of the agreed protocol is also available on the Insurance Ireland website. Following a review by the Department, insurers have been asked to ensure this information is displayed more prominently on their websites to ensure that it is accessible and visible for consumers. The Department will continue to monitor this situation.
The December 2017 report from Insurance Ireland also outlined some sample cases which demonstrate how the rolling-out of the protocol has already led to disputed cases being resolved to the benefit of returning emigrants, and provided figures indicating that the number of such cases being processed under the Declined Cases Agreement had been decreasing, a pattern which has endured since. The next report on the operation of the DCA, outlining the figures for 2018, is due to be submitted to my Department in this quarter. My officials will examine the breakdown of the number of cases in the report to determine if the downward trend is continuing and I will continue to monitor the implementation of the recommendation through my Department’s regular engagement with Insurance Ireland.
The Minister for the Diaspora and International Development, Mr Ciarán Cannon TD, has undertaken some further work in this area, through the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad. This has included highlighting each individual motor insurance operator’s overall policy in respect of returning emigrants. The insurers which responded positively in relation to providing cover for this category are listed on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. These insurers have also indicated that they do, in one way or another, take into account claims-free driving experience earned abroad.
It is important to highlight that if a returning emigrant believes that they have received a high quote due to an insurance provider not accepting driving experience gained while abroad, they should contact the free Insurance Information Service operated by Insurance Ireland, which can be accessed at feedback@insuranceireland.eu or 01-6761820.
Finally, I am hopeful that the continued implementation of all the recommendations from the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance – in addition to those in the CIWG’s Report on the Cost of Employer and Public Liability Insurance and the two reports of the Personal Injuries Commission – can help to maintain and expand the positive trend which has seen private motor insurance premiums decrease by 22.16% over the last two-and-a-half years.
147. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of an increase in fuel allowance for those who qualify in order to neutralise the impact of a €5, €10, €15 and €20 increase in the carbon tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6267/19]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment under the National Fuel Scheme to help with the cost of home heating during the winter months. It is paid to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. Only one Fuel Allowance is paid to a household. The current weekly rate is €22.50 and is paid for 28 weeks from the first week of October until the second week of April.
According to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, the average number in receipt of the national fuel allowance is 369,800.
In 2018 the ESRI undertook research on the environmental, social and economic impacts of potential carbon tax increases. To examine the distributional impacts, households were assessed by income deciles from poorest to richest. The ESRI's estimated weekly monetary impacts of carbon tax increases of €5, €10, €15 and €20 respectively are as set out in the table below in relation to the two lowest household income deciles (HHI being the lowest).
|
- |
Monetary Impacts |
Monetary Impacts |
Monetary Impacts |
Monetary Impacts |
|
Carbon Tax Increase |
€5 |
€10 |
€15 |
€20 |
|
Impact on HH1 |
€0.45 |
€0.91 |
€1.38 |
€1.87 |
|
Impact on HH2 |
€0.62 |
€1.26 |
€1.92 |
€2.60 |
The full report can be accessed at: https://www.esri.ie/system/files?file=media/file-uploads/2018-10/RS79.pdf
Decisions on tax policy take place every year as part of the annual budgetary process and decisions in relation to carbon tax policy will be informed by available research and analysis, which includes the social and economic impacts of any increases in the carbon tax as well as measures to mitigate such impacts. The Environmental Taxes paper prepared annually for the Tax Strategy Group contains analysis on the carbon tax and this helps inform subsequent budget decisions.
148. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if tracker mortgages will be investigated in cases in which the applicant had an appeal refused by the independent appeals panel of the lender and is unhappy with the appeal outcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6292/19]
View answerThe Central Bank Tracker Mortgage Examination Framework provides that lenders are to set up an independent appeals process to deal with affected customers who are dissatisfied with any aspect of the redress and compensation offer they received from lenders. The Framework also provides that affected customers can accept the offer for redress and compensation from lenders and, if they are unhappy with the offer, still appeal. Redress and compensation offers cannot be reduced by virtue of a customer lodging an appeal.
Appeals form an important part of the overall Examination process as they ensure an independent and transparent consideration of issues raised by affected customers about any aspect of the redress and compensation they have been offered. In particular, affected customers who have suffered severe detriment, and feel that their personal circumstances have not been sufficiently taken into account, may wish to bring that information forward for consideration by the appeals panel within a set period of time from receipt of their redress and compensation offers.
Where a customer who has appealed and does not accept the findings of the Appeals Panel in place under the Tracker Examination Framework, they still retain the option to bring a complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) and/or to initiate court proceedings within a specified period of time.
While the Central Bank has no role in adjudicating on appeals under the Tracker Examination Framework, the Central Bank advises that it is monitoring the progress and outcomes from appeals and expects lenders to consider the outcomes of appeals, including whether they have any wider customer relevance.
