Written Answers Nos. 209-221
209. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to issue the Ministerial Directive and guidelines to local authorities to allow them to process the new Croí Cónaithe vacant properties grant scheme for rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49383/22]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins these policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All.Schemes under the Fund, which are delivered by local authorities, provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, through the provision of a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties and by providing serviced sites in towns and villages to people in order to build their own homes.On the 14 July, I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, funded by the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant will benefit those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.On 21 September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme, also funded by the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build their homes. These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser. When the Fund was launched, I committed to ongoing review of the schemes under it. Feedback on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Scheme to date has been very positive, with 169 applications submitted by the start of September.Given that a key objective of Pathway 4 of Housing for All is to ensure that the houses we already have are being fully used, I have decided to extend the eligibility for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to vacant properties in both our cities and rural areas.
Both schemes under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund will continue to be only for those who intend to occupy the property as their principal private residence. Officials in my Department are working with the Vacant Homes Officers (VHO) in each local authority in the coming weeks to update the details of the Grant, with a view to the expanded scheme being available in November.
VHOs in each local authority will be available to provide advice and information on the schemes and the application process.
211. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the United Nations and Ireland, through its membership of the Security Council, continue to remain alert to the various threats to children from whatever source on a worldwide basis; the action or actions in hand pending in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48880/22]
View answerIreland participated in the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) on 19th July 2022 following the release of the annual report by the UN Secretary General on CAAC, which examines both trends and specific country situations, listing all armed groups that recruit and use children. Ireland expressed our dismay at the high numbers of children killed and maimed globally last year, notably in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, as well as during the escalation of violence in May 2021 in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.
We highlighted emerging trends around grave violations and new situations of concern, including Ethiopia, Mozambique and Ukraine. Ireland offered a number of reflections to advance the Children and Armed Conflict agenda, calling for parties of conflict to uphold international law, sufficient funding, holistic reintegration and peacebuilding, and objective, impartial and transparent listing of perpetrators in the annex of the annual report, including based on patterns and trends, in order to promote accountability.
Ireland, as an active member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict remains fully committed to addressing concerns and following up on recommendations in the relevant countries. We have also co-sponsored resolutions on the Rights of the Child at the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in 2022 and at the 76th UN General Assembly Third Committee in 2021.
212. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he continues to engage with the UK and the United Nations in order to ensure the safeguarding of the Good Friday Agreement and the Northern Ireland protocol which arose as a result of Brexit. [34156/22]
View answerAs co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is firmly committed to working with the British government and with the parties in Northern Ireland in support of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent implementing agreements. Indeed, the text of the Good Friday Agreement was included as part of a Treaty between the British and Irish Governments that was lodged with the United Nations as a binding Agreement under International Law. It is, therefore, incumbent upon both Governments to ensure that it is upheld.
I engage regularly with my counterparts in the British Government, most recently with the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris at Hillsborough Castle on 28 September. We discussed a broad range of issues, including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, the legacy of the Troubles, and the restoration of the power-sharing institutions. On 7 October 2022, Minister McEntee and I will meet again the Secretary of State, as well as Minister of State Steve Baker, at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London, which is one of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.
I also spoke by phone with the new Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly on 15 September where we discussed the Protocol, among other issues.
Both of these exchanges on the Protocol have been positive. Our focus must be on finding solutions around the movement of goods from Britain to Northern Ireland - this is the issue of most practical concern to people and businesses. Working together, we can maximise the benefits of the Protocol and address genuine concerns.
The gains of the peace process have been exceptional and it is our responsibility both to safeguard them, and to build upon them into the future. This Government will continue to work with the British Government, and with our international partners to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement, and all subsequent agreements are implemented in their totality.
213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland encourages a greater more rapid response to emerging global emergencies arising from starvation, crop failure, war, ethnic cleansing arising from deliberations at the United Nations Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48879/22]
View answerAs an elected member of the UN Security Council since January 2021, Ireland has been a vocal and consistent advocate for urgent attention and action on global humanitarian crises. We work closely with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, member states and a range of humanitarian actors, to shine a light on emerging humanitarian crises.
We have encouraged all parties to uphold International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and respect humanitarian principles. This is vital if the global humanitarian response is to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance and protection to those who need it most.
On Ethiopia, we have called on all parties to allow unhindered access to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the most vulnerable communities. On Syria, Ireland, together with Norway, led negotiations to extend the UN cross border humanitarian operation into the north-west of the country. On Afghanistan, Ireland has highlighted concerns about the humanitarian situation at the UN Security Council, and in particular the vulnerable situation for women, girls, and minorities.
Ireland has also taken a lead role on conflict and hunger at the Council. Together with the World Food Programme and the Food and Agricultural Organisation, we have brought the bi-annual report on hunger hotspots to the attention of the Council for discussion and action. In September, Ireland called a Council meeting to discuss the alarming food insecurity in Yemen, South Sudan, Northern Ethiopia and North-East Nigeria.
Ireland leads by example, through the provision of quality humanitarian funding that enables our partners to respond rapidly to the needs on the ground. Our funding is provided based on needs and responds to both large humanitarian crises such as Ukraine and Syria and food insecurity in Horn of Africa, as well as the less visible crises such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The drivers of these humanitarian crises are many and complex, with conflict the number one driver, and climate, Covid and economic shocks combining to amplify the needs.
