Written Answers Nos. 908-922
911. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will list the most reoccurring errors when applying for first-time application children’s passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39872/22]
View answerThe Passport Service is currently seeing a steady demand for first-time passports. Out of a total of 91,199 online passport applications received in the month of June, 20,501 (22%) were for first-time applicants. Half of these first-time applications were for children.
In recent months the Passport Service has reduced the processing time for first-time applications from 40 working days to 25 working days. This 40% reduction in processing time is as a direct result of the staffing and resources my Department has invested in the Passport Service. The Passport Service remains focused on reducing this processing time even further in the coming weeks.
First-time passport applications take longer to process than renewal applications and there are a number of reasons for this. First-time applications are necessarily complex to process, since, in many cases, they are applications for Irish citizenship. The Passport Service must validate the identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship. It is the statutory responsibility of the Passport Service to protect the integrity of the Irish passport. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of first time applicants.
In the case of first-time passport applications for children, the consent of guardians must also be thoroughly validated.
The most common recurring reasons why the Passport Service has to request further documents for first-time applications for children include the following:
- Incorrect or insufficient documentation received. Applicants must submit the required evidence to prove the child's identity and their entitlement to Irish citizenship, and unless otherwise stated, submit original documentation only. Required documentation varies depending on a number of factors, including whether or not one of the parents was an Irish citizen at the time of the child's birth, and the guardianship status of parents.
- Issues with Identity and Consent forms. Common errors include the date of the witness' signature not matching the date of the guardian's signature, using a witness whose profession does not fall under the list of acceptable witnesses and fields on the form being left blank.
- Issues with photos. Whilst the Passport Online photo uploading facility does have a photo checking feature, there are certain issues that are only picked up by the human eye. Applicants can be requested to submit a new photo for a number of reasons, including poor picture quality and incorrect background type.
In May, the Passport Service released public education materials in the form of video guides with a view to assisting applicants to complete their application correctly. The videos include instructions on submitting photos and completing consent forms for children. They are available on the Department's website and YouTube page. The videos can be found at the following URLs:
www.dfa.ie/passports/photo-guidelines/
www.dfa.ie/passports/consent-for-children/
There are also a number of other resources currently available to applicants and parents of first-time applicants in order to ensure that their application is submitted correctly.
The Passport Service encourages applicants to check the requirements for their type of application carefully on my Department's website. The recently updated website includes a new Passport Service section where applicants can easily find out what additional documents are required for their type of application. This is available at www.dfa.ie/passports.
The Passport Service makes every effort to provide clear and comprehensive instructions for applicants, using plain English. In 2019, the Passport Service won the National Adult Literary Agency (NALA) award for Plain English for the Passport Online Renewal service.
The Passport Service Customer Service Hub is available to respond to customer queries by phone and webchat. In recent weeks, the additional allocation of staff to the Hub has significantly increased the call handling capacity in the Hub. The Passport Service webchat is operational and customers should refresh the page if the icon is grey. A webchat operator is available when the icon is green. The Hub is currently handling an average of 3,000 queries a day.
912. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of posts advertised by his Department through the mobility scheme at assistant principal and principal officer levels to date in 2022, in tabular form; the title of each post advertised, the number of applicants for each post, the number of applicants shortlisted for interview, if a suitable applicant was identified for the post; and if not, the way that the post was filled. [39882/22]
View answerMy Department has advertised three posts through the Assistant Principal Mobility Scheme in 2022 to date. The requested details on these opportunities are provided below in tabular form. One of the three mobility processes is currently ongoing. My Department has not advertised any mobility opportunities at Principal Officer level in 2022 to date.
My Department administers the Civil Service mobility scheme in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme as prescribed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
|
Competition |
Year |
Number of Applicants |
Shortlisted For Interview |
Assigned From Process |
|
Deputy Director of Passport Reform (Assistant Principal) |
2022 |
12 |
6 |
1 |
|
Deputy Director of Communications / Head of Press Relations Section (Assistant Principal) |
2022 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
|
Reconciliation Fund Co-Director (Assistant Principal) |
2022 |
14 |
in progress |
to be confirmed |
914. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent on traditional and online advertising by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [39955/22]
View answerMy Department engages in advertising and public awareness campaigns for the promotion of Ireland around the world, and in cases where there is a need to bring important information to the attention of citizens.
