Written Answers Nos. 76-98
77. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Finance the number of times that he has visited County Clare since the Government took office; and the locations that he visited in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57032/22]
View answerThere have been no official visits by the Minister for Finance to County Clare since the Government took office.
78. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has not incurred any EU fines for failure to transpose EU Directives since the Department was established in 2011. The Department has received a notification of infringement from the Commission related to the transposition of Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of EU law. At the time the notification was received, the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill, which would give effect to the transposition, had been published and was before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Since the receipt of this notification, the Bill has completed passage through the Oireachtas and was signed into law – as the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 – by the President on 21 July 2022. Following enactment, the Department has formally communicated the passage of the transposing legislation to the Commission. The new legislation will commence in full on 1 January 2023.
79. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of times that he has visited County Clare since the Government took office; and the locations that he visited in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57025/22]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I have not visited County Clare in my capacity as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform since I was appointed in June 2020.
I have, however, visited Clare on a number of occasions during the same period in a personal capacity. These visits, while informal in nature, have been very beneficial in enhancing my understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the County.
80. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by her Department in 2022; if she will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in her Department. [56781/22]
View answerI am advised that my Department is not currently paying any fines in respect of the transposition of EU law, and has not incurred any such costs during the period specified by the Deputy.
81. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if any consideration will be given to removing the broadcasting levy paid by independent radio stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57167/22]
View answerSection 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 ('the Act') provides that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) may impose a levy on broadcasters for the purposes of meeting the cost of fulfilling their functions ('the broadcasting levy'). The design and implementation of the broadcasting levy is matter for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as an independent regulatory body.
The Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill 2022, which is currently before the Oireachtas, will dissolve the BAI and established a new body, Coimisiún na Meán, to oversee the regulatory framework for broadcasting, video-on-demand services and online safety set out in the Bill.
The new body will be funded by a levy which will be placed on all regulated entities, including broadcasters, which will ultimately replace the broadcasting levy. Specifically, section 7 of the OSMR Bill will substitute a new section 21 of the Act, which will provide the legal basis for Coimisiún na Meán to prepare and impose the levy or levies. Under that section, each category of regulated entity will be required to contribute proportionally to the cost of the functions relating to that category.
Community broadcasters will be exempt from the levy, which is not the case with the existing broadcasting levy. However, I do not intend to provide for an exemption for the commercial broadcasting sector. One of the important principles underpinning our regulatory framework for media services is that regulated entities contribute to the cost incurred to regulate them.
Under the transitional provisions of the OSMR Bill, the existing broadcasting levy will remain in place until it is replaced by a levy made under section 21 of the Act (as substituted by the Bill), but only insofar as it is required to fund the broadcasting-related activities of Coimisiún na Meán.
Section 36 of the OSMR Bill will confer the power on the Minister for Media to pay a portion of receipts from television licence fees to Coimisiún na Meán up to a maximum of 50% of the expenditure of An Coimisiún. The payment of television licence fee receipts to Coimisiún na Meán could be used to defray part of the costs of the levy on regulated entities. However, it is important to point out that any reduction in the levy would need to be applied proportionality across all regulated entities, and not just television and radio broadcasters. In addition, the payment of television licence fee receipts to Coimisiún na Meán would firstly be contingent on the overall level of receipts in any given year, and furthermore may result in a reduction in the funding available to RTÉ and the Broadcasting Fund, which is used to fund the Sound and Vision and Archive Schemes.
A reduction in the broadcasting levy is not the only way to support the independent radio sector. At present, a number of schemes are available to the sector:
- the Sound and Vision Scheme operated by the BAI; and,
- in Budget 2023, I secured €6 million for the establishment of the Media Fund. This will initially fund two schemes, a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and Court Reporting Schemes which will be administered by Coimisiún na Meán on a platform-neutral basis.
