Written Answers Nos. 317-342
317. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will facilitate an increase in the number of Afghan refugees offered international protection here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44493/21]
View answer318. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of refugees Ireland will take in from Afghanistan; the timeline for their arrival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44567/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together.
I wish to reiterate my deep concern at recent developments in Afghanistan to which Ireland has been responding in a number of ways.
At international level, Ireland is working to address a range of issues particularly through our role as President of the UN Security Council. When I chaired the meeting of the Council on 9 September, I highlighted the need for an inclusive and negotiated peace settlement, the protection and promotion of the human rights of all Afghans, especially of women and girls, and for the Taliban to fulfil their commitment to allow the safe, secure, orderly and unhindered departure of foreign nationals and Afghans at-risk. I also urged the Taliban to facilitate full and safe humanitarian access to allow life-saving support to reach all Afghans and recently approved the provision of an additional €1 million in humanitarian support to the UN High Commission for Refugees.
At national level, the Government has responded to assist vulnerable Afghans. Following the announcement I made together with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Minister for Justice last month, approximately 340 places were allocated under the Refugee Protection Programme and some 110 of these Afghans have since travelled to Ireland. This Programme comes under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Department of Foreign Affairs and our diplomatic network are providing support by liaising with relevant authorities and individuals in relation to travel routes. My Department has facilitated the safe exit of a further 11 Irish citizens and dependents from Kabul at the weekend and they are currently en route to Ireland.
The Department of Justice is currently reviewing all international protection applications on hand from Afghan nationals with a view to expediting their progress and is examining, as a matter of urgency, proposals for a humanitarian admission programme whereby persons resident in Ireland could apply for family members in Afghanistan to be granted admission to Ireland. I understand that proposals will be brought to Government in relation to this matter in the near future.
319. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the humanitarian assistance Ireland will provide to the people of Afghanistan; the timeline for its roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44568/21]
View answerI represented Ireland at the 13 September High Level Meeting on Afghanistan called by the UN Secretary General. The purpose of that meeting was to raise awareness and support for the deteriorating humanitarian situation there.
I set out Ireland’s response to date and our intention to continue to support evolving needs, noting that Ireland has so far this year provided €2 million to address humanitarian needs in Afghanistan . This includes funding to Concern Worldwide; to the UN managed Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund; HALO Trust; and €1 million to UNHCR. In addition, Ireland has contributed to the international response through our core funding to UN agencies, to the START Fund and to joint mechanisms such as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). We are a top ten donor to the CERF, with an annual contribution of €10 million per year. The CERF has allocated over €21 million in 2021 to Afghanistan. As an EU Member State and a Team Europe partner, Ireland is also part of the EU's €300 million humanitarian response to the crisis, announced this month.
My officials are currently in the process of reviewing options for early further funding to respond to the Afghanistan crisis, including through the UN Flash Appeal as well other humanitarian partners.
322. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a person (details supplied) will receive an update on their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44698/21]
View answerThe application to which the Deputy refers was received on 10 February 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.
323. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the locations of all offices and buildings either owned or used by his Department or by public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit which are usually open to the public to access services. [44913/21]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs occupies twelve buildings in the State. The locations of those that have reception areas to which members of the public normally have access are set out in the following table.
The operation of our public offices has necessarily been restricted due to health and safety considerations arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In line with our continued scaling up of services, my Department is actively planning for the opening of our public offices for the processing of urgent applications for those renewing their passport. This service will resume initially in the public office of the Passport Service in Dublin and we will be making a public announcement on the specific date very soon.
A unique feature of the Department is the global network of pubic offices operated through our Embassies and Consulates overseas, providing services to the Irish diaspora as well as a space for the promotion of Irish interests. Details of all our missions abroad are available on www.dfa.ie.
There are no public bodies or agencies under the remit of the Department.
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1 |
Iveagh House, 80 St Stephens, Green, Dublin 2 |
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2 |
76-78 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 |
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3 |
2-3 Clonmel Street, Dublin 2 |
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4 |
22-25 Clare Street, Dublin 2 |
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5 |
13-15 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2 |
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6 |
Knockmaun House, 47 Mount Street, Dublin 2 |
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7 |
1A South Mall, Cork |
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8 |
Riverstone House, 23-27 Henry Street, Limerick |
325. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current processing times for valid online passport applications in respect of simple adult renewals, complex renewals and first-time applications. [44959/21]
View answer326. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport applications that are currently awaiting processing in respect of simple adult renewals, complex renewals and first-time applications. [44960/21]
View answer333. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will introduce a review of the Passport Office procedures to ensure that all original documents are returned to applicants as soon as they are verified and checked in a separate envelope and prior to the passport issuing; and if a complete review can take place on the passport tracking facility to improve the accuracy of it. [45096/21]
View answer338. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the passport service following significant delays; the steps he is taking to address the issue; if his attention has been drawn to the lack of communication available to applicants from the passport office through the phoneline and WebChat function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45269/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 325, 326, 333 and 338 together.
The current Passport processing 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.
