Written Answers Nos. 274-293
281. 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 the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38567/22]
View answer283. 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 the date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38569/22]
View answer285. 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 the date of travel is imminent;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38571/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 281, 283 and 285 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update to the applicants as to the steps they must take to progress their passport applications.
287. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on providing fully accessible changing places and toilet facilities open to the public in all buildings which his Department owns and public bodies and agencies under his remit to offer people with disabilities and carers a network of equipped spaces to take care of personal hygiene, in safety and comfort. [38719/22]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs occupies twelve premises in the State provided by the Office of Public Works. Members of the public who attend our public offices in Dublin and Cork have access to toilet facilities in the public areas. Changing facilities are also available in our Dublin office and we are currently reviewing the situation in our Cork office.
288. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are implementing action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38737/22]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs is fully committed to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices and in the delivery of its services in line with the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015, Equal Status Acts 2000-2018, Disability Act 2005 and the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. My Department is also guided by the Code of Practice for the Employment of People with a Disability in the Irish Civil Service. Through the Department’s Disability Liaison Officer my Department continues to engage with relevant organisations; with the National Disability Authority, Ahead, and AsIAm, amongst others, to ensure best practice in the employment of people with disabilities and in the delivery of services to members of the public. Through our dedicated websites, my Department provides users with the opportunity to directly contact the Department’s Disability Liaison Officer should they require support in accessing any service. Service users can also use this platform to provide feedback/complaints to the Disability Liaison Officer on any aspect of the delivery of our services. When communicating with the public, my Department follows the recommendations of the National Adult Literacy Agency in using plain language. The Passport Office was previously the recipient of a NALA award for the use of plain English. My Department has also ensured that a number of staff working in the Passport Office are trained in Irish Sign Language to meet our obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. My Department also attaches the highest priority to ensuring the Department’s buildings at home and abroad are accessible to people with disabilities. One of the actions in my Department's new Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy will involve a comprehensive review of the accessibility of our buildings in HQ and the accessibility of our websites and online services. As part of our commitment to increase disability awareness amongst staff as set out in the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021, my Department has made available a comprehensive online Disability Awareness Training programme for all staff. This training complements training provided to staff engaged in the delivery of services to members of the public and was facilitated by an external consultant with extensive experience in area of disability awareness and training. On successful completion of the course, officers receive a Certificate of Completion which is valid for two years under the Disability Act 2005.The Department will continue its efforts to improve the delivery of its services to all members of the public into the future, consulting with relevant stakeholders throughout.
290. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended that new direct entry medical officers in the Defence Forces will be entered into the specialist division in general practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38257/22]
View answerThere are currently two entry streams by which Medical Officers are recruited into the Defence Forces, namely Direct Entry and via the Military Medicine Training Scheme.
I am informed that there is currently no designated pathway for Direct Entry Medical Officers to be entered onto the Specialist Division of the Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners in General Practice. Some Direct Entry Medical Officers may join the Defence Forces as specialists already, while others may choose to apply to the Medical Council to be entered onto the Register as specialists.
The Military Medicine Training Scheme does lead to Medical Officers being entered onto the Specialist Division of the Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, in both Military Medicine and General Practice. I am informed that a new intake via this stream is currently on hold pending the completion of a joint civil-military review of the scheme and the resolution of a number of outstanding administrative issues.
291. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Defence if the military medicine training scheme to induct new medical practitioner trainees will be advertised in 2022 and if whatever barriers and issues which prevented such intake in 2021 will be removed and resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38258/22]
View answerI am informed that the completion of a joint civil-military review of the Military Medicine Training Scheme is currently imminent, which will inform the process of future inductions. I am further informed that discussions remain ongoing between the various parties to the scheme regarding a number of outstanding administrative issues which will require resolution prior to the advertisement of a new intake.
292. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Defence the salaries of four roles within his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38292/22]
View answerSalaries for my Department are paid at the rates determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Revised payscales with effect from 1 July 2022 for the grades requested by the Deputy are set out below.
For Civil Servants appointed on or after 6th April 1995, paying the Class A rate of PRSI contribution and making an employee contribution in respect of personal superannuation benefits (PPC), the rates are as follows:
First role referred to by the Deputy: €222,911
Second role referred to by the Deputy: €145,283, €151,885, €159,042, €166,19
Revised payscales (Non-PPC) with effect from 1 July 2022 for the grades requested are as follows:
First role referred to by the Deputy: €211,765
Second role referred to by the Deputy €138,019, €144,292, €151,088, €157,886
With regard to the third and fourth roles referred to, the current post holders have dual positions covering more than one Department. The salaries are paid by the other relevant Department and not the Department of Defence.
293. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 6 July 2022, if he will provide the details of the work that has been carried out to date by the Joint Civil and Military Working Group that was established in 2019, to progress the Transgender Employment Policy for the Defence Forces; the number of times that the working group has met; the terms of reference for the working group; the membership of the working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38394/22]
View answerIn recognition by the Defence Organisation that modern Defence Forces must reflect the demographics of Irish society, a Joint Civil/Military working group was established in 2019 with a view to progressing the development of a Transgender Policy for the Defence Forces.
The Terms of Reference (TOR’s) to guide the deliberations of the Working Group, are as follows:
1. Steps to facilitate transgender individuals in serving in the Defence Forces having regard to their gender identity – including, but not limited to, accommodation matters, bathrooms, dress codes, fitness standards, medical policy, privacy matters and support networks.
2. Limiting factors, if any, on their undertaking the full range of operational duties that may apply to transgender individuals who have undergone or who are undergoing gender reassignment surgery and recommendations with regard to medical classification.
3. Entry criteria for:
i. Persons who have undergone gender re-assignment surgery prior to their application to join the Defence forces.
ii. Persons who are applying to join the Defence Forces having been scheduled to undergo gender reassignment surgery, but have not yet undertaken such surgery.
4. Facilitating serving individual to transition to their gender identity.
5. Any regulatory changes that may be required to underpin recommendations.
6. Any other issues which the Group believes should be considered.
The membership of the Working Group is composed of a mix of military and civil personnel drawn from a wide range of appropriate branches across the Defence Organisation.
The Working Group has met on eight occasions since its inception. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the progress of the Transgender Working Group. However, work is continuing on the drafting of a Transgender Policy with further meetings to take place this year.
