Wednesday, 16 Dec 2020

Written Answers Nos. 1-23

Taoiseach's Communications

Questions (12)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

12. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent phone call with the UK Prime Minister. [41795/20]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I spoke by phone with Prime Minister Johnson on 27 November. I raised the Finucane case with the Prime Minister and I restated the Government’s position on the establishment of a public inquiry. Previously, I met with Geraldine and John Finucane on Monday, 23 November to discuss their case and reaffirm the Government’s support. Following this meeting I wrote to the British Prime Minister about the case.

I am deeply disappointed that the UK Government has not committed to holding an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. The Government remains strongly of the view that a public inquiry is needed.

The decision is a further blow to Geraldine Finucane and her family, who have been pursuing truth and justice for three decades with great dignity. I spoke with Geraldine Finucane on 1 December and made it clear to her and her family that the Irish Government will continue to work with them to ensure an independent public inquiry is eventually held.

The Government will work with the Oireachtas collectively to articulate again the view that a full public inquiry must be held.

We will continue to work at both European and international level and we have bipartisan support in the United States from Congressman Richie Neal and Congressman Chris Smith.

Prime Minister Johnson and I also discussed latest developments on Covid-19 and the ongoing negotiations between the EU and the UK. I stressed that achieving a deal is in all our interests, but that time is tight.

We also discussed the forthcoming Climate Ambition Summit on 12 December.

Question No. 13 resubmitted.

National Economic and Social Council

Questions (14, 15)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

14. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he has read the recent NESC publication entitled The Position of the Self-Employed. [42006/20]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

15. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he has read the recent NESC publication entitled Housing Policy: Actions to Deliver Change. [42007/20]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.

I have read the reports and as is the usual practice, they were considered and approved by Government prior to publication. Both of these reports were published by NESC in November, 2020.

The National Economic and Social Council is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department.

The Terms of Reference and composition of the NESC are set out in legislation - the National Economic and Social Development Act, 2006, and in the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order, 2010.

The role of the Council is to analyse and report to the Government on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland.

The Council can consider these matters either on its own initiative or at the request of the Taoiseach. The Council’s reports are then submitted to the Government prior to publication and may inform Government policy.

NESC Report No. 150 – Housing Policy Actions to Deliver Change - examines how to bring about the fundamental change required to move to a permanently affordable, stable and more sustainable system of housing. It focuses on two critical and deeply connected gaps: supply and affordability.

The publication “Position of the Self-Employed” is a background paper to NESC Report No. 151 – The Future of the Welfare State. It provides additional empirical and analytical material to the main report and outlines key challenges facing the economies and societies of welfare states in Europe and other developed countries.

Implementation of Government policy remains the responsibility of individual Departments. In the case of issues arising in these NESC reports this would be the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Social Protection.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (16)

Paul Murphy

Question:

16. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of staff in his Department on the #antiviral social media campaign. [42052/20]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

Younger people have been among the groups most affected by Covid-19. They have missed out on many of the formative experiences, and rites of passage that so many of us have experienced - from the final year in school, to the Leaving Cert, to starting college, starting work and all that goes with that and much more.

Their social lives and their social networks, which are so important to these groups, have been restricted. There have been some incidents of non-compliance involving young people, house parties etc, which have received a lot of focus and attention, especially on social media, over the course of the last number of months.

Staff in GIS have been working (and continue to work with) other Government Departments, agencies and other groups such as Spun Out, and the USI, to understand how the pandemic has been affecting this cohort, their attitudes and the kind of communications that would resonate with this group.

The evidence suggested that the majority of young people are complying with restrictions and are keen to continue to do so. The evidence also suggested that an effective approach would be to highlight the good work most young people have been doing, to acknowledge the efforts they have made and to create a forum or movement for young people to share their stories and accounts of how they are living their best lives possible within the guidelines.

It was also felt that communications that were co-created and peer-led, using the platforms that this cohort preferred would resonate most.

GIS, working with a creative agency partnered with a number of 'content creators' to create content and a forum on social media called #antiviral - using the hashtag young people are invited to share their stories and accounts of living in compliance with the restrictions. The content creators also canvassed their followers for questions which they put to the Acting Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn, this question and answer session is available on the website antiviralireland.com. The campaign is due to run until December 23 and will resume in January.

The campaign is running on Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Youtube and has been performing very well with over 5.7 million impressions, over 160,000 engagements and 1.1 million TikTok hashtag views.

While we must make sure that we don’t become complacent, it is important to note that, as per NPHET update on 10th December, there has been a very significant decrease in incidence of the virus in the younger adult (19-24) age group in recent weeks.

Question No. 17 resubmitted.

European Council Meetings

Questions (18)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

18. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the European Council meeting of 10 and 11 December 2020. [43541/20]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I attended a meeting of the European Council on 10/11 December, which was followed by a meeting of the Euro Summit on 11 December.

At the European Council, we discussed Covid-19, in particular the authorisation and roll out of vaccines.

We reached agreement on the conditions in which Rule of Law measures in the MFF and recovery package can be invoked, enabling the Council and the European Parliament to formally adopt the historic MFF and Recovery Package we agreed in July.

We endorsed a binding EU target of a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 of at least 55%, compared to 1990 levels – a crucial step towards a climate-neutral EU by 2050. This target will now be sent to the UN as the EU’s Nationally Declared Contribution under the Paris Process.

We reiterated our condemnation of recent terrorist attacks in Europe and agreed on the need for ongoing cooperation to tackle terrorism and violent extremism both online and offline.

We emphasised the need for strengthened political dialogue with the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood.

We discussed Turkey’s ongoing unauthorised drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean. We invited the Council to adopt further listings under the decision on sanctions of 11 November. We also agreed to return to this issue in the first quarter of 2021.

We agreed on the importance of a strong strategic transatlantic partnership and looked forward to close cooperation on shared challenges.

We emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of the Belarusian nuclear power plant at Ostrovets. We welcomed the adoption by Foreign Ministers of an EU global human rights sanctions regime. We also agreed that sanctions on Russia should be rolled over on 31 January.

On the morning of 11 December, President von der Leyen provided a brief update on the then state of play in the negotiations with the UK.

The meeting of the Euro Summit on 11 December was briefed on economic developments by President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde, and Minister Paschal Donohoe, in his capacity of President of the Eurogroup. We also took stock of progress on banking and capital markets union and we welcomed the agreement reached in the Eurogroup on the reform of the European Stability Mechanism.

Questions Nos. 19 to 22, inclusive, resubmitted.

National Reform Programme

Questions (23)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

23. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the national reform programme. [43540/20]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The National Reform Programme is an important element of the European Semester, the annual cycle of economic and fiscal policy coordination which takes place amongst EU Member States.

As part of the Semester, Ireland, along with all other Member States, prepares and submits a National Reform Programme to the European Commission each April. This provides an overview of reforms and policy actions underway in Ireland, including in response to Country Specific Recommendations given as part of the preceding year's European Semester. Preparation of the National Reform Programme is coordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach with input from relevant Departments and agencies.