Wednesday, 13 Jul 2022

Written Answers Nos. 254-273

Passport Services

Questions (254, 256, 258, 259, 265, 270, 272, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 280, 282, 286)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

254. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review and expedite a passport application for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38151/22]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

256. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review and expedite passport applications for two children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38160/22]

Marc MacSharry

Question:

258. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that the target issue date has been exceeded and the travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38183/22]

Michael Ring

Question:

259. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a child (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the estimated issue date was 11 May 2022. [38261/22]

Michael Ring

Question:

265. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a child (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the estimated issue date was the 22 June 2022. [38373/22]

John Brady

Question:

270. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38556/22]

John Brady

Question:

272. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38558/22]

John Brady

Question:

273. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38559/22]

John Brady

Question:

274. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38560/22]

John Brady

Question:

275. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38561/22]

John Brady

Question:

277. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38563/22]

John Brady

Question:

278. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38564/22]

John Brady

Question:

279. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38565/22]

John Brady

Question:

280. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38566/22]

John Brady

Question:

282. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38568/22]

John Brady

Question:

286. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38572/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 256, 258, 259, 265, 270, 272, 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 280, 282 and 286 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Passport Services

Questions (255)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

255. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite passport applications for a family (details supplied) given that the target issue date has been exceeded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38152/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport applications to the applicants' parent.

Question No. 256 answered with Question No. 254.

Departmental Functions

Questions (257)

James Lawless

Question:

257. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite a certificate of freedom to marry application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38173/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

My Department issues civil letters of freedom (Certificat de Coutume) to Irish citizens getting married abroad. Details of how to apply can be found at www.dfa.ie/travel/our-services/marriage-and-civil-partnership-abroad/.

This is not an Irish requirement but is a requirement of the country where an applicant may be getting married. All applicants should check whether or not a civil letter of freedom is required. Please note if both partners are Irish citizens, they will both need to fill out separate applications.

Applicants need to submit an online application and pay the relevant fee, print the completed form (MP1) along with the relevant declaration form (MP2A if single), and have this witnessed by a solicitor/a commissioner for oaths/a notary public. These will then need to be posted to the address provided, along with the original birth certificate and copy of passport. If an applicant or their fiancé have ever been divorced the original petition and divorce decree must also be submitted.

An application should be submitted at least four months in advance of the date of the marriage but no more than six months in advance of the date of marriage. If an application is received within 28 days of the intended date of marriage, a late application fee will apply. We do our best to facilitate applicants but do request that applications are sent in four months in advance of the date of marriage.

The Marriages Abroad team in my Department will be glad to discuss the above with the person referred to, who I understand has not yet submitted an application. The contact line is 01-4082523 between 10-12 (Monday- Friday).

Question No. 258 answered with Question No. 254.

Question No. 259 answered with Question No. 254.

Departmental Staff

Questions (260)

Michael Ring

Question:

260. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the salary of four roles within his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38296/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Pay scales for Irish civil servants are available from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-public-expenditure-and-reform/).

The current (1 July 2022) salary of the Department’s Secretary General is €223,529 and the salaries of the Deputy Secretary Generals are €178,199 to €187,578.

The TD element of the Salaries of the Minister and Ministers of State are paid by the Oireachtas. The Department pays a Ministerial allowance (€82,730) and Minister of State allowance (€40,464).

Question No. 261 answered with Question No. 252.

Passport Services

Questions (262, 271, 276, 284)

David Cullinane

Question:

262. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied) given that it has exceeded the target issue date and applicants travel date is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38329/22]

John Brady

Question:

271. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38557/22]

John Brady

Question:

276. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38562/22]

John Brady

Question:

284. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38570/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 262, 271, 276 and 284 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired the Passport Service has reviewed the applications and they have been progressed as appropriate.

Question No. 263 answered with Question No. 252.

Overseas Development Aid

Questions (264)

Paul Murphy

Question:

264. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the percentage of Ireland’s overseas development aid that was devoted to health in 2019 and 2021. [38366/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Department of Foreign Affairs publishes a report on Ireland's Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme each year. The report includes statistical information on programme expenditure in a series of annexes. These show the distribution of aid, including the amounts allocated to our priority focus areas as set out in A Better World, Ireland’s international development policy.

In 2019, a total of €870 million was allocated to ODA, of which €512 million was bilateral ODA. Health spending in 2019 amounted to 8% of bilateral ODA. Across all areas of ODA, including multilateral assistance, health related spending accounted for approximately 10% of the total for 2019 (approximately €87 million).

In 2020, a total of €868 million was allocated to ODA, of which €458 million was bilateral ODA. Health spending in 2020 amounted to 14% of the bilateral ODA. Across all areas of ODA, including multilateral assistance, health related spending accounted for approximately 13% for the year (approximately €113 million), reflecting an increased emphasis on the sector in response to COVID-19.

The 2021 ODA spend is in the process of being verified by the OECD and the full breakdown will be published later this year in Ireland's Development Assistance Annual Report for 2021. However, we expect health related expenditure to be at least €100 million in 2021, based on internal estimates.

Question No. 265 answered with Question No. 254.

Question No. 266 answered with Question No. 252.

Departmental Staff

Questions (267)

Carol Nolan

Question:

267. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions that his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department are taking to increase recruitment of members of the LGBTQIA+ communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38409/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

My Department recruits staff either directly or through the Public Appointments Service (PAS), which is the central recruitment function for the Public Service. All of our recruitment competitions are run in accordance with the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) Code of Conduct 2022. The Code requires recruitment competitions to be administered in a fair and equitable manner. Opportunities advertised by PAS, or by my Department, include language clarifying that the Civil Service is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. All interview boards are trained not to discriminate on any of the nine grounds of the Equality Acts and are also given training on unconscious bias.My Department recognises the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive organisation. The Human Resources Division leads on work to further embed a culture of dignity and respect in the Department, emphasising gender, equality, diversity and inclusion. In 2019, under my Department’s first HR Strategy 2019-2022, a dedicated Equality Officer was appointed to oversee work in this area, and policies have been developed that specifically support inclusion of LGBTQIA+ colleagues, notably A Guide to Supports for Maternity, Adoptive and Parental Leave, and A Guide to Supporting Transgender Colleagues.

On 5 July 2022, my Department launched a Gender, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan 2022-2025 that includes 39 actions and ambitious time-bound targets which include recruitment initiatives to increase diversity and the development of guidance for DFA staff on LGBTQIA+ issues for staff relocating overseas on postings. A key partner in this work by Human Resources is the Management Board Sub-Committee on Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI), which includes a staff-led voluntary working group focusing on LGBTQIA+ issues.

Passport Services

Questions (268)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

268. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 9; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38440/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current average turnaround times and has not yet reached its issue-by date.

Turnaround times are estimates based on current average processing times, and apply to fully complete and correct applications. Applications that are incomplete will take longer.The turnaround time for first time applications was 30 working days at the time this application was made.

On 4 June 2022, 10 days prior to the original issue-by date, the Passport Service contacted the applicant’s parent to request a new consent form to include a landline number for the witness, as mobile numbers are not accepted.

The new consent form was registered by the Passport Service on 16 June 2022. 5 days prior to the new issue-by date, the Passport Service contacted the applicant’s parent again to advise that the witness was not contactable, and that a new consent form was needed.

The new consent form was registered by the Passport Service on 5 July 2022. The new estimated issue-by date for the application is 26 July 2022

Question No. 269 answered with Question No. 252.

Question No. 270 answered with Question No. 254.

Question No. 271 answered with Question No. 262.

Question No. 272 answered with Question No. 254.

Question No. 273 answered with Question No. 254.