In addition to the 7% of net licence fee receipts which is used to fund Sound and Vision Scheme, I have allocated an additional €25.4 million in Exchequer funding to the Scheme since 2020. Over that period the Scheme has ring-fenced €5 million for independent radio and €1.2 million for community radio to be distributed through dedicated funding rounds. Any open rounds of the Scheme were also open to the independent radio sector.
82. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will give consideration in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022, to include provisions to remove the broadcasting levy that is paid by independent radio stations (details supplied) until a fair and equitable scheme in which all media outlets pay towards regulation is introduced by the Media Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56824/22]
View answerSection 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 ('the Act') provides that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) may impose a levy on broadcasters for the purposes of meeting the cost of fulfilling their functions ('the broadcasting levy'). The design and implementation of the broadcasting levy is matter for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as an independent regulatory body.
The Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill 2022, which is currently before the Oireachtas, will dissolve the BAI and established a new body, Coimisiún na Meán, to oversee the regulatory framework for broadcasting, video-on-demand services and online safety set out in the Bill.
The new body will be funded by a levy which will be placed on all regulated entities, including broadcasters, which will ultimately replace the broadcasting levy. Specifically, section 7 of the OSMR Bill will substitute a new section 21 of the Act, which will provide the legal basis for Coimisiún na Meán to prepare and impose the levy or levies. Under that section, each category of regulated entity will be required to contribute proportionally to the cost of the functions relating to that category.
Community broadcasters will be exempt from the levy, which is not the case with the existing broadcasting levy. However, I do not intend to provide for an exemption for the commercial broadcasting sector. One of the important principles underpinning our regulatory framework for media services is that regulated entities contribute to the cost incurred to regulate them.
Under the transitional provisions of the OSMR Bill, the existing broadcasting levy will remain in place until it is replaced by a levy made under section 21 of the Act (as substituted by the Bill), but only insofar as it is required to fund the broadcasting-related activities of Coimisiún na Meán.
Section 36 of the OSMR Bill will confer the power on the Minister for Media to pay a portion of receipts from television licence fees to Coimisiún na Meán up to a maximum of 50% of the expenditure of An Coimisiún. The payment of television licence fee receipts to Coimisiún na Meán could be used to defray part of the costs of the levy on regulated entities. However, it is important to point out that any reduction in the levy would need to be applied proportionality across all regulated entities, and not just television and radio broadcasters. In addition, the payment of television licence fee receipts to Coimisiún na Meán would firstly be contingent on the overall level of receipts in any given year, and furthermore may result in a reduction in the funding available to RTÉ and the Broadcasting Fund, which is used to fund the Sound and Vision and Archive Schemes.
A reduction in the broadcasting levy is not the only way to support the independent radio sector. At present, a number of schemes are available to the sector:
- the Sound and Vision Scheme operated by the BAI; and,
- in Budget 2023, I secured €6 million for the establishment of the Media Fund. This will initially fund two schemes, a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and Court Reporting Schemes which will be administered by Coimisiún na Meán on a platform-neutral basis.
In addition to the 7% of net licence fee receipts which is used to fund Sound and Vision Scheme, I have allocated an additional €25.4 million in Exchequer funding to the Scheme since 2020. Over that period the Scheme has ring-fenced €5 million for independent radio and €1.2 million for community radio to be distributed through dedicated funding rounds. Any open rounds of the Scheme were also open to the independent radio sector.
83. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil i gceist aici gasra oibre a bhunú le scrúdú a dhéanamh ar na féidearthachtaí atá ann don earnáil gnó, bunaithe ar an teanga a neartú, le go gcruthófar ioncam níos mó agus poist as an earnáil seo, gurb í an achmhainn nádurtha is mó atá sna limistéir Ghaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56875/22]
View answerTá obair idir lámha ag Údarás na Gaeltachta faoi láthair ar mhaithe le treisiú a dhéanamh ar chur chun cinn na Gaeilge i measc a chliantchuideachtaí. Tá sé seo á dhéanamh mar thaca d'fheidhmiú rathúil an phróisis pleanála teanga agus mar chuid den obair atá idir lámha acu le cúram a dhéanamh d'fheidhmiú a straitéis cúig bliana féin don tréimhse 2021-2025.
