Written Answers Nos. 489-508
490. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action proposed to be taken to deal with the non-registration of rented accommodation given that in some local authority areas as little as 40% of rented accommodation is registered with the Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22057/21]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
Section 134 of the Acts requires a landlord to apply to the RTB to register a tenancy of a dwelling within one month of its commencement.
All private landlords, Approved Housing Bodies and providers of Student Specific Accommodation are required to register their tenancies with the RTB. Managing the registration of tenancies is a core function of the RTB. This allows the RTB to collect and provide definitive data on the rental sector and for transparency across the rental sector through the public register of tenancies; thus, enabling the RTB to better understand and regulate the sector.
In relation to incidents of non-compliance, there are two processes in the RTB which have failure to register within their remit, the Registration Enforcement Process and the Investigations and Sanctions Process.
The RTB has registration enforcement powers to pursue landlords who have not complied with their obligation to register their tenancies. Failure to register is an offence which may result in a criminal conviction, a fine of up to €4,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment. The RTB makes every effort to inform landlords of their obligations to register and legal action is taken as a last resort.
The RTB, receives information from different sources regarding whether a tenancy is registered or not, including local authorities, members of the public, RTB checks and follow-ups and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The RTB writes to landlords directly and gives them opportunities to comply before legal action is taken. The majority of landlords who are contacted are already complying with their obligation or then comply with their obligation to register which halts any requirement for the formal enforcement process. However, in a small number of cases formal notices and Solicitor Letters must be issued.
The RTB has an Investigations and Sanctions unit dedicated to investigating certain potential breaches of rental law by a landlord called improper conducts.
One of the breaches that can be investigated is a failure to register a tenancy with the RTB within one month of the tenancy commencing. The Investigations and Sanctions Unit can start an investigation either as a result of information received from members of the public or as a result of information gathered from records that the RTB has access to under the Residential Tenancies Act.
If a landlord is found to have committed an improper conduct a sanction may be imposed on them by an independent Decision maker of a written caution and/or a monetary sanction of €15,000 and €15,000 in costs. All sanctions must be confirmed by the Circuit Court and all monetary sanctions are paid to the Exchequer.
491. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of allocated conservation ranger positions in County Kerry; if these posts are filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22079/21]
View answer492. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of district conservation officers who are undertaking duties of lower grades including conservation rangers by county or local authority area in tabular form. [22080/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 492 together.
For reasons of operational security, the Department does not provide details of staffing in the manner requested. Some 368 staff work in the area of natural heritage through the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am not aware of any District Conservation Officer undertaking the duties of lower grades including Conservation Rangers. However, in areas without dedicated Ranger coverage, it is common practice for higher manager grades, particularly District Conservation Officers to provide cover as part of their duties.
A recruitment competition for Conservation Rangers being run by the Public Appointments Service is currently at an advanced stage. I have asked my Department to accelerate appointments from this panel, with the recruitment of a further 60 Rangers. Any appointments across the country made from this panel will take account of both the business needs and financial resources to meet pay costs in the context of Government policy on public sector pay and staffing.
493. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will advise on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22081/21]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. Comprehensive information including guidance and frequently asked questions documents in relation to tenancy terminations during the Covid-19 pandemic and on general tenancy matters is available on the RTB's website - www.rtb.ie.
A tenant or a landlord may refer a matter to the RTB for dispute resolution services.
Due to the quasi-judicial nature of work of the RTB, it would be inappropriate for me, as Minister, or my Department to provide legal advice, comment on, or to intervene in the specifics of any individual case. A landlord or tenant might wish to seek independent legal advice in a particular case.
Section 34 of the Acts provides that a landlord must state a reason for the termination in any tenancy termination notice served, and the termination will not be valid unless that reason relates to one of the following:
- the tenant has failed to comply with the obligations (other than the obligation to pay rent) of the tenancy;
- the tenant has failed to comply with the obligation to pay rent under the tenancy;
- the dwelling is no longer suited to the needs of the occupying household;
- the landlord intends to sell the dwelling within the next 9 months;
- the landlord requires the dwelling for own or family member occupation;
- vacant possession is required for substantial refurbishment of the dwelling; and/or
- the landlord intends to change the use of the dwelling.
