Written Answers Nos. 237-247
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the international community is alert to the difficulties of the victims of natural disasters on a worldwide scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15702/22]
View answerDisasters caused by natural hazards affect more than 350 million people every year, in almost every country and territory. In addition to the tragic loss of life, disasters force millions from their homes and impact on their abilities to earn a living or grow food. It is too often the most vulnerable people in societies who are most affected by natural disasters, which impact disproportionately on women and girls.
In 2021, climate change joined conflict as a root cause of famine, as evidenced in drought-affected Madagascar. Storms and flooding are becoming more intense, while protracted and repeated droughts are the new norm in many countries. All too often these events are taking place in places where the institutional capacity to cope with such shocks is extremely limited.
At the beginning of each year, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs publishes the Global Humanitarian Overview. This maps out global humanitarian needs, including countries suffering the impact of natural disasters, and is a guide to donors as to where their resource allocation can have maximum impact. The Overview is updated on a monthly basis. At the end of February, for example, an additional 540,000 people affected by Storm Anna in Malawi were included in the number of people in need of assistance.
While it is not possible to predict all natural disasters, an estimated half of today’s crises are somewhat predictable. Improvements in data and predictive analytics enable more accurate forecasting of certain types of shocks or crises and their likely impact. This supports the humanitarian community to respond before the crisis peaks. This approach has been used in response to drought in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa and floods Bangladesh.
Ireland is very supportive of this anticipatory action. We carefully select partners and funding mechanisms that are able to respond swiftly and efficiently to minimise the impact of natural disasters on the most vulnerable populations. At a UN High-Level Event on Anticipatory Action in September 2021, Ireland stated that in 2020 close to a quarter of its humanitarian funding - approximately €45 million out of a total €192 million - was channelled to mechanisms that support anticipatory action.
Ireland, together with other donors, continues to monitor the evolving needs of those suffering from the impact of natural disasters, drawing on the most up-to-date information and data to ensure that Irish Aid assistance continues to support the vulnerable populations most impacted by natural disasters, and is ready to respond quickly to emerging needs. The OECD, in a 2020 review of Irish Aid, found that Irish Aid's 'very flexible funding models, especially for humanitarian assistance, could provide useful inspiration to other.. donors.'
238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which the international community is involved in directing aid to the various locations worldwide suffering from the effects of drought, war, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15703/22]
View answerAt the beginning of each year the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs prepares a snapshot of global humanitarian needs, the Global Humanitarian Overview, which enables donor countries, including Ireland, to direct resources to where they are most needed.
The 2022 Global Humanitarian Overview shows a significant increase in the number of people in need, estimating that 183 million people in 63 countries require €37.31 billion in humanitarian assistance this year. Those figures have already increased due to the invasion of Ukraine and deteriorating conditions in other countries, including due to the emerging food crisis due to challenges to grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia.
Responding to the needs identified in the 2021 Global Humanitarian Overview, donors such as Ireland ensured that food, medicines, health care and other essential assistance and protection were delivered to 107 million people. The needs of the most vulnerable, particularly women and girls, were prioritised.
Each year, Flash Appeals are launch in response to emerging humanitarian needs, as happened last year for example in response to the drought in Southern Madagascar and Typhoon Rai/Odette in the Philippines.
Ireland continues to plays its part within the international humanitarian system: consistently ranked amongst the top 20 humanitarian donors, the OECD in its 2020 review of Irish Aid found Ireland to be ‘an excellent humanitarian partner’ whose ‘flexible funding models, especially for humanitarian assistance, could provide useful inspiration to other donors.’
Irish Aid’s humanitarian spend was €192 million in 2020, and final figures for 2021 will show a further increase. Irish Aid funding to UN agencies, the Red Cross Family and NGOs supports large-scale crises, such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria and Yemen, while also supporting crisis response in places no longer in the headlines, for example the Central African Republic. In 2021 Irish Aid responded to a number of Flash Appeals, including the volcanic eruption in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the earthquake in Haiti.
Importantly, Irish Aid funding is predictable and flexible, giving partners the ability to respond immediately to emerging needs and also to plan for multi-annual interventions where necessary. This approach has meant that partners had pre-positioned Irish Aid funding, enabling their immediate response to humanitarian needs in Ukraine and ensuring that there are structures in place on the ground to maximise the impact of the €20 million Irish Aid Ukraine humanitarian response package released in recent weeks.
239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which negotiations are ongoing to facilitate the enlargement of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15704/22]
View answerIreland has always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. We recognise the value of enlargement as a transformative driver for stability and peace in candidate countries. Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania, alongside Turkey, are all currently recognised as candidates for membership of the European Union.
The European Commission presented Member States with the main findings and recommendations of the seven country reports last October in their ‘Enlargement Package’. While situations vary from country to country, the report noted limited progress in the enlargement process overall due to both the impact of the pandemic and ongoing delays and blockages in the enlargement process. It also noted a general stagnation in progress in the crucial areas of fundamental rights and rule of law.
