Wednesday, 15 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 353-373

Diplomatic Representation

Questions (353)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

353. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if construction works have commenced on a new Ireland house in Tokyo, Japan; and if not, when works will commence. [43388/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ireland House Tokyo is a significant construction project under the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 commitment to double Ireland’s global outreach.  It will include a flexible economic promotion event and exhibition space as well as office accommodation for the Embassy of Ireland and a number of the promotional State agencies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland), and official residential accommodation.  

Japan has long provided Ireland with its largest trade surplus in the Asia Pacific region and is the largest source in the region for inward FDI investment into Ireland.  Two-way trade in goods and services combined exceeded €11.5 billion in 2019.  Over 6,000 Irish people are employed by Japanese FDI companies in Ireland, while almost 2,000 Japanese people are employed in Japan by innovative Irish companies.

The project is being undertaken in line with the Government’s Public Sector Spending code.  If all stages proceed to schedule, it is estimated that construction works will begin in 2022.  

Government Communications

Questions (354)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

354. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken formally to the United States Secretary of State in the past two months to request when fully vaccinated Irish citizens can visit the US for tourist purposes. [43402/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Since March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entry to the United States of America has been restricted for most people travelling from Ireland, as well as from a number of other countries.  Vaccination status currently does not have any bearing on such admissions, for tourism, or otherwise. 

Although admission to the United States is solely a matter for US authorities, ease of travel is vital to our economic relationships and for building connections across the Atlantic; therefore, ensuring that it can resume in a safe way is a priority for the Government. We have raised the issue of travel restrictions with the US Administration at the highest levels, both here in Dublin and through our Embassy in Washington D.C. Last month, the Taoiseach wrote directly to President Biden noting the disruptive impact that US travel restrictions have had, and sharing information about Ireland’s successful and ongoing vaccination programme. I myself raised the question of resumption of travel between our two countries during my meeting with US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, in May this year. 

I most recently spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on 24 May, during which we discussed the importance of building the transatlantic relationship. I am intending to visit the US this month, and will continue to raise these issues during my engagements there.

Our Embassy in Washington D.C. also continues to reach out to contacts in the US Administration and Department of State on the issue, emphasising the impact of the travel restrictions on citizens in both countries, as well as the economic repercussions. Our Ambassador in Washington is in regular contact with the US Administration urging them to ease the restrictions.

At the EU level, there is also continued engagement and outreach with the US Administration regarding the ongoing US travel restrictions. Together with other EU countries, we have written to US Secretary of State Blinken requesting reconsideration of the US travel restrictions currently in place. Following the EU-US summit in June, a joint EU-US Experts’ Working Group to exchange information and expertise to reinstate safe and sustainable travel between the EU and the United States was set up, and has met twice since then. Due to the Common Travel Area, Ireland has also had a role in the UK-US working group. 

I know that the current situation is causing unprecedented disruptions and is placing enormous pressure on businesses, families and individuals. We continue our work to ensure that the restrictions will not have any long-term impact on existing channels of migration, business, tourism and exchange, which benefit our countries significantly.

Question No. 355 answered with Question No. 345.

Question No. 356 answered with Question No. 350.

Question No. 357 answered with Question No. 350.

Passport Services

Questions (358)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

358. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the operational staffing numbers for the Passport Office on a monthly basis from January 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43501/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Passport Service maintained operations throughout the pandemic, notwithstanding the fact that the processing of passports requires physical attendance on site to deliver this service. As a result of well implemented safety protocols during the pandemic, our staff were able to assist citizens who required passports for a range of emergency and urgent personal, business or legal reasons, or who had compelling humanitarian needs to travel.

To assist with the wider State response to COVID-19, Passport Service personnel were redeployed, at the request of different Departments, into other, essential public service roles, such as contact tracing for the HSE, assisting the Department of Social Protection to facilitate the processing of COVID-19 related benefits, providing consular assistance to Irish citizens overseas and assisting the Public Appointments Service.

The Passport Service scaled up operational levels 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 engages in robust workforce planning on an annual basis in cooperation with the Public Appointments Service. The Passport Service must remain in full compliance with the Work Safely Protocol which sets out obligations for employers and workers to put Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

The total number of Passport Service staff by month from January 2020 to August 2021 is set out in tabular form below.