The termination notice periods which landlords must provide to tenants are detailed below:
|
Duration of a Tenancy |
Notice Period |
|
Less than 6 months |
28 days |
|
Not less than 6 months but less than one year |
90 days |
|
Not less than one year but less than 3 years |
120 days |
|
Not less than 3 years but less than 7 years |
180 days |
|
Not less than 7 years but less than 8 years |
196 days |
|
Not less than 8 years |
224 days |
The Residential Tenancies Act 2020 was enacted and came into operation on 24 October 2020. The Act aims to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on tenants and to support the Government's efforts to restrict the movement of people in order to suppress the spread of this virus.
The Act modifies the operation of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 to prevent any notices of termination served by landlords, in all but limited cases such as anti-social behaviour, from taking effect in geographical locations and during periods specified by the Minister for Health in Regulations made by him under section 31A of the Health Act 1947 in respect of which a restriction applies on the movement of people outside a 5 km radius of their place of residence. During such times, the required periods of termination notice are "paused". These tenancy protections also apply during the 10 days directly following the period specified by the Minister for Health in the aforementioned Regulations.
A moratorium on evictions taking place was in operation throughout the country from 31 December 2020 until midnight 22 April 2021 (12 April plus the 10 day grace period), with limited exceptions.
Part 3 (Residential Tenancies) of the Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Act 2020 (the PDRTA) provides for temporary modifications to the operation of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide, subject to certain conditions, that during the period from 11 January to 12 July 2021 a 90 day (rather than the usual 28 days) termination notice period applies, where a tenant is in rent arrears due to Covid-19 and is at risk of losing their tenancy. The earliest termination date allowed in such circumstances is 13 July 2021. Rent increases are also prohibited for relevant tenancies until 13 July 2021, with no back-dating allowed. These protections are designed to better balance the legal rights of landlords and tenant; a guidance document on the PDRTA is available on the RTB's website - www.rtb.ie.
The Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 provided similar protections to the PDRTA, referred to directly above, during the period from 1 August 2020 to 10 January 2021, inclusive.
494. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in relation to a manufacturing firm whose turnover is down 50% but cannot access rates waivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22084/21]
View answerIn order to continue supporting ratepayers, and in recognition of the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 and the associated public health restrictions, the Government has put in place a more targeted commercial rates waiver for the first half of 2021. It applies to businesses most seriously affected by the restrictions. Automatic eligibility is extended to hospitality including hotels, pubs and restaurants, leisure and entertainment, personal services such as hairdressers and barbers, and various other sectors. Categories of commercial property, such as offices, industrial premises and banks are not automatically eligible, but may qualify if they can provide proof of serious impact to their local authority.
Such proof of serious financial impact includes evidence that the ratepayer is receiving support under the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated by the Revenue Commissioners or evidence that turnover from the relevant business activity in the claim period does not exceed 25% of the average weekly turnover in 2019 (or 2020 for new businesses).
As provision has been made for businesses that do not automatically qualify to apply, there are no current plans to broaden the scope of automatic eligibility nor are there plans to amend the conditions under which the waiver can be applied to ratepayers not automatically eligible.
496. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to increase funding to political parties to support youth, gender and diversity programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22129/21]
View answerThe commitment in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future to increase funding to political parties to support youth, gender and diversity programmes is part of an ambitious programme of work to be progressed by the relevant Government Departments.
My Department, in recognition of the need to promote gender equality in local government, introduced a funding scheme in March 2019 to incentivise political parties to increase the number of women candidates in the 2019 local elections. The scheme was open to all political parties on the Register of Political Parties on an opt-in basis. The funding is in the form of an annual grant to political parties, based on their performance in fielding women candidates in the 2019 local elections. This funding is to be used by the parties specifically for the purposes of promoting gender balance and diversity among the party’s candidates and elected representatives. Examples of such activities could include the training of women candidates, the recruitment of diversity officers whose role would be to build the diversity of party membership and future local election candidates, active engagement with immigrant, traveller or disability groups, etc.
Since the introduction of the scheme in 2019, nine political parties have applied for funding. The scheme is ongoing and consideration is now being given to how it can be improved to maximise impact ahead of the 2024 local elections. Engagement with stakeholders is ongoing and a new scheme is likely to be announced in May 2021.
