Written Answers Nos. 88-107
90. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when replacement housing in the Moyross regeneration area will be completed as part of the Limerick regeneration framework implementation plan; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no construction is ongoing in the area at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28446/20]
View answerThe detailed advancement of housing and other works under the Limerick Regeneration programme is a matter in the first instance for Limerick City and County Council.
The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan (LRFIP) published in 2013, heralded a move away from demolitions and towards a prioritisation of the refurbishment option along with the delivery of some targeted, high quality, new housing construction with a continued focus on community and economic supports. This has resulted in the completion of several projects to date in Moyross.
I understand that the Council has encountered some delays with the progression of projects. However, this is not unusual with regeneration projects as they can be quite multi-faceted and complex. My Department continues to work with Limerick City and County Council in order to progress the programme as speedily as possible. Many projects are at various stages of the approval process and a number of projects will go on site in the coming months.
The LRFIP runs until 2023 and it is envisaged that there will be projects ongoing until this date.
100. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he discussed the upcoming US presidential elections and the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement during his visit to Washington, DC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28444/20]
View answerMy visit to Washington D.C. last week came at important time for both the United States and Ireland, and offered a valuable opportunity to discuss key priorities, including Brexit, Northern Ireland and our upcoming tenure on the UN Security Council.
Having met with members of the U.S. Administration, Congress and friends of Ireland from across the political spectrum, the visit naturally gave me a first-hand sense of the issues that are dominating the election campaign. As the House will be aware, Ireland has always maintained close relations 'across the aisle' in U.S. politics, working in particular to maintain strong bipartisan support for the peace process in Northern Ireland and the continued implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and we will continue to do so. The forthcoming U.S. elections, both for the Presidency and for Congress, are a matter for the American people and for the American people alone. Regardless of the outcome of these elections, we are committed to strengthening relations with the Administration and Congress, as we have always done.
On the matter of the protests in the United States, as I have stated previously, I am deeply concerned about the issues of racial inequality and racism that underpin them. I have raised these issues on multiple occasions with the U.S. Ambassador, Edward Crawford, and I continue to call for a de-escalation of tensions and a deepening of engagement at the community and political level.
I welcome the debate it has opened up, not just in the U.S. but in our own society too and elsewhere, and believe that the stories of those who have experienced racism and exclusion must continue to be heard. I also believe that creating a more inclusive society must be a proactive endeavour, which is why I was delighted to announce during my visit that, from next summer, Ireland will partner with the US Council on International Educational Exchange to support ten students from Minority Serving Institutions in the United States to study here as part of the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship programme.
103. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent visit to Washington, DC, USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28493/20]
View answerOn 28 September, I travelled to the United States for a series of engagements in Washington D.C.
Over the course of the two-day visit, I met with senior members of Congress from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Richard Neal, Peter King, Brendan Boyle, Mary Gay Scanlon and other members of the Friends of Ireland caucus, as well as Senators Chris Murphy and Pat Toomey. I also met with National Security Advisor, Robert O’Brien, and Deputy Secretary of State, Stephen Biegun.
As the first official visit to the United States since March, the two days offered a valuable opportunity to discuss key priorities, including Brexit, Northern Ireland and Ireland’s priorities for our term on the UN Security Council, with contacts from across the political spectrum.
There is a keen interest in the United States on the implications Brexit will have for the island of Ireland, North and South, and during several of these meetings, I discussed the current status of the Brexit negotiations and my concerns regarding the UK’s Internal Market Bill and its implications for the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland. Issues of immigration and the challenges faced by the undocumented Irish in America were also discussed.
I also had the opportunity to virtually address the annual Aspen Security Forum, where I discussed our upcoming membership of the UN Security Council and important foreign policy and defence issues.
In addition to political meetings, I had the chance to meet with members of the US Chamber of Commerce, and to reiterate the strength and importance of our economic relationship with the United States, which will be key as both countries look towards recovery following the global pandemic.
I was also delighted to participate virtually in the celebrations to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the visit of Frederick Douglass to Ireland, and to announce a new partnership involving a fellowship programme in his name.
The visit came at an important time for both Ireland and the United States, and reinforced the commitment this Government has to strengthening both our bilateral relationship and wider transatlantic relations.
104. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the Brexit Readiness Action Plan and the role of his Department in implementing same. [25029/20]
View answerThe Brexit Readiness Action Plan supports and assists business and citizens prepare for the significant changes that will arise on 1 January 2021. Extensive work continues across Government on implementing the Plan, coordinated by my Department and the Department of the Taoiseach.
Following publication of the Action Plan, Revenue sent Brexit Readiness Checklists to over 90,000 businesses. They are following up with direct phone calls to several thousand businesses. Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and the LEOs continue to provide upskilling, and advisory supports. Sectoral briefings in areas such as agri-food, construction, retail, transport and logistics are ongoing. Work continues to further develop the infrastructure and systems at Dublin and Rosslare Ports.
Since it opened 3 weeks ago, funding of €193,500 has been approved for the “Ready for Customs” package which assists business hire or redeploy employees to a dedicated customs role. 1,000 businesses have also registered for Skillnet’s free customs training programme. We developed both these customs-focussed programmes in response to a need highlighted by business.
An intensified communications campaign on national, local and social media is underway. The initial focus is on stressing the need for business to prepare for the coming changes immediately. Campaigns focussed on the impacts on citizens such as online retail from the UK are rolling out. A further round of trader-focussed messages is scheduled for mid-October.
Ministers continue to engage with their stakeholder groups on Brexit. Recently, I chaired the Brexit Stakeholders Forum and also took part in an IBEC webinar involving some 600 participants. I will meet the Irish Exporters Association, the Irish Farmers Association and Macra na Feirme in the coming weeks. I expect to bring the 2020 Brexit Omnibus Bill before the Oireachtas shortly.
With less than 90 days to the end of the transition period, the Government will continue to support and advise business and citizens prepare for the substantial and lasting change arising on 1 January 2021.
106. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his response to the call by the Hungarian President for the resignation of the European Commission Vice President for Values and Transparency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28484/20]
View answerI am aware of Prime Minister Orbán’s recent letter to European Commission President Von der Leyen calling for the resignation of Commission Vice President Jourová. I want to make clear that I fully support the European Commission Vice President in carrying out her duties and that Ireland has full trust in the Vice President. The Commission has a role as the guardian of the EU’s treaties and I believe that the Vice President’s actions are in keeping with this role. It is important that Commissioners are empowered to speak and act independently in the fulfilment of their duties. I understand that President Von der Leyen will respond to Prime Minister Orbán in due course.
Prime Minister Orbán’s letter to President Von der Leyen came on the eve of the publication of the Commission’s first annual report on the rule of law situation across the EU and in all Member States. Ireland welcomes the publication of the Commission’s report which forms an important element of the Commission’s rule of law mechanism and complements the ongoing work of the Commission, Council and European Parliament on promoting and protecting the rule of law. We look forward to discussion of the report at Council level.
As the contents of the report have shown, no Member State is immune from criticism regarding the rule of law, including Ireland. While criticism may sometimes be difficult for Member States to hear and accept, it is important that the Council has an objective basis on which to conduct its dialogue on the rule of law across the Member States and the Commission is best placed to provide that basis.
It is important that all Member States remain open to, and encourage, dialogue regarding the rule of law and seek to constructively address concerns raised by the institutions of the Union or fellow Member States.