Month	Total number
January 2020	627
February 2020	666
March 2020	665
April 2020	659
May 2020	655
June 2020	651
July 2020	595
August 2020	565
September 2020	494
October 2020	486
November 2020	478
December 2020	479
January 2021	477
February 2021	470
March 2021	468
April 2021	466
May 2021	465
June 2021	463
July 2021	499
August 2021	519

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (359)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

359. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) concerning the refoulement of Syrians to Syria; his plans to address the issues raised in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43518/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I have taken careful note of the Amnesty International Report entitled ‘You are going to your Death; violations against Syrian refugees returning to Syria’. The report contains some deeply concerning accounts of the explicit targeting of refugees returning to Syria.  

Ireland believes, and has stated publicly on many occasions, that all returns to Syria must be safe, voluntary and dignified. Addressing the United Nations Security Council on 20 January, Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the UN stated that 'millions of Syrians remain as refugees, and the conditions necessary for them to return, in a safe, voluntary and dignified manner are far from being achieved’. This clearly remains the position.

The EU and its Member States recognise and are bound by the principle of non-refoulement, as enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Both Ireland and the EU regularly make that position clear and remind other States of their obligations.

At the most recent meeting of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee, in October 2020, the EU recognised the importance of safeguarding the principle of non-refoulement. In my address at the same meeting, I reiterated that defending the norms and commitments enshrined in the 1951 Geneva Conventions remains of paramount importance.

At the UN Human Rights Council in July, Ireland co-sponsored a resolution which condemned the grave situation of human rights across Syria and demanded that the Syrian authorities meet their responsibility to protect the Syrian population and to respect and protect the human rights of all persons within its jurisdiction.

Ireland's response to the Syria crisis has been its largest single response to any humanitarian emergency. Ireland has provided over €190 million in humanitarian assistance since the start of the crisis, including €23 million in 2021. A significant proportion of this funding is targeted towards supporting Syrian refugee populations in neighbouring countries. Ireland also supports refugees at the global level through core funding to the IOM and UNHCR.

UN Security Council Resolution 2254 sets the framework for a comprehensive political solution to the Syria conflict, addressing the underlying causes of the conflict and of the refugee and internal displacement crisis. Ireland strongly supports UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and I urge the Syrian government to engage fully and in good faith with his efforts to find a lasting political solution within the framework set out in Resolution 2254.

Question No. 360 answered with Question No. 345.

Ministerial Appointments

Questions (361)

Seán Haughey

Question:

361. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will bring forward new procedures for the appointment of special envoys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43649/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I have asked my Department to undertake a review of the role and appointment of special envoys.  The terms of reference are currently being drafted and I anticipate that the review will be completed by mid-October 2021.

Legislative Process

Questions (362)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

362. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Bills prepared by his Department since 27 June 2020; the number and title of those Bills that included a Regulatory Impact Assessments; the title of the Regulatory Impact Assessments that have been published by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43707/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Two Bills were prepared by my Department since 27 June 2020.

 The Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union Consequential Provisions Act 2021 (no. 23 of 2020) was enacted on 10 December 2020.

The Act consists of 23 Parts under the remits of Ministers responsible for 11 different Government Departments.  While no formal Regulatory Impact Assessment was conducted, the Memorandum for Government approving the General Scheme of the Act included a section on Regulatory Impact Assessment as provided for in the Cabinet Handbook in cases where a formal Regulatory Impact Assessment is not conducted.

 The Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2021 (no. 28 of 2021) was prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs with the advice of the Attorney General and in consultation with other Departments, and enacted on 22 July 2021.

The Act consolidates existing legislation but does not introduce any new regulatory requirements. It also makes further and more detailed provision in domestic law for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which the State ratified in 1996. In these circumstances it was not necessary to conduct a Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Passport Services

Questions (363)

John Brady

Question:

363. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the process in cases in which an Irish passport could be granted to a person through descent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43872/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (“the 1956 Act”), as amended. The 1956 Act provides, inter alia, that an individual born outside of Ireland can claim citizenship by Foreign Birth Registration, through a parent who was not born in Ireland but was an Irish citizen at the time of the individual's birth.