While technically remaining the two front-runners in terms of EU accession, there is general agreement within both Council and Commission that both Serbia and Montenegro need to increase the dynamism in their reform agenda. Serbia needs to accelerate its reforms regarding fundamental rights and the rule of law, and make significant progress in the normalisation of relations with Kosovo. More recently it has been noted that a stronger showing of support for EU values will be needed if Serbia is to advance its accession process.
In Montenegro, more intensive efforts in relation to freedom of expression, media freedom and the fight against corruption and organised crime are required. I have also urged intensified dialogue among all parties in Montenegro to address those issues currently giving rise to tensions within the country.
Both North Macedonia and Albania have clearly fulfilled the conditions necessary to commence accession negotiations. In our view, shared almost unanimously within the Council, the negotiating frameworks for both countries should be agreed and Intergovernmental Conferences held as soon as possible to start the accession process.
Although a candidate country and an important partner for the EU, accession negotiations with Turkey have stalled for a number of years and are likely to remain so until the government of President Erdogan makes sustained efforts to address some long-standing concerns regarding the internal human rights situation within Turkey and its respect for rule of law and observance of fundamental rights.
Currently, EU relations with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are set within the framework of the Eastern Partnership. ‘Association Agreements’ and ‘Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements’ (DCFTAs) are in place with all three aimed at promoting deeper political ties, stronger economic links and ensuring respect for common values. While some progress has been made over the years towards closer integration with the EU, progress on reforms has been slow overall.
Following discussion at the informal European Council in Versailles on 10-11 March, the European Commission has been invited to provide their assessment of Ukraine’s preparedness for EU accession along with that of Moldova and Georgia which have also submitted applications to join the EU. This will be based on a number of criteria, primarily each country’s capacity to align with the EU acquis. Analysis of this level understandably takes time and in the past, it has taken up to three years for the Commission to revert to the Council with their opinion. Typically, the opinion will set out a number of deliverables to be fulfilled by the country, before it can be considered an official candidate country. Once the opinion is accepted by the Council, the country becomes a potential candidate country (similar to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo), entitling them to extra technical support and guidance under a stabilisation agreement with a view to boosting the country’s preparedness for accession.
Ireland will continue to support strongly the enlargement process and offer any practical assistance it can to candidate countries engaged in accession negotiations to the EU.
240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the international community continues to monitor the events in the various countries worldwide which are currently deemed to be victims of aggression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15705/22]
View answerThe sources of conflict around the globe have grown in complexity in recent years and the international community and Ireland have had to adjust how we engage and respond to these crises.
The number and complexity of humanitarian crises globally, for example, has increased significantly. At the beginning of 2022, the United Nations estimated that 274 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in 63 countries across the globe. Since then, an additional 10 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, mainly as a result of the Ukraine crisis. Conflict is the most significant driver of the record level of humanitarian need and the impact is felt most greatly on vulnerable groups, including women and children.
Reducing humanitarian need is one of the four key priorities in Ireland's development policy, A Better World. Ireland prioritises the provision of needs-based, principled humanitarian aid to major humanitarian crises such as Yemen, but also to ‘forgotten crises’ which receive less attention, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and Sudan.
Our strong and enduring commitment to effective multilateralism, particularly through our membership of the European Union and the United Nations, is critical to maximising Ireland’s response to conflict and fragility around the globe.
We have been actively using our current role as an elected member of the UN Security Council in this context. Our approach at the Security Council is underpinned by three core principles: Building Peace, Strengthening Conflict Prevention, and Ensuring Accountability. In line with these, our priorities include: highlighting potential drivers of conflict, such as climate and food insecurity; improving peacekeeping mandates; and promoting respect for international law and accountability. Ireland has been active right across the Council agenda on regional issues, including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and the Middle East, and on thematic issues, such as climate and security; women, peace and security; and the protection of civilians in armed conflict. We have a number of formal roles and responsibilities, and we have also led the Council’s response to the situation in Ethiopia. We always aim to play a constructive role, and to help the Council fulfil its key role in the maintenance of international peace and security.
Regarding the further invasion of Ukraine by Russia, supported by Belarus, our efforts are aimed at bringing an end to this war as soon as possible, ensuring accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law and meeting the humanitarian needs of those caught in the midst of violence. Ensuring inclusivity in all of these elements, and in particular, the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls is vital.
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.
241. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15724/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.
242. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount collected in passport application fees in the past ten years to date; and the breakdown of the fees collected in respect of first-time applications, renewals, emergency passports and so on over the same time period. [15729/22]
View answerThe total amount of passport fees collected by the Passport Service since 2012 is outlined in the following table.
A breakdown of the fees collected by application type as requested by the Deputy is not available as our current system does not easily facilitate this. This is further complicated by the many other factors which would need to be taken into consideration including the channel used to apply for the passport, where the person resides and if there was a reduced fee applied when a bundle of passport book and passport card were applied for at the same time.
|
Year |
Passport Fees Collected |
|
2012 |
€39,634,921 |
|
2013 |
€38,369,783 |
|
2014 |
€39,055,198 |
|
2015 |
€42,051,536 |
|
2016 |
€46,744,825 |
|
2017 |
€50,227,847 |
|
2018 |
€51,379,655 |
|
2019 |
€53,612,645 |
|
2020 |
€26,745,948 |
|
2021 |
€40,258,356 |
|
2022 (to date) |
€13,841,356 |
243. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will reduce the price of a passport in the context of the impact of inflation across other aspects of the cost of living. [15730/22]
View answerThe current fees for a standard Irish passport are outlined in the following table.