Almost 45% of passports for simple adult renewals continue to issue within one business day while more complex applications take longer.
The Passport Service has received approximately 500,000 applications in 2021 to date, with 111,000 under process. These applications comprise of 63,000 valid applications which are with the Passport Service and 43,000 incomplete applications that require action by the applicant.
25% of valid applications are for adult renewals, 16% are for complex renewals for children and 59% are for first time applications.
First time applications for adults and children are complex applications involving measures to assure the true identity of the applicant, their entitlement to Irish citizenship and, in the case of children, that all guardians have consented to the issuing of the passport. Particular complexity relates to the processing of application from children born in Ireland after 2004 due to the need to verify entitlement for Irish citizenship.
The Passport Service began scaling up to more normal 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”. Since that date, the Passport Service has issued over 300,000 passports while continuing to operate the emergency service for priority cases for which customers are encouraged to contact our Customer Service Hub if they require assistance. Over 4000 Foreign Birth Registrations have also been processed in cases of exceptional urgency.
The Passport Service are continually looking for ways to improve efficiency and welcome the Deputy’s proposal in relation to the return of documentation. While Passport Service resources are primarily focused on meeting current demand, we will be reviewing the documentation required to support a passport application and will examine the processes around the verification and processing of supporting documentation with a view to further streamlining the process and reducing turnaround times.
The Passport Tracker Service gives an indication of the estimated delivery date based on the vast majority of applications and is not an intended guarantee of service. I accept the frustration this may cause to applicants and work is ongoing to improve the information provided to customers in relation to their application.
The Customer Service Hub has handled approximately 80,000 customer queries since scaling up operations in June through its phone and web chat services. They also continue to examine ways to meet the very high demand for this service at this time including through the allocation of additional resources.
The Passport Service, like many Government Services, have been impacted by Covid-19. Operations have been maintained 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 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.
In line with our continued scaling up of services my Department are actively planning for the opening of our Public Offices for the processing of urgent applications for those renewing their passport. This service will resume initially in the public office of the Passport Service in Dublin and we will be making a public announcement on the specific date very soon.
327. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of applications that are currently in the foreign births registration system awaiting processing. [44961/21]
View answer329. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of his plans to resume the processing of foreign birth registrations; the estimated backlog at this time; the length of time it will take to clear; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44976/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 329 together.
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.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic Foreign Birth Registration application processing was paused to provide a range of public health services. Notably, we reassigned staff to the HSE for essential contact tracing; to the Department of Social Protection for the processing of essential PUP payments, and to support the Department of Health with quarantine issues.
Notwithstanding those measures, we have continued to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, or where an applicant required the return of documents.
As with many other areas of public service provision, a backlog of applications has inevitably grown due to the COVID 19 disruptions of our normal processes. At present, there are just over 31,000 applications in the Foreign Births Registration system awaiting processing.
My Department is very concerned about this backlog situation and are actively planning to resume processing Foreign Birth Registration applications as soon as possible. We will be making a public announcement on specific dates in the coming weeks. My 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 medium term, changes to the FBR process to increase efficiencies and improve the customer experience will be delivered under the next phase of my Departments Passport Reform Programme.
In cases of exceptional urgency applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly using email address: travelemergency@dfat.ie.
328. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update in respect of his Department's engagement with the Public Appointments Service recruitment campaign to hire additional staff needed to meet demand for passports and foreign birth registration applications. [44962/21]
View answerMy Department continues to work closely with the Public Appointments Service to recruit additional resources to meet demands across the Department, including in the Passport Service, which has responsibility for the delivery of both passports and foreign birth registrations.
Ongoing contact between my Department and the Public Appointments Service has continued as part of the recruitment of further additional permanent resources and temporary resources to meet the current and forecasted demand for passports.
In addition the Public Appointments Service has assigned Temporary Clerical Officers available, who will be able to take up duty quickly once security and pre-employment processes are completed. I can assure the Deputy that staffing needs for the Passport Service, including additional resources to meet the projected demand continues to be an ongoing priority for my Department, and an issue which is kept under constant review.
330. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that this person submitted their application on 10 June 2021. [45016/21]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, I can confirm that a passport has already been issued to this applicant.
331. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has deleted text messages or email correspondence related to Government or official communications at any point since January 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45037/21]
View answerMy Department makes available to the public a wide variety of records and information as part of our FOI Publication scheme. Most recently we oversaw the largest ever release of records in the history of the Department under the scheme, which included a significant volume of email correspondence and text messages, including messages from my phone.
In respect of emails related to Government business, these are retained in accordance with Departmental guidelines.
In my appearance before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on 7 September, 2021, I clarified my practice in relation to the retention of text messages in the context of security considerations. I also note the Taoiseach's clear instruction that any text messages in relation to Government business should not be deleted.
332. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45084/21]
View answer334. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will raise the matter with his EU colleagues and at the United Nations. [45118/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 334 together.
I note with concern the details in the cases referred to by the Deputies.
Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels.
Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities, including the specific case of Dr. Abduljalil Alsingace.