Some examples of these campaigns include: the Online Passport Renewals Service, the “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” campaign, public information on travel restrictions due to COVID-19, and the Global Ireland initiative, which promotes Ireland as a good country in which to invest, study, visit, and trade with.
An overview of advertising and public awareness campaign spending on an annual basis is laid out in the table below. The increase in spending from 2019 onwards is due to the Department incurring costs for extensive cross-Government information campaigns in relation to both Brexit and COVID-19.
|
Year |
Total |
|
2012 |
€7,399.32 |
|
2013 |
€43,699.69 |
|
2014 |
€24,469.80 |
|
2015 |
€43,121.86 |
|
2016 |
€27,989.08 |
|
2017 |
€213,182.11 |
|
2018 |
€63,653.50 |
|
2019 |
€2,511,718.37 |
|
2020 |
€582,077.47 |
|
2021 |
€1,500,462.40 |
|
2022 (to date) |
€479,801.24 |
915. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has spent money or sought external assistance with departmental or ministerial public relations; and, if so, the cost and the names of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [39973/22]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs does not employ third parties to deal with public relations.
916. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of legal cases brought against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39991/22]
View answerDepending on the subject matter, litigation against my Department is dealt with by the Attorney General’s Office and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency. The table below sets out the number of cases commenced against the Department over the past 10 years.
|
Year |
Number of cases |
|
2022 |
7 |
|
2021 |
5 |
|
2020 |
6 |
|
2019 |
13 |
|
2018 |
13 |
|
2017 |
3 |
|
2016 |
4 |
|
2015 |
1 |
|
2014 |
7 |
|
2013 |
4 |
|
2012 |
5 |
917. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent by his Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [40009/22]
View answerMy Department generally seeks advice on domestic legal matters from the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Depending on the subject matter, litigation is dealt with on my Department’s behalf by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency, which engages lawyers to act for the Department where necessary.
The expenditure incurred in respect of external legal costs and services in each year since January 2012 is presented in tabular form below.
|
Year |
Amount € |
|
2022 to date |
152,971 |
|
2021 |
276,644 |
|
2020 |
221,014 |
|
2019 |
479,346 |
|
2018 |
208,129 |
|
2017 |
228,030 |
|
2016 |
181,234 |
|
2015 |
185,394 |
|
2014 |
236,559 |
|
2013 |
160,840 |
|
2012 |
255,227 |
|
Total |
2,580,902 |
The Department’s Missions abroad engage local legal advisers from time to time to deal with a range of miscellaneous matters.
918. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent by his Department on the procurement of office space and furniture and office IT equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [40027/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
ICT Equipment |
Office Space |
Furniture |
|
2012 |
€1,649,540 |
€11,276,713 |
€324,009 |
|
2013 |
€2,735,359 |
€10,364,957 |
€417,563 |
|
2014 |
€3,645,384 |
€11,015,829 |
€396,187 |
|
2015 |
€1,259,536 |
€11,382,898 |
€648,975 |
|
2016 |
€2,036,095 |
€12,369,272 |
€298,745 |
|
2017 |
€1,545,343 |
€12,482,478 |
€302,103 |
|
2018 |
€2,357,281 |
€12,741,898 |
€463,538 |
|
2019 |
€2,516,714 |
€14,310,119 |
€478,754 |
|
2020 |
€2,450,432 |
€14,283,134 |
€451,930 |
|
2021 |
€2,952,892 |
€15,866,643 |
€441,771 |
|
2022 (to date) |
€974,731 |
€9,024,422 |
€688,955 |
919. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of times that he embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government; the geographical location of each visit; the number of days that he spent abroad on such trips; the dates upon which each trip took place; and the associated travel and accommodation costs which were incurred by his Department in relation to each trip in tabular form. [40045/22]
View answerThe work of the Department of Foreign Affairs necessitates a considerable amount of overseas travel. My Department’s budget comes from two separate votes, Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27 - International Co-operation.