Ireland is consistently ranked in the top 20 humanitarian donors in terms of total humanitarian support. Our humanitarian funding has grown steadily in recent years, reaching €192 million in 2020. This accounts for over 20% of total ODA. The final figures for 2021 and 2022 will exceed that amount.
214. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has any contracts with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49166/22]
View answerMy Department does not have any contracts with the company referred to by the Deputy.
215. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the name, function and establishment date of all the organisations and agencies that are funded by his Department; the number of employees in each; the salary of the chief executive in each organisation and agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49186/22]
View answerThere are no organisations or agencies established by, or falling under the remit of, my Department.
I confirm this in the light of communication by officials of my Department with officials in the Deputy's office, as they sought and received clarification on the terms of the Deputy's request and the information being sought.
216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland and the United Nations is continuously alert to the various locations worldwide that remain sensitive to hunger, starvation and human rights abuses with the view to rapid response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49413/22]
View answerIreland works with the UN to monitor global crises continuously. At the beginning of each year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) sets out the needs in the Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO). During the course of the year, OCHA compiles monthly updates to reflect the changing number and nature of crises, including the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance.
In addition, there are a number of mechanisms to monitor the levels of food insecurity, particularly in conflict-affected contexts. The World Food Programme and the Food and Agricultural Organisation publish a bi-annual ‘Hotspot Report’ that identifies the key hunger hotspots and important trends in food insecurity. As the UN Security Council informal co-lead on conflict and hunger, Ireland has brought this report to the UN Security Council for discussion and urgent action.
UN Security Council Resolution 2417 provides the mandate for OCHA to report to the Council on instances of conflict-induced famine. The most recent such report, in August, detailed instances of conflict-induced famine in Northern Ethiopia, Yemen, South Sudan and North-East Nigeria. Ireland, together with Brazil, led a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the report and advocate for swift action.
Ireland has as strong track-record as a principled humanitarian donor and our assistance is provided based on the level of need and need alone. The GHO informs Ireland’s allocation decisions at the beginning of the year. While we respond to large-scale humanitarian crises such as Ukraine and Syria, less visible crises such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remain front and centre in our response.
During the course of the year, Ireland allocates additional funding for sudden onset crises and for rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crises. Decisions are informed by the GHO monthly updates and the updates on conflict and hunger referred to above. We also receive information and briefings from our partners on the ground. This year, Ireland has provided additional humanitarian funding in response to the crises in Ukraine, the Horn of Africa and the floods in Pakistan. Most recently, the Government provided an additional €30 million to support urgent efforts to prevent famine in the Horn of Africa this year.
217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if precise action is being undertaken through Irelands membership of the United Nations in response to various trouble spots throughout the globe with the view to offering aid, medical assistance or other relief to such trouble spots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49414/22]
View answerAs an election member of the UN Security Council since January 2021, Ireland has been a vocal and consistent advocate for urgent attention and action on global humanitarian crises. We lead by example, through our highly respected programme of humanitarian assistance. At the Security Council, Ireland has been to the fore in calling for principled responses to humanitarian crises across the globe and respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Ireland is consistently ranked in the top 20 humanitarian donors in terms of total humanitarian support GNI. Our humanitarian funding has grown steadily in recent years, reaching €192 million in 2020. This accounts for over 20% of total ODA. The final figures for 2021 and 2022 will exceed that amount.
Ireland responds to crises across the globe, guided by humanitarian principles and informed by the needs on the ground. While we respond to large-scale humanitarian crises such as Ukraine and Syria, less visible crises such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remain front and centre to our response. At least 90% of our country specific funding supports the most severe humanitarian crises. We have a strong focus on reaching those most in need, including women, girls and people living with disabilities.
Ireland channels its funding through a range of partnerships with the UN system, the Red Cross Family, civil society organisations, as well as through the European Union. These partners have a strong track-record of providing humanitarian assistance, including medical assistance, to the most vulnerable communities.
In Budget 2023, the Government announced an additional €30 million in humanitarian aid to respond to the devastating drought and food security crisis in countries in the Horn of Africa for the rest of this year. This is in addition to €77 million provided to the response over the last 19 months.
As part of Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative, emergency relief supplies/humanitarian stocks are pre-positioned in the UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) network of hubs around the world. This is a network of strategically located depots or hubs that procures, stores, and transports emergency relief supplies on behalf of the humanitarian community. In 2022, Ireland has worked with our partners to successfully deliver humanitarian stocks to Malawi, DRC and Somalia. Ireland also currently has 11 expert rapid responders in placements with UN agencies across the globe.
218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which Irish aid goes directly to those for whom it was intended in a smooth and seamless transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49415/22]
View answerIreland's Official Development Assistance (ODA), directed through multilateral and bilateral channels, is provided to countries and communities in greatest need. Our cross-government international development policy, A Better World, is underpinned by the commitment to reaching the furthest behind first.