Part III of the Electoral Act 1997 also provides for the making of payments out of the Central Fund by the Minister for Finance with the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to qualified parties. Funding received by qualified parties can be used for the promotion of participation by women and young persons in political activity.
A qualified party means a political party that is registered in the Register of Political Parties and whose candidates at the last preceding general election obtained not less than 2% of the total first preference votes obtained by all candidates at that election.
Each qualified party is paid annually: a flat rate amount of €126,974 and a share of an annual sum, which in 2019 stood at some €4,948,200. The share of the fund payable to a qualified political party is determined by expressing the first preference votes of the qualified party as a percentage of the total first preference votes received by all qualified political parties. The fund is linked to general pay in the civil service.
497. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of each contract entered into by his Department and the agencies under his remit to deal with Covid-19 management and reaction; and the name of the contractor in each case. [22142/21]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Contractor/Supplier |
Purpose of Procurement |
Value (incl VAT) |
|
Dell Products |
Purchase of IT equipment |
35,180 |
|
Losberger De Boer UK Ltd |
Temporary Mortuary Facilities |
101,0301* |
|
The Inkspot Ltd |
Printing of the (2.2m) National Community Call leaflet for nationwide delivery (English) |
97,740 |
|
Spectrum Print Logistics |
Printing of the (2.2m) National Community Call leaflet for nationwide delivery (Irish) |
64,241 |
|
National Council for the Blind Ireland |
The production and distribution of Government Material (Community Call) in accessible formats Recording of audio booklet (production of cd copies), Braille booklet, Large Print booklet |
25,000 |
|
Synergy Security |
Security services at temporary body holding deployed at IMMA, Kilmainham, Dublin 8. Short term facility, services were only necessary while structure was in place. |
34,033 |
|
Actavo Events (Ireland) Limited |
Privacy fencing at temporary body holding deployed at IMMA, Kilmainham, Dublin 8 and Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick. Short term facility, services were only necessary while structure was in place. |
58,363 |
|
State Body |
Contact E-mail Address |
|
State Body |
Contact E-mail Address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Water Advisory Body |
info@wab.gov.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
498. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has engaged with local authorities regarding waiving street furniture licence fees as part of an interdepartmental action plan on outdoor dining. [22182/21]
View answerWith a view to supplementing the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Grant Scheme which was recently announced by my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media , and further to the expected easing of Covid-19 restrictions over the coming months, a package of amending planning regulations were presented on 27 April to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage to assist in facilitating outdoor dining as well as increased vibrancy and commercial activity in urban areas, particularly in relation to the hospitality and restaurant sectors.
The package of draft regulations includes the waiving of the street furniture licence fees in respect of tables and chairs used for serving food outside hotels, restaurants and pubs in the current year; enabling restaurants to operate as takeaways for the remainder of 2021 without having to apply for change of use planning permission; and revised planning arrangements in relation to the erection of awnings, canopies and other structures at such establishments. Further to the discussions at the Joint Oireachtas Committee and the requirements of section 262(4) of the Planning and Development Act, as amended, these regulations require a positive resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas before they can be signed into law by me. If approved by the Houses of the Oireachtas, it is intended that the regulations be signed into law at the earliest possible date.
499. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of direct builds of social housing by Dublin City Council in 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [22184/21]
View answerThe delivery of housing supports is a key priority of Government and this is reflected in the Programme for Government commitment to increase the social housing stock nationally by more than 50,000, with a key emphasis on delivering new build homes. We are ambitious to ramp up the delivery at local authority level and we are committed to developing housing on public land.
My Department provides both capital and current funding to local authorities across a range of funding initiatives to assist them in providing homes for families and individuals on their social housing waiting lists. To provide transparency on the new social housing projects being advanced, each quarter my Department publishes a Social Housing Construction Status Report and updated Social Housing Delivery statistics for all years from 1999. The report for Quarter 4, 2020 is available at the following link: https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-2020-social-housing-statistics/. These quarterly reports provide details of the social housing construction schemes completed and those in the pipeline for all local authorities including Dublin City Council.