Mar chuid den obair sin trí chéile tuigtear don Roinn gur dáileadh ceistneoir le gairid chuig gach cuideachta agus tá iarrachtaí déanta agus á ndéanamh leis na fostóirí agus na fostaithe a spreagadh le heolas agus tuairimí a roinnt maidir lena riachtanais teanga agus na tacaíochtaí a bheadh úsáideach dóibh, bíodh sé sa láthair oibre nó sa phobal ina bhfuil siad lonnaithe.
Tuigtear don Roinn chomh maith go dtiocfaidh deireadh leis an gcomhairliúcháin sin ar 18 Samhain - tráth a ndéanfar anailís ar thorthaí an tsuirbhé i dtreo an t-aiseolas a bhailítear a úsáid mar bhunús plean gnímh le gur féidir leis an Údarás tacú lena gcliantchuideachtaí an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.
Maidir leis an straitéis thuasluaite de chuid an Údaráis leagtar amach fís don Ghaeltacht ann mar réigiún cruthaitheach, nuálach agus inmharthana. Le feidhmiú na straitéise sin - agus an bearta thuasluaite mar chuid den fheidhmiú - tá sé mar aidhm ag an Údaras na réigiúin Ghaeltachta a chur chun cinn mar cheantair atá tarraingteach le maireachtáil ann agus mar cheantair a bhfuil deiseanna fostaíochta den chéad scoth ar fáil iontu.
Tagann sé seo trí chéile le haidhmeanna foriomlána Phlean Ghníomhaíochta an Rialtais don Ghaeilge 2018-2023 atá á chur chun feidhme ar bhonn tras-rannach mar thaca breise d'fheidhmiú na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030.
84. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad iad na pleananna atá aici le TG4 a neartú agus lena chinntiú go mbeidh comhréir chothrom idir an maoiniú stáit atá ag TG4 le hais RTÉ; an bhfuil i gceist aici gasra oibre a bhunú le breathnú air sin agus ar an gcleachtas atá ann maidir le maoiniú S4C sa Bhreatain Bheag; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56876/22]
View answerMar an tAire le freagracht as an nGaeltacht agus an nGaeilge, mar aon leis na Meáin, tuigim go maith an ról tábhachtach atá ag earnáil na meán i gcur chun cinn agus forbairt leanúnach na Gaeilge agus i seachadadh Straitéis 20 bliain don Teanga.
Fuair mé maoiniú breise €7.3m do TG4 le haghaidh 2023, a thabharfaidh a leithdháileadh iomlán suas go €52.233m. Seo an t-ardú bliantúil is mó riamh a cuireadh ar fáil do TG4, agus tógann sé san áireamh €4m breise sa mhaoiniú a mhol an Coimisiún um Thodhchaí na Meán. Ina theannta sin, cuirtear san áireamh sa leithdháileadh méadaithe Straitéis Iar-COVID-19 TG4 lena n-áirítear an sprioc chun cainéal Gaeilge tiomnaithe a bhunú do leanaí, a bhfuil €3.3m á sholáthar dó.
Maidir le S4C a úsáid mar chomparadóir maoinithe do TG4, tá ról reachtúil ag Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann maidir le riachtanais mhaoinithe bhliantúla TG4 a mholadh, agus lean mé na moltaí sin. Go fadtéarmach, cuirfear na moltaí i dTuarascáil an Choimisiúin um Thodhchaí na Meán san áireamh i maoiniú amach anseo do na meáin chumarsáide seirbhíse poiblí in Éirinn, lena n-áirítear TG4. Chun aitheantas a thabhairt do thábhacht na Gaeilge agus do chastacht na mbealaí is fearr chun í a chur chun cinn, mhol an Coimisiún gur cheart athbhreithniú cuimsitheach ar sholáthar na Gaeilge a dhéanamh. Aontaím go láidir leis an moladh seo agus tá sé beartaithe go gcuirfidh an rialtóir nua, Coimisiún na Meán, tús leis an athbhreithniú in 2023.
85. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she plans to open the next round of sports capital funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56917/22]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted.
Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced on 6 August, 2021. The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday 11 February 2022.
Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision. The deadline for submission of capital appeals was Monday 4 April and 146 appeals were received. Consequent allocations on foot of successful appeals amounting to €6.14 million were announced on Tuesday 31 May. The total allocation of €150 million for capital projects, and €166.6 million for the 2020 round in total, represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP.
The priority in the short term is to advance the successful applications, which number almost 2,900, under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage. This requires detailed, ongoing engagement with all grantees.
Following completion of the appeal process, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. A draft of the Review has now been complete and I expect to be in a position to publish it shortly. Following publication of the Review, I will announce the exact timing of the next round in the coming weeks. It is hoped to have the actual application process open early in the new year.
86. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, maidir le Ceist Phairliminte Uimhir. 43 de 29 Meán Fómhair 2022, an ndearbhóidh sí go bhfuil oifigeach pleanála teanga ceaptha i mBearna agus Cnoc na Cathrach; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [56932/22]
View answerFaoi mar a chur mé in iúl roimhe seo i gCeist Pharlaiminte 47572/22, rinne mé plean teanga an Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta: Bearna agus Cnoc na Cathrach a fhaomhadh faoin bpróiseas pleanála teanga i mí Bealtaine 2021.
I mí Meithimh na bliana seo, d’fhógair Údarás na Gaeltachta go rabhthas ag lorg áisitheora chun tacú leis an eagraíocht an próiseas pleanála teanga a thabhairt céim chun cinn san LPT seo.
Ceapadh duine i mí Iúil chun seirbhísí áisitheoireachta, meantóireachta agus comhairleoireachta a chur ar fáil d’ionadaithe Choiste Pleanála Teanga Bhearna agus Chnoc na Cathrach le cuidiú le baill an choiste an pobal a mhealladh agus a spreagadh le bheith páirteach sa bpróiseas agus le tacú leo struchtúr foirmiúil a bhunú leis an bplean teanga atá ceadaithe don limistéar a fheidhmiú.
Chuir mé in iúl roimhe seo go bhfuil siúl ag Údarás na Gaeltachta go mbunófar struchtúr foirmeálta sa Limistéar agus go bhfógrófar post d’Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga roimh dheireadh na bliana. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil na céimeanna cuí á nglacadh chun seo a chur i gcrích.
87. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of times that she has visited County Clare since the Government took office; and the locations that she visited in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57023/22]
View answerDetails of my diary appointments are published on my Department's website . I can confirm that I have visited County Clare on two occasions in my capacity as Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The details of these visits are set out in the table below.
|
Date |
Event |
Location |
|
18 August 2020 |
Photocall - Doolin Inn receiving the Fáilte Ireland Safety Charter |
The Doolin Inn |
|
25 September 2022 |
Attendance at the Women’s Irish Open |
Dromoland Castle |
88. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of applications from County Clare that have been made and that have been successful under the Sports Capital Programme since its reintroduction in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57035/22]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
Details of all applications on a county basis under the latest round of the SCEP can be found here:-
www.gov.ie/en/collection/b62b8-sports-capital-and-equipment-programme-2020-applications/
A list of all allocations under all recent rounds of the SCEP are also published on a county basis on my Department's website at:-
www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/. The total amount allocated to projects in Clare under the latest (2020) round of the SCEP alone amounted to over €5.19 million.
89. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a person (details supplied) will receive their compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57009/22]
View answerAn application for compensation under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (CTCCS) administered by my Department was received on 18th May 2012 from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s question.
The qualification criteria for the scheme are that:
- The applicant must have had a legal interest/ownership or a Turbary Right (right to cut turf) in one of the 53 Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) on the 25th of May 2010 and must have had the right to cut and remove turf from that property on that date.