At present, there are just over 30,000 applications in the Foreign Births Registration  system that await processing. The number of applications that were received and processed in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021 is set out in tabular form below.

Year	Number of applications made online	Number of applications processed
2016	14,000	8,000
2017	20,000	18,000
2018	25,000	17,000
2019	32,000	18,000
2020	17,000	12,000
2021 (year to date)	9,000	4,000

Prior to COVID-19 turnaround time for Foreign Birth Registration was 12 to 18 months.  This was because of the very high volume of applications due to Brexit and the complex nature of Foreign Birth Registrations.  As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the current turnaround time is approximately 24 months. 

In order for an application to be processed successfully, comprehensive civil documentation must be provided to demonstrate the link between the applicant and the Irish citizen through whom they claim citizenship. On receipt of this documentation, the application is reviewed and checked for Foreign Birth Registration entitlement. Once entitlement is confirmed, the applicant’s details are entered on the Foreign Births Register, and they are an Irish citizen as of that date.

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 using the email address [e-mail].

Question No. 364 answered with Question No. 345.

Visa Applications

Questions (365)

David Stanton

Question:

365. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects his Department to resume the processing of working holiday authorisations from New Zealand; if the Irish Embassy in New Zealand is currently accepting applications for working holiday authorisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43984/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) play an important role in building Ireland’s bilateral relations by encouraging people-to-people contacts especially with non-European countries.  The WHA Scheme has successfully facilitated many young people from New Zealand, including college graduates, to travel to Ireland to experience our culture and way of life first-hand, in the context of a short-term working holiday. Reciprocally, many of our citizens have enjoyed similar experiences in New Zealand.

During the pandemic, the primary concern in terms of the operation of the WHA scheme has been the health, welfare and wellbeing of those on working holidays abroad as well as current WHA holders presently in Ireland. Therefore the processing of Working Holiday applications by our Embassy in Wellington is temporarily suspended.  As well as health and safety concerns in Ireland, a key factor has been the ongoing travel restrictions that have impacted international travel to and from New Zealand.

Our Embassy in Wellington continues to monitor the evolving situation in New Zealand, in terms of a possible resumption of the WHA scheme, taking on board public health advice, possible easing of travel restrictions, job opportunities and the availability of short-term accommodation.  We look forward to re-opening to new applications from New Zealand when safe to do so and when circumstances allow so that young people can once again benefit from a working holiday here in Ireland and can fully experience and understand our way of life.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (366)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

366. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors in tabular form; and the measures he has put in place and or is implementing to reduce late payment interest and penalty payments. [44004/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Department of Foreign Affairs complies with the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act and pays interest and penalties to suppliers where payments fall outside of the prescribed timeframes. The Department is cognisant of the cash flow pressures facing our suppliers and makes every effort to pay suppliers, contractors and service providers promptly.

Below is a breakdown of interest and penalties from 2017 to the end of August 2021:

	2017	2018	2019	2020	Jan-Aug 2021	Totals
Vote 27	1,779.37	2,024.78	2,830.87	1,374.78	2,780.58	10,790.38
Vote 28	1,990.49	3,947.37	8,972.05	11,989.94	5,611.08	32,510.93
Totals	3,769.86	5,972.15	11,802.92	13,364.72	8,391.66	43,301.31

Purchasing and payment approval within the Department is devolved to a number of budget holders who have responsibility to approve payments promptly and submit them to the central Finance Division for payment processing. On occasion payments are made outside of the prescribed 30 days due to a number of operational reasons. There has been an increase in the number of these payments over the last 18 months primarily due to the operational challenges of remote working due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Additional training has been provided to purchasing units and instances of late payments are monitored and queried on a regular basis. The Department has commenced a large payments reform project in 2021, which will lead to improved automation of the payments process. This automation will move payment processing to a fully online approval system. This new system will be conducive to earlier approval of invoices, earlier transmission of payment requests and ultimately quicker payments to suppliers.

Question No. 367 answered with Question No. 345.