The Department is fully compliant with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on official travel and also operates its own detailed internal travel guidelines. The central aim of the Departmental travel policy is to minimise official travel costs and to achieve value for money for expenditure necessarily incurred, consistent with the effective discharge of official duties.
The requested details are provided in the table below. The total costs outlined in the table include the costs of transport, accommodation, and travel and subsistence claimed from end-June 2020 to date. The figures provided also include the costs of any accompanying private secretary and special advisers to the Minister.
2020
|
Purpose Of Travel |
Ministerial Delegation (including Minister) |
Destination |
Travel Date |
Return Date |
Total Cost |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
1 |
Brussels |
20.09.20 |
22.09.20 |
€761 |
|
Ministerial Visit to USA |
2 |
Washington, D.C. |
28.09.20 |
01.10.20 |
€6,354 |
|
Foreign & General Affairs Council |
3 |
Luxembourg |
11.10.20 |
13.10.20 |
€1,554 |
|
Ministerial Visit to France |
2 |
Paris |
03.12.20 |
03.12.20 |
€841 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
4 |
Brussels |
06.12.20 |
07.12.20 |
€835 |
|
Ministerial Visit to Germany |
4 |
Berlin |
10.12.20 |
11.12.20 |
€419 |
2021
|
Purpose Of Travel |
Ministerial Delegation (including Minister) |
Destination |
Travel Date |
Return Date |
Total Cost |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
3 |
Brussels |
24.01.21 |
25.01.21 |
€736 |
|
Ministerial Visit to Turkey (Security Council) |
3 |
Ankara/Hatay |
26.01.21 |
28.01.21 |
€858 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
2 |
Brussels |
21.02.21 |
22.01.21 |
€630 |
|
Ministerial Visit to Tehran (Security Council) |
3 |
Tehran |
06.03.21 |
08.03.21 |
€9,382 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
3 |
Brussels |
21.03.21 |
22.01.21 |
€723 |
|
Political Consultations with UK Government |
3 |
London |
14.04.21 |
15.04.21 |
€813 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
3 |
Brussels |
09.05.21 |
10.05.21 |
€870 |
|
Attendance at EU Foreign Affairs Ministers' Gymnich meeting |
2 |
Lisbon |
26.05.21 |
28.05.21 |
€465 |
|
Ministerial Visit to China |
3 |
Guiyang |
28.05.21 |
30.05.21 |
€15,444 |
|
Political Consultations with UK Government |
2 |
London |
03.06.21 |
04.06.21 |
€473 |
|
Ministerial Visit to Gulf States |
3 |
Abu Dhabi and Riyadh |
14.06.21 |
17.06.21 |
€18,634 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
3 |
Luxembourg |
20.06.21 |
21.06.21 |
€1,055 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
3 |
Brussels |
11.07.21 |
12.07.21 |
€855 |
|
Ministerial Visit to Kenya and Somalia |
3 |
Nairobi and Mogadishu |
20.07.21 |
24.07.21 |
€1,262 |
|
Ministerial Visit to Ukraine - attendance at Crimea platform summit and Embassy opening |
3 |
Kyiv |
22.08.21 |
23.08.21 |
€59 |
|
Attendance at EU Foreign Ministers' Gymnich Meeting and British Irish Association Conference, Oxford |
3 |
Ljubljana and Oxford |
01.09.21 |
04.09.21 |
€4,369 |
|
Attendance at UN Security Council Meeting |
2 |
New York |
08.09.21 |
10.09.21 |
€5,424 |
|
Attendance UN General Assembly and Ministerial visit to Washington, D.C. |
4 |
New York and Washington D.C. |
20.09.21 |
24.09.21 |
