Mary Lou McDonald
Question:204. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of the Government’s Reconciliation Fund for 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [49901/21]
View answerWritten Answers Nos. 204-223
204. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of the Government’s Reconciliation Fund for 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [49901/21]
View answerThe reconciliation fund, which is administered by my Department, provides support for civil society organisations working to promote reconciliation and create better understanding between communities in Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain. The fund has supported over 3,000 projects with more than €60 million in grant funding since its establishment in 1982.
The annual budget for the Fund was increased from €2.7 million to €3.7 million with effect from 2019. In the New Decade New Approach agreement which saw the restoration of devolved Government in Northern Ireland in January 2020, the Government committed to maintaining that level of funding. In light of the Government’s continuing commitment to supporting the work of peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland, and recognising in particular, the impact of Brexit and the effects of Covid-19 on the organisations we support, the budget of the Reconciliation Fund will see a further increase this year, with the total of grants awarded likely to reach €4.0 million.
To date in 2021, the Reconciliation Fund has awarded grants of almost €2.8 million. The list of organisations awarded funding is provided below in tabular format. In addition, an allocation of €35,000 was provided from the Fund to support initiatives being undertaken by our Embassy in London as part of the Government’s programme marking the December 2021 centenary of the signing of the Truce. A further tranche of grants will be awarded before the end of this year when ongoing funding rounds have been completed.
Decisions on grants to be awarded during 2022 and 2023 have yet to be taken, but once awards are made in the context of our funding rounds during that period, information on those grants will be made available on the Department’s website.
Reconciliation Fund grants awarded in 2021 – to date
Organisation |
Amount in € |
4 Corners Festival |
25,100 |
An Gaeláras Ltd |
12,268 |
Ardoyne Association |
9,800 |
Ardoyne Youth Club |
9,891 |
Banbridge Rugby Football Club |
6,110 |
Bardic Educational Arts and Media |
9,980 |
Belfast Charitable Society |
2,700 |
Belfast International Arts Festival |
40,000 |
British-Irish Association |
40,000 |
Centre for Cross Border Studies |
70,500 |
Centre for Democracy and Peace Building |
20,000 |
Cinemagic |
18,000 |
City Centre Initiative |
12,000 |
Cliftonville Community Regeneration Forum |
9,971 |
Clones Family Resource Centre CLG |
34,245 |
Clooney estate Residents Association |
9,950 |
Community Dialogue |
40,000 |
Conradh na Gaeilge |
45,000 |
Cookstown Youth Football |
9,990 |
Co-operation Ireland |
47,200 |
Co-operation Ireland |
67,000 |
Co-operation Ireland |
72,000 |
Co-operation Ireland |
75,000 |
County Fermanagh Super Cup NI |
3,600 |
Cregagh Wanderers Football Club |
3,000 |
Creggan Enterprises Limited |
25,000 |
CRIS - Community Relations In Schools |
60,161 |
DCU Institute for International Conflict Resolution |
55,303 |
Dialogue For Diversity |
9,922 |
Diversity Challenges |
11,359 |
Dorsey Emmets GFC |
6,000 |
Ellen Finlay |
8,150 |
Eoghan Rua CLG |
8,000 |
Gasyard Wall Féile |
18,000 |
Glebeside Community Association Ltd |
8,000 |
Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation |
327,186 |
Glengormley Amateur Boxing Club |
4,000 |
Greenisland Football Club |
3,980 |
Healing Through Remembering |
37,000 |
Imagine Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics |
35,000 |
Intercomm Ireland Ltd |
22,200 |
Intercomm Ireland Ltd |
101,848 |
Irish Gallery of Photography DAC |
15,000 |
Irish Gallery of Photography DAC |
23,250 |
Irish Studies University of Liverpool |
41,700 |
Kabosh |
14,447 |
Lincoln Courts Youth and Community Association |
9,950 |
Longford Women's Link |
42,639 |
Naíscoil na Seolta |
15,000 |
National Women`s Council of Ireland |
36,205 |
New Belfast Community Arts Initiative (T/A Community Arts Partnership) |
30,546 |
Newhill Football Club |
1,660 |
Newtownbutler First Fermanagh's GFC |
6,000 |
Newtowncunningham Orange Hall |
9,990 |
NI Youth forum |
100,163 |
North-West Cultural Partnership |
47,368 |
Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education |
27,730 |
Northern Ireland Mixed Marriage Association |
3,000 |
Passionist Peace and Reconciliation Office (Holy Cross, Ardoyne) |
50,000 |
Pat Finucane Centre Limited (Justice for the Forgotten) |
34,888 |
PeacePlayers International - Northern Ireland (PPI-NI) |
39,080 |
Places of Sanctuary Ireland |
20,412 |
Presbyterian Church in Ireland |
17,250 |
R City Youth CIC |
9,315 |
Rasharkin & District Rural Cultural & Educational Society |
6,000 |
Royal Ulster Constabulary Athletic Association |
23,010 |
Saint Patrick Centre |
14,000 |
Schomberg Society Kilkeel Limited |
40,000 |
Shared History Interpretive project (SHIP) |
5,000 |
Smashing Times Theatre Company |
32,128 |
St Eugene's Cathedral |
20,000 |
St Louis House Youth Group |