- The applicant must have been cutting turf on the said land in question during the qualifying five year period up to 31st December 2011.
- The turf resource has not been exhausted.
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
To assist my Department in assessing the application for compensation under the scheme, correspondence was issued to the applicant on 7th April 2014, 21st October 2019 & 20th November 2019 requesting further information. To date, my Department has not received any further information from the applicant. The correspondence is being re-issued to the applicant and upon receipt of the information requested, further assessment of the application can be undertaken.
90. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the details of the lands that are currently owned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service surrounding the Lough Carra catchment area; if there is a plan to acquire future land holdings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56797/22]
View answerLough Carra is the largest marl lake in Ireland and is part of the Great Western Lakes complex. It covers over 1,500 hectares and is joined to Lough Mask by the Keel River. It has many islands and a shoreline of bays and promontories, all on a bedrock of limestone. The lake is an internationally important scientific and nature conservation site, largely in state ownership and it is designated a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has very recently purchased additional lands (approx 67 acres) in the area, consolidating the State’s landholding at Moorehall/Lough Carra, which will be managed for nature conservation and a public amenity.
91. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of all foreshore licence applications covering the Shannon Estuary basin in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57019/22]
View answerMy Department’s Foreshore Unit operates the consenting regime under the Foreshore Act 1933, managing the regulation of a range of different marine activities and infrastructural developments.
The Foreshore Act 1933, as amended, requires that a lease or licence must be obtained for any activity on State-owned foreshore, which represents the greater part of the foreshore. The Act provides for the issuing of licences or leases which are in the public interest. Details of applications and determinations made by the Minister under the Act are on my Department's website gov.ie - Foreshore applications (www.gov.ie)
Details of all of the applications that have been received that relate to the area of the foreshore referred to are set out below. These applications are at various stages of the assessment process. Those that are not currently available on my Department's website will shortly be published as they commence the statutory assessment process.
|
Foreshore Number |
Applicant |
Status |
Project Type |
|
FS007427 |
Gkinetic Energy Ltd |
Application Received |
Site Investigation ORE |
|
FS007149 |
Western Star Wind Limited (Simply Blue Limited) |
Application Received |
Site Investigation ORE |
|
FS007366 |
Munster Sea Wind Ltd, (Inis Offshore/Warwick Energy) |
Application Received |
Site Investigation ORE |
|
FS007372 |
Saoirse Wave Energy Ltd (Simply Blue) |
Application Received |
Site Investigation ORE |
|
FS007083 |
Eirgrid |
Environmental Assessment |
Cable Electricity |
|
FS007137 |
ESB (5) |
Environmental Assessment |
Site Investigation ORE |
|
FS007190 |
Limerick City and CoCo |
Environmental Assessment |
Flood Defence |
|
FS007081 |
Design Pro Small Device testing tidal |
Consultation |
Site Investigation ORE |
|
FS006886 |
Clarus Offshore Wind Farm Ltd. (DP Energy). Company Priority 3 |
Consultation |
Site Investigation ORE |
|
FS006836 |
Kildysert Village Renewal CLG |
Consultation |
Slipway |
|
FS006975 |
Shannon Foynes Port Company |
Consultation |
Dredging |
92. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times that he has visited County Clare since the Government took office; and the locations that he visited in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57026/22]
View answerI have visited County Clare twice, in an official capacity, and look forward to visiting the area again. I was pleased to officially launch 153 new homes at Miltown Malbay and Ennis on Monday 24th October 2022. I had several engagements in Ennis and Broadford on Friday 27th August 2021 including a meeting with the CEO of Clare County Council, the official opening of a maintenance building at Ennis Fire Station, meetings with homeowners affected by mica and pyrite, a visit to the Ashline Housing Scheme and a meeting with community representatives from Broadford on the provision of a Wastewater Treatment Plant in the village.