The fee for a standard ten year adult passport through Passport Online is €75. There is an additional €5 charged for ten year adult passports through An Post’s Passport Express service. The Passport Express fee of €80 has remained unchanged since 2009, when it was raised by €5. When broken down annually across its 10 year validity period, the passport costs €8 per year.
The introduction of Passport Online in 2017 reduced fees for all online passport applications by €5. Passport Online can be accessed by all first time applicants, irrespective of age, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world. The Passport Online Service is four times quicker than paper-based applications for adult and child renewal applications and is the fastest, easiest and safest way to apply for a passport. Over 90% of applicants now apply online compared to 47% of applications received online in 2019.
The cost of the standard online ten year adult Irish passport compares favourably with many other jurisdictions. The fee of €75 breaks down to €7.50 per year, compared with €9.20 per year for a British passport, €8.60 per year for a French passport, €11.80 per year for an American passport and €20.65 per year for an Australian passport.
Given that any shortfall in revenue would have to be met by the taxpayer, a decision to reduce the application fee would require careful consideration.
|
Passport Online |
Passport Express, via An Post |
|
|
Adult (standard 10-year passport) |
€75 |
€80 |
|
Child (standard 5-year passport for those under 18) |
€20 |
€30 |
244. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 18 November 2021, the status of the implementation of the report by the independent review group on Jadotville; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15577/22]
View answerAs a matter relating to the IRG recommendations remains before the courts, it would not be appropriate for me to provide any further information in relation to the various recommendations made by the IRG at this time.
Once the case has been settled in the courts, the recommendations made in the report will be progressed and an update can then be provided on their implementation.
245. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Defence the status of the consideration by his Department of the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; the timeline for the completion and publication of the high-level action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15578/22]
View answerThe Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government and the Government decision in December 2020 which also agreed its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on the 9th February 2022.
The Commission undertook a significant body of work encompassing their wide-ranging terms of reference. The report contains 69 main recommendations and together with sub recommendations, there are 130 recommendations. The Commission's terms of reference included the consideration of appropriate capabilities, structures and staffing for the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service.
The report proposes significant changes for the Defence Forces, including to Defence Forces culture, high-level command and control structures, and for the level of Defence provision in Ireland. Clearly, there are matters that will require careful consideration and in some critical aspects inter-departmental discussion and agreement. This includes the level of resourcing that may be allocated to Defence, legislative implications and the governance framework that will be required to underpin any changes the Government approve on foot of the Commission's report.
I will also be seeking the views of my Department and the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces Representative Associations will be consulted on all matters that fall within the scope of representation, relating to the implementation of any approved plan. I will also engage with key stakeholders and the Oireachtas, and I welcome the Dáil statement on the report which took place on the 16th February. I firmly believe that this is an opportunity to have a mature debate around the type of defence capabilities that we require and I am very much open to such a discussion. Current events are highlighting the importance of such a debate.
The intent is that following relevant consultation, and before the summer recess, I will revert to Government with a proposed response to the Commission's recommendations and a high-level action plan. This high level plan will set out proposed timelines and oversight arrangements for its implementation.
246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which the local authority has completed its share of the responsibility in preparation of the three-school project on the campus at Celbridge, County Kildare. [15707/22]
View answer277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the degree to which the proposed three-school project on the Celbridge campus has been advanced in March 2022 with particular reference to the extent to which all or nearly all of the perquisites have been accomplished or when this is likely; if the local authority has completed its share of the responsibilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15706/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 277 together.
The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.
A letter was issued to the school on 18 February 2022. This letter advised the school that the NDFA will write to them once all the preparation works are complete to make arrangements to meet with them to discuss the project brief for the school and the expected timeline for the project.
Conveyancing for the site acquisition for this project is at an advanced stage. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to comment further at this stage.
247. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if school transport contracts will be reviewed given the significant increase in diesel costs for school transport contractors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15528/22]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services to be provided by external suppliers in line with national and EU procurement legislation and this includes services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. Compliant tenders are evaluated against published award criteria. Successful tenderers are awarded a contract for up to five years.
The Department of Education is considering in consultation with other relevant departments and Bus Éireann the implications that increasing fuel costs may have on the provision of school transport services. The Department is also very aware of the potential impact of the current situation unfolding in Ukraine which is impacting fuel prices further.
Government has announced a reduction in excise on fuel will result in a decrease in the cost of fuel. The reduction of 20 cent per litre on petrol and 15 cent per litre on diesel will be in place until 31 August at an estimated cost of €320m. This is a national measure aimed at easing the financial burden on contractors and families at this time.