7,000 |
St Matthews F.C. |
5,450 |
St. Mary’s, Rasharkin GAC |
6,000 |
St. Pauls ABC |
8,000 |
Strabane Athletic Football Club |
4,000 |
The Bloody Sunday Trust |
60,000 |
The Churches Trust Ltd |
28,000 |
The Corrymeela Community |
100,000 |
The Goliath Trust |
5,000 |
The Junction Community Relations & Peace Building Initiative |
29,060 |
The Wheel |
70,000 |
Troubles Tragedy And Trauma |
14,505 |
Truth and Reconciliation Platform |
20,000 |
Ullans Speakers Association |
6,700 |
Ulster Badminton |
5,600 |
University of Huddersfield |
60,000 |
WAVE Trauma Centre |
30,000 |
Wordwell Ltd |
3,770 |
Wordwell Ltd |
8,553 |
Youth Link: NI |
71,741 |
YouthAction Northern Ireland |
63,950 |
Total of grants awarded |
€2,777,474 |
PLUS: Funding allocation to Embassy of Ireland London (for centenaries programme) |
€35,000 |
205. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49086/21]
View answer206. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49130/21]
View answer211. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49267/21]
View answer217. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long on a passport. [49484/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 205, 206, 211 and 217 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has already issued passports to the applicants.
207. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to ensure the survival of a museum (details supplied). [49133/21]
View answerThe Great Famine was a time which radically altered the course of Irish history and of American history. Many thousands of Irish emigrants fleeing Ireland at that time found refuge and a new home in the United States, and many of these are the ancestors of the 30 million Americans who now claim Irish heritage.
Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum on the grounds of Quinnipiac University campus holds an impressive collection of art, artefacts and literature related to the Famine. Showcasing collections such as these is important in ensuring the story of where the Irish people came from is not forgotten, and the Museum has played an important role in that.
The Government of Ireland believes it important that a new home be found for this collection in the months ahead. The aim should be to re-house the collection so that the works it contains remain accessible to the public and researchers alike. Should another museum or institution be identified to host the collection, my Department would be happy to discuss if there are any ways we can offer support.
208. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will examine the applications of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49203/21]
View answerMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of Brexit and the necessarily rigorous processing that applies to citizenship applications.
The applications referenced were registered on 31 March 2021, and are waiting to be processed. All documentation received is being stored in a secure environment.
Due to the pandemic, FBR staff have been reassigned to assist in the delivery of essential services. This has resulted in a pause in overall FBR processing. FBR staff have continued to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. In cases of exceptional urgency FBR applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly.
The Passport Service is actively planning to resume processing FBR applications as soon as possible. My Department is committed to allocating further resources to assist with the high volume of applications, 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 Department's Passport Reform Programme.
The FBR team has been in contact with the applicants to update them on their applications. Further information regarding the resumption of FBR services will be made available in due course on the Department’s website.
209. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the travel arrangements he is making to Ireland for Afghan nationals with visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49221/21]
View answerThe Department of Justice is responsible for visas for travel to Ireland, including in cases where people wish to join a family member residing in Ireland. That Department is now establishing an Afghan Admission Programme which will enable current or former Afghan nationals living legally in Ireland to apply to have close family members, who are living in Afghanistan or who have recently fled to territories bordering Afghanistan, considered for temporary Irish residence.
I very much welcome this new proposal from my colleague, the Minister for Justice, which will create a tailored reunification programme and enable Ireland to continue to respond to the situation in Afghanistan. Up to 500 places will be available under this programme. Meanwhile, the current possibilities for Afghan nationals to be granted permission to enter Ireland will continue in parallel to the new programme.
The Department of Foreign Affairs does not ordinarily provide assistance on individual travel arrangements to those who have been granted visas to Ireland. However, my Department is, through our diplomatic network, liaising with relevant authorities in the region and elsewhere on possible transit routes. EU coordination is playing an important role in this.
The Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have stated publicly that any Afghan citizen with travel authorisation and documentation from other countries will be allowed to proceed in a safe and orderly manner to points of departure and to travel outside the country over the coming period. However, the extent to which this will be followed through on remains to be seen, and we are continuing, with our partners, to monitor and engage on the situation. We are also continuing to provide travel advice to assist people in making decisions on potential transit options.
210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which projects that fall within the aegis of his Department and are within the revised National Development Plan are at an advanced stage at present or are in course thereof; the extent to which preliminary work has taken place or on-site works are in hand or proposed; the expected delivery date of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49254/21]
View answerThe Strategic Investment Priorities identified for the Department of Foreign Affairs under the National Development Plan are:
- The Passport Reform Programme under which the Department has committed to developing a fully integrated citizen service delivering a global online passport service, which is more user-friendly, efficient and more secure for this citizen critical service;
- Investment in a high quality global ICT infrastructure supporting advance technologies that deliver excellent public services by connecting citizens, staff and stakeholders through best-in-class technologies;
- The doubling of the scope and impact of Ireland’s global footprint as detailed in the Government’s policy Global Ireland – Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025 and
- The construction, refurbishment, enhancement of security works and the development of Ireland Houses with the State Agencies in strategic locations. This is a key deliverable under the Global Ireland 2025 Strategy and will support Ireland’s economic recovery.
Currently, there are six key ongoing projects under these strategic investment priorities.
These are
1. The next phase of the Passport Reform Project
2. Updating ICT Infrastructure
3. Construction of Ireland House Tokyo
4. Construction of new official premises in Abuja
5. The enhancement of Ireland’s physical presence in London, and in
6. Washington
The next phase of the Passport Reform Project focuses on the updating of the passport processing and facial recognition technology systems to deliver a safe and secure on line service to Irish citizens worldwide. A key element of this phase, the Passport Issuance and Processing System (PIPS), has recently completed its procurement phase and implementation will begin in the coming months.
The focus of investment in the Department’s ICT infrastructure will be on reinvestment in the Departments worldwide ICT equipment and infrastructure to maintain security and efficiency levels. The design and implementation plans for this essential project are currently in the Technical Design Phase.
Ireland House, Tokyo is at the construction tender preparation stage with a view to commencing construction in Q2 2022 and is scheduled for completion in Q2 2024.
The Embassy Abuja project is at the construction tender preparation stage with a view to commencing construction in 2022 for a completion date in 2025.
The London and Washington Projects are at early stages of development. The London Project is currently at a scoping and feasibility stage. A Strategic Assessment stage for Washington is due to commence in November.
212. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number or estimated number of Irish citizens whose passports expired while they were resident abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic. [49292/21]
View answerThe Passport Service does not record the current location of Irish passport holders. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the number or estimated number of Irish Citizens whose passports expired while they were resident abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic.
213. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when persons (details supplied) will receive a decision on their Irish citizenship application which was submitted in April 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49348/21]
View answerMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of Brexit, and the necessarily rigorous processing that applies to citizenship applications.
The first application referenced was registered on 8 April 2020, with the other applications registered on 29 September 2020. All are waiting to be processed. The documentation submitted in support of these applications is being stored in a secure environment.
Due to the pandemic, FBR staff have been reassigned to assist in the delivery of essential services. This has resulted in a pause in overall FBR processing. FBR staff have continued to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. In cases of exceptional urgency FBR applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly.
The Passport Service is actively planning to resume processing FBR applications as soon as possible. My Department is committed to allocating further resources to assist with the high volume of applications, 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 Department's Passport Reform Programme.
214. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a foreign birth registration application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49357/21]
View answerMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of Brexit and the necessarily rigorous processing that applies to citizenship applications.
The application referenced was registered on 18 June 2019. I have been informed by the FBR team that they have been in contact with the applicant and are awaiting the submission of further documentation in order for processing of this application to be completed. Once this documentation is received, a member of the FBR team will inform the applicant of the outcome shortly thereafter.
215. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the approval of passports for the children of a family (details supplied) who have been approved on the foreign births register will be expedited. [49459/21]
View answer219. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the Passport Office received this application on 15 June 2021. [49550/21]
View answer220. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this person has imminent travel plans and they applied in ample time. [49551/21]
View answer221. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact this person has upcoming travel plans. [49552/21]
View answer224. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a person (details supplied) will receive their first-time passport which they applied for on 4 August 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49660/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 215, 219, 220, 221 and 224 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided updates on the status of the passport applications to the applicants.
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.
216. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to make an official visit to Singapore before the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49469/21]
View answerIreland and Singapore have enjoyed close and fruitful diplomatic relations since 1974. Ireland's resident Embassy in Singapore, which was opened in 2000, is now located together with regional offices for IDA Ireland, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland within an "Ireland House". Singapore remains one of the most economically and politically important countries in South East Asia and cooperation between our nations flourishes in the areas of education, trade, investment, culture and tourism, among others. Our dedicated Asia-Pacific Strategy to 2025 sets the framework for growing our political, economic and people-to-people relationships in the region. There is considerable scope for economic ties to develop further and I am pleased to note a 4.4% increase in goods exports to Singapore between 2019 and 2020.
While I am not scheduled to travel to Singapore before the end of this year, my Department engages frequently with Singapore on a range of bilateral and multilateral priorities. Singapore is a key member of ASEAN and, at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 21 June, I highlighted the importance of increased bilateral engagement with ASEAN member states as well as regional engagement with ASEAN following the recently agreed ASEAN/EU Strategic Partnership.
218. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 30 September 2021, his views on the need for concrete measures to dissuade the Israeli government from breaking international law given the concerns he outlined in the response; and his plans to introduce such measures. [49492/21]
View answerIreland’s position on these issues is based on international law, including Israel’s obligations as the occupying Power under the Fourth Geneva Convention. We work actively at bilateral and EU level and through the UN on the issue of compliance with international law in the occupied Palestinian territory.
At EU level, I met with Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, along with my EU colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council on 12 July. I underlined Ireland’s concern about the impact of Israeli government policies and practices on the human rights of Palestinian in the occupied Palestinian territory and called for their human rights to be ensured in law, in policy and in practice.
I spoke to the Foreign Minister Lapid again on 30 August. I underlined the need for compliance with international law. I hope to visit the region in the coming weeks and will raise these issues further with my interlocutors.
On 29 September Ireland chaired the Council’s monthly meeting on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question. This meeting focused on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which includes the issue of illegal settlements, violence against civilians and de-escalation and reversal of negative trends on the ground. At that meeting, Ireland highlighted the need for full compliance with Resolution 2334, which calls on all States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. In this respect Ireland ensures that any bilateral agreements with Israel do not apply to territories occupied by Israel since 1967.
In May, Ireland supported a special session of the Human Rights Council on the escalation of violence. The Human Rights Council voted to establish a Commission of Inquiry on the oPt at this session. In keeping with our principled position on Commissions of Inquiry established by the HRC, Ireland supports the work of this Commission.
At the Security Council on 29 September, Ireland unreservedly condemned the incidence of settler violence on 28 September in the South Hebron Hills in which a young child was seriously injured, calling on the Israeli authorities to hold those responsible accountable and to end the culture of impunity around all such incidents of violence.
I have often spoken on the issue of illegal demolitions of educational facilities by Israeli authorities. In November 2020, in relation to the threat of demolition of the Ras Al-Teen school, I called on Israel to cease this reprehensible practice and ensure children’s basic human right to education in a safe and secure school environment. Ireland also provides practical support to enable access to quality education for Palestinian children. This includes support to UNRWA, which provides free basic education for over 530,000 Palestine refugee children, and to the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
222. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of State boards under the remit of his Department or its agencies in tabular form; the number of members of each board; the number of women on each board; and the percentage of each board that is made up of women. [49560/21]
View answerThere are no State boards or agencies under the remit of my Department.
223. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if partial processing of foreign birth registrations can resume at level 5 given that many persons who submitted applications for foreign birth registrations from 1 February 2020 have not been corresponded with and have included important personal documents such as passports along with the applications; if his Department will be refunding the substantial fee of €278 to those persons whose applications have not been processed within 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49650/21]
View answerMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of Brexit, and the necessary rigorous processing that applies to citizenship applications.
Due to the pandemic, FBR staff have been reassigned to assist in the delivery of essential services. This has resulted in a pause in overall FBR processing. FBR staff have continued to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. Over 4,700 emergency FBR applications have been processed so far in 2021. In cases of exceptional urgency FBR applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly.
Applicants are not required to submit their passports in order for an FBR application to be processed, and any such passport can be returned if required. Where an applicant wishes to cancel their application and receive a refund of the application fee, they should notify the Passport Service by e-mail at fbrpayments@dfa.ie. When regular FBR processing resumes, their supporting documentation will be returned and the fee refunded.
The Passport Service is actively planning to resume processing FBR applications as soon as possible and I will arrange to have the Deputy informed once a date for the resumption of processing these applications has been finalised. My Department is committed to allocating further resources to assist with the high volume of applications, with a focus on reducing turnaround times 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 Department's Passport Reform Programme.