Written Answers Nos. 814-833
816. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the availability for the EU Digital COVID Certificate to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39411/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department continues to work closely with the Department of An Taoiseach, the Department of Health and the HSE, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Government Information Services, and the Department of Transport in relation to the EU Digital COVID Certificate. As the Deputy will appreciate, specific questions around provision of EU Digital COVID Certificates to individual citizens are a matter for other Departments as appropriate.
I can advise that the EU Digital COVID Certificate is proof that individuals have either been vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative COVID-19 test result, or recovered from COVID-19 within the last six months and has been introduced to help recipients to travel safely and more easily within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DCC is valid in all EU Member States, including Ireland, and provided by the Member State within which the vaccination, COVID-19 test, or recovery took place. Each individual Member State decides on how to use the DCC as part of their own national public health measures and the information in relation to individual countries is available on reopen.europa.eu.
The EU Regulation gives the option to issue vaccination certificates to persons vaccinated elsewhere, with EMA approved vaccines, upon receipt of appropriate proof. The main development focus, at the moment, is on the delivery of the obligations of the EU Regulation with respect of persons who received a vaccination or a test in Ireland. Arrangements for provision of vaccination certificates to persons not vaccinated in Ireland, including Irish passport holders vaccinated in Northern Ireland, will be actively considered once the initial roll-out is in place.
Information on the DCC is available on www.gov.ie/en/publication/3a698-eu-digital-covid-certificate/, while gov.ie - Government advice on international travel (www.gov.ie) has the latest advice on travelling to and from Ireland. Passengers arriving or departing Northern Ireland via Dublin airport need to adhere to the guidelines for arriving in and out of Ireland.
For those who intend on travelling from Ireland and require a negative test result certificate this can be accessed through private providers.
820. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will advise on a matter in relation to digital passports and travel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39518/21]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that my Department continues to work closely with the Department of An Taoiseach, the Department of Health and the HSE, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Government Information Services, and the Department of Transport in relation to the EU Digital COVID Certificate. As the Deputy will appreciate, specific questions around issuance of EU Digital COVID Certificates to individual citizens are a matter for other Departments as appropriate.
As the Deputy will be aware, requirements for passengers arriving in other jurisdictions are a matter for the authorities there. Individuals considering travel abroad are advised to monitor the official advice and information provided by the authorities at their destination, including any restrictions on arrival. Information about entry restrictions currently applied by other countries is available on my Department’s country-specific travel advice pages. While the European Digital COVID Certificate is now in operation, each country continues to be responsible for the definition of its own entry requirements and rules, which are not standardised at the EU level. Anyone planning travel within the EU/EEA is advised to consult the Re-open EU for country-specific requirements.
Individuals with urgent queries regarding an EU-DCC can call the EU DCC helpline, which is open Monday – Friday, on 1800 807 008. Those outside Ireland can call +353 76888 5513.
825. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39672/21]
View answer840. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Foreign Births Registration Office will recommence the assessment of applications such as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40196/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 825 and 840 together.
My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register. Prior to COVID-19 it took twelve to eighteen months to process applications. This was due to the complex nature of FBR applications and the very high volume of applications due to Brexit.
The applications referenced were received and are currently waiting to be processed. All documentation submitted is being stored in a secure environment.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Passport Service has had to prioritise the provision of emergency passport services, in full compliance with Government guidelines. The Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
The Passport Service will resume processing FBR applications as soon as possible. The Department is committed to allocating further resources to this service to assist with the high volume of applications when regular processing resumes with a focus on reducing turnaround times to pre COVID-19 levels by the end of 2021. In the meantime, in cases of exceptional urgency applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly.
826. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions his Department and the Government are taking to address the recent laws passed by the Hungarian Government repressing LGBTIQ+ rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39694/21]
View answerI am very concerned about this recent change to Hungary’s laws and its potential to harm the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQI+ community in Hungary, particularly young people. Statements by myself and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D., following the Hungarian Assembly’s passage of this legislation, made clear Ireland’s concerns about this attack on LGBTQI+ rights in Hungary.
On 14 July, I also responded directly by letter to Hungary’s Minister of Justice, Judit Varga, to reiterate our strong concerns about the recent changes to the law and called on the Hungarian government and parliament to reconsider the introduction of the law in line with their obligations under Article 2 of the EU Treaties and the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Ireland co-signed a declaration led by the Benelux countries at the June General Affairs Council meeting which expressed grave concern at Hungary’s use of child protection as a pretext for introducing measures that violate freedom of expression and other rights as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and unjustifiably target the LGBTQI+ community.
Ireland also actively participated at the Article 7 hearing on Hungary’s adherence to EU values at the June General Affairs Council. We made clear our view that legislation of this kind was fundamentally incompatible with EU values.
An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, also joined with fifteen of his EU counterparts in co-signing a statement on 24 June at the European Council meeting, vowing to continue fighting against discrimination towards the LGBTQI+ community and reaffirming their commitment to the defence of their fundamental rights.
Ireland also supports the recent action by the European Commission to send a letter of formal notice to the Government of Hungary, the first step in EU infringement procedures, in connection with the recently passed legislation. I hope that the Hungarian government will engage constructively with the European Commission as part of this formal procedure. My Department will continue to monitor developments in connection with this ongoing process.
In addition, our Embassy in Budapest has actively supported statements of concern made locally by like-minded partners and has registered its deep concern about this law and its implications for equality and human rights. The Embassy coordinated this year’s statement by Embassies in Hungary supporting the Budapest Pride Parade and also attended the Parade, which took place on 24 July, in order to demonstrate support and solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community in Hungary.
Ireland will continue to engage on this issue and will reiterate our call for the Hungarian Government to reconsider the introduction of this law.
833. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will use its influence in the EU to ensure the Indian Government is aware of Ireland’s concern over its handling of the Covid-19 crisis in India and the high death toll there; if he will urge the EU to ensure that future trade deals and so on are contingent on vaccines been available to all citizens in India; if funds donated to a fund (details supplied) will be open for full scrutiny as to their dispersal and use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39831/21]
View answerI wish to express my sympathy to the people of India at the suffering that they are enduring from the devastating consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly since the second wave at the end of April.
The impact of Covid-19 on India was one of the key agenda items for an EU Leader’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi held on 8 May in Porto, which the Taoiseach attended in person.
During the meeting the Taoiseach and EU Leaders spoke with Prime Minister Modi about the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and they expressed their deep sympathy to those affected, in particular the families of the victims. EU Leaders and Prime Minister Modi committed to defeating the pandemic through global cooperation and solidarity and underlined their commitment to work together to ensure a better, safer, sustainable and inclusive recovery.
They committed support for safe, equitable and affordable access to vaccines, recognising the role of extensive immunisation as a global public good.
The EU’s contribution to vaccine production and their substantial support to the COVAX Facility was noted, as was the EU’s support and assistance to India which was coordinated through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Ireland contributed significantly to this initiative by sending two consignments of medical supplies and equipment to India.
All adult Indian citizens can now register for a vaccine. Of course, India's large population and geographical size present an immense challenge to the effective distribution of vaccines.
In Porto, Leaders also gave a renewed commitment to further engagement on EU-India trade negotiations, which will now be taken forward. Ireland looks forward to progress in these negotiations, which are separate to the issue of vaccine availability.
Embassy New Delhi is aware of the PM Cares Fund which is a public charity in India for private donations. The Fund is overseen by a Board of Trustees which includes Prime Minister Modi as well as the Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance. I understand that the fund will also be externally audited.