The Government investment for the delivery of all housing programmes this year is €3.3 billion which, subject to the impact of Covid-related restrictions on the construction sector, is intended to support the delivery of 12,750 new social homes through build, acquisition and leasing. The major focus of this investment is the delivery of new build social homes, with an overall target of 9,500 new homes.
500. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by his Department on public relations advice and media advice since January 2020 to date in 2021; and the companies engaged for this advice in tabular form. [22277/21]
View answer501. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by his Department on advertising and public messaging in print, broadcast and online since January 2020 to date in 2021; and the companies engaged to assist with placing the advertisements and the companies advertised with in tabular form. [22295/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 501 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled and will be forwarded in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Advertising and Public Messaging: January 2020 - April 2021 |
||
|
Method |
Amount |
Companies Used |
|
Broadcast |
€361,611.62 |
Wavemaker* |
|
*Wavemaker co-ordinated the placement of Broadcast advertisements on the Department’s Fire Safety campaign. This public information campaign appeared across the following channels: RTÉ1, RTÉ2, TV3, 3e, Be3, SKY (all channels), Channel4 & E4 (all channels), TG4, RTE Radio 1, RTE 2FM, RTE Lyric, Today FM, Newstalk, Nova, Sunshine, Clare FM, East Coast, Highland, KCLR, KFM, Midlands 103, MWR, Ocean, Shannonside & N.Sound, South East Radio, Tipp FM, FM104, Limerick Live95, Galway Bay FM, LMFM, Q102, Cork 96 & 103, WLR, Dublins 98, Spin 1038, Spin SW, iRadio, Beat FM, Classic Hits 4fm. |
||
|
|
€103,032.57 |
Mediavest t/a Spark Foundry** Iris Oifigiúil Irish Examiner Kerryman Whats On Connemara Carna Yearbook Green Flag Go West Magazine Mayo Now Magazine Mayo Magazine Mayo News Western People Connemara and Aran Islands Tourism Network |
|
**Mediavest t/a Spark Foundry co-ordinate the placement of print ads on behalf of the Department. The national print outlets which have been advertised with since January 2020 are: Irish Examiner, Irish Independent, The Star, Irish Times, Seachtain, Sunday Independent, Sunday Times, Sunday World, The Business Post, Farmer’s Journal, Inishowen Independent, Inish Times, Donegal Democrat, Donegal News, The Corkman, Enniscorthy Guardian, New Ross Standard, Wexford People, Connacht Tribune, Anglo Celt, The Kerryman, Limerick Leader, Clare Champion, Kilkenny People, Connaught Telegraph, Dundalk Argus, Wicklow People, Drogheda Independent, Leinster Express, Mayo News, Carlow Nationalist, Clonmel Nationalist, Sligo Champion, Western People, Westmeath Examiner, Westmeath Independent, Midland Tribune, The Corkman, Dundalk Democrat, Leinster Leader, Leitrim Observer, Longford Leader, Meath Chronicle, Munster Express, Nenagh Guardian, Northern Standard, Roscommon Herald, Southern Star, Tipperary Star, Tuam Herald, Waterford News and Star, Gazette Group, Marine Times, Afloat, Inshore Ireland, Skipper. |
||
|
Online |
€40,267.68 |
Mediavest t/a Spark Foundry*** Wavemaker*** Tuairisc.ie Facebook / Instagram Twitter You Tube Audioboom Irish Central |
|
***Mediavest t/a Spark Foundry and Wavemaker co-ordinated the placement of digital advertisements relating to my Department’s electoral register and fire safety campaigns respectively. The advertisements appeared across the following websites: mail.yahoo.com, breakingnews.ie, rte.ie, joe.ie, donedeal.ie, independent.ie, balls.ie, sportsjoe.ie, Adverts.ie, dailymail.co.uk, BBC News, The Guardian, irishmirror.ie, thesun.ie, msn.com |
502. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which together with the UK Government, an all-out effort is being made to address the emerging situation in Northern Ireland which can have a damaging impact on the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21120/21]
View answerThe events of recent weeks in Northern Ireland have been of real concern for us all, and the Government has been in regular contact with the British Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland throughout this period.
The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Johnson have spoken and called for calm and dialogue, and I have been in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis. I travelled to London for a series of engagements with the British Government last week, including meetings with the Secretary of State, Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb and Minister of State to the Cabinet Office David Frost.