The OECD Development Assistance Committee's latest peer review, in May 2022, found that Ireland “walks the talk” in allocating ODA to least developed countries and fragile states, through priority partners and sectors. While the average DAC member's bilateral allocation to these countries is just under one quarter, the OECD noted that half of Ireland's ODA is bilateral aid to low income and least developed countries.
Ireland is noted as a constructive and reliable partner to multilateral organisations, with funding that is of high quality. The OECD highlighted Ireland as "an excellent humanitarian partner", with its funding models a "useful inspiration for other donors". In 2021 Ireland reached almost 100% flexible humanitarian funding. Over 50% of this was provided on a multi-annual basis. This long-term, flexible approach to financing is essential to allow our trusted partners to respond quickly to changing crises.
In terms of our bilateral partnerships, Ireland is one of the leading donors in providing support to and through Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), with the OECD peer review finding that these relationships are characterised by mutual trust, quality funding, and an open culture for substantive and regular dialogue. Our support to and through CSOs working at the community level, helps to ensure that funding goes directly to benefit those most in need.
In 2020, the respected international think-tank ODI assessed the characteristics of ODA expenditure in leading donors and found Ireland to be the most principled donor, noting specifically Ireland's needs-based approach.
219. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which he continues to influence through Irelands membership of the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations need to address locations of human rights abuses, the abuse of women and children for whatever reason in an early direct fashion which might lead to the recognition by such abusers and retribution for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49416/22]
View answerGender equality is at the heart of Ireland’s foreign and domestic policy, and ending gender-based violence is essential to achieving a gender-equal future. Violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations globally.
Ireland has been a longstanding champion of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda at the UN, and it is a key priority for our membership of the Security Council and beyond. Ireland co-chairs the Informal Expert Group – a working group of the Security Council – on WPS, which ensures close engagement with the senior leadership of UN missions in monitoring actions to implement the Women, Peace and Security Agenda on the ground, and facilitating the enhanced flow of information and analysis to the Security Council. Ireland works to ensure that prevention of sexual violence is embedded into the operational provisions of all peace operations mandates agreed by the Council.
Combatting violations against children in conflict situations is also a priority during Ireland’s membership of the Security Council. The Security Council has established tools to strengthen child protection and to support international standards on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), including a comprehensive monitoring and reporting mechanism. Ireland is an active member of the relevant Security Council Working Group on CAAC, which adopts conclusions on country situations of concern and ensures follow up.
Most recently, Ireland participated in the UN Security Council Open Debate on CAAC on 19th July 2022. Ireland expressed dismay at the high numbers of children killed and maimed globally last year, notably in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan, as well as during the escalation of violence in May 2021 in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. We also highlighted new situations of concern, including Ethiopia, Mozambique and Ukraine, called on parties to conflict to uphold international law and emphasised the need for sufficient funding and holistic reintegration and peacebuilding strategies.
Outside of our membership to the UN Security Council, Ireland also actively promotes gender equality and the rights of the child in other UN fora, such as at the Commission on the Status of Women, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.
220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which progress is or can be reported in relation to Ukrainian access to the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49417/22]
View answerIreland is 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, peace, and economic growth.
I welcomed the 23 June decision of the European Council to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine, as well as to Moldova. The decision was a clear signal of hope to the people and Government of Ukraine about their place in the European family. It was a message that Europe stands with them now, that we will continue to stand with in the future, and that we will support the rebuilding of Ukraine.
On 17 June, the European Commission had published an Opinion on the EU membership applications of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. The Opinion essentially gave a blueprint for the steps the three countries should take to move closer to EU membership.
The Commission has announced its intention to review the three countries' applications for membership, on the basis of the priorities set out in the respective Opinions, at the end of 2022.
221. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of applications for European Union membership that are currently in progress in relation to each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49418/22]
View answer224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress of European enlargement with particular reference to the Western Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49421/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 224 together.
Ireland 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.
There are currently seven recognised candidates for membership of the European Union: Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Kosovo are recognised as potential candidates by the EU.
The EU officially launched accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia in July 2022. This progress is a very welcome development, as it sends an important signal to the entire Western Balkans region that the EU remains serious about enlargement.
The EU is encouraging greater reform efforts in Serbia and Montenegro to accelerate their accession paths, particularly in relation to rule of law and good governance. Serbia’s non-alignment with the EU common position relating to Russia has been of concern recently.
Candidate status was granted to Ukraine and Moldova in June 2022, on the understanding that reforms are taken in a number of areas. The Commission will monitor the progress of both countries in meeting these reforms, and report on them by the end of the year.
Accession negotiations with Turkey have largely stalled due to backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia have formally submitted applications for membership and both are recognised as potential candidate countries, but further reforms will be required in each country before any granting of candidate status can be considered. Kosovo has a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, and has indicated an intention to submit a formal application for EU membership during 2022.
Ireland believes that the accession process needs to be improved and accelerated where possible. The new accession methodology is a positive step in this regard, but more must be done to maintain the reform commitment and aspirations of those seeking to join, including through use of the accelerated integration procedures provided for in the new methodology.
Ireland will continue to strongly support the EU enlargement process and offer any practical assistance it can to candidate and potential candidate countries engaged in accession negotiations to the EU.
