Written Answers Nos. 215-225
215. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the procedure for a child’s passport application in cases in which the child has an intellectual disability and it is not possible to capture the child’s picture to the appropriate standard required by the Passport Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15530/22]
View answer223. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that can be taken by a parent of a child with autism who cannot get a passport photo to the adequate standards for a passport application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15666/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 223 together.
The online website has been designed to be very accessible. In cases where passport applicants have a medical condition or disability that means that the standard passport photo guidelines cannot be met, the Passport Online service offers a medical indicator option when submitting a digital passport photo.
When applying online, passport applicants or their parents can tick the medical indicator box on the passport photo page. This allows the photo to pass through the system as part of the application process. The passport photo submitted will then be reviewed by a member of the Passport Service staff.
216. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Derry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15576/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application expired on 5 February 2022 and the applicant has received a refund. The Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly to advise on a new passport application.
217. 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. [15595/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
The processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, and the subsequent reassignment of FBR staff to assist in the provision of essential passport services, the FBR Service, including the Replacement Certificate Service, was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period.
The Replacement Certificate application referenced is due to be processed in the near future, and a member of the FBR team will be in direct contact with the applicant in this regard.
My Department is fully committed to the continued allocation of additional resources over the coming period to assist with the processing of the Foreign Birth Registration applications currently on hand and the high volume of new applications anticipated this year.
218. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport renewal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15649/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant's parent.
219. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date in establishing the civic advisory panel in Northern Ireland; if this is a devolved issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15657/22]
View answerThe full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent implementing agreements is a central priority for this Government. The Agreements, as well as the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s commitment to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island.
The Civic Forum was first established under Strand One of the Good Friday Agreement, as a consultative mechanism on social, economic and cultural issues. It comprised representative sectors of society, including the business, trade union and voluntary sectors, as provided for by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. It was to be reviewed at the time of the suspension of the institutions in 2002 and was not reconvened.
The 2014 Stormont House Agreement proposed the formation of a Compact Civic Advisory Panel. It was agreed as part of the New Decade New Approach agreement by the Northern Irish parties that this panel should be reformed and that 1-2 issues per year, as identified by the Executive, would be commissioned for civic engagement, with the Panel to propose the most appropriate model for specific issues including one Citizens Assembly a year.
The Government supports the implementation of this commitment, alongside all those made as part of NDNA. Progress on these commitments will be considered at further Implementation Review meetings involving the two Governments and the Northern Ireland parties. The first NDNA Implementation Review Meeting took place virtually in January 2021, attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the First and deputy First Ministers, and the leaders of the parties in the Executive. We would wish to see a second review meeting at the earliest possible date, but this may prove challenging in the context of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The Government also continues to support the establishment of the North South Consultative Forum, as provided for under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement, representative of civil society and comprising social partners and other members with expertise in social, cultural, economic and other issues. The Government has worked to move the issue forward, submitting proposals to the Northern Ireland Executive for its consideration. We have also raised the issue at successive plenary meetings of the North South Ministerial Council.
220. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to Acht na Gaeilge; the timescale for the enactment of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15658/22]
View answerAll parties to the Good Friday Agreement recognised the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity, which in Northern Ireland includes the Irish language, Ulster-Scots and the languages of the various ethnic communities.
The New Decade, New Approach Agreement (NDNA) reached in January 2020 was a very significant shared achievement by the parties in Northern Ireland together with the British and Irish Governments. The package of language and identity legislation agreed in NDNA was detailed and balanced and should be implemented. As outlined in the Programme for Government, the full implementation of the Agreement is an important priority for the Government.
With respect to the introduction of language and identity legislation, in the absence of progress in the Assembly, I welcome the commitment by the British Government to take this forward as soon as possible in Westminster. This should be on the basis of the legislative provisions negotiated, agreed and published at the time of NDNA. I raised this issue with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the British Irish Intergovernmental conference held this week, and emphasised the importance of progress on this important commitment.
With respect to the Government’s commitments to support the Irish language in Northern Ireland made alongside the NDNA, these have been positively advanced. Funding of €1.2m per annum for 2021-2023 has been allocated for the development of Irish language broadcasting, and the promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland, which is being administered by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (D/TCAGSM). €1.2m over three years (2020-22) has been allocated to further support for the Irish language in Northern Ireland. Additional funding has also been provided to facilitate an All Island expansion of the existing Irish Language Network strategy.
221. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if contact will be made with the Irish Embassy in Cairo to engage with a person (details supplied) who is attempting to secure a visa to enter Ireland. [15664/22]
View answerThe visa application the Deputy is referring to is currently being processed by the Embassy of Ireland in Cairo. The applicant should make an appointment with the Embassy as advised during the online visa application process, in order to advance the application.
222. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the procedure necessary for an Irish national to repatriate a relative who is a non-EU national for burial in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15665/22]
View answerMy Department advises in the consular context on the repatriation requirements for Irish citizens who pass away overseas. I would suggest that in this case the family engages with the Embassy of the person’s nationality in the respective country to clarify any relevant guidelines or requirements in relation to repatriation to a third country.
In general, I understand that currently there are no restrictions set down by the Irish authorities on the repatriation of remains to Ireland.
As in all cases involving the repatriation of remains of a deceased person to Ireland, the primary arrangements are made between the appointed undertakers or funeral directors in Ireland and the country from which the remains will be repatriated.
Undertakers and/or funeral directors are responsible for ensuring all arrangements and paperwork comply with local requirements, as set down by public authorities, taking into account also local capacity constraints.
Undertakers and/or funeral directors, as consignment officers, are responsible for ensuring that the transportation of remains (whether in a sealed casket or by cremation) is done safely, and in line with available guidance, complying with any additional requirements of the Coroner’s Office or the Revenue Commissioners (who oversee permissions for remains to enter this jurisdiction).
224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he, alone or together, with other European Union member states, can prevail on the Russian authorities for an immediate ceasefire and a properly coordinated process to deal with the damages caused in the Russian occupation of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15688/22]
View answer225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he and his European Union colleagues have agreed on a means of ensuring the withdrawal of the Russian forces from Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15689/22]
View answer226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent of the discussions he has had with European Union or United Nations partners with a view to bringing to an immediate end the occupation of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15690/22]
View answer227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which he has interacted with his European Union colleagues with a view to making available the highest level of support for Ukrainian refugees currently under constant bombardment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15691/22]
View answer228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the international community is alert to the current attempted occupation of Ukraine, a sovereign state, by the Russian authorities; if it is recognised that a precedent is being set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15692/22]
View answer229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the United Nations has addressed or intends to address the issue of the attempted occupation of Ukraine; if it is intended to allow all sovereign states to become future victims of a similar occupation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15693/22]
View answer230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when it will be determined that diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities in Ukraine are not working; the extent to which other options can be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15694/22]
View answer231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the international community accepts the inevitability of the occupation of further or adjoining sovereign states by greater powers having regard to the situation in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15695/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 231, inclusive, together.
Since the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified further invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces on 24 February 2022, Ireland has stood in unwavering solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine.
Ireland is working at the UN, EU, International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe, the OSCE - and across all relevant multilateral institutions - to bring an end to this war, to ensure accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights norms and standards, and to meet the humanitarian needs of those caught in the conflict.
The response of the EU has been strong and swift in both words and actions. This reflects collective EU solidarity with Ukraine and intensive work by the Member States and the EU institutions. The EU has imposed unprecedented sanctions against Russia. The principal rationale of these actions is to incentivise Russia to find a political solution to the conflict that President Putin has created, and to reduce the funding available to Russia to continue its illegal actions in Ukraine. At the most recent meeting of Foreign Ministers on 21 March 2022, I discussed the impact of these sanctions with my colleagues and the options for implementing further measures.
The EU has also committed over a billion euros in support to Ukraine. Ireland is contributing to a number of EU mechanisms to assist Ukraine, including the new European Peace Facility. We have also contributed to the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, and we are engaged on discussions on coordinating the EU’s response to help the millions of people, mostly women and children, who have been forced to flee Ukraine.
At the United Nations, Ireland has been at the forefront of efforts to hold Russia internationally accountable for its actions. As a member of the Security Council we are fully committed to ensuring that the situation in Ukraine continues to be considered by the Council. We have actively supported Security Council and General Assembly meetings on Ukraine, and have urged others to join us in condemning Russia’s invasion and in calling on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from the entire territory of Ukraine.
Ireland, along with our partners, will continue to support genuine efforts at the UN Security Council to ensure safe and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance to those who need it, and to call for full respect of international humanitarian law. We have backed this up with concrete support and a package of €20 million in humanitarian aid (from Irish Aid), as well as medical supplies from the HSE, which is being disbursed through our partners in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
Ireland stands ready to support any initiative which can achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict, and which respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. My Department is monitoring developments in relation to efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict and stands ready to support initiatives which can deliver peace in line with international law, particularly international humanitarian law as well as international human rights norms and standards.