In all of these engagements, we discussed the importance of calm, measured leadership and of our two Governments working together to support the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. It is vital that the Irish Government supports the confidence of all of the people in Northern Ireland in the institutions of the Agreement, and its vision for reconciliation, equality, respect for rights and parity of esteem. The achievements of the peace process must never be taken for granted, and we will continue to work to protect and uphold the Agreement in all circumstances.
Both I and the Taoiseach have also engaged with the leaders of the political parties in Northern Ireland in recent days, to hear their perspectives on events on the ground and the way forward. Officials in my Department have also maintained regular contacts with the Northern Ireland Office
It is vital that we continue to work closely on a North/South and East-West basis in support of the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and successor agreements. The British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) is an important dimension of that work, and a unique forum that brings together the Irish and British Governments on matters of mutual interest. We are engaging with the British Government through the Secretariat of the BIIGC with a view to setting an early date in the period ahead for its next meeting.
503. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when an emergency passport renewal will issue to a healthcare professional (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21264/21]
View answerIn line with the National Framework on Living with Covid-19, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of Covid-19.
Applicants who require an urgent or emergency passport, can contact the Passport Service via our Customer Service Hub Webchat function on our website.
Irish citizens who are resident overseas should continue to contact the Passport Service through the local Irish Embassy or Consulate General who continue to provide assistance to all our citizens abroad.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has inquired, an official from the Passport Service contacted the applicant on 23 April 2021 to provide an update on the status of the passport application.
504. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the recent announcement of deportations of Syrian and other asylum seekers from Denmark to detention centres outside the EU with his Danish counterpart, the Danish Ambassador or within the EU institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21312/21]
View answerLast week, the Danish authorities provided an update to EU Ambassadors to Denmark, including Ireland’s Ambassador, on the current situation in the context of migration policy and the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. I understand that the decisions referred to by the media regarding Syrian refugees were made by an Independent Appeals Board in Denmark which is part of the independent court structures. The Head of this Board published an explanation of these decisions on the Board’s website indicating that they were based on assessment from international sources and objective criteria. We are not aware of any deportations of Syrian asylum seekers following these decisions. We will monitor the situation closely.
505. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that have been taken to investigate the procurement of the rights of a book (details supplied) as was suggested in Dáil Éireann in December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21316/21]
View answerThe importance of acknowledging, respecting and effectively dealing with the tragic legacy of the past cannot be underestimated. Lost Lives, which chronicles all of the 3,700 people killed in the conflict, is a significant historical and social resource.
The rights to Lost Lives are solely a matter for its authors, who have made such a valuable contribution to the historical record in compiling this important work. Should the authors wish to explore what support could be provided with respect to the accessibility of Lost Lives into the future, the Government has given the assurance that we will remain ready to engage on any appropriate avenues for that support.
The Government also facilitates remembrance of lives lost during the Troubles through a range of projects and initiatives supported by the Reconciliation Fund. These include, among many others, the annual Day of Reflection promoted by the Healing Through Remembering group to facilitate quiet remembrance of the impact of the conflict on lives across these islands, and the important work of CAIN at Ulster University, which provides a comprehensive chronology of the Troubles, and an extensive database of historical sources that serve as a permanent reminder of the tragic events which saw so many lose their lives and left so many bereaved.
506. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of Ireland on the UN Database of Companies Operating in Israel’s Illegal Settlements published in 2020; if this database is taken into consideration during public procurement tendering processes; if Ireland supports calls for the database to be updated on an annual basis as new information becomes available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21463/21]
View answerIreland is wholly opposed to Israeli settlements in Palestine, which are contrary to international law, and is committed to upholding relevant UN Security Resolutions on settlements. It is critical however that action against settlements must be both lawful and well-considered, since actions which are not fully thought-through risk ultimately being unwound, thereby undermining the cause they aim to support.
In March 2016, the UN Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 31/36, calling upon the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to produce a database of all business enterprises involved in activities relating to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
The terms of the Resolution as adopted by the UN Human Rights Council were very broad, with the associated risk that this could potentially lead to unfair and counter-productive outcomes. The EU Members of the HRC therefore abstained in the vote on the Resolution. Despite these reservations, Ireland fully cooperated with requests for assistance by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the task they had been assigned.