€17,360 |
|
Ministerial visit to Manchester: Opening of Consulate General for the North of England |
3 |
Manchester |
30.09.21 |
01.10.21 |
€2,054 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
4 |
Luxembourg |
17.10.21 |
18.10.21 |
€1,305 |
|
Attendance at Ireland-Wales Forum |
4 |
Cardiff |
22.10.21 |
22.10.21 |
€1,784 |
|
Ministerial Visit to Israel, Occupied Palestinian Territory and Jordan |
4 |
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramallah and Amman |
01.11.21 |
05.11.21 |
€7,299 |
|
Attendance at COP26 |
4 |
Glasgow |
09.11.21 |
10.11.21 |
€1,100 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
3 |
Brussels |
14.11.21 |
16.11.21 |
€1,795 |
|
British Irish Intergovernmental Conference |
4 |
London |
01.12.21 |
02.01.21 |
€2,521 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
4 |
Brussels |
12.12.21 |
13.12.21 |
€1,099 |
2022
|
Purpose Of Travel |
Ministerial Delegation (including Minister) |
Destination |
Travel Date |
Return Date |
Total Cost |
|
Meeting with UK Foreign Secretary |
4 |
London |
06.01.22 |
07.01.22 |
€2,020 |
|
Defence Informal and EU Foreign Ministers' Gymnich meeting |
3 |
Brest |
12.01.22 |
14.01.22 |
€903 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
4 |
Brussels |
23.01.22 |
24.01.22 |
€1,207 |
|
Ministerial Visit to Iran (Security Council) |
4 |
Tehran |
13.01.22 |
15.01.22 |
€5,430 |
|
Munich Security Conference & EU Foreign Affairs Council |
5 |
Munich and Brussels |
19.02.22 |
21.02.22 |
€3,367 |
|
Extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council |
4 |
Brussels |
25.02.22 |
25.02.22 |
€490 |
|
Extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council |
4 |
Brussels |
04.03.22 |
04.03.22 |
€2,114 |
|
Attendance at United Nations Security Council Meeting |
4 |
New York |
07.03.22 |
08.03.22 |
€12,560 |
|
Ministerial visit to Poland |
3 |
Warsaw |
17.03.22 |
18.03.22 |
€247 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
2 |
Brussels |
20.03.22 |
21.03.22 |
€1,355 |
|
Ministerial visit to Rome |
4 |
Rome |
31.03.22 |
31.03.22 |
€668 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
4 |
Luxembourg |
10.04.22 |
11.04.22 |
€515 |
|
Ministerial visit to Ukraine |
2 |
Kyiv |
13.04.22 |
15.04.22 |
€894 |
|
Attendance at United Nations Security Council Meeting |
3 |
New York |
18.04.22 |
20.04.22 |
€8,673 |
|
Ministerial visit to Washington, D.C. & Boston |
4 |
Washington, D.C. and Boston |
27.04.22 |
30.04.22 |
€8,271 |
|
Ministerial visit to Spain |
4 |
Madrid |
12.05.22 |
13.05.22 |
€988 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council |
4 |
Brussels |
15.05.22 |
16.05.22 |
€530 |
|
Handover Event with Italy for the Presidency of the Council of Europe |
3 |
Turin |
19.05.22 |
20.05.22 |
€3,064 |
|
Ministerial visit to Estonia and Latvia |
3 |
Tallinn and Riga |
25.05.22 |
26.05.22 |
€3,873 |
|
Attendance at the EU-Jordan Association Council |
4 |
Amman |
01.06.22 |
02.06.22 |
€517 |
|
Ministerial visit to Finland and Sweden |
3 |
Helsinki and Stockholm |
06.06.22 |
08.06.22 |
€1,914 |
|
Ministerial visit to Turkey and Greece |
4 |
Hatay, Ankara, and Athens |
14.06.22 |
17.06.22 |
€3,059 |
|
Foreign Affairs Council and attendance at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe as President |
4 |
Luxembourg and Strasbourg |
19.06.22 |
21.06.22 |
€1,146 |