The locations visited are attached.
|
Date of Minister O’Brien’s visit to County Clare |
Towns and villages visited |
|
Monday, 24th October 2022 |
Miltown Malbay |
|
Ennis |
|
|
Friday, 27th August 2021 |
Ennis |
|
Broadford |
93. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that a person should take who as a young teenager was subjected to mistreatment by British soldiers while living in the North of Ireland and who is now suffering with a number of conditions (details supplied); the way that they can seek justice for the wrongs that were committed against them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56814/22]
View answerI thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention. I assure him that my Department takes this information very seriously. Given the private and sensitive nature of the issues raised, I will not refer to the specifics of this case here.
Following security normalisation in Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State has not appointed an Independent Assessor of Military Complaints Procedures whose role it is to review complaints against the actions of the British Army in Northern Ireland. Therefore, it appears that the most appropriate route, in the first instance, for the individual concerned, would be to make contact with the Victims and Survivors Service of Northern Ireland.
I invite the Deputy to contact my office if he receives any further details relating to this case.
94. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that Ireland has taken to address human rights violations in Bahrain at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva; the actions that he has taken to request the release of all the political prisoners in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56813/22]
View answerRespect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels.
Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities, including the detention of political prisoners and conditions in prisons.
Ireland also engages on the issue of human rights in Bahrain as a member of the European Union. At the most recent EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue on 27 October 2022, issues of concern raised by the EU included freedom of expression, prison conditions, right to a fair trial, and the death penalty. The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, has made representations to the Bahraini authorities on the detention of a number of individuals.
At the most recent Universal Periodic Review of Bahrain at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 7 November 2022, Ireland urged Bahrain to uphold freedom of religion and belief for all persons including members of the Shia community; we regretted the reintroduction of the death penalty in 2017 following a moratorium of several years; and we urged Bahrain to carry out independent and prompt investigations into all allegations of torture or other forms of ill-treatment and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
We also recommended the immediate release of all individuals who have been arbitrarily arrested, and for the creation of a safe and enabling environment for civil society organisations and human rights defenders.
Ireland will continue to monitor developments in Bahrain, and calls on the Bahraini Government to deliver on its stated commitment to make progress in relation to human rights.
95. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will condemn the issue of human rights’ abuses by the current and past governments of Pakistan against the people of Sindh and Balochistan in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56834/22]
View answerThe promotion and protection of universal human rights is a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy. Ireland has consistently engaged with Pakistan on human rights issues both bilaterally and multilaterally. In the context of our bilateral relationship, Ireland’s Ambassador to Pakistan visited Pakistan last week and discussed human rights issues with a number of Pakistani governmental officials. Earlier in February 2021, she also met with Pakistan’s then Federal Minister for Human Rights, Ms. Shireen Mazari.
At an EU level, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Mr. Eamon Gilmore met with Minister Mazari in February 2022, as part of a visit to reaffirm the centrality of human rights in the EU-Pakistani relationship.
Most recently, at the EU-Pakistan Joint Commission in October 2022, both sides discussed civil and political rights, the rights of persons belonging to minorities and vulnerable groups, freedom of religion or belief, the role of civil society organisations, and reforms related to the application of the death penalty. Ireland will continue to contribute actively to the development of EU policies towards Pakistan.
96. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the passport application for a child (details supplied) will be processed urgently by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56909/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.
97. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of times that he has visited County Clare since the Government took office; and the locations that he visited in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57031/22]
View answerTable 1
|
- |
DATE |
Location |
Purpose |
|
1 |
24.05.2021 |
Shannon Airport |
Bilateral Meeting |
|
2 |
08.06.2021 |
Ennis |
Open new civil defence HQ |
|
3 |
19.10.2021 |
Clare |
County Visit |
|
4 |
30.10.22 |
Clare |
County visit |
|
5 |
11.11.22 |
Clare |
County visit |
98. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Defence the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]
View answerMy Department has not paid any EU fines within the specified timeframe..