Ireland has always sought to protect the independence of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights and notes the High Commissioner’s commitment to discharge the mandate of the HRC Resolution 31/36 in a legally, factually and methodological sound manner. The database was published by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in February 2020. The Human Rights Council did not specify implications for entities listed in the database or put forward recommendations on how the information therein be used. In her report to the Human Rights Council’s 46th Session, the High Commissioner reported that it was not possible for her Office to update the database on an annual basis due to the substantial resource implications.
In respect of procurement, this is governed by the relevant EU Directives, national rules and guidelines. The OHCHR database is not specified in EU procurement criteria for the award procedure of public contracts.
507. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if exceptions can be made in the case of persons who require an Irish passport for purposes of work visas overseas notwithstanding the current delay in the issuing of passports in the circumstances of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21502/21]
View answer511. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the size of the backlog of unprocessed passports due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21551/21]
View answer518. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects the passport service to resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22019/21]
View answer519. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Passport Office will resume processing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22064/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 507, 511, 518 and 519 together.
In line with the National Framework on Living with Covid-19, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of Covid-19.
This essential service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness of a family member or have urgent compelling reasons for travel as defined in the recent amendment to the Health Act 1947, which came into effect on 1 February 2021. Supporting documentation is required in such cases.
Applicants who require an urgent or emergency passport, can contact the Passport Service via our Customer Service Hub Webchat function on our website.
Irish citizens who are resident overseas should continue to contact the Passport Service through the local Irish Embassy or Consulate General who continue to provide assistance to all our citizens abroad.
Staff of the Passport Service continue to produce emergency and urgent applications, to offer customer service through WebChat, to assist with consular assistance for Irish citizens overseas and temporary reassignment of staff to the Department of Health. As well as issuing more than 3,000 urgent and emergency passports, the Passport Service has also issued approximately 40,000 passports since the beginning of the year. Our Webchat team have also responded to approximately 40,000 queries.
While normal processing has paused the Passport Service has a comprehensive plan in place to resume all services, and will do so as soon as possible in line with the National Framework for Living with Covid-19. At present, there are approximately 90,000 Passport Online applications in the system. The return of operations will commence with all applications received via Passport Online. The Passport Service is confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that any Passport Online backlog can be cleared in six to eight weeks.
There are currently approximately 1,800 paper based applications in the system. The Passport Service plans to resume processing of routine paper based applications such as Passport Express and Northern Ireland Passport Express as a priority once online applications have been processed.
508. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of officials that worked on the Brexit talks that were permanently based in Brussels in the critical run up period from October to 24 December 2020; and the number of these officials that were from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and based in Brussels that worked as part of this critical background team in view of the fact that both the French and Dutch Governments had a team especially focused on marine and fisheries matters on a 24/7 basis and were shadowing the talks process in Brussels and Strasbourg. [21542/21]
View answerEffective whole-of-Government coordination has always been central to the Government’s approach to Brexit. Dedicated structures and working methods to ensure effective and coherent cooperation are in place in both the Permanent Representation in Brussels and at Headquarters.
During the EU-UK negotiations there was ongoing contact between the Brexit structures of the Department of Foreign Affairs and those of other Departments, to ensure effective sharing of information related to the negotiations and to ensure that we advocated as strongly as possible for Ireland’s interests throughout. Defending Ireland’s interests in the agriculture and marine sectors was a key priority for the Government throughout the Brexit process, which meant a very high level of cooperation and contact between my officials and their counterparts in DAFM.
A dedicated unit coordinates Brexit related issues at the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels. During the period referred to by the Deputy, this Unit was staffed by six officials. This team worked very closely with the agriculture and marine experts based in the Permanent Representation. During the period in question, there were five DAFM officials based in the Permanent Representation. Contributing to the whole-of-Government work on Brexit was an important aspect of these officials’ responsibilities.
Given the importance of fisheries matters to Ireland in particular, the Permanent Representative Ambassador Tom Hanney and Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Maeve Collins also played significant roles as part of their regular engagement with Member State counterparts and senior officials in the Commission.