Our active participation at the UN Human Rights Council is a particularly important fora in which to raise our concerns regarding human rights. Ireland has raised the human rights issues in Bahrain at the Human Rights Council in the form of national statements and through support to EU Statements.Ireland also engages on the issue of human rights in Bahrain as a member of the European Union. At the most recent EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue in February 2021, issues of concern were raised by the EU including rule of law, prison conditions, right to a fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association, death penalty, torture and the impact of Covid-19 on the human rights situation.
The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, has also made representations to the Bahraini authorities on human rights issues, including the detention of a number of individuals, including Mr. Hasan Mushaima.
Ireland will continue to monitor developments in Bahrain, and calls on the Bahraini Government to deliver on its stated commitment to make progress in relation to human rights.
335. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will meet with a group (details supplied). [45119/21]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs has regular engagement with ADHRB on human rights issues in Bahrain. Officials from the Department have met with representatives from ADHRB on a number of accessions in the past 12 months. At the invitation of ADHRB, officials from the Gulf and Middle East Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs also attended a conference in May on the Covid-19 crisis in Bahrain’s Jau Prison.
Officials from my Department have also raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities and Ireland also continues to raise these issues at the Human Rights Council (national statements and EU Statements) and at EU level.
336. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a replacement foreign birth registration certificate will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45125/21]
View answerIn relation to the Deputies query the person in question must request a replacement Foreign Birth Registration Certificate. The application must be made through my Department's website, www.DFA.ie.
339. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Defence the locations of all offices and buildings either owned or used by his Department or by public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit which are usually open to the public to access services. [44908/21]
View answerThe Offices of the Department of Defence are secure and access controlled. They are not buildings that are usually open to the general public. As such, services in these buildings are not accessible to the general public.
Defence buildings occupied by the military are not open to the general public. On occasion some organisations, such as schools and sporting clubs, apply for use of Defence Forces facilities and, dependant on military requirements, a conditional Licence may be granted for the use of that facility.
340. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Defence his views on the proposal outlined by the President of the European Commission in their State of the Union address to the European Parliament for a joint situational awareness centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44982/21]
View answer341. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Defence if he will participate in the summit on European Defence that is due to be convened by the European Commission President and the French President under the French Presidency of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44983/21]
View answer342. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Defence the discussions that he and his officials have had in relation to the proposed EU-NATO Joint Declaration to be presented before the end of 2021; his views on further EU-NATO cooperation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44984/21]
View answer343. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Defence his views on the ideas outlined by the President of the European Commission in their State of the Union address to the European Parliament in which they pointed to EU military missions independent of the UN and NATO combining civilian and military missions, their support for a European Defence Union and their call for political will to use troops outside the EU improving interoperability of fighter jets and military drones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44985/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 340 to 343, inclusive, together.
In the course of her wide-ranging State of the Union Address to the European Parliament last week, President von der Leyen made a number of remarks on defence-related issues. Some of the issues referenced in the President's speech will require further elaboration and may require specific proposals from the European Commission. Ireland will engage constructively in relation to any such proposals.
The EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) gives the EU the capacity to undertake peacekeeping and conflict prevention missions and to strengthen international security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. Ireland has been and continues to be a consistent supporter and full participant in its development. Participation in the CSDP does not prejudice the security and defence policy of any Member State, including Ireland, or their obligations.
In order to facilitate cooperation between the defence forces of EU Member States when deployed on overseas peacekeeping or crisis management missions, a desire for improved interoperability has frequently been expressed. By developing common standards with regard to training and equipment, many issues which would otherwise be encountered during these types of deployment can be minimised or eliminated.
In terms of EU-NATO co-operation, we have consistently said that we welcome greater co-operation where that co-operation contributes to international peace and security and where it is focused on avoiding duplication of structures, systems and interoperability standards as this ensures better coherence and effectiveness on the ground in peace support and crisis management operations.
Work on the development of the text of a new EU-NATO Joint Declaration is ongoing at an institutional level between the EU and NATO. As such this Declaration will be agreed between the leaders of the two institutions rather than individual EU Member States / NATO Allies.
Meanwhile, Ireland will continue our existing cooperation with NATO through the Partnership for Peace. The primary aim of Ireland’s PfP participation is to enhance the Defence Forces’ interoperability with other professional military forces for the purpose of engaging in UN authorised peacekeeping and peace support operations led by the UN, EU or NATO.
In relation to the President's proposed Summit on European Defence next year, I expect that the Commission and the French Presidency of the Council will provide further details of the meeting early next year.
Finally, on the issue of a European Defence Union, I await specific proposals and further elaboration of the President's remarks, including in relation to the creation of a "Joint Situational Awareness Centre", suggested as a means of improving intelligence cooperation within and between Member States.
However, I would recall that, within the EU, it is accepted that defence and security is a national competence and that any decisions, including any deepening of EU cooperation, require unanimity. Any new proposals in this regard will have to be in accordance with Ireland’s policy of military neutrality, as reflected in the 2015 White Paper on Defence.