Question No. 368 answered with Question No. 345.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (369)

Gary Gannon

Question:

369. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the case of person (details supplied) who applied to become an Irish citizen through foreign birth registration. [44186/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

The application to which the Deputy refers was received on 16 September 2020, and is currently waiting to be processed. All documentation submitted is being stored in a secure environment. 

My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (“the 1956 Act”), as amended.  We take our legal responsibility in relation to Foreign Birth Registration very seriously and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for these applications stood at 18 months. This is due to the complex nature of Foreign Birth Registration applications and the very high volume of applications we received due to Brexit.

The Passport Service is very concerned about this backlog situation and are actively planning to resume processing FBR applications as soon as possible. We will be making a public announcement on specific dates in the coming weeks.

Passport Services

Questions (370)

Gary Gannon

Question:

370. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a family which has applied for a passport for their child (details supplied) can expect to receive the passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44191/21]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant. 

The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online and 8 weeks for Passport Express for applications which have been completed correctly.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (371)

Carol Nolan

Question:

371. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence if his Department has utilised the services of organisations (details supplied) at any time from 1 January 2015 to date; if so, the expenditure costs related to same; the purpose of any such engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43234/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Department of Defence is committed to creating an environment which fosters and supports the development and progression of all its employees. To this end, programmes such as those provided by the organisation referred to by the Deputy, are utilised as appropriate. 

One programme delivered by the organisation provides an opportunity for senior managers in the public and private sectors to participate in a leadership programme where common challenges in operating at their level can be explored and from which they can learn. The sessions are structured so that the learning occurs in a group context and is supplemented by discussion and debate frequently on the basis of contributions from guest speakers from industry and the public sector alike. 

Another programme is provided for more junior management. Evaluation questionnaires were completed at the end of every session by the participants and the Department is satisfied that this course represents value for money. Feedback received from participants showed the course to be beneficial.  

The following table outlines the expenditure costs related to participation on the programmes and the purpose of any such engagements:

Year	Purpose	Associated Cost
2015	Senior Leadership Development	€8,000
2016	Senior Leadership Development	€8,000
2017	Senior Leadership Development	€8,000
2018	Nil	Nil
2019	Nil	Nil
2020	Senior Leadership Development	€8,500
	Leadership Development	€9,200
2021	Leadership Development	€2,300

Defence Forces

Questions (372)

David Stanton

Question:

372. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 13 July 2021, when the requested information will be made available by the military authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43304/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I am advised by the military authorities that the requested information is currently being finalised and a reponse will issue to the Deputy shortly.

Defence Forces

Questions (373)

David Stanton

Question:

373. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Defence the current strength of the Reserve Defence Forces by rank; the establishment of the Reserve Defence Forces by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43307/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). 

The effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) as of 31 July, 2021, is 1,513 in total, broken down by rank as follows: 

	LT COL	COMDT	CAPT	LT	TOTAL OFFR	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	SGT	CPL	TOTAL NCO	PTE	TOTAL
AR	5	44	81	92	222	1	3	29	32	252	214	531	639	1392
NSR	0	4	7	11	22	0	4	4	0	13	13	34	65	121

The substantive strength of the FLR as of 31 July, 2021, is 263, broken down by rank as follows:

FORMATION	OFFR	NCO	PTE	TOTAL
ARMY		13	119	132
AIR   CORPS		4	19	23
NAVAL   SERVICE	3	17	88	108
TOTAL	3	34	226	263

Defence Force Regulation CS4 determines the regulatory establishment limits for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the RDF. The establishment figure for the RDF as provided in this Regulation, is 4,069 personnel comprising 3,869 for the Army Reserve (AR), and 200 for the Naval Service Reserve. (NSR). There is no set establishment for the FLR. The combined establishment of the AR and NSR, by rank, as detailed in Defence Force Regulation CS4 is as follows: 

Rank	Total
Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Captain Lieutenants	5 64 127 110
Total Officers	306
Sergeant Major Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant Company Sergeant Company Quartermaster Sergeant Sergeant Corporal	1 4 46 38 317 740
Total Non Commissioned Officers	1,146
Privates	2,617
Total  All Ranks	4,069